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
| 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:
Vadiraj Naggappa Vernekar vs. Sharadchandra Prabhakar Gogate
K.K. Velusamy vs. N. Palanisamy
Bagai Construction, through its proprietor Lalit Bagai vs. Gupta Building Material Store
Power to recall any witness under Order 18 Rule 17 of CPC can be exercised by Court not to fill up lacunae in evidence of witness which has already been recorded but to clear any ambiguity that may h....
The court emphasized that powers under Order 18, Rule 17 CPC cannot be used to fill omissions in previously recorded witness evidence, reaffirming its intended use for clarification only.
The power to recall a witness under Order 18 Rule 17 CPC is intended to clarify doubts and not to fill omissions in evidence or to allow for further elaboration on left-out issues.
The authority to recall a witness for cross-examination after discharge is limited and must be justified; its misuse violates procedural law.
Reopening evidence or recalling witnesses post-trial requires compelling justification; mere intent to fill evidential gaps is insufficient.
The power to recall witnesses under Order 18 Rule 17 CPC is to clarify ambiguities, not to fill evidentiary gaps, and should be exercised sparingly.
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.