SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2013 Supreme(Bom) 1133

In the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad
S.S. SHINDE, J.
Vinod S/o Khimji Lodaya
Versus
Muljibhai S/o Maujibhai Patel & Others
Civil Revision Application No. 249 of 2011
Decided on : 25-06-2013

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:A.P. Bhandari, Advocate.
For the Respondents:R1, A.S. Barlota, R17, S.B. Khan, h/f B.W. Khan, R18, Syed Salahuddin Kazi, Advocates.

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order XVIII, Rule 17 - Evidence Act, 1872, Sections 137 and 138 - Cross- examination of co-defendant.

       When evidence of co-defendant would adversely affect interest of defendants then cross-examination of such co-defendant by defendants can be allowed. - The provisions of Order XVIII, Rule 17 of the CPC only empowers the Court to call the witness for examination and the party has no right to ask for recalling the witness, is required to be appreciated in the light of the Judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of K.K. Velusamy v. V.N. Palanisamy, (2011) 11 SCC 275. The Supreme Court has taken a view that, in appropriate cases, the Court can invoke the inherent powers to recall the witness for examination. The inherent powers of the Court are not affected by the provisions of Order XVIII, Rule 17 of the CPC. Since the provisions of Sections 137 and 138 of the Indian Evidence Act, are interpreted by the Karnataka High Court, Chattisgarh High Court and by High Court also and view is taken that in appropriate cases. where the defendant demonstrates that the co-defendant’s evidence would adversely affect his interest, cross-examination of such co- defendant is permissible.

Judgment:

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. With the consent of the learned counsel for the respective parties, taken up for final hearing.

2. The present Civil Revision Application takes exception to the Order dated 03/10/2011 passed by the Presiding Officer, Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad, thereby rejecting the application below Exh. 80 filed by the applicant.

3. It is the case of the applicant that the land bearing City Survey Nos. 12889, 12889/1 and 12889/2 i.e. old Survey No. 38 situated out side Jafar Gate, Mondha Road, Aurangabad is the subject matter of the proceedings before the Maharashtra State Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad in Wakf Case No. 11 of 2005 and the Wakf Case No. 22 of 2005 pending before the Presiding Officer, Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad. The Wakf Case No. 22 of 2005 is already decided, however Wakf Case No. 11 of 2005 is yet pending before the Maharashtra State Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad.

4. It is the further case of the applicant that the respondent No. 17 has initiated proceedings allegedly U/s 54 of the Wakf Act, 1995 by issuing notice. After the proceedings U/s 54 of the Wakf Act, the applicant has filed Wakf Case No. 22 of 2005 before the Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad praying for the relief of declaration and injunction in respect of the said property. The respondent No. 17 has resisted the Suit filed by the applicant by filing its Written Statement. After framing of issues, the applicant stepped in the witness box. The cross examination of the applicant is completed on 15/02/2011 in Wakf Suit No. 22 of 2005. The respondent No. 17 has not adduced any evidence. It is further case of the applicant that the application for amendment in Wakf Suit No. 22 of 2005 filed by the applicant was rejected. Being aggrieved by it, C.R.A. No. 123 of 2009 was filed before this Court, which came to be allowed by Order dated 22/07/2010. The proceedings of Wakf Suit No. 22 of 2005 were expedited by this Court. The learned counsel appearing for the applicant informed that the proceedings in Wakf Suit No. 22 of 2005 are decided.

5. It is further case of the applicant that in view of the action of respondent No. 17 initiating the proceedings U/s 54 of the Wakf Act, 1995, the respondent Nos. 1 to 16 have filed Wakf Case No. 11 of 2005 before the Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad. It is the case of the applicant that this Court in C.R.A. No. 32 of 2011 directed the Presiding Officer, Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad to expedite the hearing of Wakf Case No. 11 of 2005. It is the case of the applicant that the respondent No. 17 has adduced evidence, the affidavit of examination-in-chief was filed by one Aziz Ahmed S/o Siraj Ahmed on 13/09/2011. The witness of respondent No. 17 is cross examined by the Advocate of respondent Nos. 1 to 16. The application below Exh. 78 was filed on behalf of the applicant for adjournment as the applicant was not present on the date of cross examination of respondent No. 17 and the applicant wants to cross examine respondent No. 17. The Wakf Tribunal, Aurangabad in stead of passing Order on Exh. 78, was pleased to pass Order below Exh. 74, wherein after the cross examination of witness of respondent No. 17, a note is written, saying that, the applicant has filed application for cross examination of said witness.

6. It is observed that both Suits can be disposed off together-The applicant herein filed application below Exh. 80, thereby praying for reviewing the order and further prayed to permit the applicant to cross examine D.W. No. 1. The respondent No. 17 has resisted the application by filing Say and the Tribunal has rejected the application below Exh. 80 filed by the applicant in the Civil Revision Application. Hence this Civil Revision Application.

7. The learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that, law is laid down in the case of Sohanlal& Ors. V/s Gulabchand reported in AIR 1966 Rajastan 229 that codefendant can cross examine the deposing defendant. Therefore, the applicant has every right to c



















Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

SupremeToday

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top