Summary Suit – Summons for judgment not served within the requisite period – Consequently, suit is deemed to be tried as ordinary suit even if leave to defend was granted.

Mr. Kuldip Singh J. (Oral).:- Impugned in the present revision petition is the order dated 27.02.2015 passed by learned Addl. Civil Judge (Sr. Divn.), Khadoor Sahib, District Tarn Taran, vide which in a suit filed under Order XXXVII, Rule 2 CPC, leave to defend was granted and defendant was allowed to file written statement.

2. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have also carefully gone through the case file.

3. Admittedly, in this case, the suit was filed under Order XXXVII, Rule 2 CPC. The defendant was served summons on 21.08.2014 and on 22.08.2014, he marked his presence in the present case. Thereafter, the plaintiff was required to serve the summons for judgment in Form- 4A on defendant as required under Order XXXVII, rule 3(4) CPC. No such summons for judgment were served within the requisite period. It was only thereafter that within 10 days of service of such summons, the defendant was required to apply for leave to defend. Since the plaintiff failed to comply with the provisions under Order XXXVII, Rule 3(4)CPC, it is deemed that the suit is to be tried as ordinary suit. Therefore, even if leave to defend was applied for and was granted, that would become meaningless as the defendant had got the right on account of failure of the plaintiff to serve summons for judgment under Order XXXVII, Rule 3(4) CPC to file the written statement. Therefore, for these reasons, I do not find any illegality in allowing the defendant to file written statement, holding that no leave to defend was required in this case.

4. As such, the present revision petition is dismissed.