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2023 Supreme(AP) 1406

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
K.Manmadha Rao, J.
Nellore Vijaya (Died - Appellant
Versus
Singiri Lokanadham - Respondent
C.M.A. No. 444 of 2022
Decided On : 23-09-2023

Advocates appeared:
S.Lakshmi Narayana Reddy, Advocate, P.Ganga Rami Reddy, Advocate

IMPORTANT POINT
An order of remand should not be passed if evidence has already been adduced and a decision can be rendered on its appreciation. The appellate court can direct the trial court to record evidence and findings on a particular aspect/issue.

Headnote:

Remand - Civil Injunction - Order XLI, Rule 25 - Indian Evidence Act, 1872 - [Arvind Kumar Jaiswar (Died) through L.R v. Devendra Prasad Jaiswal Varun, Narayanan vs. Kumaran and Others] - The court discussed the principles of remand and the circumstances under which it should be ordered. It emphasized that an order of remand should not be passed if evidence has already been adduced and a decision can be rendered on its appreciation. The court also highlighted that the appellate court can direct the trial court to record evidence and findings on a particular aspect/issue. The judgment referred to the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, to emphasize the importance of marking and cross-examining documents.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiffs filed a suit for permanent injunction, which was decreed by the trial court. The defendant appealed, and the first appellate court remanded the suit for fresh disposal, citing the need for further evidence. The appellants challenged this decision in the present Civil Miscellaneous Appeal.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the first appellate court erred in remanding the suit, as the evidence on record was sufficient to decide the matter. It held that the first appellate court did not deal with the issue in the right perspective and set aside its judgment, directing it to consider the aspects referred in the grounds of appeal and decide the appeal on merits within six weeks.

Issues: The main issue was whether the first appellate court's decision to remand the suit for fresh disposal was justified.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that an order of remand should not be passed if evidence has already been adduced and a decision can be rendered on its appreciation. It also highlighted that the appellate court can direct the trial court to record evidence and findings on a particular aspect/issue. The court found that the first appellate court erred in remanding the suit, as the evidence on record was sufficient to decide the matter.

Final Decision: The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal was allowed, and the first appellate court was directed to consider the aspects referred in the grounds of appeal and decide the appeal on merits within six weeks.

JUDGMENT

1. The Appellants herein are the respondents/ plaintiffs before both the Court below filed the present Civil Miscellaneous Appeal before this Court.

2. Aggrieved by the order dtd. 11/10/2022 in A.S.No.11 of 2018 on the file of the Court of Principal District Judge, Nellore, SPSR Nellore District (in short 'the first appellate court') against the Judgment and Decree and Judgment in O.S.No.278 of 2011 on the file of I Additional Junior Civil Judge, Nellore, (in short "the trial court') remanding the suit for fresh disposal.

3. Initially the plaintiffs filed the suit for grant of permanent injunction against the respondent/ defendant in respect of plaint schedule property and during the trial sole plaintiff died and on her death, the 2nd plaintiff added as her legal representative. The trial court holding that the 2nd plaintiff proved her title to the suit property, besides proving her possession over the suit schedule property and that the suit was decreed as prayed for on 6/11/2017. Assailing the said order, the respondent/ defendant has preferred A.S.No.11 of 2018 before the first appellate court.

4. The first appellate court has framed the following point for determination would be is: Whether the respondents are entitled for permanent injunction restraining the appellant/ defendant from interfering with his peaceful possession and enjoyment over the suit schedule property as decreed by the lower court?

5. The first appellate court arrived at just conclusion and holding that in view of the fact that the appellant i.e respondent herein is seeking frame of additional issue at the stage of appeal, the fact remains it needs giving opportunity to the parties to lead further evidence is essential in the appeal. The respondent herein may raise about receiving additional documents and additional issues before the trial court. Therefore the appeal was partly allowed by setting aside the judgment and decree of the trial court, by remanding the suit for fresh disposal after giving opportunity to both parties to lead further evidence, if any and then decide the merits of the suit without influencing the observations in the appeal and directed the trial court to dispose of the suit within three months. Assailing the same, the present C.M.A came to be filed.

6. Heard Sri S. Lakshmi Narayana Reddy, learned counsel for the appellants and Sri P. Ganga Rami Reddy, learned counsel for the respondent.

7. During hearing learned counsel for the appellants would contend that the first appellate court has remanded the matter for fresh disposal holding that the respondent had filed additional documents with regard to death certificates of Syed Rasool Saheb and Zahera Beebe, who had executed General Power of Attorney in favour of the 1st plaintiff and Ex.A10 the Rectification Deed was executed through agent is invalid and without marking those death certificates and without cross examination on those documents and the matter is remanded having held that though the stand of the appellant in the trial court is not that in view of death of Zahera Beebe and Syed Rasool Saheb the Ex.A10 is rectification deed is invalid. Therefore the first appellate court ought not to have remanded the matter.

8. It is further contended that the lower appellate court ought to have seen that Ex.A10 dtd. 28/12/2016 executed during pendency of the suit and the plaint has been amended and the same has been marked as under Ex.A10 at any point of time the respondent/ appellant did not take any objection either for amendment of the plaint or for marking of rectification deed and as such it is not open for the respondent/ defendant to dispute Ex.A10 document and as such the first appellate court erred in remanding the matter though Ex.A10 rectification deed is very much available on record to adjudicate the issue with regard to validity of Ex.A10 as alleged by respondent/ defendant. Therefore there is no need or necessity to remanding the matter. As such, remanding the sui

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