JUDGMENT

Dipak Misra, J.

Delay in filing the application for substitution is condoned and prayer for substitution of appellant No. 2 is allowed.

2. Leave granted.

3. The appellant Nos. 1 and 3 along with the predecessor-in-interest of appellant No. 2 instituted suit No. 301 of 1993 in the High Court of Calcutta principally for a declaration that they are entitled to be paid all the commissions and other incentives payable to the agents/field officers by the defendants in respect of the transactions and/or business which was done through the customers/certificate holders in accordance with the circulars/terms and conditions of appointment of all agents/field officers of the defendant company and for a decree of Rs.25 lacs against the defendant No. 1 company jointly and severally or in the alternative to cause an enquiry pertaining to the damages suffered by the plaintiffs and pass a decree for such a sum.

4. After issuance of notice of the plaint which was presented on 11.8.1993, the defendants entered appearance and filed their written statement on 12.8.1994. Thereafter, on 7.4.1998, the defendants filed an application for amendment of the written statement. The amendment that was sough