IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA
P.S. RANA, J.
Chaman Lal and Others – Revisionists
Versus
Sunder Lal – Non-Revisionist
Civil Revision No. 19 of 2015
Decided On : 25-2-2016
WITNESS - Civil Procedure - The court allowed the revisionists to examine the advocate for the limited purpose of proving the pleadings filed in court, emphasizing that signed pleadings filed in court are not privileged professional communications under the Indian Evidence Act.
Fact of the Case:
The non-revisionist filed an application alleging that the revisionists violated a court order and sought attachment of their property and civil imprisonment. The trial court refused to examine the advocate as a witness, leading to the filing of the civil revision petition.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the revisionists intended to examine the advocate to prove the pleadings filed in court, which are not privileged professional communications. As per the Code of Civil Procedure, the revisionists were permitted to examine the advocate for this limited purpose.
Issues: The issues included whether the revisionists willfully disobeyed a court order and the relief sought by the non-revisionist.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that signed pleadings filed in court are not privileged professional communications and allowed the examination of the advocate for the limited purpose of proving the pleadings.
Final Decision: The civil revision petition was partly allowed, permitting the revisionists to examine the advocate for the limited purpose of proving the pleadings filed in court, with strict limitations on the questions that could be asked. The parties were directed to appear before the trial court on a specified date.
1. Present civil revision petition is filed against the order dated 19.7.2013 passed by learned Civil Judge (Junior Division) Mandi Himachal Pradesh whereby learned trial Court refused to examine Shri Shailesh Sharma Advocate as witness.
Brief facts of the case
2. Sunder Lal non-revisionist filed application under Order 39 Rule 2-A of Code of Civil Procedure pleaded therein that revisionists have intentionally and voluntarily violated the interim order of Court dated 24.4.2004 passed in CMA No. 46-IV of 2014. Non-revisionist sought the relief that property of revisionists be attached and sold and revisionists be also detained in civil imprisonment.
3. Per contra response filed on behalf of revisionists pleaded therein that revisionists did not violate the order of Court as alleged and further pleaded that petition under Order 39 Rule 2-A CPC filed without any cause of action.
4. Learned trial Court as per pleadings of parties framed following issues on 14.9.2007:-
1. Whether revisionists have willfully disobeyed order dated 24.4.2004? OPA
2. Relief.
5. Thereafter learned trial Court listed the case for non-revisionist evidence. Learned trial Court closed the evidence of non-revisionist on 13.3.2013. Thereafter learned trial Court listed the case for revisionists evidence. Thereafter revisionists filed application for depositing TA and DM of witnesses of revisionists in which the name of Shailesh Kumar Advocate District Court Mandi was mentioned as witness. Learned trial Court directed Civil Nazir to deposit the TA and DM and thereafter TA and DM to the tune of Rs. 200/-(Rupees two hundred only) was deposited on 30.5.2015. Thereafter summon was issued to learned Advocate Shri Shailesh Kumar Sharma by learned trial Court. Sailesh Kumar Sharma learned Advocate District Court complex Mandi refused to accept the summon on the ground that he is Advocate for non-revisionist. Thereafter on dated 19.7.2013 Shri Sailesh Kumar learned Advocate was present before the trial Court but learned trial Court did not examine the witness on the ground that witness Shri Sailesh Kumar is counsel of non-revisionist.
6. Feeling aggrieved against the order dated 19.7.2013 present civil revision petition is filed.
7. Court heard learned Advocate appearing on behalf of revisionists and learned Advocate appearing on behalf of non-revisionist and Court also perused entire record carefully.
8. Following points arise for determination in civil revision petition:-
1. Whether civil revision is liable to be accepted as mentioned in memorandum of grounds of revision petition?
2. Relief.
Findings upon point No. 1 with reasons
9. It is proved on record that revisionists want to examine learned Advocate Shailesh Sharma engaged by non-revisionist before learned trial Court in proceedings filed under Order 39 Rule 2-A CPC. It is well settled law that as per Order XVI of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 a party who intends to summon a witness should state the purpose for which the witness is proposed to be summoned. Court has carefully perused the application filed by revisionists for summoning learned Advocate namely Sailesh Kumar Sharma. In application revisionists did not mention the purpose for which they intend to examine learned Advocate Shailesh Sharma. However, in revision petition the revisionists have stated that revisionists intend to examine the learned Advocate Shailesh Sharma of non-revisionist for the limited purpose only i.e. to prove the pleadings filed in Court.
10. Court is of the opinion that pleadings signed and filed in Courts are not privileged professional communications under Section 126 of Indian Evidence Act 1872. Revisionists intend to prove only pleadings signed by learned Advocate Shri Shailesh Sharma and filed in Court.
11. The protection of disclosing professional communication is given relating to any professional communication which falls within definition of Section 126 of Indian Evidence Act 1872. It is held that privilege of pr
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