2013 Supreme(UK) 7
UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta
Writ Petition No. 2100 of 2012 (M/S)
ASHOK KUMAR & ORS. – Petitioners
Versus
STATE OF UTTARAKHAND & ORS. – Respondents
Decided on : 03.01.2013
For the Petitioners:Mr. Nagesh Aggarwal, Advocate
For the Respondents:Mr. Ajay Veer Pundir, Advocate
Headnote:(A) U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, Sec. 34 and C.P.C., 1908, Sec. 151, R. 22 r/w Or. 19 R. 1 and 2 — Cross examining the deponents — The language of Order 19 Rule 2 of C.P.C. is very clear to hold that it is discretionary power and is not a matter of right — But when it is established before the Court that unless cross examination is allowed, there would be a travesty of justice, it becomes a matter of right. (Paras 2, 8)
(B) Registered document — Genuineness of — Registration of any document does not ensure genuineness either of the contents of the documents or execution of the same — Registration gives rise presumption that a document has been executed and registered — However, this presumption can be rebutted by adducing evidence.
(Para 8)
¼v½ mÙkj izns’k uxjh; Hkou ¼fdjk;s ij nsus] fdjk;k vkSj csn[kyh fu;a=.k½ vfèkfu;e] 1972] /kkjk 34 vkSj nhokuh izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908] /kkjk 151] fu;e 22 lifBr vkns’k 19 fu;e 1 vkSj 2 & vfHklk{kh dh izfrijh{kk] flfoy lafgrk ds vkns’k 19] fu;e 2 esa ;g ,d oSosfdd ‘kfDr gS u fd ,d vf/kdkj dk ekeyk & ijUrq tc vnkyr ds le{k LFkkfir fd vxj izfrijh{kk dh LohÑfr ugha nh xbZ] ;g Travesty of justice gksxk rc ;g vf/kdkj dk ekeyk gSA ¼izLrj 2] 8½
¼c½ jftLVªhÑr nLrkost & ekSfydrk & fdlh nLrkost dk jftLVªhdj.k u rks mldh fo”k;oLrq dk u gh mlds fu”iknu dh ekSfydrk dks lqfuf’pr djrk gSA ¼izLrj 8½
Hon’ble Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta, J.
This revisional application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India has taken out against the impugned judgment and order dated 4th September, 2012 passed learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) Roorkee, District Haridwar by acting as a Prescribed Authority u/S 34 of the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 (hereinafter said Act) which has been adopted by this State. The respondents before me initiated proceedings for eviction under the said Act on the ground amongst others bonafide requirement for their own use and occupation. The above proceedings were contested by the applicants. The respondents have filed their affidavits in order to prove case of the respondents before the learned court below. The petitioners before me filed application u/S 34 of the said Act and Rule 22 read with Order 19 Rule 1 and 2 and Section 151 of the C.P.C.
2. This applicant basically prayed before the learned Court below for cross examining the deponents of those affidavits affirmed to testify oral accounts of the facts as well as documents. The learned trial Judge has rejected the said application on the ground that where the evidence is required to be taken on affidavit, there is no scope for cross examination. The learned trial Judge has also viewed that this sort of application is filed only to delay and procrastinate the proceedings.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the learned Court below should have exercised discretion by allowing his clients to cross examine under Order 19 Rule 2 of the C.P.C. which has been adopted by Section 34 of the said Act of 1972. He says in this matter registered will is sought to be proved and adduced before the learned court below in order to prove ownership of property in question. According to him, will is required to be proved before it is accepted as a genuine document. Affidavit evidence is not sufficient to establish genuineness of the will. Whether the will is genuine or not, at least two persons, namely, one attesting witness and propounder or executor, if there be in the will, will have to be cross examined. The testamentary capacity, execution and attestation of the will are required to be proved and this can only be proved not only by evidence in chief but in cross examination as well. Oral cross examination is required in order to see veracity of the evidence sought to be proved by way of affidavit. Attesting witness is required in order to prove lawful and valid will. This apart, documents are also required to be examined as far as genuineness and veracity are concerned. Therefore, it is a fit case where discretion should have been exercised under the aforesaid provision.
4. The learned counsel for the respondents submits that this application is nothing but a calculated attempt to delay hearing of eviction suit. While supporting the judgment, he says that right of cross examination emanates basically from the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and this Act has no application so far this proceeding is concerned. When the Court below exercised the discretion on given facts and circumstances, the revisional Court should not substitute its own discretion. If this cross examination is allowed, there will be no end of the matter and the proceedings will never be concluded logically.
5. I have heard respective contention of the learned counsel for the parties. I accept the contention raised by learned counsel for the respondent No.1 that provision of Indian Evidence Act in strict sense does not apply to the proceedings of this nature as Section 1 of Indian Evidence Act as amended has excluded its applicability to the proceedings of this nature. I, therefore, reproduce the provision of Section 1 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872.
“It extends to the whole of India [except the State of Jammu and Kashmir] and applies to all judicial proceedings in or before any Court, including Courts-martial, [other than Courts-mar