JUDGMENT

( Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J )

This appeal has been filed challenging the order dated 17.12.2020 passed in Appeal No.51 of 2020 by the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Appellate Tribunal confirming the order dated 20.03.2020 passed in I.A.No.105 of 2019 in C.C.P.No.261 of 2019 on the file of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Chennai ('RERA' for brevity).

2. We have elaborately heard Mr.K.M.Vijayan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant.

3. In the array of parties before the RERA in C.C.P.No.261 of

2019, initially there were two respondents, namely Crescentz Homes and Infrastructure Private Limited and Altimiz Infrastructure Limited. Subsequently, on account of the order passed by the RERA, the complaint was not pressed against the aforementioned two parties and M/s.Crescentz Square was impleaded as a respondent. The first respondent before us, namely Mrs.Santhakumari, had filed I.A.No.105 of 2019 in C.C.P.No.261 of 2019 seeking to implead the appellant herein as well as M/s.Crescentz Square as respondents 3 and 4.

4. This interlocutory application was resisted by the appellant herein by filing a counter affidavit stating as to how there is no privity between the appellant and the first respondent herein and there was an earlier memorandum of understanding between the three parties, to which the first respondent was not a signatory and several other matters touching upon the factual issue.

5. In sum and substance, the appellant before us vehemently objected the impleaded and sought for dismissal.

6. The RERA, by order dated 20.03.2020, after considering the facts, allowed the application, wherein it has observed as to whether the appellant before us along with the other respondents are liable for the reliefs claimed by the first respondent/petitioner in the complaint, will have to be decided after giving an opportunity of being heard to both sides and on the merits of the case. Consequent to such order, the appellant and M/s.Crescentz Square, fourth respondent before us, were impleaded as parties in C.C.P.No.261 of 2019. Aggrieved by such order passed by the RERA, the appellant preferred appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal considered the case and agreed with the authority stating that the appellant before us would be a necessary party to the proceedings, so as to have a binding adjudication. Aggrieved by the order of the Tribunal, the appellant is before us.

7. The contention of the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant is that fraud has been played by not pressing the complaint against the second respondent, who was originally impleaded and subsequently seeking for impleadment of the appellant and the fourth respondent by a person, who was never a party to the earlier proceedings of the Tribunal in C.Nos.370 to 291, 396 and 397 of 2019 dated 21.11.2019. Further, it is submitted that the first respondent has no locus standi to implead the appellant herein in the proceedings and the RERA and the Tribunal committed serious error in impleading the appellant. Further, it is contended that the RERA and the Tribunal failed to take note of the fundamental principles of law with regard to the impleadment of parties by taking note of Order I Rule 10 of CPC.

8. After we have elaborately heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant, we are of the considered view that the appellant cannot be said to be prejudiced on account of the order passed by the RERA impleading them as respondent nor the order passed by the Tribunal affirming the order passed by the RERA. We say so because the RERA has rightly held that the question whether the appellant along with other respondents are liable for the reliefs claimed by the first respondent in the complaint will have to be decided after giving an opportunity of being heard to both sides and on the merits of the case. On the same lines, the Tribunal has also confirmed the order and also observed, for a binding adjudication, the appellant would be a