High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJU
S. Anthonidoss & another
Versus
Sabesthiyan & another
C.R.P. No.643 of 1996
Decided On : 13-03-1996
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - ORDER 26 RULES 9 AND 10 - APPOINTMENT OF ADVOCATE COMMISSIONER - REJECTION OF APPLICATION - JUSTIFICATION - ADMISSION OF FACTUM OF DEPOSIT OF MATERIALS - NO NEED FOR APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners filed a revision petition challenging the order of the trial court rejecting their application for the appointment of an Advocate Commissioner to inspect the suit items and note the physical features. The petitioners claimed that the materials stored in the suit items belonged to them and that the inspection was necessary to ascertain the age and condition of the materials. The respondents, on the other hand, admitted the existence of the materials and contended that the appointment of a Commissioner was not necessary.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the order of the trial court was justified as the existence of the materials on the site was an admitted fact and there was no dispute or controversy over the same. The court further held that the appointment of a Commissioner could not be used to prove the petitioners' claim of ownership of the materials or to ensure that no construction was put up during the pendency of the proceedings.
Issues: Whether the appointment of an Advocate Commissioner was justified in the circumstances of the case.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appointment of a Commissioner is not justified when the factum of deposit of materials is admitted by the respondents and there is no dispute or controversy over the same. The court further held that the appointment of a Commissioner cannot be used to prove the petitioners' claim of ownership of the materials or to ensure that no construction is put up during the pendency of the proceedings.
Final Decision: The revision petition was dismissed.
.1. The above revision has been filed by the plaintiffs- petitioners before the trial Court challenging the order of the learned Subordinate Judge, Kumbakonam, dated 211. 1995 in I.A.No.450 of 1995 in O.S.No.231 of 1995, whereunder the application filed under Order 26 Rules 9 and 10 read with section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, for appointment of an Advocate-Commissioner to inspect the suit items 1 and 20 and note the physical features that may be pointed out at the time of inspection and to file a report, came to be rejected. The case of the applicants before the Court below was that the second respondent has filed a counter stating that he has stored black metal etc. in the suit items 1 and 20 and it belongs to him, that the said materials used for building purpose and construction absolutely belonged to the plaintiffs, that
.such materials came to be stored by the plaintiffs long back and that the nature and condition and position of the materials will clearly reveal how old they are and what time it was stored. It is, therefore, to ascertain the abovesaid fact, according to the petitioners, the only way is to make a local inspection and it requires appointment of an Advocate-Commissioner to inspect and submit a report and the respondents will not be prejudiced by doing so.
2. The second respondent has filed a counter affidavit stating that the object of filing such an application is only to drag on the proceedings and to prevent the respondents from enjoying suit items 1 and 20 and that there is no necessity for the appointment of a Commissioner since the respondents admitted that heaps of bricks and black metal are stored in the suit item No.2 contrary to the sale in favour of the second respondent. According to this counter-affidavit, the materials belonged to the first respondent, who sold and handed over the same to the second respondent along with the said item sold in his favour. It is stated further in the counter affidavit that the first respondent himself has admitted the same in the counter affidavit filed by him to the petition for temporary injunction and that, at any rate, the materials do not belong to the petitioners and since the existence of the materials is admitted, there is no need for the appointment of a Commissioner.
3. The counsel for the first respondent appears to have filed a memo adopting the counter-affidavit filed by the second respondent in the Court below.
4. After considering the submissions of the learned counsel appearing on both sides, the learned Subordinate Judge rejected the application on the view that the request for appointment of an Advocate-Commissioner need not be countenanced since the existence of the materials on the site in question is an admitted fact and therefore, there was no justification for the appointment of any Commissioner. Hence, the above revision.
.5. Mr Jeremiah, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners invited my attention to Rule 90 of the Civil Rules of Practice and Order 14, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure as also Order 20 Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure to contend that the order of the Court below is liable to be set aside for the omission on the part of the learned Judge in the Court below to formulate an issue or point and render its decision thereon. Argued the learned counsel further that by the appointment of an Advocate-Commissioner to notice the factum of deposit of materials and submit a report therefor, no prejudice will be caused to the other side and that the appointment, if made, would help the plaintiffs to ensure that no construction is put up later to the detriment of the rights of the plaintiffs.
.6. I have carefully considered the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner. In my view, there is absolutely no merit in the challenge made to the order of the Court below. I have gone through the order and the affidavit filed by the petitioners in the Court below and the counter-affidavit fi
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.