Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Parameters for consideration of an application for amendment of Plaint, after trial has commenced


  In the said context, it would also be advantageous to refer to the 
Judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Abdul Rehman and Anr. vs.  
Mohd.   Ruldu   and   Ors.7,   wherein,   the   Apex   Court   has   defined   the 
parameters for consideration of an application for amendment of the 

Plaint, after the trial has commenced and has laid down the matters to 
be considered, of which, one aspect is whether the relief claimed by way 
of amendment is time barred.  The Apex Court has further held that if 
an   application   is   made   after   the   commencement   of   the   trial,   in   that 
event, the Court would have to arrive at a conclusion that inspite of due 
diligence,   the   party   could   not   have   raised   the   matter   before   the 
commencement   of   trial.     In   view   of   the   fact   that   the   amendment 
application has admittedly been moved after the commencement of the 
trial, the mandate of Rule 17 would have to be followed, namely that 
the   Plaintiffs   would   have   to   satisfy   the   Court   that   inspite   of   due 
diligence, they could not have moved the amendment earlier.    WRIT PETITION NO. 171 OF 2014
IN  THE  HIGH  COURT  OF  JUDICATURE  AT  BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION


1) Barkatali Abdul Razzak Kazi 
   

versus
1) Manzoor Abdul Razzak Kazi

CORAM :­ R. M. SAVANT, J.
DATED :­ APRIL 11, 2014



At   the   outset,   the   learned   Counsel   appearing   for   the 
Petitioners   Shri.   Kulkarni,   on   instructions   of   the   Petitioners,   seeks 
deletion of the Respondent No. 2, who, according to the Petitioners, is a 
formal party, in the context of the present Petition.  The Respondent No. 
2 is accordingly allowed to be deleted at the risk of the Petitioners.
Rule, with the consent of the learned Counsel appearing for 
2)

the parties, made returnable forthwith and heard.
The Writ Jurisdiction of this Court is invoked against the 
3)
order dated 26th  November, 2013, passed by the learned Civil Judge, 
Junior Division, Panvel, by which order, the application for amendment 
of the Plaint, filed by the Petitioners/ original Plaintiffs under Order I 
Rule  10   of   the   Civil   Procedure   Code   (hereinafter  referred  to   as  “the 
CPC”), read with Order VI Rule 17 of the CPC, came to be rejected.
4)
The facts necessary to be cited for adjudication of the above 
Petition, in brief, can be stated thus:
The   Petitioner   No.   1   and   the   Respondent   No.   1   herein   are 
brothers.   The Petitioner Nos. 2 and 3 are the sisters of the Petitioner 
No. 1 and the Respondent No. 1.   The father of the parties was one 
Abdul Razzak Kazi, who died on 11 th July, 1998.  One Sonabai was their 

grandmother and the properties, which are mentioned in paragraph 2 of 
the Plaint, were belonging to her and her sisters.  The said properties, 
which   were   lands   in   Panvel   District,   were   the   subject   matter   of 
acquisition   for   the   project   of   New   Bombay.     Awards   were   passed   in 
respect   of   the   said   lands   in   the   name   of   Sonabai.     Proceedings   for 
enhancement of compensation, by way of Reference under Section 18, 
were filed, which proceedings were decided leading to the filing of a 

First Appeals in this Court being First Appeal No. 983 of 1988 and First 
Appeal No. 919 of 1992 by the said Sonabai.  It is pending the said First 
Appeals that  Sonabai died.   The  Respondent  No. 1 herein  filed Civil 
Applications in the said First Appeals for bringing himself on record of 
the First Appeals on the basis of the Gift Deed executed by Sonabai. 
The   said   applications   came   to   be   allowed.     The   Respondent   No.   1 
withdrew   the   amount   of   compensation.     After   the   Petitioners   had 
acquired knowledge of the withdrawal of the compensation that they 
filed an application for review of the order permitting the Respondent 
No. 1 to withdraw the amount.  The application of the Petitioners was 
based on the Will dated 1st July, 1995 in their favour, allegedly executed 
by the said Sonabai.  This Court, in view of the competing claim made 
by   the   Petitioners,   to   the   compensation,   on   the   basis   of   the   Will, 
observed that it would be open for the Petitioners to assert their right 
on the basis of the Will by way of a Suit.  This is how the instant Suit 

