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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2005

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
VINIT KUMAR MATHUR, J.
Chetan Das - Petitioner
Versus
Jaiprakash Varlani - Respondent
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 17270 of 2022.
Decided on : 01-02-2023

Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners:Mr. Girish Joshi, Mr. Kshitij Vyas, Advocates.
For the Respondent:Mr. Tushar Moad, Advocate.

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 6, Rule 17 - Amendment of written statement - The petitioner sought to amend the written statement to include a subsequently discovered Will dated 15/06/2013 after filing the original statement. The Tribunal rejected the application, contending awareness of the Will. The court found that there was insufficient evidence to establish prior knowledge of this Will by the petitioner, allowing the amendment as it raised a substantial issue. (Paras 2, 5, 7)

(B) Legal Knowledge and Due Diligence - The onus is on the parties to demonstrate knowledge of key facts; lack of evidence of prior knowledge justifies amendments at later stages in the trial. (Para 5)

(C) Evidence Adjudication - Comments on the veracity of the documents should be reserved for trial proceedings, not preemptively ruled on during amendment application processing. (Para 6)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought to amend his written statement to include knowledge of an additional Will discovered after the original submission while the respondent contested this on grounds of earlier awareness.

Findings of Court:
The court found that the petitioner did not possess prior knowledge of the Will at the submission stage, allowing the amendment to be made without prejudice to the other party.

Issues: The main issues were centered on whether the petitioner had prior knowledge of the Will and the appropriateness of allowing an amendment to the written statement based on new evidence.

Ratio Decidendi: The court determined that the petitioner was justified in seeking the amendment due to the receipt of new evidence that was unavailable at the time of the original filing, emphasizing fair legal practice and the importance of due diligence.

Result: Writ petition allowed and the order of the Rent Tribunal quashed and set aside.

Table of Content
1. petitioner's application for amendment of written statement. (Para 1 , 2)
2. respondent's opposition to amendment based on prior knowledge. (Para 3)
3. court's rationale favoring the amendment due to new evidence. (Para 4 , 5)
4. court's rejection of allegations regarding the will's authenticity. (Para 6)
5. outcome: writ petition allowed, order quashed. (Para 7 , 8)

ORDER :

Mr.Vinit Kumar Mathur, J. - The present writ petition has been filed against the order dated 23/09/2022 passed by Rent Tribunal (Senior Civil Judge), Chittorgarh, whereby the application preferred by the petitioner-defendant under Order 6, Rule 17 CPC for amendment of the written statement has been rejected.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner being one of the legal heirs of Dharmdas @ Tekchand is in possession of a shop. The respondent-plaintiff being the owner of the shop on the strength of a registered Will dated 13/05/2011 filed an application before the Rent Tribunal Chittorgarh for eviction of the petitioner from the shop in question. On the application so preferred by the respondent, a written statement was filed by the petitioner. After filing the written statement, the petitioner came to know that there is one more Will dated 15/06/2013 which is in existence. The existence of Will dated 15/06/2013 came to the knowledge of the petitioner only on the receipt of summons dated 21/03/2020 issued in the case of Smt.Sheela Devi v. Khillu Ram and others. After the receipt of the summons of the case filed by Smt. Sheela Devi, the petitioner appeared before learned trial Court and while prosecuting the same, the petitioner came across the Will dated 15/06/2013. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in these circumstances, the petitioner preferred an application under Order 6, Rule 17 CPC for amendment of the written statement by incorporating the fact of existence of Will dated 15/06/2013 in his pleadings. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the fact of the Will dated 15/06/2013 was not within the knowledge of the petitioner before the summons received by him on 21/03/2020 (Annex.4) and, therefore, he is well within his right to file an application for amendment of the written statement. He submits that the learned trial Court has committed an error while rejecting the application vide order dated 23/09/2022 and he, therefore, prays that the writ petition may be allowed and the application preferred by the petitioner under Order 6, Rule 17 CPC may be allowed.

3. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner and submits that the petitioner was well aware of the fact of the existence of the Will dated 15/06/2013. He submits that in paragraph 19 of the case filed by Smt. Sheela Devi, she has mentioned and discussed about the Will in question and, therefore, it cannot be said that the petitioner was not aware of the fact that the Will dated 15/06/2013 is in existence. He further submits that a notice for eviction of the shop in question was also served on behalf of Moolchand way back in the year 2014. He also submits that the Will dated 15/06/2013 is a forged one, therefore, the same cannot be placed on record. He, therefore, submits that no interference is warranted in the order dated 23/09/2022 and the writ petition may kindly be dismissed.

4. I have considered the submissions made at the Bar and have gone through the order dated 23/09/2022 as well as other relevant record of the case.

5. The fact in the present case is that after filing of the written statement, the existence of the Will dated 15/06/2013 has come to the knowledge of the petitioner only on receiving the summons of the case filed by Smt. Sheela on 21/03/2020. Learned counsel for the respondents could not point out any document or anything on record to show that the petitioner was well aware of the Will dated 15/06/2013 and after due diligence also, the s

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