PATNA HIGH COURT
Shivanugrah Narain, J.
Singheshwar Rai
Versus
Babulal Rai
Civil Revision No. 1516 of 1978 ;
Decided On : MAY 18, 1979
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, 1908 - ORDER 1, RULE 10 - SECTION 151 - ADDITION OF PARTIES - COURT'S DISCRETION - FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED - INTEREST OF ADDED PARTY - NECESSITY FOR EFFECTIVE ADJUDICATION.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for a declaration that the sale deed executed by defendant No. 1 in his favor was genuine and valid, and that the order of the Collector holding the sale to be void was null and void. Defendant No. 2 filed an application under Order 1, Rule 10 and Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, to be added as a defendant, claiming interest in the suit properties as the daughter of the deceased owner.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the presence of defendant No. 2 in the suit was essential for considering and adjudicating upon all the issues involved in the suit effectively and completely, as she had claimed interest in the suit properties.
Issues: 1. Whether the court had jurisdiction to add defendant No. 2 as a defendant when her joinder was opposed by the plaintiff. 2. Whether the court acted illegally in exercise of its jurisdiction in adding defendant No. 2 as a defendant because the order gave rise to new questions which were not within the scope of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court has jurisdiction to add a person as a defendant even though his joinder is seriously contested by the plaintiff. 2. The joinder of defendant No. 2 did not give rise to new questions which were not within the scope of the suit or changed the nature of the suit. 3. Defendant No. 2 had a direct interest in the suit properties as the heir of the deceased owner, and her presence in the suit was essential for adjudicating upon all the issues involved in the suit effectively and completely.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the plaintiff's application to set aside the order adding defendant No. 2 as a defendant.
1. This application by the plaintiff is directed against an order of Munsif, East Muzaffarpur, allowing an application under Order 1, Rule 10 and Sec.151 of the Civil P.C. filed by opposite party No. 2 Rameshwari Devi, for being added as defendant to the suit, and directing that she (be) added as defendant No. 2 to the suit.
2. The aforesaid suit was instituted by the plaintiff-petitioner for a declaration that the sale deed dated 3-4-1974 executed by defendant No. 1 Babu Lal Rai, who is opposite party No. 1 in this Court, in favour of the plaintiff was genuine, legal and valid and that the order of Collector dated 1-4-1975 passed under the provisions of Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy Act was without jurisdiction, null and void and did not affect the right, title and interest of the plaintiff. The sale deed dated 3-4-1974 was executed by Babu Lal Rai, defendant No. 1 who, according to the plaintiffs case was the son of Jatahu Rai who was sons son of Bhauchan brother of Dasain, father of the plaintiff. According to the plaintiff, Babu Lal Rai succeeded to all the lands belonging to the Jatahu Rai after the death of his mother and that the order passed by the Collector holding the sale to be void, was null and void and without jurisdiction as the objection filed by the plaintiff that Babu Lal was not a privileged tenant was not considered. This suit was filed on 28-7-1977. On 7-2-1978, opposite party No. 2 filed a petition under Order 1, Rule 10 of the Civil P. C. alleging that she was daughter of Jatahu who had died in the year 1944 and after the death of her mother Bhagwatia in the year 1973 she was in possession of Bhagwatias interest in the properties jointly with Babu Lal Rai who was of unsound mind and that the sale deed executed by Habu Lal Rai was a fraudulent document and without consideration. The application was opposed by the plaintiff-petitioner. The learned Munsif, East Muzaffarpur held that the presence of Rameshwari Devi in the suit was essential for considering and adjudicating upon all the issues involved in the suit effectively and completely as she had claimed interest in the suit properties and allowed the application as stated above.
3. Sri Pashupati Nath Jha, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner contends that the court below had no jurisdiction to add opposite party No. 2 as a defendant when her joinder as opposite party was opposed by the plaintiff. In support of this contention he relied upon a decision of a learned single Judge of this Court in Motiram Roshan Lal Coal Co. (P) Ltd. V/s. District Committee, Dhanbad, AIR 1962 Pat 357. In that case the order adding a certain person as a defendant was made merely on the finding that there was no harm if the petitioner was added as a defendant in the suit. It was not held and it was not suggested that the presence -of the party added was necessary in order (to) enable the court below to effectively and completely adjudicate upon all the questions involved in the suit. Though at some places it was observed that the plaintiff cannot be compelled to add a person as a party defendant, it was also observed in that case that a person cannot be added as a party defendant against the wishes of the plaintiff unless a very strong case is made out. The case is, therefore, no authority for the proposition that merely because the joinder of a person as a defendant is objected to by the plaintiff, his application must be rejected. In Razia Begum V/s. Sahebzadi Anwar Begum, AIR 1953 SC 886, the Supreme Court upheld order of the court adding, a person a defendant and observed that the joinder of a person as a defendant was within the Jurisdiction of the court even though his joinder was seriously contested by the plaintiff. The aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court clearly negatives the contention that in no circumstance can a person be added as a defendant against the wishes of the plaintiff.
4. It is next contended by Sri Jha that the cour
Hindeshwari Choudhary V/s. Dr. Sheonandan Upadhyaya
Motiram Roshan Lal Coal Co. (P) Ltd. V/s. District Committee, Dhanbad
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