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2014 Supreme(Ker) 306

High Court of Kerala
T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & P.V. ASHA, JJ.
Femi Joseph
Versus
Branch Manager The Federal Bank
Ex. FA. No. 75 of 2012
Decided on: 10-06-2014

Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant:T.N. Manoj, Advocate.
For the Respondent:R1, Mohan Jacob George, P.V. Parvathi, Reena Thomas, Advocates.

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 -Order 32 Rule 3 - Minor defendant - Representation of - Findings of - Held, Apparently, the view taken is that as far as the defendant is concerned, there is no choice like a minor plaintiff who attains majority and the suit must proceed against him notwithstanding the fact that he attained majority - He must be deemed to have elected to abide by the representation of the guardian and the judgment and decree eventually passed in the suit would be binding upon him

Judgment

Ramachandran Nair, J.

1. The appeal is filed by the petitioner in E.A.440/2012 in E.A.221/2012 in E.P.219/2007 in O.S. No. 214/2006 on the file of the Sub Court at Irinjalakuda. She is the 2nd judgment debtor.

2. The application was filed with a contention that, even though originally, the petitioner was a minor and was being represented by the guardian, after attaining majority on 28.5.2009, the same was not recorded, and therefore no separate notice was issued to her. Only when the Amin from the court came to effect the delivery, she came to know about the proceedings.

3. The court below rejected the contentions of the appellant on the finding that, simply for the reason that her majority was not recorded, it cannot be said that the appellant was not aware of the execution proceedings. She had a duty to come on record on attaining majority and contest the proceedings. On the merits it was found that judgment debtors 1 to 3 had filed a joint statement of objection in execution proceedings. Therefore, it cannot be contended that the sale conducted is void. It was also noted that she was staying with her mother, the first judgment debtor, when she was a minor and it cannot be said that she was unaware of the execution proceedings.

4. Heard both sides. Learned counsel for the appellant Sri. T.N. Manoj submitted, by referring to Sub Rules 5 and 12 to Rule 3 of Order XXXII C.P.C that the factum of attainment of majority should have been recorded and notice should have been issued to the appellant.

5. Sub Rule 5 of Order XXXII Rule 3 of Civil Procedure Code reads as follows:

“A person appointed under sub-rule (1) to be guardian for the suit for a minor shall, unless his appointment is terminated by retirement, removal or death, continue as such throughout all proceedings arising out of the suit including proceedings in any Appellate or Revisional Court and any proceedings in the execution of a decree”.

6. In fact the situation that has arisen here is not covered by the said rule. Then the question is whether Rule 12 will enable the appellant to advance the contention raised herein and we extract the said rule herein below:-

O.32, R.12. Course to be followed by minor plaintiff or applicant on attaining majority:-

(1) “A minor plaintiff or a minor not a party to a suit on whose behalf an application is pending shall, on attaining majority, elect whether he will proceed with the suit or application.

(2) Where he elects to proceed with the suit or application, he shall apply for an order discharging the next friend and for leave to proceed in his own name.

(3) The title of the suit or application shall in such case be corrected to as to read henceforth thus :-

(4) Where he elects to abandon the suit or application, he shall, if a sole plaintiff or sole applicant, apply for an order to dismiss the suit or application on repayment of the costs incurred by the defendant or opposite party or which may have been paid by his next friend.

(5) Any application under this rule may be made ex-parte: but no order discharging a next friend and permitting a minor plaintiff to proceed in his own name shall be made without notice to the next friend.”

“A B late a minor, by C D his next friend, but now having attained majority.”

7. Of course, it is submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that what is mentioned therein is applicable only in respect of minor plaintiffs etc. Learned counsel for the respondent Sri. Mohan Jacob George submitted that in the light of the decision of this Court reported in Hameedu Rowther & Others v. Padmanabhan & Others (1966 KLT 1106) and that of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in S. Lakshmi Narayana v.Gangamma (2010 KHC 6366), in a situation like this, the minor defendant had to record the majority and elect to contest the proceedings. It is submitted that in the absence of any specific rule under Order XXXII of CPC providing for any notice to the defendants or judgment debtors who have attained majority during the proce















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