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2023 Supreme(Chh) 687

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Sachin Singh Rajput, J.
Kailash Shrivas S/o Late Onkar Shrivas – Petitioner
Versus
Smt. Chanda Shrivas Wd/o Late Rajesh Shrivas and ors. – Respondents
WP227 No. 187 of 2022
Decided On : 12-10-2023

Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Shri Malay Shrivastava and Mr. Shahid Siddiqui, Advocates
For the Respondent:Ms. Aditi Singhvi, Advocate

Headnote:

Counter-Claim - Civil Suit - Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order 8 Rule 6A, Order 22 Rule 4(2), Order 1 Rule 10, Order 8 Rule 6C - The court allowed the defendant no.2 to file a separate written statement and counter-claim under section 151 of CPC, and the plaintiff challenged this decision. The court held that the legal representative of the deceased defendant is entitled to all the defenses available to the deceased defendant, and if the legal representative intends to make any personal defense, they must get impleaded in their personal capacity or retain the right to file an independent suit. The court also emphasized that the counter-claim has the effect of a cross-suit and there is no legal bar for the defendant no.2 to file an independent suit seeking relief as claimed in the counter-claim. The court dismissed the writ petition filed by the plaintiff, emphasizing that the defendant no.2 cannot be non-suited simply because she has come on suit as a legal representative of the deceased defendant.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking relief of eviction, possession, and recovery of rent in respect of a shop. The deceased defendant filed a written statement, and later, the defendant no.2 sought permission to file a separate written statement and counter-claim, which was allowed by the trial court. The plaintiff challenged this decision.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the legal representative of the deceased defendant is entitled to all the defenses available to the deceased defendant, and there is no legal bar for the defendant no.2 to file an independent suit seeking relief as claimed in the counter-claim. The court dismissed the writ petition filed by the plaintiff, emphasizing that the defendant no.2 cannot be non-suited simply because she has come on suit as a legal representative of the deceased defendant.

Issues: The main issue was whether the defendant no.2 should be allowed to file a separate written statement and counter-claim, and whether the relief claimed by the defendant no.2 was inconsistent with the plea taken by the deceased defendant in his written statement.

Ratio Decidendi: The legal representative of the deceased defendant is entitled to all the defenses available to the deceased defendant, and there is no legal bar for the defendant no.2 to file an independent suit seeking relief as claimed in the counter-claim. The counter-claim has the effect of a cross-suit, and the defendant no.2 cannot be non-suited simply because she has come on suit as a legal representative of the deceased defendant.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the writ petition filed by the plaintiff, emphasizing that the defendant no.2 cannot be non-suited simply because she has come on suit as a legal representative of the deceased defendant.

ORDER :

1. This petition, under Article 227 of the Constitution of India has been filed challenging the order dated 10/02/2022 passed by the 6th Additional Judge, to the Court of 1st Civil Judge, Class–I, Raipur (CG) (for short trial court) in Civil Suit No.18-A/2009. By the impugned order, the learned trial court, has allowed an application filed by respondent no.2/defendant no.2 under section 151 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (for short CPC) and permitted her to file the written statement and counter-claim. The parties are hereinafter referred to their status before the trial court.

Facts of the case

2. The plaintiff has filed a suit before the learned trial Court seeking relief of eviction, possession and recovery of rent in respect of a shop situated in part of plot no.23/5 and 24/6 block no. 98 area about 2580 square feet at Bastal, Hospital Ward, Raipur (C.G.) (for short suit shop). The suit shop is properly described in red colour in the map annexed with the plaint against original defendant Late Rajesh Shrivas (herein after deceased defendant). Deceased defendant filed his written statement. No counter claim was filed by the deceased defendant. However, thereafter he was proceeded ex-parte and an ex-parte judgment and decree was passed dated 06.05.2016. Later on deceased defendant filed an application under Order 9 Rule 13 of CPC to set aside the ex-parte judgment and decree which was registered as M.J.C. No. 35/2016. During pendency of such said M.J.C., deceased defendant Rajesh Shrivas died and defendant no.1 to 4 were substituted in the M.J.C. in place of deceased defendant. The M.J.C was dismissed by the trial court. Against which a Miscellaneous Appeal was filed by the defendant no. 1 to 4, which was allowed by the appellate court and ex-parte judgment and decree was set aside. The case was remanded back for recording of evidence.

3. Thereafter, parties appeared before the learned trial court and plaintiff examined his witnesses and his evidence was concluded. The case was fixed for recording of evidence of defendants. Defendant no.1 examined herself and her evidence was also concluded. On 29/07/2021 the defendant no.1 filed an application interalia stating that defendant no.2 has attained majority and wishes to engage another Advocate. The learned trial court though permitted the defendant no.2 to engage another Advocate however denied her to file a separate written statement vide order dated 26.08.2021. The said order was put to challenge by the defendant no.2 in the Writ Petition under article 227 of Constitution of India which was registered as WP227 No.566 of 2021. This court vide its order dated 08.10.2021 permitted the defendant no.2 to file an application before learned trial court giving specific reason for filing separate written statement. This court also directed the learned trial court to pass appropriate order if such application is filed.

4. The defendant filed an application under section 151 of CPC seeking permission to file written statement/counter-claim giving reason that will dated 02.12.1986 executed by the great grand father of defendant no.2 is forged and void ab initio, suit shop is the self acquired property of her father deceased defendant. Ventilating the above basic reasons she prayed that she may be permitted to file a separate written statement/counter claim. The said application was resisted by the plaintiff by a filing a reply interalia stating that no such permission can be granted. The reasons upon which the prayer for filing the separate written statement is made is not available to defendant no.2. No such pleadings were never made by deceased defendant in his written statement. Therefore the application is liable to be rejected. The learned trial court vide its order dated 10.02.2022 impugn herein allowed the application and permitted the defendant no.2 file a separate written statement/counter-claim. On the same day the defendant no.2 filed written statement and counter-claim.

Submi

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