IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
KHATIM REZA, J.
Second Appeal No.438 of 1989
(20.6.2023)
Sheo Tahal Tanti & Ors. ... Appellants
vs.
Bikas Kumar Keshari & Ors. ... Respondents
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – Order 22 Rules 3, 4, 9 and 10 – A and Section 151 – Substitution & Abatement – Rule 10 – A of the Order XXII of the CPC casts a duty on the Counsel for the respondents to inform the Court about the death of such respondent/respondents wherever he comes to know about it – when the death is reported in the proceedings and the appellant is informed, the appellant has knowledge of the death and there is a duty on the part of the appellant to take steps to bring the legal representatives of the deceased on record in place of the deceased – here, respondent 1st set never disclosed the death and names of the heirs of the deceased – respondents which the deponent came to know from the neighbours – respondents being the close relatives of the deceased – respondents, respondent 1st set directed to supply the date of death and details of the heirs of the deceased – respondents – there is no apparent negligence on the part of the appellants, though substitution petition has been filed after long gap – delay explained – appeal already admitted – delay condoned – abatement set aside office directed to substitute the heirs of the deceased – appellants as well as respondents – IA Nos. 2 & 3 allowed subject to payment of cost of Rs. 5000/-. (Paras 59 to 66)
(2016) 16 SCC 565, AIR 1963 SC 1901, 2008 (12) SCC 481, 2016 (1) PLJR 346, AIR 1975 Pat 279, 1984 PLJR, V17, (2022) 10 SCC 428, (2008)8 SCC 321, AIR 1969 SC 575, 1890 ILR 13 Mad 269, AIR 1964 SC 215 – Referred.
ORDER
Re:-I.A. No. 02 of 2020
This interlocutory application has been filed under Order XXII Rule-3, 4, 9 and 10(a) & Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure on 27.02.2020 for substituting the name of the heirs of deceased-appellants and deceased-respondents whose details are given in this application and also for setting aside the abatement and condonation of delay in filing the setting aside abatement by filing I.A. No. 03 of 2020, which has been filed under Section 5 of the Limitation Act.
2. It is submitted that Appellant No. 1g, namely, Most. Makhia Devi died in the year, 2001 leaving behind her three sons namely, Sheo Tahal Tanti, Baldeo Tanti and Ganesh Tanti and three daughters, namely, Rampari Devi, Maina Devi and Chinma Devi. The heirs of deceased-appellant no. 1g are already on the record as appellant No. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f respectively and, therefore, her name may be deleted from the memo of appeal.
3. It is further stated that Appellant No. 2, namely, Most. Rohani Devi also died in the year, 2001, leaving behind her three sons, namely, Bharosi Tanti, Ramdhani Tanti and Brahmdeo Tanti, who are already on record as appellant Nos. 3, 4 and 5 and, therefore, her name may also be deleted from the memo of appeal.
4. It is further stated that appellant No. 07, namely, Most. Balya @ Most Balia Devi died issueless in the year, 2007 and Appellant No.8, namely, Most. Manakwa Devi @ Mosomat Manaky Devi died in the year 2005 leaving behind her sole heir namely, Babulal Tanti, therefore, the names of the deceased appellant nos. 7 & 8 may be deleted from the memo of appeal and the sole heir of Most. Manakwa Devi @ Mosomat Manaky Devi be substituted.
5. It is further stated that appellant No. 09, namely, Meghan Tanti died in the year 2009 leaving behind his two sons, namely, Naresh Tanti and Botal Tanti. Therefore, the name of the appellant no. 09 be deleted from the memo of appeal and the name of the heirs of appellant no. 09 be substituted in his place.
6. It is further stated that appellant No. 10, namely, Ramchandra Tanti died issueless in the year 2011, therefore, his name be deleted from the memo of appeal.
7. It is stated that appellant No.11, namely, Smt. Kalbatya Devi went to Haryana in the year, 2006, and the deponent came to know that she has died there issueless in January 2020, therefore, her name may be deleted from the memo of appeal.
8. It is further stated that the deponent learnt from neighbours of respondent 1st party that respondent No. 1g namely, Hiralal Sao, respondent No. 1h namely, Ahilya Devi, respondent No.3 namely, Salendra Kumar Sao, respondent No.5 namely, Bilayati Devi and respondent No.7 namely, Smt. Keshari Devi have died during the pendency of this appeal. The aforesaid deceased respondents are close relatives of respondent No. 1a to 1f, 1i, 1j, 2(a) to 2 (e) and respondent No.4. It is further submitted that the deponent had gone to Sikandra Bazar on 12.01.2020 and met with the aforesaid relatives and enquired about the date of death and legal heirs of respondent No. 1g, 1h, 3, 5 and 7 but they refused to give the details regarding them.
9. In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent 1st set may be directed to supply their date of deaths and names of their heirs with address.
10. It is further stated that respondent No.8, namely, Bhukhan Gope had died in the year 2014 leaving behind his sole son Ramdhani Gope but he refused to give date of death of his father, therefore, his name may be deleted and his heirs may be substituted in his place.
11. It is further stated that respondent No.10 namely, Garib Yadav had died in the year 2008 leaving behind his two sons, namely, Ganesh Yadav and Mahesh Yadav. Sri Ganesh Yadav refused to give date of death of his father and, therefore, his name may be deleted from the memo of appeal and the name of his heirs be substituted in his place.
12. It is further mentioned that respondent No. 13, namely, Ramrup Gope had
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Substitution of heirs and correcting party records in appeal proceedings are essential to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.
Courts adopt a liberal approach in allowing substitution after death of an appellant, emphasizing that ignorance of the appeal's pendency warrants consideration in condoning delay.
Substitution of deceased parties under procedural rules is permissible when timely notice was not received, balancing the interests of justice.
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