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2015 Supreme(Jhk) 151

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, J.
Laxman Sharma - Petitioner
Versus
Balrum Sharma & others - Respondents
W.P.(C) No. 1425 of 2012
Decided On : 25.02.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Ayush Aditya, Advocate Mr. Shashank Shekhar, Advocate For the Respondent No. 1:Mr. P.A.S. Pati, Advocate.

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908—Order 7 Rule 11 read with Section 151—Rejection of plaint—Section 151 cannot be invoked when there is specific provision in CPC for dismissal of suit—Title suit cannot be converted into eviction suit without making correction in cause title of suit.

ORDER :

Aggrieved by order dated 14.06.2011 in Eviction Suit No. 112 of 1997, the present writ petition has been filed.

2. It is stated that initially the suit being Title Suit No. 170 of 1997 was filed by the respondent no. 1. The defendant (petitioner herein) is the full brother of the plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed that his father has executed giftdeed in his favour and thus, he became owner of the property in question. The Title Suit No. 170 of 1997 was converted into an eviction suit bearing Eviction Suit No. 112 of 1997. Subsequently, vide order dated 19.01.2001, the plaintiff was again permitted to convert the eviction suit into a title suit however, the plaintiff did not take any step in the matter for correction in the cause title and amendment in the plaint. The defendant (petitioner herein) has also preferred Title Suit No. 94 of 1999 and he preferred an application for analogous hearing of both suits which was dismissed by the Trial Court vide order dated 15.09.2005. The petitioner approached this Court in W.P.(C) No. 6239 of 2005 which was dismissed on the ground that both suits are different in nature and therefore, cannot be heard together. The petitioner again moved an application for examination of the signature of his father on the alleged giftdeed and the said application was also dismissed by the Trial Court against which the petitioner came to this Court by filing W.P.(C) No. 1547 of 2009. The said writ petition was dismissed vide order dated 17.08.2010 taking note of order dated 17.02.2006 in W.P.(C) No. 6239 of 2005 however, it was ordered that both the suits would be tried one after another.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in the aforesaid facts, the petitioner preferred application dated 18.12.2010 for dismissal of Eviction Suit No. 112 of 1997 however, the said application has erroneously been dismissed vide order dated 14.06.2011. It is submitted that the Trial Court in the impugned order dated 14.06.2011 recorded a finding that no material establishing landlordtenant relationship has been brought on record and once such finding has been recorded by the Court itself, in exercise of power under Section 151 CPC, the Trial Court was under a duty to dismiss the suit. Relying on a judgement in “Temple of Thakur Shri Mathuradassji, Chhota Bhanda Vs. Kanhaiyalal & Others”, reported in AIR 2008 (NOC) 1259 (Raj), the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even though application dated 18.12.2010 was filed under Section 151 CPC, the Court has power to pass order dismissing the suit.

4. As against the above, Mr. P.A.S. Pati, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent no. 1plaintiff submits that there is a specific provision under Order VII Rule 11 CPC which provides for rejection of plaint and therefore, the application filed under Section 151 CPC was not maintainable. Since, there is specific provision under the Code of Civil Procedure for dismissal of suit, the Trial Court has rightly not exercised power under Section 151 CPC.

5. From the materials brought on record, it appears that vide order dated 19.01.2001 the Trial Court permitted the plaintiff to convert the Eviction Suit No. 112 of 1997 into a title suit. This order was never challenged by the defendant and it attained finality. Though, the petitioner did not take necessary steps for amending the plaint however, the fact remains that the Court in seisin of the suit filed by the plaintiff has to decide the claim of the plaintiff with respect to the suit scheduled property in reference to the gift-deed executed by his father. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the Trial Court has recorded that “from bare reading of the plaint, it appears that in the plaint it is nowhere mentioned that there is relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties” and therefore, the Trial Court should have dismissed the eviction suit on this ground alone, does not merit acceptance. The observation of the Tri





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