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2019 Supreme(SC) 929

D.Y.CHANDRACHUD, M.R.SHAH
Gurmit Singh Bhatia – Appellant
Versus
Kiran Kant Robinson – Respondent


Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Parshanto Chandra Sen, Sr. Adv. Mr. P. S. Sudheer, AOR Mr. Rishi Maheshwari, Adv. Ms. Anne Mathew, Adv. Mr. Kaustab Singh, Adv. Ms. Raj Lakshmi, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Mr. M. Shoeb Alam, AOR Ms. Fauzia Shakil, Adv. Mr. Ujjwal Singh, Adv. Mr. Gautam Prabhakar, Adv. Mr. Mojahid Karim Khan, Adv. Mr. Kunal Verma, AOR

Judgement Key Points

Key Points from the Judgment

  • Core Holding: In a suit for specific performance, the plaintiffs cannot be forced to add a party against whom they do not want to fight. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) [1000639100005][1000639100006]

  • Facts Overview: Original plaintiffs filed suit against original defendant no.1 (vendor) for specific performance of agreement to sell dated 3.5.2005. Vendor executed sale deed in favor of appellant (subsequent purchaser) on 10.07.2008 during pendency of suit, despite injunction. Appellant applied under Order I Rule 10 CPC for impleadment as defendant claiming direct interest. Trial court allowed; High Court quashed, holding appellant not necessary or proper party as no relief claimed against him. [1000639100001][1000639100007] (!) (!)

  • Plaintiff's Position as Dominus Litis: Plaintiff controls the suit and cannot be compelled to implead a third party/stranger to the contract, especially against their wish, unless compelled by rule of law. Adding such party risks enlarging suit scope to title/possession, which is impermissible. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

  • Tests for Necessary Party under Order I Rule 10 CPC: (1) Right to some relief against such party regarding controversies in suit; (2) No effective decree possible without them. In specific performance suit, necessary party requires right to same relief against them re: subject matter; proper party needed for full adjudication. (!) (!)

  • Third Party/Subsequent Purchaser Not Impleadable: Stranger claiming independent title/possession (not based on contract) cannot be added; would convert specific performance suit into title suit. Cannot add merely to determine possession or avoid multiplicity of suits. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

  • Distinction on Impleadment Applications: Different if plaintiff seeks to implead subsequent purchaser vs. third party seeking impleadment opposed by plaintiff. [1000639100005]

  • High Court and Supreme Court Outcome: High Court correctly set aside trial court's impleadment order; Supreme Court agrees, dismisses appeal, no interference warranted. (!) (!) [1000639100004][1000639100006]

  • Procedural History: Appellant filed review after High Court order, dismissed. Appeals by special leave dismissed, no costs. (!) (!)


JUDGMENT :

M.R. SHAH, J.

Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 3.7.2013 passed in Writ Petition No. 856/2012 and order dated 5.8.2013 passed in Review Petition No. 169/2013 in Writ Petition No. 856/2012 by the High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur, by which the High Court has allowed the said writ petition preferred by the original plaintiffs and has quashed and set aside the order passed by the learned trial Court allowing the application preferred by the appellant herein for impleading him as a necessary party to the suit filed by respondent nos. 2 & 3 herein – the original plaintiffs, the original applicant – appellant has preferred the present appeals.

2. The facts of the case leading to these appeals in nutshell are as follows:

Respondent nos. 2 & 3 herein – the original plaintiffs filed a suit against respondent no.1 herein – original defendant no.1 for specific performance of the agreement to sell/contract dated 3.5.2005 executed by respondent no.1 – original defendant no.1 in the Court of learned 4th Additional District Judge, Bilaspur. That during the pendency of the aforesaid suit and despite the injunction against respondent no.1 here

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