being   Special   Civil   Suit   No.   31   of   2005   came   to   be   filed   by   the 
Petitioners.  The Respondent No. 1 herein is the original Defendant No. 
1 to the Suit.
In the Suit, the Plaintiffs have inter­alia claimed reliefs by way of 
a declaration that the Gift Deed dated 30th September, 1995 in favour of 
the   Defendant   No.   1   be   declared   as   illegal,   obtained   by   fraud   and 
misrepresentation,  direction to the Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 for giving 

account   of   the   amount   of   compensation   available   for   distribution, 
amounts paid  to  the  Defendant No. 1,  the  amounts  remaining to  be 
paid,   declaration is also sought that the Plaintiff have 1/12 th  share  in 
the suit properties and a further declaration that the Will dated 1 st July, 
1995,   executed   by   the   deceased   Sonabai,   is   legal   and   valid.     The 
Plaintiffs have also sought permanent injunction.   The aforesaid is the 
gist of the reliefs sought in the Plaint, however, in the context of the 
present Petition, it would be apposite to reproduce prayer clauses ‘c’, ‘d’ 
and ‘f’ of the Plaint, which read thus:
“c)
That the defendant No. 1 and 2 may be directed to give 
account of the amount of compensation available for distribution 
of the share of deceased Sonubai, the amounts paid to defendant 
No. 1 and amount remaining to be paid and plots of 12 1⁄2 to be 
allotted by defendant No. 2 the heirs of deceased Sonubai.
d)
It   may   be   declared   that,   the   plaintiffs   have   one   twelve 
share in the properties and/or compensation of the properties left 
by deceased Sonubai and defendant No. 1 also is entitled for the 
same 1/12th share equal to the each off the plaintiffs.
e)

f)
That the Defendant No. 1 be restrained by a permanent 
injunction not to deal with any more in any transaction of any 
land and/or not to receive any amount from defendant No. 2 in 
lieu of remaining compensation amount in liquidity and twelve 
and half percent land in kind.”
In   the   said   Suit,   a   Written   Statement   came   to   be   filed   by   the 
Defendant No. 1, wherein, the case of the Plaintiffs has been denied. 
The Defendant No. 2 i.e. City and Industrial Development Corporation 
(hereinafter referred to as “the CIDCO”) also filed its Written Statement. 

In the Written Statement of the CIDCO, the entitlement on account of 
the acquisition of land, by way of two plots, one at Kharghar and one at 
Pachnand, has been stated.  It has further been stated in paragraph 5 of 
the Written Statement of the CIDCO that the plots have not yet been 
given  to the  PAPs,  their  heirs, as they have  not approached the said 
Defendant  and   the   lease   agreement   of   the   plots   cannot   be   executed 
unless   they   all   approach   together   with   proper   proof   of   being   PAPs 
themselves   or   their   legal   heirs.     It   appears   that   an   application   for 
temporary injunction, numbered at Exhibit­5, came to be filed by the 
Plaintiffs, which came to be rejected by the Trial Court.   It seems that 
the matter was not carried further and therefore, the rejection of the 
application for temporary injunction became final.
After the application for temporary injunction was rejected, the 
CIDCO   allotted   two  plots  to   the   Defendant   No.  1,   and   20   others  by 
allotment letter dated 26th May, 2008.  The Defendant No. 1 thereafter 

