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2023 Supreme(AP) 1623

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
K. MANMADHA RAO, J.
Battini Srinivas Rao – Petitioner
Versus
Konuri Venkata Chalapathi Rao – Respondent
C.R.P.No.1853 of 2023
Decided On : 18-08-2023

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 227 - Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order 18, Rule 17 - Revision petition against trial court's order denying the recall of witnesses for further cross-examination in a suit for cancellation of sale deed. Court emphasized the provisions of Order 18 Rule 17 PCA are not for filling lacunae but for clarifying ambiguities in evidence. (Paras 6-9)

(B) Witness Recall - The court held that the power to recall witnesses is to be exercised sparingly and is not intended to allow parties to rectify their evidential shortcomings. The trial court correctly dismissed the application as lacking sufficient justification and being filed at a belated stage. (Paras 8-9)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought to recall witnesses for further cross-examination regarding a sale deed cancellation suit but was denied by the trial court for lack of justifiable cause after the completion of evidence and arguments. The trial court noted the petitioner's application was only an attempt to fill evidential gaps.

Findings of Court:
The trial court did not err in its ruling; the order was justified and did not warrant interference from the High Court.

Issues: The primary issue was whether the trial court’s refusal to recall witnesses after trial completion was justified and the relevance of the timing of the application.

Ratio Decidendi: The court reiterated that the grounds for witness recall under Order 18 Rule 17 must not serve merely to fill evidential gaps and should clarify ambiguities instead, affirming the trial court’s decision was sound.

Result: Revision petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. petition for recalling witnesses in an ongoing civil suit. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. court's analysis on trial process and timing of applications. (Para 4 , 7 , 8)
3. arguments on appropriateness of recalling witnesses. (Para 5 , 6)
4. final dismissal of the revision petition. (Para 10)

ORDER :

(K. Manmadha Rao, J.)

This Revision Petition, under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, is preferred against the order, dated 21.06.2023, in I.A.No.288 of 2023 in O.S.No.395 of 2018 on the file of the Court of the Principal Senior Civil Judge, Ongole, Prakasam District filed under Section 151 and order 18, rule 7 of C.P.C seeking to recall DW1 and DW3 for further cross examination with regard to payment of consideration and other disputes of Ex.A1 transaction.

2. The petitioner herein is the plaintiff; the respondents herein are the defendants in the suit.

3. The plaintiffs filed the suit in O.S.No.395 of 2018 filed to cancel the Registered Sale Deed dated 11.04.2018 bearing No.1628 of 2018 executed in favour of 1st defendant by the plaintiff for the suit schedule property and same is pending. In the said suit an application in I.A.No.288 of 2023 has been filed to recall DW1 and DW3 for further cross examination. The trial court dismissed the said application on the ground that the petitioner filed the application to fill up the lacunae and it would cause great prejudice to the 1st respondent and there is no justifiable cause to reopen and recall the witnesses after closure of the evidence on the side of defendants. Assailing the same, the present Revision came to be filed.

4. Heard Sri K.Koutilya, learned counsel for the petitioner parties and Sri N.Madhava Reddy, learned counsel for the respondents.

5. During hearing learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the trial court wrongly came to a conclusion that the application was filed after the suit reserved for Judgment, in fact the matter has been posted for arguments of the plaintiff on 24.07.2023 as per e-courts status. It is further contended that it is primarily to enable the court to clarify any issue or doubt by recalling any witness either suo-motu or on application of any party so that the court can itself put questions and elicit answers, which is also observed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in " Vadiraj Naggappa Vernekar vs. Sharadchandra Prabhakar Gogate " , 2009(4) SCC 410 wherein it was held as follows:

    16. In our view, though the provisions of Order 18 Rule 17 Civil Procedure Code have been interpreted to include applications to be filed by the parties for recall of witnesses, the main purpose of the said rule is to enable the Court, while trying a suit, to clarify any doubts which it may have with regard to the evidence led by the parties. The said provisions are not intended to be used to fill up omissions in the evidence of a witness who has already been examined. As indicated by the learned Single Judge, the evidence now being sought to be introduced by recalling the witness in question, was available at the time when the affidavit of evidence of the witness was prepared and affirmed. It is not as if certain new facts have been discovered subsequently which were not within the knowledge of the applicant when the affidavit evidence was prepared. In the instant case, Sadanand Shet was shown to have been actively involved in the acquisition of the flat in question and, therefore, had knowledge of all the transactions involving such acquisition. It is obvious that only after cross-examination of the witness that certain lapses in his evidence came to be noticed which impelled the appellant to file the application under Order 18 Rule 17 CPC. Such a course of action which arises out of the fact situation in this case, does not make out a case for recall of a witness after his examination has been completed. The power under the provisions of Order 18 Rule 17 Civil Procedure Code is to be sparingly exercised and in appropriate cases and not as a general rule

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