IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S.M.Subramaniam, J.
M.Ramani - Appellant
Vs.
D.K.Jayasudha - Respondent
C.R.P.No.89 of 2023 and C.M.P.No.678 of 2023
Decided On : 12-01-2023
Suit for Specific Performance and Permanent Injunction - Revision petitioners defendants respondent instituted a Suit for Specific Performance and Permanent Injunction - Revision petitioners defendants were order was passed respondent plaintiff on lapse of about revision petitioners defendants filed Interlocutory – Held, Court would not set aside ex-parte order in a routine manner - Case revision petitioners/defendants have not substantiated grounds raised Interlocutory Application - Court do not find any infirmity or perversity in respect of order passed by Trial Court - Civil Revision Petition in stands dismissed.
ORDER :
The Civil Revision Petition has been filed against the Fair and Decreetal order dated 20.07.2021 passed in I.A.No.3 of 2021 in O.S.No.34 of 2013.
2. The revision petitioners are the defendants and the respondent instituted a Suit for Specific Performance and Permanent Injunction.
3. The revision petitioners/defendants were set ex-parte and an order was passed in favour of the respondent/plaintiff on 26.02.2014. After a lapse of about seven (7) years, the revision petitioners/defendants filed Interlocutory Application in I.A.No.3 of 2021 to set aside the ex-parte order passed on 26.02.2014. The Trial Court dismissed the Interlocutory Application in I.A.No.3 of 2021. Challenging the said order, the present Civil Revision Petition has been filed.
4. The learned counsel for the revision petitioners mainly contended that the revision petitioners/ defendants are not residing in the address stated in the Plaint and thus, they had no knowledge about the summons served on the revision petitioners/defendants in the Original Suit and thus, they could not be able to defend the Suit filed by the respondent/ plaintiff.
5. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent/plaintiff objected the said contention by stating that the address stated in the Plaint as well as in the Interlocutory Application filed in the year 2021 are one and the same and there is no change of address. The address stated in both the petitions are No.28, Arcot Road, Sathuvachari, Vellore District and therefore, the contention of the revision petitioners/defendants in this regard was rejected by the Trial Court.
6. The findings of the Trial Court reveals that the revision petitioners themselves refused the Court summons during the relevant point of time. Thus, the revision petitioners failed to prove their bonafide before the Trial Court for the purpose of entertaining the Interlocutory Application, which was filed after a lapse of seven (7) years from the date of passing of the ex-parte order on 26.02.2014.
7. A person, who slept over his right, cannot approach the Court after several years. In the present case, the revision petitioners were not vigilant in pursuing the Civil Suit filed by the respondent/ plaintiff for Specific Performance and Permanent Injunction.
8. In the absence of any acceptable reason, the Court would not set aside the ex-parte order in a routine manner. In the present case, the revision petitioners/defendants have not substantiated the grounds raised in the Interlocutory Application and thus, this Court do not find any infirmity or perversity in respect of the order passed by the Trial Court.
9. Accordingly, the Fair and Decreetal order dated 20.07.2021 passed by the Principal District Judge, Vellore in I.A.No.3 of 2021 in O.S.No.34 of 2013 stands confirmed and consequently, the Civil Revision Petition in C.R.P.No.89 of 2023 stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
Timely filing and valid explanations for delays are crucial in applications to set aside ex parte judgments under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC.
A petitioner must provide a satisfactory explanation for delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act to warrant condonation of such delay.
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