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2002 Supreme(Raj) 1412

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT AT JAIPUR BENCH
Harbans Lal, J.
Manak Chand - Appellant
Versus
Mool Chand And Anr. - Respondent
S.B. Civil Revision Petition No. 1563 of 1996.
Decided On : 27-03-2002

Advocates:
For the Petitioner:D.D. Patodiya, Advocate.

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Section 115, Order 17 Rules 2 and 3 Order 9 Rule 19 - Specific Relief Act, 1963, Section 6 - the plaintiff was not present at the date fixed for production of evidence-suit decided under order 13 rule 3 CPC as there were no evidence on record-revision preferred against it-It was observed that, in view of decision of Apex Court in AIR 1987 SC 42 after amended provisions of Order 17 Rules 2 and 3 if, on a date fixed, one of parties remains absent and for that party no evidence has been examined upto that date the lower Court has no other option but to proceed under Order 17 Rule 2, Civil Procedure Code and Dispose of matter in any one modes prescribed under Order 9, Civil Procedure Code -accordingly the lower court acted not properly so the order set aside and matter remanded back for fresh adjudication.

JUDGMENT

1. - This revision petition is directed against the judgment and decree dated 5.2.1994 passed by learned Munsif, Lalsoth under Order 17 Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code dismissing the suit of the plaintiff-petitioner.

2. The plaintiff-petitioner filed a suit for possession under Section 6 of the Specified Relief Act, 1963 against the defendant/non-petitioners in the Court of learned District Judge. Dausa pleading therein inter alia that the defendants forcibly dispossessed him with the help of police from the Kham house marked ABCD in the enclosed site plan which was got constructed by him on agricultural land situated at village Mohammadpura, Tehsil Lalsoth bearing old Khasra No. 186 and new Khasra No. 63/2 through a registered sale deed dated 15.7.1970 from Thakur Gumani Ram Ji. The defendant-non-petitioners denied the allegations in their written statements and pleaded that the land in question was sold to them by one Raghunath Singh and though the land was entered in the name of plaintiff but it was in actual possession of Ramla, Srila etc. who are Bairwas by caste. It appears that the suit was transferred to the learned Court below on account of amendment in the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Civil Courts. The trial Court after framing the issues fixed the case on 19.3.1993 for plaintiffs evidence on 22.6.1993. It was directed that summons of the witnesses and the process fee be filed within three days. The plaintiff had infact already filed the summons and process fee on 1.3.1993 but due to lapse on the part of the concerned clerk the same were not issued. The suit was first dismissed in default on 30.4.1993 but was restored on 11.10.1993. On 6.12.1993 the learned Munsif directed that the learned District Judge be requested for transfer of the case. On subsequent 2-3 dates the order from the learned District Judge was awaited and on 4.1.1994 the case was again fixed for 18.1.1994 for the evidence of the plaintiff. On that day, the case was adjourned for the evidence of the plaintiff to 5.2.1994 at the cost of Rs. 75/-. On 5.2.1994 neither the plaintiff nor his learned Counsel was present in the Court so the evidence of the plaintiff was closed and the suit was decided on merits under Order 17 Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code relying upon the Full Bench Judgment of this Court in Gopi Kishan v. Ramu, reported in 1964 RLW 155. As there was no evidence on record, the suit was dismissed. Hence this revision petition stating that no appeal is provided against the judgment and decree passed under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963.

3. This Court ordered on 6.11.1996 that notices be issued to the non-petitioners to show cause as to why this revision petition should not be admitted and disposed of. No one has appeared on behalf of the non-petitioners despite service of notice.

4. I have heard learned Counsel for the petitioner-plaintiff. He has contended that the learned lower Court has committed grave illegality in passing the impugned order under Order 17 Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code in the absence of petitioner and without there being any evidence of the petitioner on record. According to him, the order which could have been passed in the facts and circumstances of the case was an order under Order 17 Rule 2, Civil Procedure Code and not under Order 17 Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code.

5. I have perused the impugned judgment and decree and the authority relied upon by the learned lower Court in its judgment.

6. It may be stated at the out set that the view taken by the learned lower Court is based on the Full Bench decision of this Court in Gopi Kishan's, case (supra) but that was an authority which interpreted the provisions of Order 17 Rules 2 and 3, Civil Procedure Code as they stood before amendment of the Civil Procedure Code in 1976. Admittedly, there were two views one was that Order 17 Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code could be used for deciding the matter on merits if the party is present but has failed to do what was exp














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