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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Rohit Arya, J.
Ramesh Joshi v. The Government of M. P. & Another
Writ Petition No. 5927 of 2014 (O) (Indore); Decided on 5.11.2019
(1) Partnership Act, 1932 -- S. 4 -- partnership firm -- not a legal entity -- firm name is only compendious name given to partnership -- partners are real owners of assets -- partnership property belongs to all partners constituting firm. (2003) 3 SCC 229 followed. [Para 11]
(2) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S. 152 -- scope -- basis is maxim actus curiae neminem gravabit, ie., act of Court shall prejudice no man -- unintentional mistake of Court which may prejudice the cause of any party must and alone could be rectified -- S.152 is based on two principles -- (i) act of Court should not prejudice any party -- (ii) Courts have duty to see that their records are true and represent correct state of affairs -- power u/s. 152 is not power of review -- omission sought to be corrected, which goes to merits of case, is beyond scope - cannot modify, alter or add to terms of original judgment, decree or order. 12 CB 406, (2004) 1 SCC 328, (1993) 3 SCC 500 and (2001) 4 SCC 181 referred to. [Para 12]
(3) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S. 153 and O. 21 -- words "any proceeding in the suit" and "all necessary amendments" -- are of wide amplitude -- "proceedings" in general parlance means form in which actions are brought and defended, adjudication by enquiry or trial, rendering of judgment and execution thereof -- term "suit" is comprehensive and encompasses proceedings in Court of justice for an action under law and proceedings for execution of order of Court involving different modes of procedure under O.21 CPC. AIR 1972 AP 134 (FB) referred to. [Para 13]
(4) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S.153 -- principles on which power to amend should be exercised -- party not allowed by amendment to set up new case or new cause of action, particularly when suit on new cause of action is barred -- however, if proposed amendment does not constitute addition of new cause of action or raise different case, but amounts merely to different or additional approach to same facts, amendment may be allowed even after expiry of statutory period of limitation. AIR 1957 SC 363, AIR 1967 SC 96 and AIR 1966 SC 1047 referred to. [Para 13]
(5) Interpretation of Statutes -- Civil Procedure Code -- through codified procedure, intended to help facilitate administration of justice regard being had to concept of justice, equity and good conscience -- povisions thereunder must receive liberal construction ensuring substantive justice. [Para 14]
(6) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S. 153 -- general powers conferred under CPC are required to be liberally construed to attain object of substantial justice between parties -- principle of liberal construction is to be applied to S. 153 to make it effective and operative on principle expressed in maxim ut res magis valeat quam pereat. AIR 2003 SC 3942 referred to. [Para 14]
(7) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S. 153 and O. 21 -- application to array petitioner in execution proceedings as judgment-debtor as existing partner of defendant No. 3 firm -- allowed by impugned order -- due to accidental slip, proprietor of firm was not arrayed in suit -- however, firm was arrayed -- firm name is a mere expression and not a legal entity -- imperfect description of defendant in plaint is a mere error which can be permitted to be corrected -- it is neither addition nor substitution of party but merely clarification or description -- such correction can always be made even in execution proceedings -- by such recourse, no change or amendment is allowed in judgment and decree to prejudice of judgment-debtor -- not in conflict with principle of actus curiae neminem gravabit, ie., act of Court shall prejudice no man, underlying Ss. 152 and 153 -- with correction of description of defendant No. 3, intention of judgment and decree are given effect to, ensuring complete and substantive justice -- petition dismissed. AIR 1961 SC 325 followed. AIR 1963 Calcutta 417 distinguished. [Paras 20 & 21]
