1945 Supreme(Mad) 450
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
Koman, J.
V. Kunhikrishna Reddi
Versus
Ramaraju
Decided On : 06.12.1945
The main legal point established is that a clerical error in the vakalat does not invalidate a petition for restoration of a suit under Order 9, Rule 9, if the intention of the parties is clear.
Headnote:
Order 9, Rule 9 - Restoration of Suit - The court allowed the petition for restoration of the suit, finding that the earlier presentation of the petition was proper within time, despite a clerical error in the vakalat, and directed the District Munsiff to restore the petition to file and dispose of it on the merits according to law.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff's suit was dismissed for default of appearance. The plaintiff filed a petition under Order 9, Rule 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure to have the suit restored to file.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the earlier presentation of the petition was proper within time, and the clerical error in the vakalat did not invalidate the petition. The court directed the District Munsiff to restore the petition to file and dispose of it on the merits according to law.
Issues: The issues involved the proper filing of the petition under Order 9, Rule 9 and the effect of a clerical error in the vakalat on the restoration of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the earlier presentation of the petition was proper within time, and the clerical error in the vakalat was not substantial, as the intention of the parties was clear. The court relied on precedents to support its view.
Final Decision: The petition for restoration of the suit was allowed, and the District Munsiff was directed to restore the petition to file and dispose of it on the merits according to law.
Koman, J.
1. The petitioner is the plaintiff in O.S. No. 328 of 1943 on the file of the District Munsiffs Court, Trivellore. The suit was dismissed on the 25th September, 1944, for default of the appearance of the plaintiff. The plaintiff through his vakil Mr. M.S. Parthasarathi Aiyangar filed a petition under Order 9, Rule 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure on the 24th October, 1944, within time, to have the suit restored to file; but, in doing so, the vakalat on behalf of the vakil I was defective. In the body of the vakalat the name of Mr. T.E. Raghavachari was mentioned but his name was not struck off and Mr. Parthasarathi Aiyangar | entered; but Mr. Parthasarathi Aiyangar had endorsed on the vakalat accepting the same. The Court returned the vakalat and the petition on the 31st October, 1944, as the vakalat was defective and four days time was given for rectification. This was complied with and the petition and the vakalat were re-presented to Court on the 4th November. The learned District Munsiff dismissed the petition on the ground that the earlier presentation on the 24th October, 1944, was not a proper presentation of the petition and that by the 4th of November, 1944, the petition was barred by limitation as under the Limitation Act a statutory right accrued to the respondent.
2. A preliminary objection was taken to this petition that no petition lies to this Court as an appeal lies from an order under Order 9, Rule 9 to the District Court. When a petition is filed under Order 9, Rule 9, Sub-section (2) of the rule provides that no order shall be made under the rule unless notice of the application has been served on the opposite party. Therefore the order now sought to be revised, which admittedly was passed without notice, cannot be considered to be one passed under Order 9, Rule 9. If it is an order under Order 9, Rule 9, it is to the District Court and not to the High Court, that an appeal lies. Under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure the High Court can interfere in revision in all cases where no appeal lies directly to the High Court.
3. On the merits, I consider that the earlier presentation on the 24th October, is a proper filing within time and the fact that the vakils name was not entered in the body of the vakalat is only a clerical error, the intention of the parties being quite clear, as is also seen from the fact that the petition was returned to Mr. M.S. Parthasarathi Aiyangar for subsequent correction. The view I have taken with regard to this point finds support in Ram Sarup v. Sahu Bhagwati Prasad I.L.R.(1936) All. 912 and Baldeo v. Lachmi Narain AIR1934All810 . I therefore allow the petition.
4. The District Munsiff will have the petition restored to file and dispose of it on the merits according to law. The petitioner is allowed the costs of this petition.