HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT JAMMU
Hasnain Massodi, J.
Vinod Kumar -Appellant
Versus
Lalit Kumar -Resopndent
Civil Revision No. 32-2009 & CMP No. 28-2009
Decided On : 16-12-2010
Order 7 Rule 11 CPC - Partition Suit - Agrarian Reforms Act 1976, Land Revenue Act 1996 - The court discussed the grounds for rejection of the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, the recurring cause of action for partition of joint property, and the interpretation of Order 9 Rule 9 CPC and Order 23 Rule 1(4) CPC. The court held that dismissal of a suit for non-prosecution does not bar a subsequent suit for partition, and failure to prosecute the suit does not amount to abandonment of the suit. The court also found that the suit was not barred by the Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 or the Land Revenue Act 1996.
Fact of the Case:
The respondent brought a suit against the petitioner for partition of joint property and division of valuables and cash. The petitioner sought rejection of the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, arguing that the second suit for partition was barred and that the suit for division of valuables and cash was based on mere speculation.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the dismissal of the earlier suit for non-prosecution did not bar the subsequent suit for partition, and the suit for division of valuables and cash was maintainable. The court also held that the suit was not barred by the Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 or the Land Revenue Act 1996.
Issues: The issues involved the grounds for rejection of the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, the recurring cause of action for partition of joint property, and the interpretation of Order 9 Rule 9 CPC and Order 23 Rule 1(4) CPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that dismissal of a suit for non-prosecution does not bar a subsequent suit for partition, and failure to prosecute the suit does not amount to abandonment of the suit. The court also found that the suit was not barred by the Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 or the Land Revenue Act 1996.
Final Decision: The revision petition was dismissed as without merit.
2. Before dilating on the grounds taken up by petitioner in application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, to seek rejection of the plaint, it would be advantageous to have closer look at the background, in which present controversy arises.
3. The respondent on 14th July, 2007 brought a suit against the petitioner before the Trial Court for partition by metes and bounds of the property mentioned in the plaint.
4. Briefly stated the respondent's case was that the parties to the suit are real brothers and their father executed a Will on 16th July 1983, whereby property at Muthi and Tringla Batote, was bequeathed in equal shares to the parties; that the property forming subject matter of the suit, however, was left by father of the parties outside scope of the Will and after his demise on 4th January 1999, subject matter of the suit remained joint and unpartitioned between the parties, to be divided in equal shares. The respondent complained that the petitioner, though requested to take steps for partition of the aforesaid property in equal shares, took no steps, constraining the respondent to approach the Court. It was next pleaded that earlier suit brought in the year 2001 by the respondent for partition of the suit property, was allowed to be "dismissed for non-prosecution" by the respondent because of intervention of his mother and promise extended by the petitioner that the suit property would be partitioned without intervention of the court. The respondent pleaded that as the petitioner did not keep the promise and in the meantime mother of the parties also passed away on 24th December 2004, he was left with no option but to institute fresh partition suit. The respondent added to the subject matter of the previous suit instituted in the year 2001, the jewelry and cash lying in their mother's Locker No.231-A, Central Bank of India, Shalimar Road, Jammu and also asked for division of the valuables and cash found in the Locker in equal shares. The respondent pleading that the petitioner was disputing the Will executed by father of the parties on 16th July 1983, whereby land measuring 08 Kanals 15 Marlas comprising Khasra No.12 at Muthi Jammu, was bequeathed to the respondent, sought a declaratory decree, declaring the respondent exclusive owner of the aforesaid land at Muthi Jammu and entitled to receive its compensation from the Armed Forces, presently in occupation of the land.
5. The petitioner, after he caused appearance before the Trial Court, instead of filling written statement, came up with an application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC. The petitioner sought rejection of the plaint on the ground that the respondent having allowed suit for partition of house No.1 Mohni Niwas, filed in the year 2001, to be dismissed in default on 12.08.2002, the second suit for partition on the same ground was barred in terms of Order 9 Rule 9 CPC and the plaint liable to be rejected. As regards partition of jewelry and cash, lying in Locker No.231-A, Central Bank of India, Shalimar Road, Jammu, the case set up by the petitioner was that as neither of the parties was aware of the details and description of the jewelry and cash, if any, lying in the Locker, the suit was based on mere speculation and without any cause of action. The petitioner contended that a letter of administration was already granted by the competent court jointly in favour of the parties vide order dated 01.09.2005 (File No.12/Prob) by learned 2nd Additional District Judge Jammu but the Locker was not opened because of non-cooperation on the part of respondent and that the suit for partition of the so-called jewelry was incompetent and without cause of action unless and until the Locker was op
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