IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI, KOHIMA BENCH
Lanusungkum Jamir, J.
Kuovio Zhashumo and Ors. - Appellants
Vs.
Khrienuo Angami - Respondent
C. Rev. Pet. No. 6 (K) of 2014
Decided On : 04-09-2017
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order 1and 22 – Rule 9 – Order Liberty – Adducing Evidence – Learned counsel for petitioner learned counsel for sole respondent father of sole respondent Late Kuodio Angami lodged a complaint before Phesama Village Council which was later transferred to Court of ADC (J), Dimapur and was registered – During pendency of suit father of respondent Late Kuodio Angami died – After a lapse of present respondent who is daughter of Late Kuodio Angami made an application for substitution said application was dismissed by learned ADC (J) by order – However same order liberty was given to respondent herein to file any suit afresh respondent filed for declaration of title of suit land cancellation of mutation/jamabandi issued in petitioner/appellants and for permanent injunction – Held, Court on consideration of matter had come to finding that question of maintainability of suit will have to be decided on basis of evidence that the parties may lead – Question is a mixed question of law and fact – Learned trial court was directed to frame a specific issue with regard to maintainability of suit and thereafter decide said issue along with other issues framed in suit after allowing both contesting parties to lead all such evidence as may be relevant and to advance all such contentions and arguments as may be open to parties – Learned trial court in opinion of this court had failed to take into consideration directions passed by this Court in Civil Revision while disposing of Civil Suit submissions of learned counsel for respondent that petitioners had participated in suit without objection also holds no water – Revision succeeds.
Lanusungkum Jamir, J.
1. Heard Mr. R. Iralu, learned senior counsel assisted by Ms. Mhabeni, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. P.B. Paul, learned counsel for the sole respondent. The father of the sole respondent Late Kuodio Angami lodged a complaint before the Phesama Village Council which was later transferred to the Court of ADC (J), Dimapur and was registered as C.S. No. 79/91. During the pendency of the suit the father of the respondent Late Kuodio Angami died. After a lapse of 5 years, the present respondent who is the daughter of Late Kuodio Angami made an application for substitution in C.S. No. 79/91. The said application was dismissed by the learned ADC (J) by order dated 6.8.1998. However, by the same order liberty was given to the respondent herein, to file any suit afresh. Thereafter, the respondent filed C.S. No. 3/98 for declaration of title of the suit land, cancellation of mutation/jamabandi issued in favour of the petitioner/appellants and for permanent injunction. After framing issues and adducing evidence from both the parties, the learned trial Court passed judgment dated nil August 2010 declaring title of the suit in favour of the respondent with a direction to give 2 bighas of land to the petitioners herein by the respondent at a suitable place. Being aggrieved, the petitioner had preferred an appeal against the said judgment passed by the learned trial Court in C.S. No. 3/98 before the District & Sessions Judge, Dimapur. The said appeal was registered as Civil Appeal No. 7/2010. After hearing the parties, the learned Appellate Court disposed of the appeal by the impugned judgment and order dated 14.6.2012 setting aside the judgment dated Nil August 2010 passed by the learned Civil Judge, Senior Division in C.S. No. 3/98 with a direction to conduct a denovo trial by impleading the Government as necessary party. Against the judgment and order dated 14.6.2012 passed by the Appellate Court, the present revision petition has been filed.
2. Mr. R. Iralu, learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits that after a complaint was lodged by Late kuodio Angami who was the father of the present respondent before the Phesama Village Council, the same was transferred to the Court of ADC (J) which was registered as C.S. No. 79/91. During the pendency of the suit, the father of the respondent died. Thereafter, the present respondent filed a substitution petition after a lapse of 5 years which was dismissed by the ADC (J), Dimapur by order dated 6.8.1998 on the ground that the respondent had failed to justify the extremely long delay in approaching the Court for substitution. However, while dismissing the substitution petition, liberty was again given to the respondent to file any suit afresh. He, therefore, submits that C.S. No. 79/91 stood abated and therefore, the question of giving liberty to the respondent to file any suit afresh is unheard of in law and therefore, the order dated 6.8.1998 is not tenable in so far as granting liberty to file any suit afresh is concerned. However, in the instant case, the respondent had filed C.S. No. 3/98 on the same issue over the same disputed land and therefore, the learned trial Court could not have entertained C.S. No. 3/98. It is submitted that though liberty was given to file any suit afresh, the same cannot over ride the settled position of law as regard maintainability and non existence of cause of action in a fresh suit that was filed by the respondent. Therefore, when C.S. No. 3/98 was entertained and the same was disposed by judgment dated Nil August 2010, the petitioner had filed the appeal before the appellate Court which was registered as C.S. No. 7/10. It is submitted that the learned Appellate Court while disposing the C.A. No. 7/2010 had made an observation that the order dated 6.8.98 passed in C.S. No. 79/91 is of no legal consequence and non issue. The same is also totally illegal and unreasonable inasmuch as the same was made to favo
Udit Narain Singh Malpaharia v. Additional Member Board of Revenue
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