entered into a Tripartite Agreement with one Gurukripa Enterprises on 
16th July, 2008, to which agreement, the CIDCO was also a party.  The 
said Gurukrupa Enterprises, in turn, executed a Tripartite Agreement on 
12th November, 2009 in favour of one Limani Developers, to which also 
the CIDCO was a party.  The said Tripartite Agreements were executed 
by complying the formalities in that regard, in the matter of payment of 
additional lease premium to the CIDCO as per rules.  It appears that the 
ig
said  Limani  Developers  thereafter   undertook  development  and  today, 
according to the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Defendant 
No. 1, a building has been put up on the said plot of land.
The parties went to trial.  The issues in the Suit were framed on 
4th  July,   2006.     The   Plaintiffs   have   led   evidence   of   seven   witnesses, 
amongst whom are the Plaintiffs Nos. 1 and 2.   In the context of the 
present Petition, it is relevant to note that the Plaintiff No. 2, in her 
cross­examination by the Defendant No. 1, has stated that the papers 
regarding the transfer of the plots by the Defendant No. 1 to one N. H. 
Patel (concerned for Gurukupa Enterprises) were with her, but she has 
not produced them on record.  She has further stated that she became 
aware of the transfer of plots three years back i.e. three years prior to 
the date of her deposition on 6th  August, 2011.   It is after leading the 
evidence of seven witnesses that the application for amendment of the 
Plaint  was   filed   on   10th  October,  2013.     By   the  said  application,   the 

impleadment   of   Gurukrupa   Enterprises,   through   its   partners,   as 
Defendant   No.   3,   as   well   as   the   impleadment   of   the   said   Limani 
Developers, through its partners, as Defendant No. 4, was sought.   By 
the said amendment, the averments i.e. the allotment by CIDCO to the 
Defendant No.1, thereafter the transfers by the Defendant No. 1 to the 
proposed Defendant No. 3 and by the proposed Defendant No. 3 to the 
proposed Defendant No. 4 were sought to be incorporated.   Based on 

the said averments, additional prayers were sought to be incorporated 
in the Plaint. It was averred in the said application that the Plaintiffs 
became aware of the allotment from one Munraj Puri who is conversant 
with   the   allotments   made   under   the   12.5%   scheme   of   CIDCO   and 
thereafter   on   making   inquiries   in   the   Sub­Registrar’s   on   27­02­2013 
they became aware of the transaction between the Defendant No.1 and 
the Defendant No.3 and the Defendant No.4. It would be relevant to 
reproduce   the   prayers,   which   were   sought   to   be   incorporated   in   the 
Plaint, which are prayer clauses (d­1) to (d­5), which, for the sake of 
ready reference, are reproduced herein under:
“d(1) That,   the   Agreement   to   Lease   dated   26th  May,   2008 
executed by Defendant No. 2 CIDCO in respect of Plot No. 72, 
Sector   20,   at   Kharghar,   the   subsequently   executed   Tripartite 
Agreement   dated   16/7/2008   in   favour   of   Defendant   No.   3   in 
respect of the Plot No. 72, further the Tripartite Agreement dated 
12/11/2009 executed in favour of Defendant NO. 4 in respect of 
the same property be declared as null and void and not binding 
upon to the extent of the share of the Plaintiffs.
d(2)
It may be please be declared that, the Plaintiffs are jointly 

entitled for 2167 sq. mtrs., area out of the total area admeasuring 
3250   sq.   mtrs.,   in   Plot   No.   4,   situated   at   –   Taloje   Pachanand 
which came to be share of deceased Sonubai (Aminabai).
d(3) It   may   please  be   declared   that,   the   Plaintiffs  are   jointly 
entitled   for   87   sq.   mtrs.,   out   of   the   total   area   of   Plot   No.   72, 
admeasuring 1550 sq. mtrs., at Kharghat which came to the share 
of deceased Sonubai (Aminabai)
d(4) The   preliminary   decree   of   partition   may   be   pleased   be 
passed accordingly.

