BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
K. MURALI SHANKAR, J.
R. Esther Jeyarani – Appellant
Versus
M/s Nishigandha Polymers Pvt. Ltd. – Respondent
C.M.A. (MD) No. 950 of 2021
Decided On : 31-10-2022
SARFAESI Act - Code of Civil Procedure,1908 - Orders 33 and 43 Rule 1 - Certified Invoice - Claiming Mobilization - Materials and equipments - Abrupt Termination - Suit for recovery amount - Market Value - Whether trial Court erred in dismissing indigent O.P., despite production of sufficient evidence - Held, No doubt appellant/plaintiff has produced income tax returns for period - Admittedly she has not produced income tax returns for period respondents in their counter statement have specifically pleaded that appellant/plaintiff is a rich and wealthy lady and that can be established by production of all documents listed her company's profit and loss account for five years ending with company's balance sheet personal bank account company's bank account income tax return for last years and etc - But appellant/plaintiff has not chosen to produce income tax return for three years period and other documents above referred - Appellant/plaintiff has not offered any explanation for non-production of same - Appeal Dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
K. MURALI SHANKAR, J.
Prayer: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Order 43 Rule (na) of the Code of Civil Procedure, against the order dated 06.09.2021 passed in Pauper Original Petition in P.O.P.No. 180 of 2016, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Thoothukudi.
1. The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is directed against the order passed in P.O.P.No. 180 of 2016, dated 06.09.2021, on the file of the Principal District Judge, Thoothukudi, in dismissing the petition filed under Order 33 Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
2. The appellant is the proposed plaintiff and she filed a suit under Order 33 Rule 1 and Order 7 Rule 1 C.P.C., to declare her as an indigent person and to permit her to institute the suit without paying Court fees. The case of the appellant/plaintiff is that she is the proprietress of RBJ Blue Star Enterprises, Tuticorin doing the business of underwater rock drilling, blasting, mining and transport operations, that the seventh defendant entered into a contract with the Visakapattinam Port Trust for dredging works, that the eighth respondent/defendant - Managing Director of the seventh respondent/defendant issued a work order on 18.05.2013 to the appellant/plaintiff to carry out the underwater rock drilling and blasting works connected with the dredging works at Visakapattinam Port, that the appellant/plaintiff submitted certified invoice for claiming mobilization charges of Rs.7,00,00,000/- and the said amount was sent to the appellant/plaintiff by the eighth respondent/defendant and instructed the appellant/plaintiff to send Rs. 6,00,00,000/- to the second respondent/defendant for mobilization of further materials and equipments, that the appellant/plaintiff was then forced to mobilize the materials and equipments from her own resources and as such, she suffered a financial setback, that the appellant/plaintiff has then requested the first respondent/defendant to return back the money, but the eighth respondent infuriated by the same, terminated the earlier work order and due to the abrupt termination of the work order, the appellant has suffered heavy financial loss to the tune of Rs. 22,00,00,000/- and that the appellant was forced to file the present suit for recovery of Rs.6,00,00,000/- and interest at Rs.3,11,10,000/- totalling at Rs.9,11,10,000/-. It is the further case of the appellant that she owns a house bearing Door No. 2F/1379A, at P&T Colony, 12th street west, Tuticorin, that only by mortgaging the said house with the State Bank of India, SME Branch, Tuticorin, she invested in their business, that since the appellant was not able to settle the money borrowed from the Bank, possession notice was issued under the SARFAESI Act, that though the market value of the house property is Rs. 66,00,000/- the liability over it is more than Rs.80,00,000/- that the appellant/plaintiff has suffered a lot monetarily and she does not have the capacity to pay the court fees for filing the suit and that therefore, she is constrained to file the above suit as informa-pauperis.
3. The respondents 1 to 6 in their counter statement have taken a stand that the appellant claims to be the owner of the RPJ Blue Star Enterprises which had a dealing contract with the seventh respondent for Rs.32.53 Crores, that she has been alleging that she is now owning 10 sarees, one mobile phone, one watch and 10 chudithars worth about Rs.1000/- that the house is worth about Rs.12,00,00,000/- but grossly undervalued for the purpose of this case, that the above O.P., has been filed only to threaten the respondents to make an unjust and unlawful gain and to avoid breach of contract and actions by the first respondent.
4. The respondents 7 and 8 have filed a counter statement raising objections to declare the appellant as an indigent person and further stated that the appellant/plaintiff has not completed the work order within the time stipulated in the work order dated 18.05.2013 and as such, the work order was terminated,
A petitioner seeking to sue as an indigent person under Order 33 Rule 1 C.P.C. bears the burden of proof to establish indigency through evidence; mere assertions are insufficient, and the court must ....
A litigant seeking to sue as an indigent person must disclose all assets; non-disclosure warrants dismissal of the application to prevent fraudulent claims.
A plaintiff who has paid partial court fees at the time of institution may subsequently seek permission to prosecute as an indigent person if they experience genuine financial incapacity. Eligibility....
Adherence to procedural requirements under Order XXXIII of the Code is essential for a plaintiff to be permitted to sue as an indigent person, including full disclosure of property and proper applica....
The court clarified that to qualify as an indigent person under Order 33 CPC, actual financial capacity must be assessed, not merely hypothetical earning potential.
Point of Court : When there is a violation of principles of natural justice and mandatory statutory mechanisms, aggrieved parties may invoke writ jurisdiction to cure the manifest errors of law in im....
Financial constraints and responsibility for minor children can justify permission to file an appeal as an indigent person, despite ownership of land and earning a monthly wage.
A deity is a juristic person and can sue as an indigent person under Order 33, Rule 1, CPC. However, a suit instituted by the next friend without obtaining the leave of the court to institute the act....
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