IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
KARAMJIT SINGH, J.
Kamal Singh – Petitioner
Versus
Joint Commissioner & Anr. – Respondents
CR-4340 of 2023 (O&M)
Decided On : 31-08-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. amendment of plaint during ongoing litigation. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. court's rationale against the trial court's dismissal. (Para 4 , 5) |
| 3. set aside dismissal; allow amendment with costs. (Para 6 , 7) |
JUDGMENT
Mr. Karamjit Singh, J.
Challenge in the instant revision petition is to order dated 5.5.2023 (Annexure P-1) passed by the Court of Civil Judge, Junior Division, Faridabad whereby an application filed by the petitioner/plaintiff seeking amendment of the plaint under Order 6, Rule 17 CPC has been dismissed.
2. Counsel for the petitioner has inter alia contended that initially, the petitioner filed suit for declaration to the effect that notice dated 24.10.2016 issued by respondent No.2-Municipal Corporation under Section 261 of Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 is null and void and is not binding on the petitioner and further declaration to the effect that order dated 21.4.2017 passed by respondent No.1-Joint Commissioner, is also illegal, null and void and a decree for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from encroaching/demolishing the suit property and a decree for mandatory injunction directing the defendants to withdraw impugned notice dated 24.10.2016. It has been further submitted that the suit is being contested by the defendants/respondents and that the learned trial Court directed the parties to maintain status quo with regard to property in question.
3. Counsel for the petitioner has further contended that however, during the pendency of the suit, the defendants illegally demolished the suit property in violation of the aforesaid order of status quo passed by the learned trial Court; that on account of said subsequent events, the petitioner intends to amend the plaint in order to seek directions to the defendants/respondents to restore the suit property to its original position as was on the date of filing the suit and accordingly, an application for amendment of the plaint was filed under Order 6, Rule 17 CPC; that, however, the said application has been dismissed by the learned trial Court vide impugned order (Annexure P-1) on the ground that the proposed amendment has been sought at the belated stage and further, the petitioner has not exercised due diligence in filing the application seeking amendment of the plaint. The trial Court while dismissing the application for amendment of the plaint, further observed that it is not mentioned by the plaintiff that he wants to make changes in the plaint which can justify addition of the prayer clause and merely addition in the prayer clause of the plaint without amendment in the plaint does not make any sense as in the original plaint, there is no mention regarding demolition of the house by the defendants. Counsel for the petitioner further submits that the proposed amendment is not barred under the provisions of law and that no prejudice is going to be caused to the opposite party if the proposed amendment is allowed. He further submits that the suit is at its initial stage as till date, no witness has been examined on behalf of the petitioner. So, prayer is made that the present petition be allowed and the petitioner be permitted to amend the plaint to the extent as stated above.
4. I have considered the submissions made by the counsel for the petitioner.
5. Initially, the petitioner filed suit for declaration to challenge the validity of the notice dated 24.10.2016 issued by defendant No.2 and order dated 21.4.2017 passed by defendant No.1 and to further restrain the defendants from demolishing the suit property and decree for mandatory injunction to direct the defendants to withdraw impugned notice dated 24.10.2016. It is the plea of the petitioner that during the pendency of the suit, the defendants/respondents demolished the suit property despite the fact that the learned trial Court directed the parties to maintain status quo with regard to the same. Thus, amendment of the plaint was sought by the petitioner on account of subs
The Court may allow amendment of pleadings at any stage of the proceedings for just decision of the case and to determine the real questions in controversy between the parties.
Subsequent amendments to pleadings are permissible under the law, but courts must ensure they do not change the fundamental nature of the case or abuse judicial process.
The court emphasized the importance of bona fide amendments and a liberal approach to avoid multiplicity of litigations while considering applications for amendment under Order 6 Rule 17 of the CPC.
Amendments to pleadings are permissible when necessary to resolve the real dispute between parties, particularly when issues have not been framed, to avoid multiplicity of litigation.
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