¼1½ Hkkxhnkjh vf/kfu;e] 1932 & /kkjk 4 Hkkxhnkjh QeZ & fof/kd vfLrRo ugha & QeZ dk uke Hkkxhnkjh dks fn;k x;k lkjxfHkZr uke ek= gksrk gS & vkfLr;ksa ds okLrfod Lokeh Hkkxhnkj gksrs gSa & Hkkxhnkjh dh laifRr QeZ xfBr djus okys leLr Hkkxhnkjksa dh gksrh gSA ¼2003½ 3 ,l lh lh 229 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 11½
¼2½ flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 & /kkjk 152 & O;kfIr & vk/kkj gS lw= U;k;ky; ds dk;Z ls fdlh dh gkfu ugha gksrh] vFkkZr~ U;k;ky; ds dk;Z ls dksbZ O;fDr Áfrdwyr% ÁHkkfor ugha gksxk & U;k;ky; }kjk fcuk vk'k; ds dh xbZ ,slh Hkwy ftlls fdlh i{kdkj dk fgr Áfrdwyr% ÁHkkfor gks] vo'; rFkk dsoy og Bhd dh tkuk pkfg, & /kkjk 152 nks fl)karksa ij vk/kkfjr gS & ¼1½ U;k;ky; ds dk;Z ls dksbZ i{kdkj Áfrdwyr% ÁHkkfor ugha gksuk pkfg, & ¼2½ ;g ns[kuk U;k;ky;ksa dk drZO; gS fd muds vfHkys[k lR; gSa rFkk dk;Zdyki dh lgh fLFkfr ds |ksrd gSa & /kkjk 152 ds v/khu 'kfDr iqufoZyksdu dh 'kfDr ugha gS & ekeys ds xq.kkxq.k dks ÁHkkfor djus okys yksi dk lq/kkj pkgk x;k gks rks og O;kfIr ds ijs gS & ewy fu.kZ;] fMØh vFkok vkns'k ds fuca/kuksa esa mikarj.k] ifjorZu vFkok o`f) ugha dh tk ldrhA 12 lh ch 406] ¼2004½ 1 ,l lh lh 328] ¼1993½ 3 ,l lh lh 500 rFkk ¼2001½ 4 ,l lh lh 181 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 12½
¼3½ flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 & /kkjk 153 rFkk vkŒ 21 & 'kCn ^^okn dh fdlh Hkh dk;Zokgh** rFkk ^^lHkh vko';d la'kks/ku** O;kid foLrkj ds gSa & lk/kkj.k cksy&pky esa ^^dk;Zokgh** ls vfHkÁsr gS og :i ftlesa vuq;kstu fd;k tkrk gS rFkk mldk Áfrokn fd;k tkrk gS] tkap vFkok fopkj.k }kjk U;k;fu.kZ;u] fu.kZ; fn;k tkuk rFkk mldk fu"iknu in ^^okn** loZlekos'kh gS rFkk mlesa fofèk ds v/khu vuq;kstu ds fy, U;k;ky; esa dk;Zokgh vkSj U;k;ky; ds vkns'k ds fu"iknu ds fy, dk;Zokgh lfEefyr gS ftlesa flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk ds vkŒ 21 ds v/khu ÁfØ;k ds fHkUu&fHkUu ढUx varoZfyr gSaA , vkb vkj 1972 vkŒÁŒ 134 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 13½
¼4½ flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 & /kkjk 153 & la'kks/ku dh 'kfDr ftu fl)karksa ij Á;qDr dh tkuk pkfg, & la'kks/ku ds ek/;e ls i{kdkj dks u;k ekeyk vFkok u;k okn gsrqd [kM+k djus dh vuqKk ugha gS] fof'k"Vr% tc u, okn gsrqd ij okn oftZr gks & rFkkfi] ÁLrkfor la'kks/ku ls u;k okn gsrqd ugha tqM+ jgk gks vFkok fHkUu ekeyk [kM+k ugha gks jgk gks] cfYd og mudh rF;ksa ds Áfr fHkUu vFkok vfrfjDr n`f"Vdks.k ek= dh dksfV dk gks rks ifjlhek dh dkuwuh vof/k ds i'pkr~ Hkh la'kks/ku eatwj fd;k tk ldrk gSA , vkb vkj 1957 ,l lh 363] , vkb vkj 1967 ,l lh 96 rFkk , vkb vkj 1966 ,l lh 1047 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 13½
¼5½ fof/k dk fuoZpu & flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk & U;k;] lkE;k rFkk 'kq) var%dj.k dh ladYiuk /;ku esa j[krs gq,] lafgrkc) ÁfØ;k ds ek/;e ls U;k; Á'kklu dks lqdj cukuk vk'kf;r gS & rn/khu mica/kksa dk mnkj vFkkZUo;u fd;k tkuk vko';d gS ftlls lkjoku~ U;k; lqfuf'pr gksA ¼iSjk 14½
¼6½ flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 & /kkjk 153 & i{kdkjksa ds e/; lkjoku~ U;k; ds mn~ns'; dh iwfrZ ds fy, flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk ds v/khu ÁnRr lk/kkj.k 'kfDr dk mnkj vFkkZUo;u fd;k tkuk visf{kr gS & /kkjk 153 dks ÁHkkoh cukus rFkk vekU; ls ekU; djuk vPNk gS fd lw= esa vfHkO;Dr fl)kar ij ÁofrZr djus ds fy, mnkj vFkkZUo;u dk fl)kar ykxw djuk gksxkA , vkb vkj 2003 ,l lh 3942 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 14½
¼7½ flfoy ÁfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 & /kkjk 153 rFkk vkŒ 21 & Áfroknh Øekad 3 QeZ dk orZeku Hkkxhnkj gksus ds dkj.k ;kph dks fu"iknu dk;Zokgh esa fu.khZr _.kh ds :i esa i{kdkj cukus ds fy, vkosnu & vkf{kIr vkns'k }kjk eatwj & vkdfLre pwd ds dkj.k okn esa QeZ dk LoRo/kkjh i{kdkj ugha cuk;k x;k Fkk & rFkkfi] QeZ dks i{kdkj cuk;k x;k Fkk & QeZ dk uke vfHkO;fDr ek= gS] mldk fof/kd vfLrRo ugha gksrk & okni= esa Áfroknh dk =qfViw.kZ fooj.k ,slh xyrh&ek= gS ftls lq/kkjus dh vuqefr nh tk ldrh gS & ;g u i{kdkj dk tksM+k tkuk gS vkSj u mldk ÁfrLFkkiu gh] vfirq Li"Vhdj.k vFkok fooj.k ek= gS & fu"iknu dk;Zokgh esa Hkh ,slk lq/kkj fd;k gh tk ldrk gS & ,sls mik; ls fu.kZ; rFkk fMØh esa ,slk dksbZ ifjorZu ;k la'kks/ku vuqKkr ugha gksrk tks fu.khZr&_.kh ds Áfrdwy gks & /kkjk 152 rFkk 153 ds bl vk/kkjHkwr fl)kar ls ijLij fojks/k ugha fd U;k;ky; ds dk;Z ls fdlh dh gkfu ugha gksrh] vFkkZr~ U;k;ky; ds dk;Z ls dksbZ O;fDr Áfrdwyr% ÁHkkfor ugha gksxk & Áfroknh Øekad 3 ds fooj.k ds lq/kkj ls fu.kZ; rFkk fMØh dk vk'k; dk;kZfUor gksrk gS] ftlls iw.kZ vkSj lkjoku~ U;k; lqfuf'pr gksrk gS & ;kfpdk [kkfjtA , vkb vkj 1961 ,l lh 325 vuqlfjrA , vkb vkj 1963 dyŒ 417 ÁHksfnrA ¼iSjk 20 ,oa 21½