d(5) The   preliminary   decree   may   pleased   be   send   to   the 
Collector of Raigad/ and or before the Competent Authority for 
execution of the partition by metes and bounds in respect of the 
suit properties, in accordance with the shares of the parties and 
allotment to the Plaintiffs of their divided share in severally.”
Hence, by way of the amendment, two new parties were sought 
to be added.  The substantial averments regarding them as also prayers 
sought against the said parties were also sought to be incorporated.
The said application was replied to on behalf of the Defendant 
No. 1.  The said application was opposed inter alia on the ground that 
the application to implead the proposed Defendants and the averments 
in the Plaint has been filed beyond limitation, that the application could 
not   be   entertained   as   the   Suit   is   at   the   fag   end   and   that   if   the 
amendments as sought by the application are allowed, the nature of the 
Suit will change.
5)
The   Trial   Court   considered   the   said   application   and   as 
indicated  above,  by the  impugned  order  dated  26th  November, 2013, 
rejected the same.   The gist of the reasoning of the Trial Court is that 

the Plaintiffs, in seeking the said amendment, have not been diligent, as 
the averments are sought to be moved long after the evidence of the 
Plaintiffs is over.  The Trial Court also observed that the relief by way of 
declaration sought in respect of the agreements between the Defendant 
Nos. 1 and 3 and the Defendant Nos. 3 and 4 was beyond the period of 
three years and therefore, barred by Article 58 of the Limitation Act. 
The Trial Court observed that the amendments are not required to be 

allowed,   as   the   parties   have   entered   into   a   transaction   during   the 
pendency of the Suit and therefore, the parties would be bound by the 
decision in the Suit.  The Trial Court further held that the amendments, 
if allowed, would change the nature of the Suit, as the Suit being filed 
originally for declaration in respect of the Gift Deed and Will Deed and 
for accounts would be converted into a Suit for partition.   The Trial 
Court lastly observed that impleading the proposed Defendant Nos. 3 
and   4   would   set   the   clock   back,   as   the   whole   rigmarole   of   filing   of 
Written Statement by the proposed Defendants, the leading of evidence, 
would have to be gone through once again.  As indicated above, it is the 
said order dated 26th  November, 2013 which is taken exception to by 
way of the above Petition.
6)
SUBMISSIONS   OF   SHRI.   S.S.KULKARNI,   the   learned 
Counsel appearing for the Petitioners:
(i)
That the Trial Court erred in adjudicating the application 

on the touchstone of Order VI Rule 17 of the CPC.
That the Trial Court failed to appreciate that the application 
(ii)
was one under Order I Rule 10 of the CPC and therefore, what was 
required to be seen by the Trial Court was whether the proposed 
Defendants were necessary or proper parties to the Suit.
(iii)
That the transferee pendente lite, who, in the instant case, 
are  the   Defendant  Nos.  3 and  4, are  required  to be  brought on 
record for a complete and effectual adjudication of the dispute.
In support of the said submission, reliance was placed on 

the   Judgment   of   the   Apex   Court   in   the   case   of  Thomson   Press  
(India)   Ltd.1,  in   the   case   of  Amit   Kumar   Shaw   and   Anr.   vs.  
Farida Khatoon and Anr.2  and in the case of  Dhanlakshmi and  
Ors. vs. P
. Mohan and Ors.3.
That the delay cannot come in the way of the Plaintiffs in 
(iv)
seeking the amendment, as an issue can be framed in that regard 
and can be tried at the time of trial.
(v)
That  the  Trial   Court  has  discretion   even   to  allow  a  time 
barred amendment.
Support   is   sought   to   be   taken   in   that   regard   from   the 
Judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court in the case of 
Banu   w/o.   Kutubuddin   Sulemanji   Vimanwala   and   Anr.   vs.  
Kutubuddin Sulemanji Vimanwala4.
(vi)
That the ground of the clock being set back is not a ground 
for rejecting the application for amendment, if the amendments are 

