2018 Supreme(MP) 470
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
VIVEK RUSIA, J.
Smt. Sunita Sharma – Petitioner
Vs.
Deepak Sharma & Others – Respondents
W.P. No. 4123 of 2016
Decided On : 29-08-2018
Important Points
Subject
Civil Law - Suit Dismissal and Bar under Order 2 Rule 2
Act Referred
Headnote
C.P.C. - Civil Suit - Order 6 Rule 16, Order 7 Rule 11, Order 2 Rule 2 - [Order 6 Rule 16, Order 7 Rule 11, Order 2 Rule 2] - The court discussed the provisions of Order 6 Rule 16, Order 7 Rule 11, and Order 2 Rule 2 of the Civil Procedure Code. It emphasized the need for specific pleading of the bar under Order 2 Rule 2 by the defendant and the requirement for the trial court to frame specific issues in that regard. The court also highlighted the necessity for the objection to be raised in the written statement and for issues to be framed to determine the cause of action. The judgment of the apex court in the case of Coffee Board v. Ramesh Exports Pvt. Ltd. was referenced to support the interpretation of the legal provisions and their application in the present case.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a fresh suit for declaration, permanent injunction, and partition of properties after the previous suit was dismissed. The trial court directed the plaintiff to omit the relief clause regarding properties not mentioned in the previous suit.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the trial court had wrongly passed the order under Order 6 Rule 16 and Order 7 Rule 11 of the C.P.C. and set aside the impugned order.
Issues: The issues included the maintainability of the writ petition, dismissal of the suit partially, and the application of Order 2 Rule 2 of the C.P.C.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for specific pleading of the bar under Order 2 Rule 2 by the defendant, the requirement for the trial court to frame specific issues in that regard, and the necessity for the objection to be raised in the written statement and for issues to be framed to determine the cause of action.
Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the impugned order was set aside.
For the Petitioner:Shri. Vinay Zelawat, Sr. Advocate with shri. S.K. Sharma, Advocate
For the Respondents:Shri. V.K. Jain, Sr. Advocate with Shri. Vaibhav Jain, Advocate
The petitioner/plaintiff has filed the present petition 24.2.2016 by which the application filed under Order 7 Rule 11 of the C.P.C. has been disposed of and the plaintiff has been directed under Order 6 Rule 16 of the C.P.C. to omit the relief regarding the properties which are not mentioned in the previous suit.
2. In this petition, learned counsel appearing for respondents No.1 and 2 has raised a preliminary objection in respect of maintainability of the writ petition. According to Shri Jain, learned senior counsel, by the impugned order, the civil suit has partially been dismissed in respect of the properties which were not mentioned in the previous suit, therefore, the first appeal lies against the said order. The petitioner may be permitted to withdraw this petition with liberty to file the first appeal or he may be permitted to convert this petition into first appeal.
3. Shri Zelawat, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that there is no provision in the Civil Procedure Code in respect of dismissal of the suit partially. The impugned order is passed under Order 6 Rule 16 of the C.P.C. and the said order is not appealable, therefore, the plaintiff/petitioner has rightly filed this writ petition, hence the same is maintainable before this Court.
4. Earlier, petitioner/plaintiff – Smt. Sunita Sharma filed the civil suit along with one Smt. Chanu Sharma in the year 2013 claiming 1/6 share in the suit house No.39, Freeganj, Ujjain and also challenged the sale-deed dated 10.3.2011. By order dated 9.7.2013, the plaintiffs were granted last opportunity to pay the Court-fees of Rs.1,50,000/-. On 25.7.2013, plaintiffs filed an application under Order 23 Rule 3 of C.P.C. seeking permission to withdraw the suit with liberty to file a fresh suit. The learned trial Court dismissed the said application and also dismissed the suit under Order 7 Rule 11 of the C.P.C. Thereafter, only Smt. Sunita Sharma, the present petitioner filed the fresh suit for the relief of declaration, permanent injunction and partition of House No.39, Freeganj, Ujjain and House No.82, 'Satkar Bhawan', Teen Batti Chouraha, Ujjain.
5. After notice, respondents/defendants No.1 and 2 filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the C.P.C. by submitting that the second suit is not maintainable in respect of House No.82 under the provisions of Order 2 Rule 2 of the C.P.C. and the suit is liable to be dismissed.
6. The learned trial Court vide order dated 24.2.2016 disposed of the application and held that after dismissal of the previous under Order 7, Rule 11, the plaintiff can bring a fresh suit for the same cause of action, but by virtue of Order 2 Rule 2, he cannot bring the suit for those properties which were not the subject matter of the earlier suit, hence directed the plaintiff to delete/omit the relief in respect of the properties under Order 6 Rule 16 of C.P.C.
7. According to Shri V.K. Jain Sr. Advocate appearing for respondents No.1 and 2, the present suit has been dismissed in respect of House No.82, therefore, the writ petition is not maintainable. He further submits that the objection in respect of Order 2 Rule 2 of C.P.C. is not required to be taken in the written statement and no issue is required to be framed. The defendants have successfully demonstrated from the averments made in the plaint itself that the subsequent suit is barred under the provisions of Order 2 Rule 2 of the C.P.C. In support of his contention, he has placed reliance over the judgments of apex Court in the case of Church of Christ Charitable Trust v/s. Ponniamman Educational Trust : (2012) 8 SCC 706; Shamsher Singh V/s. Rajinder Prashad : (1973) 2 SCC 524; Rajni Rani V/s. Khairati Lal : 2015 (4) MPLJ 12; Sejal Glass Ltd. V/s. Navilan Merchants Pvt. Ltd. : AIR 2017 SC 4477; judgment of Karnataka High Court in the case of M/s. Maruthi Enterprises V/s. Smt. Muniyanjamma : AIR 1987 Kar. 264; judgment of this Court in the case of Jamshedji Dubash V/s. Meharb