IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
SAMBASIVA RAO NAIDU, J.
K.Vamshi Krishna Rao – Appellant
Versus
K. Hari Prasad Rao And Others – Respondents
Civil Revision Petition Nos.412 And 415 of 2022
Decided on : 20-12-2022
Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 227 - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order XVIII, Rule 6, Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2, Order XVI, Rule 14, Section 151 - Permission to examine as witness - Summon witnesses - Aggrieved by common order passed whereunder petitioner/ defendant No.1 filed two application seeking to summon witnesses, are dismissed – Held, Request of petitioner based on age and ill-health of proposed witness can be considered - Respondent/plaintiff that witness is not of such age and it is not case of respondent that witness is not suffering from any such ill-health - Even if there is any such proof, in view of advanced age of witness more particularly in light of apprehension of petitioner that if anything happens to witness, he may loose a valuable evidence, his request can be considered by ordering examination of proposed witness out of turn - Court ought to have considered request of petitioner and examine witness out of turn - Revision can be allowed by directing Court below to record evidence of proposed witness out of turn - Petitions are allowed.
ORDER :
These revision petitions have been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, being aggrieved by the common Order dated 25.01.2022 passed in I.A.Nos.810 and 811 of 2021 in O.S.No.45 of 2021 by the learned XII Additional Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Secunderabad, whereunder, the petitioner/ defendant No.1 filed two application seeking to summon the witnesses, are dismissed.
2. Since two revision petitions filed against the common order and as the grounds under which the revision petitions are filed are one and the same and as the learned counsel appearing for both the parties advanced their respective arguments in both revisions as such, it is proposed to dispose of both the revisions under the common Order.
3. As can be seen from the impugned Order in the revision petitions, the petitioner/defendant No.1 filed interlocutory applications under Order XVIII, Rule 6 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (for short ‘C.P.C.’) seeking permission to examine Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev, W/o late Kishandas Sewaram Sachdev, as a witness on his behalf out of turn i.e., even before the actual trial is commenced in O.S.No.45/2021.
4. In support of the petitions, the petitioner/defendant No.1 filed his affidavit and submitted before the Court below that the respondent/plaintiff filed a speculative suit vide O.S.No.45/2021 and sought for partition of the suit schedule property even there was no such property available for partition. The petitioner has claimed that during the life time of late Sri K.Venkat Rao, who is the father of the petitioner/defendant No.1 and the respondent/plaintiff executed a Will deed on 22.08.2019 and bequeathed all his properties to his wife Smt.K.Laxmi Venkat Rao i.e., the mother of the petitioner/defendant No.1 and the respondent/ plaintiff.
5. After the death of the said K.Venkat Rao, his wife inherited all the properties in pursuance of the Will deed executed by her husband. The petitioner has further submitted that his mother being absolute owner of all the properties gifted/bequeathed the properties in favour of the petitioner and executed a registered Will deed dated 28.11.2020. The said Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev, W/o late Kishandas Sewaram Sachdev, who is aged about 79 years is an attesting witness to the above referred Will deed, and it was registered on 02.01.2021 vide Document No.1/111/2021 (CS No.1/2021) of Sub-Registrar, Marredpally, Secunderabad. The petitioner further stated that his mother took extra precautions of getting the Will registered personally and requested Mrs.Maya Krishnadas Sachdev to appear as a witness and she accepted the request of the mother of the petitioner.
6. The petitioner further submitted that one month after the demise of his mother, the said Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev along with Sri Venkatsubbaiah had visited Swarna Palace and they tried to hand over the registered Will deed to the petitioner and respondent No.1 but respondent No.1 did not allow them to hand over the Will deed. After two hours, they handed over the copy of the Will deed to the relatives of the petitioner and the original Will deed is in the custody of the said Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev.
7. The petitioner has further submitted that the said attesting witness Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev is suffering from various ailments and due to her advanced age, she got typhoid recently and she was advised bed rest. Given her fragile health and advanced age, it is imperative that Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev be examined immediately out of turn to prove the case of the petitioner about the execution of the Will deed in his favour by his mother out of free will. The testimony of Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev is vital to prove the Will deed executed by his mother with her free will and volition and it reflected her true intention. The petitioner would suffer grave and irreparable loss if the evidence of Mrs.Maya Kishandas Sachdev is not recorded immediately.
8. Respondent No.1/plaintiff has oppos
Joseph John Peter Sandy v. Veromika Thomas Raj Kumar And Anr
Examination of witnesses – Court at any time after institution of suit can examine witness out of turn.
A witness must have personal knowledge of the facts to testify, and a son cannot testify in place of a parent but can provide evidence if knowledgeable.
Permission to examine a witness can be granted before or after examination, with careful consideration to avoid prejudice, as highlighted in various legal precedents.
Trial court must allow Advocate Commissioner to examine aged witness for proving Will via secondary evidence, ensuring fair defense opportunity.
A party who wants to appear as a witness in her own case, should so appear before any other witness on her behalf is examined, unless the court for reasons to be recorded, permits her to appear as he....
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