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1968 Supreme(P&H) 5

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
R.S.Sarkaria, J.
Banarsi Dass Durga Prashad
Versus
Panna Lal Ram Richhpal Oswal
Civil Revision No. 31 of 1968,
Decided On : JANUARY 12, 1968

A person may not be added as a defendant merely because he would be incidentally affected by the judgment.

Headnote:

ORDER 1 RULE 10 CPC - ADDITION OF PARTIES - NECESSARY AND PROPER PARTIES - INTERPRETATION OF ORDER 1 RULE 10(2) CPC - COURT'S DISCRETION IN ADDING PARTIES - PLAINTIFF'S OPPOSITION TO ADDITION OF PARTIES.

Fact of the Case:

Banarsi Dass filed a suit for specific performance of a contract of sale against Smt. Chameli. During the pendency of that suit, Panna Lal and Banwari Lal instituted a suit against Smt. Chameli for a permanent injunction restraining her from interfering with their possession over a Chabutra. Banarsi Dass applied to be impleaded as a defendant in the suit instituted by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal, alleging that the Chabutra was a part of the property that was the subject matter of his suit against Smt. Chameli and that the suit brought by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal was collusive.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that Banarsi Dass was not a necessary or proper party to the suit instituted by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal against Smt. Chameli. The court found that Banarsi Dass had no vested right in the property that was the subject matter of his suit for specific performance and that his right was merely inchoate. The court also found that the addition of Banarsi Dass as a defendant in the suit brought by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal would amount to the introduction of a new cause of action.

Issues: 1. Whether a revision petition against an order dismissing an application under Order 1, Rule 10, Civil Procedure Code, is maintainable. 2. Whether Banarsi Dass was a necessary or proper party to the suit instituted by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal against Smt. Chameli.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that a revision petition against an order dismissing an application under Order 1, Rule 10, Civil Procedure Code, is maintainable. The court found that there is a divergence of judicial opinion on this point, but that the weight of authority seems to be in support of the view that the High Court can interfere in revision under section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, if it finds that there is some material irregularity or illegality in the order. 2. The court held that Banarsi Dass was not a necessary or proper party to the suit instituted by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal against Smt. Chameli. The court found that Banarsi Dass had no vested right in the property that was the subject matter of his suit for specific performance and that his right was merely inchoate. The court also found that the addition of Banarsi Dass as a defendant in the suit brought by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal would amount to the introduction of a new cause of action.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition.

Judgment

, J.

1. This is a civil revision directed against an order, dated 28th December, 1967, of the Senior Subordinate Judge. Narnaul. Dismissing the application of the petitioner, Banarsi Dass, under Order 1 Rule 10. Civil Procedure Code, for being impleaded as a defendant in Suit No. 326 instituted by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal against Smt. Chameli.

2. Shri Banarsi Dass had instituted suit in the Court of the Subordinate Judge at Narnaul for specific performance of a contract of sale against Smt. Chameli, widow of Udha Ram. During the pendency of that suit, Panna Lal and Banwari Lal instituted the aforesaid Suit No. 326, dated 18th November, 1967, against Smt. Chameli for a permanent injunction restraining her from interfering with the possession of the plaintiffs over a Chabutra 41/2sq. ft. in area, shown in the map annexed to the plaint. In the alternative , they prayed for possession of that property. In his application under Order 1, Rule 10. Civil Procedure Code, Banarsi Dass alleged that this Chabutra was a part of the property, which was the subject mater of hi suit for specific performance of contract against Smt. Chameli. He further averred that the suit brought by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal against Smt. Chameli was collusive, and Smt. Chameli, confessing judgment in that case, wanted to defeat his suit for specific performance. In short, it was urged that the decision in the suit brought by Panna Lal and Banwari Lal would incidentally affect his claim against Smt. Chameli. The subordinate Judge dismissed the petition, holding that Banarsi Dass was neither a necessary nor a proper party to be added as a defendant in the suit instituted by Panna Lal and another. He, therefore, dismissed his application.

3. The first question to be considered, is, whether this revision petition against an order dismissing an application under Order 1, Rule 10, Civil Procedure Code, is maintainable. There is divergence of judicial opinion on this point. Some of the High Courts have held that no revision lies against such an order. But the weight of authority seems to be in support of the view that the High Court can interfere in revision under section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, if it finds that there is some material irregularity or illegality in the order. Though the point was not directly discussed this view is implicit in the decisions of this court reported as AIR 1951 Punj 352, and 1968-70 Pun LR 98. The observations in AIR 1926 PC 142 also lend uproot to that view. I would, therefore, answer this question in the affirmative.

4. As regards the merits of the case. I do not find any good ground to issue notice to the respondent. Order 1. Rule 10. Civil Procedure code, provides for addition of two kinds of parties, namely. (1) necessary parties who ought to have been joined and in whose absence no effective decree can be passed at all, and (2) proper parties, whose presence enables the court to adjudicate more effectively and completely all the questions involved in the suit.. It is admitted by the counsel for the petitioner that Banarsi Dass was not a necessary party to the suit instituted by Panna Lal and other against Smt. Chameli. Nor does he maintain that Banarsi Dasss addition as defendant in the suit brought by Panna Lal, etc., against Smt. Chameli would be necessary to decide effectively and completely the issues between Panna Lal, etc. and Mst. Chameli in that suit. All that the learned counsel says is that the collusive decree that might be passed in favour of Panna Lal, etc., will indirectly injure his interests in the suit for specific performance brought by him to institute another suit against Panna Lal and Smt. Chameli with regard to that collusive decree. If Banarsi Dass is added as a defendant in the suit brought by Panna Lal, etc., that would, according to the learned counsel, avoid multiplicity of suits.

5. I am afraid, the contention cannot be accepted. Under sub-para (2) of O. 1. Rule 10, Civil Procedur







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