BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. MURALI SHANKAR, J.
M. Thangam and Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
P. Subbammal - Respondent
C.R.P.(MD) No.2391 of 2018 and C.M.P.(MD) No.10688 of 2018
Decided On : 12-04-2024
CIVIL PROCEDURE - WITHDRAWAL OF SUIT - Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C. - The court discussed the provisions of Order 23 Rule 1(3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, which allows a plaintiff to withdraw a suit with permission to file a fresh suit on the same cause of action if the court is satisfied that the suit must fail due to formal defects or other sufficient grounds. The court emphasized the necessity for the plaintiff to demonstrate such grounds clearly, and the failure to do so led to the conclusion that the trial court's order allowing withdrawal was improper and an abuse of process.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction against the defendants, claiming interference with her possession of the property. During the trial, the plaintiff sought to withdraw the suit under Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C. to file a fresh suit, citing health issues and defects in the original plaint. The defendants opposed this, arguing that the plaintiff had not established sufficient grounds for withdrawal.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the trial court had not adequately considered whether the plaintiff's reasons constituted formal defects or sufficient grounds for withdrawal. The court noted that the plaintiff's application lacked the necessary justification, and the trial had already progressed significantly, with rights having accrued to the defendants based on the trial's admissions.
Issues: Whether the plaintiff had established formal defects or sufficient grounds to withdraw the suit under Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C. and whether the trial court's order allowing withdrawal was justified.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the plaintiff must demonstrate formal defects or sufficient grounds for withdrawal, as outlined in Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C. The court emphasized that the power to allow withdrawal is discretionary and should not be abused to the detriment of the defendants' rights.
Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was allowed, the trial court's order allowing the withdrawal of the suit was set aside, and the application for withdrawal was dismissed. The trial court was directed to complete the trial within three months.
ORDER :
(K. Murali Shankar, J.)
(Prayer : This Civil Revision Petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, to set aside the order passed in I.A.No.206 of 2017 in O.S.No.297 of 2013 dated 16.03.2018 on the file of the II Additional District Munsif Court, Tirunelveli, by allowing this Civil Revision Petition.)
The Civil Revision Petition is directed against the order passed in I.A.No.206 of 2017 in O.S.No.297 of 2013 dated 16.03.2018 on the file of the 2nd Additional District Munsif Court, Tirunelveli, allowing the application filed under Order 23 Rule 1(3) of the Code of Civil Procedure.
2. The revision petitioners are the defendants and the respondent is the plaintiff. For the sake of convenience and brevity, the parties herein will be referred to as per their status/ranking in the trial Court.
3. The plaintiff has filed the suit in O.S.No.297 of 2013 against the defendants before the District Munsif Court, Tirunelveli, claiming permanent injunction restraining the defendants and their men from in any manner interfering with the plaintiff's peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit property. The defendants have filed their written statement and are contesting the suit. When the suit was in part-heard stage, the plaintiff has filed the above application in I.A.No.206 of 2017 under Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C. seeking permission to withdraw the suit with liberty to file a fresh suit. The defendants have filed their counter statement raising serious objections. The learned District Munsif, after enquiry, has passed the impugned order dated 16.03.2018 allowing the application by imposing cost. Aggrieved by the impugned order, the defendants have preferred the present revision.
4. The case of the plaintiff, in the application filed under Order 23 Rule 1(3) C.P.C., is that the plaintiff has been suffering from diabetes and blood pressure, that she is aged about 64 years, that her son is working as auto driver in Chennai, that since she is an illiterate, while filing the suit, has given lesser measurements in the suit property, that she has also not claimed the relief of declaration, that there are some defects in the main plaint and some other reliefs ought to have been claimed, that the defendants sold more extent than that was owned by them and as such, she has to challenge those sales, that the above defects cannot be rectified by amendments and that therefore it has become just and necessary for her to withdraw the suit with liberty to file a fresh suit on the same cause of action or else, she will be put to irreparable loss and hardship.
5. The defence of the defendants is that the defendants have filed their written statement as earlier as on 11.12.2013, that they have already taken a stand that the respondent ought to have claimed the relief of declaration, that the description of the property given in the plaint are not correct, that an Advocate Commissioner was appointed at the instance of the defendants in I.A.No.1260 of 2013, that when the Advocate Commissioner visited the property along with Surveyor, the Surveyor informed that the property in dispute could not be measured, that the plaintiff, without taking any steps to amend the plaint, has examined herself as P.W.1 and subsequently, she was cross-examined, that the plaintiff has also examined another witness Chellammal as P.W.2 and was cross-examined and that the plaintiff, after taking so many adjournments for adducing further evidence, has come forward with the above application.
6. It is the further contention of the defendants that they have elicited several admissions from the plaintiff's side witnesses and the plaintiff sensing that if the suit is proceeded, the same would be dismissed has filed the above application, that the limitation to claim the relief of declaration was also barred and that the above application is devoid of merit and the same is liable to be dismissed.
7. The main contention of the plaintiff is that due to her illiteracy,
Manivannan and others Vs. P.Ambal Devi reported in (2015) 1 MLJ 564
The court established that withdrawal of a suit under Order XXIII Rule 1 requires the court to be satisfied with the grounds for allowing a fresh suit on the same cause of action.
withdrawal of the suit, but they are aggrieved only by the permission granted by the trial Court allowing the plaintiffs to file a suit afresh in respect of the same properties. Thus, since there is ....
A plaintiff's right to withdraw a suit at the appellate stage is not absolute and must respect the rights acquired by the defendants under a decree.
A court can only grant permission to withdraw a suit with leave to file a fresh suit if it is satisfied that the suit must fail by reason of some formal defect or that there are sufficient grounds fo....
A plaintiff must establish a formal defect under Order XXIII Rule 1 to withdraw a suit and file a new one, and courts must provide reasons for such decisions.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that withdrawal of a suit is not permissible in the absence of fatal defects, and the plaintiff's conduct and intention in seeking withdrawal are c....
Under CPC Order 23 Rule 3, withdrawal of a suit is permissible for formal defects, allowing plaintiffs to file a fresh suit to ensure justice is served.
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