IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S. SOUNTHAR, J.
R.S.Venkatesan – Appellant
Versus
Dr. K.Subash – Respondent
CRP No. 1373 of 2025 and CMP.No.8135 of 2025
Decided on : 07-01-2026
ORDER :
S. SOUNTHAR, J.
1. The Civil Revision Petition is filed challenging the order passed by the Trial Court dismissing the application filed by the petitioners/defendants 19 & 21 seeking to transpose them as party plaintiffs in the suit.
2. The respondents 1 and 2 and deceased Kandapiraan and Krishnasamy filed a suit seeking declaration of 1st defendant society's title over the suit “B” Schedule Property and for consequential permanent injunction restraining the defendants 2 to 14 from creating any cloud over the title of suit “B” schedule property. The plaintiffs also sought for various declarations regarding the invalidity of compromise agreement dated 12-11-2006, sale agreement dated 12-11-2006, various sale deeds etc., The plaintiffs also sought for permanent injunction restraining the defendants 16 and 17 from issuing NOC with regard to ‘B’ schedule property. They also sought for injunction restraining the 18th defendant from issuing approval for the layout in suit ‘B’ schedule property. Subsequently, the petitioners were impleaded as defendants 19 and 21 in the suit. Now, the instant application has been filed by the petitioners seeking their transposition as plaintiffs in the suit. The said application was dismissed by the trial court. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioners have come before this court.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are members of the first respondent Society and in order to protect the interest of the first respondent society, the petitioners shall be transposed as plaintiffs. 3. Order XXIII Rule 1-A of CPC says under what circumstances a defendant can be transposed as a plaintiff. The same reads as follows.
“1A. When transposition of defendants as plaintiffs may be permitted.
Where a suit is withdrawn or abandoned by a plaintiff under Rule 1, and a defendant applies to be transposed as a plaintiff under rule 10 of Order I the Court shall, in considering such application, have due regard to the question whether the applicant has a substantial question to be decided as against any of the other defendants”.
4. A close perusal of the above provision would make it clear that where a plaintiff withdraws or abandons the suit claim, the defendant is entitled to apply for his transposition as plaintiff under Order 1 Rule 10 of CPC. In the affidavit filed in support of the petition for transposition, the petitioners have not stated anything about the plaintiffs in the suit. It is not the case of the petitioners in their affidavit that the plaintiffs want to withdraw the suit or abandon the suit claim. In such circumstances, the petitioners have not satisfied the essential ingredient of Order 23 Rule 1-A of CPC. Hence, they are not entitled to seek their transposition as a plaintiff in the suit. In view of the same, I do not find any error in the order passed by the trial court. Accordingly, the civil revision petition stands dismissed.
5. Taking into consideration the suit was of the year 2009, this Court is inclined to direct the trial court to dispose of the same as expeditiously as possible. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
Transposition of a defendant as a plaintiff under CPC requires the original plaintiff to withdraw or abandon the suit, ensuring no multiplicity of proceedings.
Transposition of parties in a suit may be allowed even if the plaintiff has not withdrawn the suit, to prevent multiplicity of proceedings and ensure justice.
The main legal point established is that the transposition of a defendant as a plaintiff in a suit must fulfill the requirements under Order XXIII Rule 1-A of C.P.C, and the circumstances must warran....
Local amendment to Order 1 Rule 10 empowers courts to transpose defendants as plaintiffs at any stage; Order 23 Rule 1A limited to withdrawal/adjustment of suits, inapplicable otherwise.
Transposition application under Order 1 Rule 10(2) CPC rejected at belated stage post-written statement and evidence closure due to lack of diligence, inconsistent adversarial stand, and suspected ex....
A transposed plaintiff cannot change the entire cause of action; a fresh suit must be filed for new claims.
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