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1957 Supreme(AP) 43

HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
MANOHAR PERSHAD,SRINIVASACHARI, JJ.
Balaji Govinda Narain
Versus
Hiralal
Appeal No. 74/1 of 1952-53 against judgment of Sub-J., Warangal, in O. S. NO. 86/1 of 1951-52.
Decided On : 19-02-1957

Advocates:
Neti Subrahmanyam, for Appellant; B.C. Jain, for Respondents.

The word "plaintiff" in Order 9, Rule 9, Civil Procedure Code, includes persons claiming through the plaintiff, and such persons are bound by the dismissal of the suit for default.

Headnote:

CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - ORDER 9, RULE 9 - DISMISSAL OF SUIT FOR DEFAULT - SUBSEQUENT SUIT BY ASSIGNEE OF ORIGINAL PLAINTIFF - MAINTAINABILITY - INTERPRETATION OF WORD "PLAINTIFF" - SECTION 146, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiff-appellant filed a suit for possession of the suit property against defendants-respondents, alleging that the property was originally owned by Chunnilal, who sold it to Dhapubai, who bequeathed it to the first defendant. The first defendant came into possession of a part of the house with permission from the second defendant and later forcibly came into possession of another portion. The second defendant instituted a suit for possession against the first defendant, which was dismissed for default. The plaintiff-appellant purchased the suit property from the second defendant during the pendency of the suit. The plaintiff-appellant claimed possession of the suit house on the basis of the title acquired by virtue of the sale-deed.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court dismissed the suit, holding that it was barred under Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act. The plaintiff-appellant appealed, arguing that Section 52 was not applicable because the suit was dismissed for default and there was no adjudication on the merits, and that the plaintiff-appellant could file a subsequent suit as the assignee of the original plaintiff.

Issues: 1. Whether Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act barred the plaintiff-appellant's suit? 2. Whether the word "plaintiff" in Order 9, Rule 9, Civil Procedure Code, includes persons claiming through the plaintiff? 3. Whether the plaintiff-appellant could file a subsequent suit after the dismissal of the previous suit for default?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that it was not necessary to decide whether Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act barred the suit, as the sole point to be considered was whether the original plaintiff or the plaintiff-appellant could file a subsequent suit after the dismissal of the previous suit for default. 2. The court held that the word "plaintiff" in Order 9, Rule 9, Civil Procedure Code, includes persons claiming through the plaintiff, based on the general principle of law that an order by or against a person binds not only him but also heirs and representatives. 3. The court held that the plaintiff-appellant, as the assignee of the original plaintiff, could have filed a petition under Order 22, Rule 10, or Order 9, Rule 9 read with Section 146, Civil Procedure Code, to restore the previous suit, but failed to do so. Therefore, the plaintiff-appellant was debarred from filing a subsequent suit.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, holding that the plaintiff-appellant's suit was not maintainable under Order 9, Rule 9, Civil Procedure Code.

Judgement

MANOHAR PERSHAD, J. :- Balaji Govind Narayan, plaintiff-appellant, filed a suit for possession of the suit property against Hiralal and Pulsibai on the allegation that the suit property originally belonged to Chunnilal Misher who sold the same to one Dhapubai by a registered sale-deed and Dhapubai in turn bequeathed the house in question to first defendant by a will and put him in possession of the same; that in 1351-P first defendant came into possession of a part of the house with permission of second defendant and that later he forcibly came into possession over some other portion; that on 29th Khurdad 1354 P second defendant instituted a suit for possession of the suit property against first defendant and during the pendency of the suit, transferred the suit house by a registered sale-deed dated 8th Shehrewar 1354F. in favour of the plaintiff; that second defendant in collusion with first defendant did not conduct her case properly with the result that the suit was dismissed for default on 16th Azur 1357P. Plaintiff, now claimed possession of the suit house on the basis of the title acquired by virtue of the sale-deed. First defendant resisted the claim of the plaintiff on the ground that Chunilal had adopted one Bansidhar who in turn adopted 1st defendant and that Chunilal was not competent to transfer the suit property in favour of Dhapubai and that Dhapubai also was not competent to make a will. It was further averred that the plaintiff could not file a suit inasmuch as he had purchased the property during the pendency of the suit, the suit having been dismissed for default and not restored later. The trial Court on these pleadings framed 8 issues. Parties led evidence both documentary and oral. The trial Court without going into the merits dismissed the suit holding that the suit was barred under S. 52 of the Transfer of Property Act. Plaintiff, therefore, had come up in appeal here.

2. Shri Neti Subrahmanyam learned counsel for the appellant argued first that the Court below had fallen into an error in holding that the suit of the plaintiff was barred under S. 52 of the Transfer of Property Act. He contends that S. 52 is not at all applicable because the suit was dismissed for default and there was no adjudication on the merits. Reliance was placed on Ghanshamdoss Narayandoss v. Saraswathi Bai AIR 1925 Mad 861 (A), Jagannatha Kone v. Ramachandra Naidu AIR 1936 Mad 589 (B), Manjeswarakrishnayya v. Vasudeva Mallayya ILR 41 Mad 458 : (AIR 1918 Mad 578) (C), Nagubai v. Shamrao (S) AIR 1956 SC 593 (D). He next contended that the Court below had not at all considered the question as to whether the cause of action in the previous suit and the present suit was the same and without going into that question it was not competent to dispose of the case on the ground that it was barred under S. 52 of the Transfer of Property Act. Relying on Order 9. R. 9, the learned advocate contended that under that provision the present plaintiff who had purchased the rights of the original plaintiff could not file a petition for restoration as this remedy was only a personal remedy open to the original plaintiff alone. Reliance is placed on Chand Koer v. Partap Singh ILR 16 Cal 98 (PC) (E) and Gopiram v. Jagarnath Singh AIR 1929 Pat 685 (P). Lastly it is contended that if the intention of the Legislature was to include in the word plaintiffused in Order 9, R. 9, persons claiming through the plaintiff some provision similar to S. 11 or S. 47, Civil Procedure Code, would have been made. Sri B. C. Jain, learned counsel for the respondents contended that the suit was barred under S. 52 of the Transfer of Property Act and the Court below has rightly held it so. With regard to the argument relating to the cause of action, he, however, contended that the cause of action in the previous suit and the present suit was the same and when the Court held that the present suit was barred under S. 52, Transfer of Property Act, it was not necessary for





























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