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2023 Supreme(Cal) 1553

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
SHAMPA SARKAR, J.
Urmila Sau - Petitioner
Versus
Subhash Chandra Giri and ors. - Respondents
CO 344 of 2023
Decided on : 07-07-2023.

Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Mr. Bidhayak Lahiri, Mr. Pradip Kumar Ghosh, Ms. Bhaswati Lahiri, Advocates
For the Respondent:Mr. Madan Mohan Roy, Advocate

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order VI Rule 17 - Amendment of plaint - Application for amendment of the plaint was filed to include additional facts regarding co-sharer properties after issues were framed but before evidence commenced - The court allowed the amendment for avoiding multiplicity of proceedings and ensuring effective adjudication of the matter while stating the merits need not be assessed at this stage, relying on precedents established in case law. (Paras 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)

(B) Court's discretion in amendments - The court emphasized a liberal approach towards amendments to pleadings when needed for justice, provided no injustice is caused to the other side, as reiterated in decisions referenced. (Paras 8-9)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner challenges a decision rejecting the amendment application in a title suit, seeking to add facts about properties for which she claims co-sharer rights, claiming it does not alter the suit's nature and is necessary for resolution.

Findings of Court:
The court concluded that the proposed amendment would not cause prejudice or injustice to the defendants, allowing it to proceed while compensating defendants for any potential delay.

Issues: The court addressed the appropriateness of allowing amendments, particularly the nature of the amendments sought and their implications on the case's progression.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that amendments are generally permitted if they are essential for justice and do not change the cause of action irreparably, emphasizing the need for liberal interpretation in such matters.

Result: The revisional application is disposed of with directions for the amendment to be accepted subject to costs.

Table of Content
1. procedural correctness in service of notice. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. arguments regarding amendment of plaint. (Para 4 , 5)
3. criteria for allowing amendments in pleadings. (Para 6 , 7 , 8 , 9)
4. order on progression of the suit post-amendment. (Para 10 , 11 , 12)

JUDGMENT

Shampa Sarkar, J. - Affidavit of service, which has already been taken on record, indicates that all the opposite parties have been served.

2. Despite service, none appears on behalf of the opposite parties, apart from opposite party nos.1 to 5, even today.

3. The revisional application has been filed challenging the Order No.49 in Title Suit No.112 of 2014 dated August 18, 2022 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), 1st Court, Contai, Purba Medinipur, who had rejected the application for amendment of the plaint.

4. By the amendment, the plaintiff wanted to incorporate additional facts with regard to the other plots and properties of which the plaintiff claims to be a co-sharer. The details as to how the plaintiff became a co-sharer in respect of such property was sought to be included in the pleadings. The application for amendment was filed after the issues were framed, but before the evidence started.

5. The learned advocate for the defendants opposes such prayer and submits that the plots which were sought to be incorporated in the plaint, had already been transferred to the defendants on the basis of a solenama, arising out of a partition suit.

6. The issue with regard to the incorporation of the above facts, in my view, does not change the nature and character of the suit. The plaintiff sought to introduce further plots of land and also the facts as to how the said plots of land continue to be joint properties. In order to avoid multiplicity of the proceeding and for proper adjudication of the suit, this court is of the view that the amendment should be allowed. Evidence has not yet started. The amendment sought to be incorporated does not appear to be ex facie time barred. Neither are the admissions in the plaint, nor contrary pleadings are sought to be incorporated.

7. Merits of the statements made in the amendment application, are not to be looked into at this stage. In the decision of Rajesh Kumar Aggarwal and others v. K.K.Modi and others reported in AIR 2006 SC 1647 , the Apex Court held on similar lines and directed that the Court was not to go into the merits. The relevant portion is quoted below:-

    "While considering whether an application for amendment should or should not be allowed, the Court should not go into the correctness or falsity of the case in the amendment. Likewise, it should not record a finding on the merits of the amendment and the merits of the amendment sought to be incorporated by way of amendment are not to be adjudged at the stage of allowing the prayer for amendment."

8. The situations when amendment should be allowed have been discussed elaborately in the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the matter of Life Insurance Corporation of India v. Sanjeev Builders Private Limited & anr. reported in 2022 SCC Online SC 1128, as follows:-

    "70. Our final conclusions may be summed up thus:

    ****

    (ii) All amendments are to be allowed which are necessary for determining the real question in controversy provided it does not cause injustice or prejudice to the other side. This is mandatory, as is apparent from the use of the word "shall", in the latter part of Order VI Rule 17 of the CPC.

    (iii) The prayer for amendment is to be allowed

    (i) if the amendment is required for effective and proper adjudication of the controversy between the parties, and

    (ii) to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, provided

    (a) the amendment does not result in injustice to the other side,

    (b) by the amendment, the parties seeking amendment does not seek to withdraw any clear admission made by the party which confers a right on the other side and

    (c) the amendment does not raise a time barred claim, resulting in divesting of the other side of a valu

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