IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S. R. Singh, J.
COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX - Appellant
Versus
SURENDRA SINGH PAHWA - Respondents
First Appeal 161 Of 1994
Decided On : 12/13/1994
EX PARTE JUDGMENT - SETTING ASIDE - ORDER 9 RULE 13 C. P. C. - JUDGMENT MUST CONTAIN CONCISE STATEMENT OF CASE, POINTS FOR DETERMINATION, DECISION AND REASONS FOR SUCH DECISION - JUDGMENT UNSUPPORTED BY REASONS IS NO JUDGMENT IN THE EYE OF LAW - APPLICATION OF MIND MUST BE WRIT LARGE ON THE FACE OF RECORD.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of a contract for sale and perpetual injunction against the defendants. The defendants did not appear on the date fixed for issues and the suit proceeded ex parte. The plaintiff filed an affidavit in support of his case and the trial court delivered an ex parte judgment and decree in his favor. The defendant filed an application under Order 9, Rule 13, C. P. C. to set aside the ex parte decree, which was rejected by the trial court.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the ex parte judgment and decree were not sustainable as they did not contain a concise statement of the case, points for determination, decision, and reasons for such decision as required by Order 20, Rule 4 (2), C. P. C. The court also held that the trial court ought to have formulated points for determination on consideration of the pleadings and that the written statement filed by the defendant would not be deemed to have been wiped off the record merely because the defendant did not appear on the date of issues.
Issues: Whether the ex parte judgment and decree were sustainable.
Ratio Decidendi: A judgment for its sustenance must contain not only findings on the points, but must also contain: what evidence consists of, and how does not prove plaintiffs case. A judgment unsupported by reasons is no judgment in the eye of law. It is well settled that reasons are the links between the material on record and the conclusion arrived at by the Court. Mere fact that the defendant absented himself on the date of hearing and the suit proceeded ex parte, did not by itself entitle the plaintiff to get a decree in his favour. The court was under an obligation to apply its mind to whatever ex parte evidence or affidavit filed under Order 19 of the Code is on the record of the case, and application of mind must be writ large on the face of record.
Final Decision: The High Court set aside the ex parte judgment and decree and remanded the suit to the trial court for decision afresh in accordance with law.
( 2 ) THE suit giving rise to these appeals was filed by the plaintiff respondent No. I, Surendra singh Pahwa against the respondents Nos. 2 to 4 impleading the appellant as defendant No. 4 for specific performance of a contract for sale dated 23/3/1976 between Ram Kumar, the father of the defendant Nos. 1 to 3 and Deshraj Singh Pahwa, the father of the plaintiff for sale consideration of Rupees 1,70,000. 00 as well as for perpetual injunction restraining the defendant appellant from auctioning the suit property in connection with the recovery of certain income-tax dues outstanding against Ram Kumar. It was alleged in the plaint that a sum of Rs. 20,000. 00 was paid in advance as earnest money and further that the plaintiff was always ready and willing to perform his part of contract, but despite notices the defendants Nos. I to 3 did not turn up to execute the sale deed in. pursuance of the contract of sale and hence the necessity of suit.
( 3 ) DESPITE service of summons on them, the defendant respondent Nos. 1 io 3 did not file any written statement and the suit proceeded ex parte against them. The defendant-appellant did file written statement but, it appeals, on the date fixed for issues, viz. 1-12-1993 none appeared on behalf of the defendant appellant and, therefore, 7-12-1993 was fixed for ex parte evidence. The plaintiff respondent, however, filed affidavit in support of his case on 2-12-1993 i. e. before the date fixed for ex parte evidence and upon hearing the counsel for the plaintiff on 7-12-1993 the trial court fixed 13-12-1993 for judgment, but the judgment was not delivered on the date fixed and while the matter was pending judgment the defendant appellant moved an application on 17-12-1993 for setting aside the order dated 1-12-1993" to proceed ex parte against it. The said application was rejected by the trial court vide order dated 18-12-1993 on the ground that the arguments in the case already been heard and the judgment reserved and, therefore, the application was not maintainable. Ultimately the judgment was delievered and suit decreed ex parte on 5-1-1994 which is the subject matter of challenge in First Appeal No. 161 of 1994.
( 4 ) THE appellant then filed an application under Order 9, Rule 13, C. P. C. on 6/1/1994 with the allegation that none could appear on behalf of the appellant on the dated fixed for hearing due to the reason that on 30/10/1993 the Court while allowing an application for amendment in the pleading had fixed 15/11/1993 for carrying out the amendment but the clerk of the appellants counsel wrongly noted 15/12/1993 in place of 15/11/1993 and that he came to know of the order dated 1/12/1993 to proceed ex parte on a subsequent date. The learned Civil Judge disbelieved the appellants version and rejected the application under Order 9, Rule 13, C. P. C. vide order dated 13/5/1994 which is the subject matter of challenge in First Appeal From Order No. 1014 of 1994.
( 5 ) HAVING heard the learned counsel for the parties and having perused the judgment dated 5/1 /1994, I am of the view that it cannot be sustained. Even an ex parte judgment should satisfy the description of judgment as laid down in Order 20, Rule 4 (2), C. P. C. , which visualises that the judgment of a Court other than the court of Small Causes "shall contain aeoncise statement of the case, points for determination, decision and the reasons for such decision. " A judgment for its sustenance must contain not only findings
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