1994 Supreme(Del) 128
High Court Of Delhi
ANIL KUMAR - Appellant
Versus
CYAN DEV AND SONS - Respondent
Civil 64 of 1985
Decided On : 02/22/1994
J.K.SETH
Respect for the plaintiff's authority in civil proceedings and the relevance of joining necessary parties to assist the court in adjudicating the principal question arising for decision.
Headnote:
Order I Rule 10 r/w Section 151 CPC - Joining Landlord as Party to Suit - The court allowed the plaintiff's application to join the landlord as a party to the suit, emphasizing the plaintiff's authority in civil proceedings and the relevance of the landlord's presence in adjudicating the principal question arising for decision in the suit.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff sought to join the landlord as a party to the suit due to a dispute with the defendant, who obstructed the plaintiff's use of the Varanda. The Trial Court rejected the application, but the High Court allowed it, granting the plaintiff an opportunity to amend the plaint.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court found that the Trial Court failed to exercise its jurisdiction by erroneously rejecting the plaintiff's application to join the landlord as a party to the suit.
Issues: Dispute over use of Varanda, rejection of application to join landlord as party to suit, plaintiff's authority in civil proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi: The plaintiff's authority in civil proceedings should be respected, and the presence of the landlord as a party to the suit would assist the court in adjudicating the principal question arising for decision.
Final Decision: The revision was allowed, the impugned order was set aside, and the plaintiff's application to join the landlord as a party to the suit was allowed, with the plaintiff granted an opportunity to amend the plaint.
( 1 ) THE plaintiff has come up in revision aggrieved byorder dated 17. 11. 1984 passed by the Trial Court ejecting an application underorder I Rule 10 r/w Section 151 Civil Procedure Code filed by the plaintiff-petitioner.
( 2 ) IT appears that there is a dispute between two tenants of the same property. The plaintiff/petitioner is a tenant on the first floor. The defendant is a tenant onthe ground floor. The suit property is part of a Varandash situated on the first floor. The cause of action set out by the plaintiff petitioner is that the defendant comeson the 1st floor and creats obstruction in the use and enjoyment of the Varandaby the plaintiff. The defendant has taken a plea in the written statement thatthe- suit property forms part of his tenancy. Looking to the defence taken in thewritten statement the plaintiff/petitioner moved an application for joining theandlord as a defendant in the suit. The Trial Court did not notice the landlordproposed to be joined as additional defendant on the application of the plaintiffunder Order-1 Rule 10 CPC. It heard the defendant. The opposition offered by thedefendant prevailed with the Trial Court leading to rejection of the applicationon the reasoning that the landlord could be a witness but not a necessary party tothe suit.
( 3 ) THE Trial Court may be right in forming opinion that the landlord wasnot a necessary party to the suit inasmuch as no relief was claimed against him butthe Trial Court failed to see that the party proposed to be joined was atleast aproper party. The palintiff is dominus litus league in civil proceedings. In thematter of parties ordinarily the wishes of the plaintiff have to be respected. Theplaintiff could have joined the landlord as a party to the suit from the verybeginning if he had so desired. However, in the present case need of joining thelandlord as aparty to the suit became alive to the plaintiff in view of the defenceraised by the tenant in his written statement, the presence of the landlord as aparty to the suit would certainly assist the Court in effectually adjudicating uponthe principal question arising for decision for the suit as the plea taken by thelandlord in his written statement would go a long way in determining the statusof the plaintiff and the present defendant qua the suit property. In the opinion ofthis Court the Trial Court has on erroneous consideration failed to exercise thejurisdiction which has vested in it by law.
( 4 ) FOR the forgoing reasons the revision is allowed. The impugned orderrejecting the plaintiffs application under Order I Rule 10 r/w Section 151 Civil Procedure Code isset aside. The application filed by the plaintiff is allowed. Consequent to thelandlord having been joined as a party to the suit, the plaintiff/petitionershall be allowed further opportunity of amending the plaint so that he mayenlarge his averments in the plaint and set out his case as regards the newly addeddefendant. Ordered accordingly. Record of the Trial Court he sent back immediately. The plaintiff/petitioner is directed to appear before the Trial Court on 18/03/1994.