HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
P. C. Mallick
SETABI DEI - Appellant
Versus
RAMDHANI SHAW - Respondent
Suit 503 Of 1958
Decided On : APRIL 09, 1965
ORDER I RULE 10(2) - ADDITION OF PARTIES - ORDER IX RULE 5 - POWER OF COURT TO ADD PARTY DISMISSED UNDER ORDER IX RULE 5 - INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION.
Fact of the Case:
In a partition suit, one defendant, Chotelal, was dismissed from the suit under Order IX Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) for failure to serve summons. The plaintiff sought to add Chotelal as a party under Order I Rule 10(2) of the CPC, arguing that his presence was necessary for a complete adjudication of the suit.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that it had the power to add Chotelal as a party under Order I Rule 10(2) of the CPC, even though he had been previously dismissed under Order IX Rule 5. The court reasoned that the power to add parties under Order I Rule 10(2) was wide and unrestricted, and that it was not limited by the provisions of Order IX Rule 5.
Issues: 1. Whether the court had the power to add a party who had been previously dismissed under Order IX Rule 5 of the CPC. 2. Whether the court should exercise its power to add Chotelal as a party in the facts of the case.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court interpreted Order I Rule 10(2) of the CPC as giving the court wide and unrestricted power to add parties at any stage of the proceedings, even without an application from any of the parties. The court held that this power was not limited by the provisions of Order IX Rule 5, which only provided for the dismissal of a suit against a party who had not been served with summons. 2. The court declined to exercise its power to add Chotelal as a party in the facts of the case, considering the delay in the proceedings, the plaintiff's lack of diligence, and the opposition of the other defendants to the suit.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the plaintiff's application to add Chotelal as a party.
( 1 ) A very interesting point of law has been canvassed in this case. The point is whether the Court has the power to add a party against whom the suit was dismissed by a previous order under Order IX Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The point is not covered by any authority and is a point of first impression. Able arguments have been advanced from the Bar and I am grateful to the learned counsel who participated in the debate.
( 2 ) THE facts leading to this application may now be stated. This is a suit for partition of a Mitakshara coparcenary. All the members have been impleaded as parties. The suit was Instituted on February 9, 1955, and though a decade is past, the suit has not made progress. One Chotelal, who was a minor at the date of the institution of the suit, on attainment of majority made an application on September 8, 1959, inter alia, for an order that the suit be dismissed under Order IX Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. On November 25, 1959 A. N. Ray, J. made an order on the said application dismissing the suit. In his judgment, Ray, J. , recorded a finding that having regard to the fact that the plaintiff had remarried she had forfeited whatever interest she had in the coparcenary property after such remarriage. Against this order an appeal was taken. The appeal court set aside the finding that the plaintiff had forfeited her interest and also the order of dismissal of the entire suit. The view of the Court of Appeal is, that on the application, the suit was liable to be dismissed as against defendant Chotelal alone and it passed an order accordingly. This suit being a partition suit in which Chotelal is a necessary party, the plaintiff is now making this application substantially for two orders: First, the plaint be amended as indicated in the red ink in the copy plaint annexed to the petition. It appears from the copy so annexed that the plaintiff would like to recast the plaint on the footing that only the 5 branches of Ramabatar be represented by the respective kartas so that all others may be unnecessary parties. In that event, the suit when so amended may go on in the absence of Choteylal. Mr. Somnath Chatterjee learned counsel appearing in support of this application did not however press this point. Mr. Chatterjee, however, very forcefully argued that the second prayer which is the alternative prayer should be granted. This second prayer is for an order that Chotelal as against whom the suit has been dismissed as indicated above, should be added as a party defendant to this action. He purports to make the application under Order I Rule 10 (2) of the Code of Civil Procedure. It is contended by learned counsel appearing to oppose this application that firstly the Court has no longer the power to add Choteylal as a party and secondly, even if the Court has power to do it, in the facts of this case the Court should not do it. Order 1 Rule 10 (2) reads as follows:"the Court may at any stage of the proceedings either upon or without the application of either party, and on such terms as may appear to the Court to be just order that the name of any party improperly joined whether as plaintiff or defendant, be struck out and that the name of any person who ought to have been joined whether as plaintiff or defendant, or whose presence before the Court may be necessary in order to enable the Court effectually and completely to adjudicate upon and settle all the questions involved in the suit, be added. "there are two parts of this sub-clause--one deals with the power of the court to strike out a party on the ground that he has been improperly impleaded. The second part relates to the addition of parties. The Court is empowered under this sub-rule to add a party firstly on the ground that he should have been joined when the suit was originally instituted, and secondly on the ground that his presence is necessary in order to enable the court effectually and completely to adjudicate a
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