IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
ARUN KUMAR JHA, J.
Civil Misc. Jur. No.917 of 2017
(6.2.2025)
Anil Kumar Singh & Ors. ... Petitioners
vs.
Anoj Kumar & Ors. ... Respondents
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – Order 26, Rule 9 – Appointment of Advocate-Commissioner to make local investigation – A local investigation could be ordered by the court for the purpose of elucidating any matter in dispute if it deems it requisite or proper – Since the application has been filed for appointment of Pleader Commissioner at the initial stage when no occasion arose for the court to elucidate such a point, the impugned order would certainly run into rough weather – The plaintiffs sought for the appointment of the Pleader Commissioner to inspect, verify and report about detailed physical features of suit plot with detailed description about storage of sand, 'Ganaura', tractor, flow of drain water etc. with adjoining houses thereof and asking the same to be shown in the sketch map – The application was made prior to framing of issues – When the parties are expected to lead evidence after framing of the issues about their claim and unless there is any point which needs elucidation by the court, the appointment of Pleader Commissioner is not proper – Moreover, every party has to prove its case on the basis of its own evidence and the parties could not take the recourse of the court to gather evidence on their behalf – The filing of the instant application for appointment of Pleader Commissioner appears to be an exercise only towards this end and the same could not be appreciated – Impugned order is not sustainable and accordingly set aside – Present application allowed. (Paras 10 & 12)
Padam Sen Vs. State of U.P., AIR 1961 SC 218 – Relied upon.
Arun Kumar Jha, J.—Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. The instant petition has been filed for setting aside the order dated 14.02.2017 passed by learned Sub Judge IV, Danapur whereby and whereunder the application filed under Order 26 Rule 9 and Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure (in short “the Code”) by the plaintiff/respondent 1st set in Title Suit No 433 of 2013 for appointment of Pleader Commissioner stands allowed. Subsequently, by filing interlocutory application, further relief has been sought against the report dated 16.01.2018 which was submitted by the learned Advocate Commissioner before the learned trial court.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the plaintiffs have filed a completely frivolous suit without any documents and in order to create evidence, they filed the application under Order 26 Rule 9 of the Code and the learned trial court erroneously allowed the said application mentioning that for ascertaining the rights and possession over the suit property, the report of the Pleader Commissioner was necessary and thereby allowed the application for submission of report of the Pleader Commissioner on the points mentioned in the application dated 29.11.2016 filed by the plaintiffs under Order 26 Rule 9 of the Code. Learned counsel further submits that claim of the plaintiff is based on the fact that one Jagdish Kumar Kunwar got the suit property from the father of the petitioners, Hira Prasad Singh as well as father of respondent nos. 4, 5, 6,7 Ram Kinkar Prasad Singh and grand father of respondent no. 8, in the year 1935 and 1936, respectively by way of settlement. But this claim is false and as Hira Prasad Singh was allotted part of the suit property by way of partition after 1963 through Partition Suit No. 55 of 1963. On the other hand, Ram Kinkar Prasad Singh got the suit property by way of Title Partition Suit No. 52 of 1958/15 of 1959 in which the final decree was prepared on 03.02.1964 and thus, the Schedule 2 of the suit land was allotted to Ram Kinkar Singh and his sons in 1964. If the suit property came into the share of Hira Prasad Singh and Ram Kinkar Prasad Singh in 1963 and 1964 respectively, it was not possible for them to issue Hukumnama or make the settlement of the suit land in 1935, 1936 in favour of Jagdish Kumar Kunwar. When partition took place in the family of Ram Kinkar Prasad Singh sons vide Title Partition Suit No. 180 of 1970, the Schedule 2 land was included and partitioned and the final decree was prepared on 13.03.1974. Learned counsel further submits that in the life time of Jagdish Kumar Kunwar there was partition of his family properties and a compromise decree has been passed. But in the said partition, the present suit property was not included and it goes on to show that the suit land does not belong to Jagdish Prasad Kunwar or his sons. The said partition suit was Title Partition Suit No. 61 of 1970 in which the compromise decree was passed on 06.05.1971 and it also proves that by that time the alleged Hukumnama and Zamindari receipts with respect to the said property were not in existence. Thus, the learned counsel submits that the plaintiffs knowing the fact that they have got no paper of title or possession, tried to create evidence in their favour by filing the application for appointment of Pleader Commissioner and the learned Trial Court allowed the same when there was no requirement for appointment of Pleader Commissioner in the Title Suit No. 433 of 2013 when the issues were yet to be settled and only pleadings have come on record. However, when the written statement was filed by the defendants/petitioner, the plaintiffs filed their application for appointment of Pleader Commissioner and the same was allowed by the learned trial court against the provisions of law as no party could be allowed to gather evidence in his favour through the Pleader Commissioner. Thus, learned counsel submits that the impugned order is not sustainable and the sa
The discretion to issue a Commission for local investigation lies with the trial Court, and the report of the Commissioner is not binding on the trial Court.
Judicial orders must be reasoned, as a non-speaking order is unsustainable and undermines the court's authority.
The court ruled that plaintiffs are responsible for proving their claims in litigation and cannot rely on the court to gather evidence on their behalf, emphasizing the judicial principle of party res....
The appointment of an Advocate Commissioner is unnecessary when sufficient evidence exists to determine the facts in a partition suit.
The appointment of an Advocate Commissioner in a partition suit is unnecessary if sufficient evidence has already been presented by the parties involved.
The court ruled that the appointment of a Pleader Commissioner is not warranted when evidence can be conveniently provided by the parties themselves, especially before trial has progressed.
A plaintiff cannot seek a Local Commissioner to gather evidence if there is no substantial basis for such request, particularly when the burden of proof lies with them regarding ownership claims.
The court established that the appointment of a commissioner under Order XXVI Rule 9 of the CPC is not to be used as a means to collect evidence after the closure of proceedings, and such application....
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