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2018 Supreme(Mad) 949

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
V.M. VELUMANI, J.
V. Palanisamy - Petitioner
Versus
Rajamani & Others - Respondents
C.R.P. (PD) No. 2647 of 2015 & M.P. No. 1 of 2015
Decided On : 19-03-2018

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: P. Saravana Sowmiyan
For the Respondents: M/s. Abiramavalli, A.V. Raja

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the impleading of a subsequent purchaser in a suit is discretionary and must be based on the specific facts of the case, and the exercise of discretionary power by the court must be judicial.

Headnote:

Lis Pendens - Impleading Subsequent Purchaser - Order I Rule 10(2) and Section 151 of C.P.C - (2005) 11 SCC 403

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner sought to be impleaded as a party defendant in a partition suit, claiming to have purchased the property pending the suit. The court dismissed the application, holding that the petitioner is not a necessary party as the purchase was made pending the suit and after an interim injunction was granted.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the petitioner's purchase of the property was made pending the suit and after an interim injunction was granted, and therefore, the petitioner was not a necessary party to the suit.

Issues: The main issue was whether the subsequent purchaser should be impleaded as a party defendant in the partition suit.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that impleading a subsequent purchaser is discretionary and must be based on the facts of each case. The court also emphasized that the exercise of discretionary power must be judicial, and in this case, the lower court had validly exercised its discretionary power in dismissing the application.

Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was dismissed, and no costs were awarded.

JUDGMENT :

1. This Civil Revision Petition is filed to set aside the fair and decretal order dated 16.04.2015 made in I.A.No.391 of 2013 in O.S.No.8 of 2011 on the file of the District Munsif Court, Avinashi.

2. The petitioner is the third party, first respondent is the plaintiff and respondents 2 and 3 are the defendants in O.S.No.8 of 2011 on the file of the District Munsif Court, Avinashi. The first respondent filed the said suit against the respondents 2 and 3, who are her brothers for partition. The suit was filed on 05.01.2011 and on the same day, interim injunction was granted restraining the respondents 2 and 3 from alienating or encumbering the suit properties. The second respondent filed written statement on 29.04.2011 and third respondent filed written statement on 14.02.2012. Third respondent subsequently remained exparte. The petitioner filed I.A.No.391 of 2013 under Order I Rule 10(2) and Section 151 of C.P.C to implead him as third defendant in the suit. According to the petitioner, there was a partition between the respondents 2 and 3 of the suit property and suit property was allotted to the second respondent. The second respondent, his daughter-in-law and his grand son sold the property to the petitioner. In view of the purchase by the petitioner, he is necessary and proper party to the suit.

3. The first respondent filed counter affidavit and denied all the averments and contended that the petitioner purchased the property on 24.12.2012 pending suit. Suit was filed on 05.01.2011. On the same day ad-interim injunction was granted and after knowing the interim injunction granted and pending suit, the petitioner has purchased the property. The said sale deed is null and void. The petitioner in collusion with respondents 2 and 3 has come out with the present application and prayed for dismissal of the application.

4. The learned Judge considering the averments in the affidavit, counter affidavit and judgments relied on by the parties, dismissed the application holding that the petitioner is not necessary party to the suit as he purchased the property pending suit.

5. Against the said order of dismissal dated 16.04.2015 made in I.A.No.391 of 2013 in O.S.No.8 of 2011, the petitioner has come out with the present Civil Revision Petition.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner reiterated the averments made in the application and the grounds of revision. In support of his contentions, he relied on the judgment reported in (2005) 11 SCC 403 (Amit Kumar Shaw and another Vs. Farida Khatoon and another):

“16. The doctrine of lis pendens applies only where the lis is pending before a Court. Further pending the suit, the transferee is not entitled as of right to be made a party to the suit, though the court has a discretion to make him a party. But the transferee pendente lite can be added as a proper party if his interest in the subject-matter of the suit is substantial and not just peripheral. A transferee pendente lite to the extent he has acquired interest from the defendant is vitally interested in the litigation, where the transfer is of the entire interest of the defendant; the latter having no more interest in the property may not properly defend the suit. He may collude with the plaintiff. Hence, though the plaintiff is under no obligation to make a lis pendens transferee a party, under Order 22 Rule 10 an alienee pendente lite may be joined as a party. As already noticed, the Court has discretaion in the matter which must be judically exercised and an alienee would ordinarily be joined as a party to enable him to protect his interests. The Court has held that a transferee pendente lite of an interest in immovable property is a representative-in-interest of the party from whom he has acquired that interest. He is entitled to be impleaded in the suit or other proceedings where his predecessor-in-interest is made a party to the litigation; he is entitled to be heard in the matter on the merits of the case.”

7. Heard the




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