ORDER
Arya, J -- 1. This writ petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India by an objector Ramesh Joshi s/o Girdharilal Joshi is directed against the order dated 23.7.2014 in execution case No. 3/99, No. 31B/95X3/99 passed by the executing Court/Additional District Judge, Barwaha District Khargone (formerly known as West Nimar) whereunder an application for addition of the name of the petitioner as judgment-debtor by virtue of being partner of defendant No. 3/firm in the cause title has been allowed.
2. Facts relevant and necessary for disposal of this writ petition in nutshell are to the following effect :
The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Khandwa [the respondent No. 2 (for short, the plaintiff) had filed recovery suit being civil suit No. 31B/1995 against the following parties as defendants:
(a) M/s Kirloskar Brothers Limited, Registered Office Udyog Bhawan, Tilak Road, Pune (Maharastra);
(b) Kirloskar Brothers Limited Regional Sales Office 15 Maharani Road, Indore; and
(c) M/s Joshi and Company Authorized dealer of Kirloskar Brothers Indore Road, Barwaha, Tehsil Barwaha District West Nimar on the premise that the plaintiff had (i) for supply of water to the public at large is in requirement of 200 hrs power electric motor and pump for its erection at Water Supply Center Jaswadi; (ii) contacted defendants No. 1 and 2 as they are engaged in the business of manufacturing motor pumps, electric motor pumps etc., (iii) however, the defendant No. 2 vide letter dated 10.11.1992 informed that since they undertake commercial business through authorized dealers only but, not directly, therefore, defendant No. 3 its authorized dealer may be contacted; (iv) thereafter quotations were invited; (v) the quotation of defendant No. 3 was found to be lowest and the same was approved vide resolution No. 212 dated 2.12.1992 for supply of 200 hrs power electric motor and pump for an amount of Rs. 10,11,625/-; (vi) accordingly, agreement was entered between the plaintiff and the defendant No. 3 on 4.12.1992 for supply of the electric motor & pump and as per terms and conditions of the agreement, an advance of 25% of the amount was to be paid and the motor & pump were to be delivered within three months; (vii) an advance money of Rs.1,81,500/- was paid vide cheque No.0523728 dated 4.12.1992 drawn on Bank of India, Branch Khandwa and the same was received by defendant No.3; (viii) however, the supply was not effected resulting into termination of the agreement vide notice/order dated 20.8.1993 calling upon the defendants to return the advance amount with interest at the rate of 12% per annum.
Earlier, the plaintiff had filed a complaint before the District Consumer Forum,. Khandawa against the defendants No. 1 and 2.
The Consumer Forum sustained the objection raised by defendants No. 1 and 2 that there was no privity of contract between the plaintiff and the defendants No. 1 & 2. Instead, the agreement was entered into between the plaintiff and the defendant No. 3 for supply of 200 horsepower electric motor and pump as well as advance amount of Rs. 1,81,500/- was paid to defendant No. 3 to its partner. The complaint was accordingly rejected on 1.8.1995. Thereafter, the plaintiff filed the instant suit with the aforesaid facts.
3. Defendants No. 1 and 2 filed written statement and denied plaint averments reiterating the stand as was taken before the District Consumer Forum inter alia contending that plaintiff had entered an agreement with defendant No. 3 for supply of the electric motor and pump who had also received the advance money from the plaintiff. Therefore, recovery, if any; can be made only from defendant No. 3 but not by the defendants No. 1 and 2.
4. Defendant No. 3 remained ex parte.
5. Trial Court upon pleadings of the parties, framed issues and allowed parties to lead evidence. Thereafter drawn following conclusions :
(a) defendant No. 3; an authorized dealer of defendants No. 1 and 2 had submitted quota
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