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2009 Supreme(Mad) 5549

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. VENUGOPAL
G. Chandranath & Another
Versus
S. Rajapushpam
C.R.P.(PD)No.1618 of 2009
Decided on : 15-12-2009

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioners:B. Dyaneswaran, Advocate.
For the Respondent:R. Sivaprakasam, Advocate.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that necessary amendments to the plaint should be allowed for effective adjudication of the subject matter of litigation, as long as they do not cause injustice to the other party.

Headnote:

Amendment of Plaint - Civil Procedure Code - Order 6 Rule 17 - [SUMMARY]

Fact of the Case:

The respondent/plaintiff filed an application to amend the plaint seeking relief of declaration that Southern wall belongs to the plaintiff and to add C schedule property over which easement right is claimed. The revision petitioners/appellants opposed the amendment, citing the alteration of the nature and character of the suit.

Finding of the Court:

The Court found that the proposed amendments were necessary for effective adjudication of the subject matter of litigation and were not sought malafide. The First Appellate Authority's decision to allow the amendment was upheld.

Issues: The main issue was whether the proposed amendments to the plaint were permissible under the Civil Procedure Code.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that all amendments necessary for the consideration of the real disputes in the suit should be allowed, provided they do not work injustice to the other side and are necessary for resolving the dispute in controversy between the parties.

Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was dismissed, and the parties were directed to bear their own costs. The First Appellate Authority was granted the liberty to file an additional written statement, and the appeal was directed to be disposed of within six months.

Judgment

The revision petitioners/respondents/appellants 1 and 2 have preferred this civil revision petition as against the order dated 16.04.2009 in I.A.No.17 of 2009 in A.S.No.92 of 1998 passed by the Learned Principal District Judge, Salem in allowing the application filed by the respondent/petitioner/plaintiff under Order 6 Rule 17 of Civil Procedure Code praying for issuance of an order to amend the plaint.

2. The Learned Principal District Judge, Salem while passing orders in I.A.No.17 of 2009 on 16.04.2009 has inter-alia opined that the plaintiff claims right of easement for

white washing the Southern wall by using the land of the defendants. Therefore, the amendment of plaint seeking relief of declaration that Southern wall belongs to the plaintiff, and also to amend the plaint to add C schedule property over which easement right is claimed are necessary. The plaintiff is also allowed to amend the plaint to add additional pleading regarding the right of easement for the purpose of repairing, white washing and maintaining the Southern wall and resultantly allowed the application.

3. According to the learned counsel for the revision petitioners/appellants 1 and 2, the Learned Principal District, Judge, Salem while allowing I.A.No.17 of 2009 has not taken into account of the fact that the amendments sought for by the respondent/plaintiff are altering the very nature and character of the suit and further the impugned order in I.A.No.17 of 2009 suffers from material irregularity and patent illegality in the eye of law and as a matter of fact, the amendments claimed by the respondent/plaintiff will introduce new pleas of custom, which are beyond the scope of the suit and this Court while allowing S.A.No.112 of 2002 by its judgment dated 28.08.2008 has remanded the A.S.No.92 of 1998 to the file of the Learned Principal District Judge, Salem for fresh disposal in accordance with law and as a matter of fact, the High Court has not expressed any opinion in regard to the ownership of the schedule mentioned property and indeed the amendments sought for by the plaintiff have been already available at the time of filing of the suit and the Doctrine of Selection has been left by the respondent/plaintiff and therefore the amendments cannot be permitted in law and in any event, the impugned order in I.A.No.17 of 2009 in A.S.No.92 of 1998 has to be set aside by this Court sitting in revision and therefore prays for allowing the civil revision petition in the interest of justice.

4. The learned counsel for the revision petitioners/appellants 1 and 2 submits that after the amendment to Civil Procedure Code, it has come into force on 7. 2002, no amendment of plaint can be allowed after commencement of trial unless the Court comes to the conclusion in spite of the due diligence, the plaintiff could not have raised the pleas before commencement of trial and to lend support to his contention, he relies on the decision in P.SUBBA NAICKER VS. VELUCHAMY NAICKER AND THREE OTHERS (2004 (2) CTC 742 ) wherein it is observed as follows:

"Though it is contended that the proposed amendment in the plaint will not alter the cause of action or introduce a new plea, as rightly objected by the respondents, the petitioner cannot be allowed to claim both ownership and a right of easement. This aspect was rightly considered and rejected by the learned District Munsif, I am in agreement with the said conclusion and there is no ground for interference.

Apart from the above factual details, it is to be noted that after the Amendment Act.2002 (Which came into force with effect from 7. 2002, no application for amendment shall be allowed after the trial has commenced unless the Court comes to the conclusion that in spite of due diligence, the party could not have raised the matter before the commencement of trial. Admittedly, the petition for amendment-I.A.681/2003 was filed only on 30.6.2003 i.e., well after the amendment Act,2002. As a matter of fat, only when

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