IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Vimadalal J.R, J.
Appellants: Shevaram Thadharam Jaisinghani
Vs.
Respondent: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and Anr.
Suit No. 225 of 1967Decided On: 14.11.1967
Counsels:
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff: R.P. Bhat, Adv.
For Respondents/Defendant: A.N. Mody, Adv.
CIVIL PROCEDURE - RULE-MAKING POWER OF HIGH COURTS - APPLICABILITY TO ORIGINAL SIDE - SECTIONS 122 AND 129, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - ORDER 6, RULE 5(2) AND ORDER 5, RULE 2, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - APPLICABILITY TO ORIGINAL SIDE OF HIGH COURT - SERVICE OF SUMMONS - REQUIREMENT OF COPY OF PLAINT - PRELIMINARY OBJECTION - MAINTAINABILITY OF CHAMBER SUMMONS - PARTICULARS - FURNISHING OF PARTICULARS - COSTS.
Fact of the Case:
The defendants filed a Chamber Summons for further and better particulars under Order 6, Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff raised a preliminary objection that the Chamber Summons was barred by the provisions of sub-rule (2) of Rule 5 of Order 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as it was not taken out before the returnable date of the Summons. The defendants contended that the Rules framed under Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure did not apply to the Original Side of the High Court and that there was no proper service of the Summons on the defendants as a copy of the plaint was not served along with the Summons, as required by Order 5, Rule 2 C. P. C.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the provisions of Order 6, Rule 5(2), as well as of Order 5, Rule 2 as framed under the rule-making power contained in Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure, are applicable to proceedings on the Original Civil Side of this Court also. The court further held that the Summons in the present case has not been properly served on the defendants, in so far as it was admittedly not accompanied by a copy of the plaint as required by Order 5. Rule 2, as framed under Section 122, Civil Procedure Code.
Issues: 1. Whether the provisions of Order 6, Rule 5(2), as well as of Order 5, Rule 2 as framed under the rule-making power contained in Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure, are applicable to proceedings on the Original Civil Side of this Court? 2. Whether the Summons in the present case has been properly served on the defendants?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the provisions of Order 6, Rule 5(2), as well as of Order 5, Rule 2 as framed under the rule-making power contained in Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure, are applicable to proceedings on the Original Civil Side of this Court also. The court reasoned that Section 122 confers on High Courts power to make rules regulating their own procedure, as well as the procedure of Courts subordinate to them. The expression "High Courts" in Section 122 must be construed to mean High Courts in regard to their entire jurisdiction, including the Original Side. 2. The court held that the Summons in the present case has not been properly served on the defendants, in so far as it was admittedly not accompanied by a copy of the plaint as required by Order 5. Rule 2, as framed under Section 122, Civil Procedure Code.
Final Decision: The court rejected the preliminary objection raised on behalf of the plaintiff to the present Chamber Summons. The court made the Chamber Summons absolute only in respect of Items (c) and (e) in the defendants attorneys letter dated the 22nd of July 1967 which is annexed to the Chamber Summons as Schedule "A". The plaintiff was ordered to pay the defendants costs of this Chamber Summons.
1. This is a Chamber Summons taken out by the defendants for further and better particulars under Order 6, Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
2. A preliminary objection was raised by Mr. Mody to the maintainability of the Chamber Summons on the ground that it is barred by the provisions of sub-rule (2) of Rule 5 of Order 6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as framed under the Rules made by the High Court under Section 122 of that Code, in so far as it has not been taken out before the returnable date of the Summons which was the 26th day of June 1967. The answer of Mr. R. P. Bhat on behalf of the defendants to that preliminary objection raised by the plaintiff is two-fold: first, that the Rules framed under Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure do not apply to the Original Side of the High Court and, Secondly, that, if it is held that they do apply to the Original Side of the High Court, there has been no proper service of the Summons on the defendants, is view of the fact that a copy of the plaint was not served along with the Summons, as required by Order 5, Rule 2 C. P. C., as framed under the same rule-making power contained in Section 122 of that Code.
3. The point, undoubtedly, is a very narrow one, but as it raises an important question of practice which is not covered by authority, I had reserved order on this Chamber Summons. It is not disputed that the present Chamber Summons has not been taken out by the defendants before the returnable date of the Summons which was served upon them in this case. If O. 6, Rule 5 (2), as framed under Section 122 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is held applicable to the Original Side of the High Court, this Chamber Summons must, therefore, be held to be barred as being out of time. That brings me to the first contention of Mr. Bhat. Part X of the Code of Civil Procedure deals with the rule-making power of the High Courts, and it is necessary for me to refer to Sections 122 and 129 which occur in that part. Section 122 confers on High Courts power to make rules regulating their own procedure, as well as the procedure of Courts subordinate to them. The question which arises is whether the power conferred on the High Court by the said section to frame procedural rules for itself should be construed as limited by the context in which it occurs. In other words, the question is whether the reference to subordinate Courts in the said section should be held to indicate that power is conferred on the High Court to make rules for itself, only in relation to subordinate Courts, and not in regard to its Original Side. I am not prepared to read any such limitation into the plain meaning of the expression "High Courts" which, in my opinion, must be construed to mean High Courts in regard to their entire jurisdiction. In the case of High Courts which have Original Jurisdiction, that expression must, therefore, be held to include that jurisdiction also. It would of course, be open to the High Court to frame a rule under Section l22 for regulating the procedure of any particular Court or Courts subordinate to it, or of its own Original Side or Appellate Side only, but in that event, the High Court must in specific terms restrict the applicability of such a rule in the manner desired. The next contention is that in view of the fact that Section 129 confers an express rule-making power on High Courts in regard to their Original Civil Jurisdiction, Section 122 must be read as applying to all jurisdictions other than Original Civil Jurisdiction, as Section 129 would otherwise be rendered superfluous. I am afraid, there is no substance in that contention, for the simple reason that the ambit and extent of the rule-making power contained in those sections is different. It is expressly stated in Section 122 that the Rules framed by the High Court under that section can annul, alter or add only to the Rules contained in the First Schedule to the Civil Procedure Code. The necessary implication of tha
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