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THE HIGH COURT OF SIKKIM : GANGTOK
BHASKAR RAJ PRADHAN
Phigu Tshering Bhutia, S/o Lt. Tshering Nedup Bhutia – Appellant
Versus
Karma Samten Bhutia, S/o Lt. Passang Bhutia – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
Bhaskar Raj Pradhan, J.
1. This petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India seek to challenge the Order dated 11.04.2023 passed by the learned Senior Civil Judge, Gangtok (The learned Trial Court) on an application filed by the petitioner herein as (defendant no.1) under Order XIV Rule 2 read with section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) for deciding the issue framed on examination of the pleadings i.e. whether the suit of the respondents herein as (plaintiffs) is maintainable in law as a preliminary issue in view of an admission made by plaintiff no.1 during his cross examination in the trial.
2. By the impugned Order the learned Trial Court has examined the rival submissions, the cross examination of plaintiff no.1, the other evidence pointed out by the parties and the judgments referred to and opined that there is no doubt that the court has discretion to decide the question of limitation as a preliminary issue as decided by the Supreme Court in Sukhbiri Devi & Ors. vs. Union of India, 2022 SCC OnLine Delhi SC 1322. Thus, the learned Trial Court decided to take up the issue as sought for by the defendant no.1 as a preliminary issue. Having done
The Court clarified that mixed questions of fact and law, such as maintainability of a suit based on admissions, cannot be decided as a preliminary issue unless the facts are clear from the pleadings....
The court retains discretion to decide preliminary issues related to jurisdiction or limitation but may also resolve all issues simultaneously to avoid protracted litigation.
A disputed question cannot be decided as a preliminary issue.
Jurisdictional issues in civil suits involving mixed questions of law and fact cannot be decided as preliminary issues before considering all other issues framed by the court, as mandated by procedur....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the determination of the question of limitation required a consideration of facts and law, and therefore, it should be decided along with othe....
(1) Questions of fact can be decided only by recording evidence and a decision on such disputed questions is possible only in final judgment of trial Court and not earlier to final judgment.(2) Preli....
Jurisdictional questions, including maintainability of a suit, must be assessed as preliminary issues under CPC Order 14 Rule 2 to ensure efficiency in legal proceedings.
A court cannot decide mixed questions of law and fact as preliminary issues; they must be resolved through trial with evidence, particularly in cases concerning adoption validity.
The question of limitation in a chitty transaction is a mixed question of fact and law and should be decided based on evidence, not as a preliminary issue.
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