The legal principle established is that Order 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure does not apply to suits where the plaintiff fails to prosecute the suit as per the court's directions.

1. This Notice of Motion has been taken out for restoration of Suit dismissed on 14/07/2009. The Notice of Motion is taken out on the premise that the Suit is dismissed for default. The Suit has been dismissed on 14/07/2009 for want of prosecution as the Plaintiff’s witness did not appear before the Court for cross-examination. The order records the previous dates also when the Plaintiff’s witness failed to appear for cross-examination. The order specifically makes a reference of the previous date of hearing. On the previous date of hearing which was 29th June, 2009, the Plaintiff was represented by its Advocate. The reason for the non appearance of the witness was given to Court. It was stated that the witness could not arrange for the railway ticket. The Court observed that necessary arrangement should have been made since that date of hearing was given. By way of indulgence the Court adjourned the Suit to 14th July, 2009 and made it clear that if the witness did not appear, the matter would be dismissed for non prosecution. That is what the Court did on 14th July, 2009. The Court set out what transpired on 29th June, 2009. The Court thereafter dismissed the Suit for want or prosecution.

2. The order records that the Suit has dismissed under Order 9 rule 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The relevant part of Order 9 Rule 9 runs thus: 9. Decree against plaintiff by default bars fresh suit.(1) Where a suit is wholly or partly dismissed under rule 8, the plaintiff shall be precluded from bringing a fresh suit in respect of the same cause of action. But he may apply for an order to set the dismissal aside, and if he satisfies the Court that there was sufficient cause for his nonappearance when the suit was called on for hearing, the Court shall make an order setting aside the dismissal upon such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit, and shall appoint a day for proceeding with the suit. (2) No order shall be made under this rule unless notice of the application has been served on the opposite party.

3. In such a case the Suit must be dismissed upon the procedure under Order 9 Rule 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure being followed. Order 9 Rule 8 runs thus: 8. Procedure where defendant only appears. Where the defendant appears and the plaintiff does not appear when the suit is called on for hearing, the Court shall make an order that the suit be dismissed, unless the defendant admits the claim, or part thereof, in which case the Court shall pass a decree against the defendant upon such admission, and, where part only of the claim has been admitted, shall dismiss the suit so far as it relates to the remainder.

4. In this case on the date of dismissal of the Suit, the Plaintiff as well as the Defendant were represented by their Advocates. The Plaintiff’s witness only had not appeared stricto senso and, therefore, the Suit would not have been liable to be dismissed upon the procedure having been followed under Order 9 Rule 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the Court. Since that provision relates only to non appearance of the Plaintiff and appearance of the Defendant only necessitating the Court to dismiss the Suit.

5. In this case the Suit was kept for hearing. The stage of hearing was the cross-examination of the Plaintiff’s witness. The Plaintiff’s witness has failed to appear. A reason was given to Court. The Court granted indulgence. The Court clarified that on the next date of hearing the Suit would be dismissed for non prosecution. Even then on the next date of hearing the Plaintiff’s witness failed to appear. Hence the matter could not proceed. Consequently the order that came to be passed was under Order 17 Rules 3 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Order 17 Rules 3 and 2 run thus : 3. Court may proceed notwithstanding either party fails to produce evidence, etc. Where any party to a suit to whom time has been granted fails to produce his evidence, or to cause the attendance of his witnesses, or to perfor