A suit for damages for malicious prosecution is barred by limitation if it is brought after the expiry of more than one year after the acquittal of the plaintiff.

JUDGMENT

Ashok Bhan, J. - This is plaintiffs appeal. The facts in brief are that the plaintiffs brought a suit against Kundan Lal defendant for recovery of Rs. 1,990.25) as compensation and damages for malicious prosecution by him alleging that Banarsi Dass had three sons namely Krishan Dev, Om Parkash and Mohan Lal and that the three sons of Banarsi Dass purchased a house situated in Budhlada Mandi from Chanan Ram on 13-3-1970 for Rs. 8,500/- vide sale deed dated 13-3-1970 and they obtained possession of that house. The plaintiff alleges that defendant was claiming himself to be the owner of that house. According to the plaintiff the number of house is 35/2 and later on it became unit No. 21. Plaintiff also alleged that defendant wanted to take forcible possession of the house. Since that house belongs to Chanan Ram brother of the defendant, defendant Kundan Lal asked the plaintiff not to purchase the house inspite of their necessity but since the plaintiff had purchased the house inspite of the fact that defendant did not want them to purchase the same; he i.e. defendant on account of that had a grudge against him and he filed a false criminal and civil case against them in order to harass and to cause them financial loss. A complaint was filed under Sections 448/379 of the Indian Penal Code. The defendant in this case had filed a suit for permanent injunction in the Court of Sub Judge 1st Class, Mansa and also filed an application under Order 39, Rules I and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for temporary injunction restraining the plaintiffs from taking possession of the house. This suit was dismissed by the trial Court on 9-10-1974 and that judgment became final between the parties.

2. So far as the criminal case was concerned a charge was framed against the plaintiff but ultimately the plaintiff-appellants were acquitted by the Magistrate on 12-8-1974 which is the basis for filing the present suit for damages for malicious prosecution in a criminal Court and for damages for filing false cases against the plaintiffs in the civil Court. The plaintiffs case is that suit and the complaint filed by the defendants were false and these were instituted simply to pressurise them so that they might give the house to the defendant. According to the plaintiffs in the prosecution of this suit for permanent injunction at Mansa they had spent Rs. 440/- and in the appeal at Bhatinda they spent Rs. 620.25. The plaintiffs further allege that in the complaint case against them they have spent Rs. 615/-. In addition to this, according to the plaintiffs their work came to standstill on account of which they suffered loss to the tune of Rs. 315/-. In all, as stated above, the plaintiffs claim Rs. 1990.25 from the plaintiff as damages. A notice was issued to the defendant under registered cover but since the defendant did not make the payment so the present suit was instituted. This suit was resisted by the defendant-respondent on the ground that the suit was not within time and was bad for misjoinder of cause of action. It was also pleaded by the defendant that the cases were not instituted by him with any malicious intention and that the defendant was within his rights to institute the said suit and the complaint and that the plaintiffs are not entitled to any compensation or damages. The trial Court partially decreed the suit i.e. for malicious prosecution the trial Court granted Rs. 950/- as damages and for consequent relief i.e. for filing suit for claim of appellant-plaintiff was dismissed. Against this order of the trial Court two appeals were filed - one by the plaintiff and the other by the defendant. In the appeal filed by Kundan Lal it was held by the appellate Court that suit for damages on account of malicious prosecution brought by the plaintiff was barred by limitation as it had been brought after the expiry of more than one year after the acquittal of the plaintiff-appellants. As stated above, the plaintiffs were acquitted