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2022 Supreme(Jhk) 971

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
ANANDA SEN, J.
Mosomat Balandina Hansda wife of Late Samaun Hansda - Appellant
Versus
Mosomat Rodenmila @ Rodensila Murmu, wife of Late Samaun Hansda and Anr. - Respondents
M.A. No. 358 of 2015
Decided On : 01-04-2022

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Mr. Gautam Kumar Singh.
For the Respondents: Mr. Ranjan Kumar Singh.

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order XLI Rule 27, 27 (1) (a), (aa) and (b) – Application has been filed by appellant under Order XLI Rule 27 of Code of Civil Procedure for production of additional evidence – Additional evidence, which is sought to be brought on record are Family Declarations of different years issued, showing as his wife – Held, Admittedly, from photocopies of documents, which are sought to be brought on record as additional evidence, it is clear that same are Family Declarations submitted by the deceased before his employer and these documents are in custody of employer, i.e., Indian Railways – Contention of appellant cannot be disbelieved that it was not possible for her to bring these documents as she did not knew about existence of said documents – Further, existence of documents and admitting them in evidence may help Court to pass a better judgment in this appeal – Counsel for respondents submitted that this document is of no relevance – Whether these documents are of relevance or not, will be seen at the time of final hearing and not at stage when Court is considering whether to admit the documents or not – As per judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of Sanjay Kumar Singh (supra), admissibility of Family Declarations, which are sought to be brought on record as additional evidence, does not depend upon relevancy to issue on hand – If court apply true test, Court find that these Family Declarations are important documents for considering entire appeal as same may have some impact on final judgment of this appeal – Thus, by invoking Order XLI Rule 27 (1) (b) of Code of Civil Procedure, these Family Declarations, are admitted in evidence – Allowed.

JUDGMENT :

I.A. No.6643 of 2021

1. This interlocutory application has been filed by the appellant under Order XLI Rule 27 of the Code of Civil Procedure for production of additional evidence. The additional evidence, which is sought to be brought on record are Family Declarations of different years issued by Samaun Hansda, showing Balandina Hansda @ Balandini Hembrom as his wife.

2. Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant submits that these are very important documents, which needs to be exhibited. As per him, these documents will have a great impact on the final decision of this appeal. He submits that these documents will substantially prove that deceased Samaun Hansda, who was an employee of Railways, had declared in his service record that this appellant to be his wife. He submits that if these documents are considered in evidence, this appeal will tilt in favour of the appellant as the Principal District Judge, Sahibganj has held that this appellant is not the wife of the deceased. He further submits that the instant appeal arises out of a judgment dated 23.06.2015 passed by the Principal District Judge, Sahibganj in Succession Certificate Case No.06 of 2008/Title Suit No.01 of 2015. It is the contention of the counsel for the appellant that the Court below has held that son of the deceased, born out of this appellant is entitled for share in the death-cum-retiral benefits of Samaun Hansda, but, since this appellant is not the wife, she is not entitled to receive any share. As per him, when these documents suggest that the deceased had declared the appellant to be his wife, she is also entitled to the benefits, thus, these documents are substantial piece of evidence. It is contended that service record of the deceased employee were not in the knowledge of the appellant and only recently, appellant could come to know about these documents, so she could not produce the same before the Trial Court, thus, for the interest of justice, it is prayed that this application be allowed.

3. Respondents objected the claim of the appellant and challenged the same submitting that the Court below has held in the Succession Certificate Case No.6 of 2008 that this appellant is not the legally wedded wife, rather the respondent Mosomat Rodenmila @ Rodensila Murmu is the legally wedded wife of the deceased. He submits that issue No.3 was framed to the effect that whether the family declaration as filed by the deceased in the Railways Department on 18.02.1997 is genuine or not. After considering the said document, the Court below has answered the issue against this appellant, thus, there is no question to allow this application. Counsel appearing on behalf of the claimants submitted that the documents, which is sought to be brought on record, have got no relevance in the instant appeal. His submission is that in normal course, additional evidence should not be accepted, but, only if a case falls within the four corners of the exceptions then only a document can be exhibited. As per him, the case of the appellant does not fall within the four corners of the exceptions, thus, this application should be dismissed.

4. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, I find that the appellant seeks to introduce the family declarations given by the deceased before his employer. The appellant claims to be the wife of the deceased. To prove that substantially, she wants to bring the aforesaid documents on record by way of additional evidence, where, according to her, the deceased had declared her to be his wife. This appeal arises out of a judgment dated 23.06.2015 passed by the Principal District Judge, Sahibganj in Succession Certificate Case No.06 of 2008/Title Suit No.01 of 2015, wherein parties are claiming share in the death-cum-retiral benefits of the deceased. Learned Principal District Judge granted share to the petitioner-respondent, namely, Mosomat Rodenmila @ Rodensila Murmu and Namiel Hansda, holding that she is the wife of the deceas

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