( 1 ) THE appellant had filed the suit for partition and possession of 1/3rd share of the property left by one Mst. Rambhabai. No prayer for past mesne profits or future mesne profits was, however, made. In the relief clause a general relief was claimed, to the effect that any other relief or reliefs which the Court may hold the plaintiff to be entitled to be decreed. The plaintiff now desires to amend the relief clause to the following effect:

"that any such other relief or reliefs which this Hon'ble Court may hold the plaintiff to be entitled to be decreed to him including profits or mesne profits by directing an enquiry under Order 20, Rule 12 C. P. C. "

( 2 ) THIS application is opposed by the respondents on the ground that a large part of the future mesne profits has already been barred by limitation. The amendment should not, therefore, be allowed at this stage.

( 3 ) IN Leach and Co. Ltd. v. Jardine Skinner and Co. AIR 1957 SC 357 their lordships held:

"it is no doubt true that Courts would, as a rule, decline to allow amendments, If a fresh suit on the amended claim would be barred by limitation on the date of the application. But that is a factor to be taken into account in exercise of the discretion as to whether amendment should be ordered, and does not affect the power of the Court to order it, if that is required in the interests of justice. "

The same principle was reiterated by their Lordships in P. H. Patil v. K. S. Patil, AIR 1957 SC 363. It was, however, emphasised in that case that the amendment must be necessary for the purpose of determining the real question in controversy between the parties. The amendment sought in this particular case is not necessary for the determination of the real question in controversy between the parties. It is for securing an additional relief, if the plaintiff succeeds in establishing the relief already prayed for.

( 4 ) A suit for mesne profits arising subsequent to the filing of the suit can be filed even during the pendency of the suit for possession and partition. The non-inclusion of the relief is not barred by Order 2, Rule 2, Civil Procedure Code-Under the circumstances, when the plaintiff had deliberately not claimed future mesne profits when the suit was originally filed, there is no justification for allowing the amendment after a substantial portion of the claim has been barred by limitation.

( 5 ) IT is no doubt true that under Order 20, Rule 12, Civil Procedure Code, where a suit is for recovery of possession of immovable property and for rent or mesne profits, the Court has a discretion to pass a decree directing an enquiry as to rent or mesne profits from the "institution of the suit till the delivery of possession to the decree-holder or the expiration of three years from the date of the decree, whichever event first occurs. In Mohd Amin v. Vakil Ahmad, AIR 1952 SC 358, mesne profits were not specifically claimed. Prayer for awarding "possession and occupation of the property together with all the rights appertaining thereto" was made. It was held by their Lordships that such a prayer did not include a claim for mesne profits and the grant of mesne profits by the Courts below was held to be improper. In gopalakrishna Pillai v. Meenakshi Aval AIR 1967 SC 155, their Lordships, while discussing the provisions of Order 20, Rule 12, and Order 7, Rules 1, 2 and 7, held:

"in view of Order 7, Rules 1, 2 and 7 of the Civil Procedure Code and section 7 (1) of the Court Fees Act, a plaintiff must plead his cause of action, specifically claim a decree for past mesne profits, value the claim approximately and pay court fees thereon. With regard to future mesne profits, the plaintiff has no cause of action on the date of institution of the suit and it is not possible for him to plead this cause of action or to value it, or to pay court fees thereon at the time of the institution of the suit. Moreover, he can obtain relief in respect of this future cause of action only i