PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA, MANOJ MISRA
Suresh Chandra (Deceased) through LRs. – Appellant
Versus
Parasram – Respondent
No.
The Supreme Court did not clarify that substitution and setting aside abatement are governed by a combined time frame under Order XXII CPC and the Limitation Act, nor did it link these to ensuring procedural compliance without defeating substantive justice. (!) (!) (!) (!)
Instead, the Court noted separate limitation periods: 90 days under Article 120 of the Limitation Act, 1963, for substitution (from the date of death on 19.08.2015) and 60 days under Article 121 for setting aside abatement, both expiring by January 2016. (!)
The Court upheld rejection of condonation applications filed in 2022 (after abatement declared on 21.02.2022), as no sufficient cause was shown despite death notice given on 04.04.2016 and familial ties implying knowledge. Power to condone under Order XXII Rule 9 exists but was not exercised here due to unexplained delay. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)
Focus was on factual non-compliance leading to full abatement of the joint appeal, without broader procedural clarifications or justice-balancing rhetoric. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. relevant facts of the case. (Para 2 , 3) |
| 2. facts surrounding the initial suit and subsequent appeals. (Para 4) |
| 3. submissions of parties regarding the appeal. (Para 6 , 7) |
| 4. court's exploration of legal principles regarding abatement and substitution. (Para 8) |
| 5. court's analysis on legal infirmity. (Para 9 , 10 , 12 , 15) |
| 6. conclusions drawn regarding the nature of the appeal in relation to abatement. (Para 11) |
| 7. summary of legal principles governing abatement. (Para 17 , 38) |
| 8. final decision and order of the court. (Para 39) |
JUDGMENT :
1. Leave granted.
FACTS:
(ii) Plaintiff claimed exclusive title over the suit property through its ancestor Tej Singh and pleaded that the defendants were his tenant.
(iii) Defendants i.e. Suresh Chandra and Ram Babu, filed a joint written statement in the suit.
(iv) Suresh Chandra died during the suit proceeding, his LRs, namely, the appellants, also filed their written statements.
(v) I
Delhi Development Authority vs. Diwan Chand Anand
Gurnam Singh v. Gurbachan Kaur
State of Punjab vs. Shamlal Murari
Baij Nath vs. Ram Bharose, AIR 1953 All 565 : 1953 SCC Online All 43 [Para 6
Pandit Shri Chand and Others vs. Jagdish Parshad Kishan Chand and Others
Hemareddi (Dead) through Legal Representatives vs. Ramchandra Yallappa Hosmani
Ashok Transport Agency vs. Awadesh Kumar and Others
Venigalla Koteswarmma vs. Madampati Suryamba
Sardar Amarjit Singh Kalra (Dead) by LRs. and Others vs. Smt. Pramod Gupta (Dead) by LRs. and Others
Sunkara Lakhminarasamma vs. Sagi Subba Raju and Others
Budh Ram and Others vs. Bansi and Others
Rameshwar Prasad and Others vs. Shambehari Lal Jagannath and Another
Goli Vijayalakshmi and Others vs. Yenduj Sathiraju (Dead) through LRs. and Others
Mahabir Prasad vs. Jage Ram and Others
The abatement of an appeal due to non-substitution of a deceased co-appellant leads to the entire appeal being dismissed if it involves a joint decree that may result in conflicting decisions.
Rejection by the High Court of the applications to set aside abatement, condonation and brining on record the legal representatives does not appear, on the peculiar nature of the case, to be a just o....
Point of law: Decree in Suit – Abatement of Appeal - In cases where an appellate Court has made an order dispensing with service of notice of appeal upon legal representatives of any person deceased ....
The non-substitution of legal representatives does not lead to abatement if an application for substitution is timely granted.
Abatement of an appeal under CPC is not automatic upon death if the right to sue survives; presence of a legal representative allows continuation despite procedural delays.
(1) Substitution – Limitation – Suit/appeal automatically abates when application to substitute legal representatives of deceased party is not filed within prescribed limitation period of 90 days fro....
Courts should adopt a liberal approach to substitution and abatement to prioritize substantial justice over procedural technicalities.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.