2013 (5) SCC 397
2005 (11) SCC 403
2007 (10) SCC 719
1995 (2) Mh. L. J. 506

necessary for a complete and factual adjudication of the Suit.
Reliance   is   sought   to   be   placed   on   the   Judgment   of   a 
learned   Single   Judge   of   this   Court   in   the   case   of  Krishnaji  
Shankar  Moghe   vs.   Sitaram  Gangadhar   Shende5,  wherein,   the 
learned   Single   Judge   has   held   that   if   subsequent   events   are   in 
relation to the subject matter of dispute between the parties and 
are necessary to decide the real controversy, mere delay in filing 
the   application   for   amendment   or   because   a   party   to   the 
proceedings   will   have   to   lead   evidence   consequent   to   the 
amendment of the pleadings, cannot be a justification for refusal of 

the application for amendment.
(A)
7)
SUBMISSIONS   OF   SHRI.   A.   S.   RAJADHYAKSHA,   the 
learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Respondent No. 1:
That   the   order   passed   by   the   Trial   Court,   rejecting   the 
application for amendment, in the facts and circumstances of the 
present case, cannot be found fault with and hence, the exercise of 
Writ Jurisdiction of this Court is not warranted.
(B)
That the application in question has been rightly styled as 
one under Order I Rule 10 of the CPC read with Order VI Rule 17 
of the CPC.  It is therefore not open for the Petitioners to contend 
that it is only under Order I Rule 10 of the CPC.
(C) 
That   the   amendments   sought   to   introduce   new   parties, 
averments and add prayers cannot be justified on the ground that 
the averments and the prayers are only consequential to the parties 
being impleaded, when substantive reliefs are sought against the 
proposed Defendants.
5 2003 (1) Mh. L. J. 233

(D) 

That   allowing   the   amendments   would   result   in   a   time 
barred claim being introduced, as the declaration sought in respect 
of the two Tripartite Agreements is admittedly beyond the period of 
three  years.   This is on  the  Plaintiffs’ own  showing, in  terms of 
deposition of the Plaintiff No. 2 in her cross­examination.
(E)
That the application for amendment would also have to be 
considered on the touchstone of Order VI Rule 17 of the CPC, after 
the amendment in the CPC, in the year 2002, as in the instant case, 
admittedly, the Trial has commenced long before the application 

for amendment was moved.
Reliance in support of the said contention is placed on the 
Judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Alkapuri Co­operative  
Housing   Society   Ltd.   vs.   Jayantibhai   Naginbhai   (deceased)  
through legal heirs6.   The Apex Court, in the said Judgment, has 
observed that there cannot be any dispute as regards the Court’s 
jurisdiction   to   consider   an   application   for   amendment   of   the 
pleadings, as the prayer is wide in nature, but when by reason of 
an amendment a third party is sought to be impleaded, not only 
the provisions of Order VI Rule 17 of the CPC would apply but also 
the provisions of Order I Rule 10 of the CPC when a new party is 
sought to be added keeping in view the provisions of Sub­Rule 5 of 
Rule 10 of Order I of the CPC, question of invoking the period of 
limitation would come in/end.
8)
CONSIDERATIONS:
Having   heard   the   learned   Counsel   appearing   for   the   parties,   I 
have bestowed my anxious consideration to the rival contentions.   As 
6 AIR 2009 SC 1948

indicated in the earlier part of this Judgment, the Suit as originally filed 
is seeking a declaration that the Gift Deed in favour of the Defendant 
No. 1 dated 30th September, 1995 be declared as bogus and illegal and 
also   for   a   declaration   that   the   Plaintiffs   have   1/12 th  share   in   the 
properties and that the registered Will dated 1st July, 1995 executed by 
the said Sonabai is legal and valid and for permanent injunction.  The 
substantive reliefs, therefore, have been sought by way of declarations 

in respect of the Gift Deed and the Will Deed.   By the amendments, 
which were sought by the application, two new parties are sought to be 
added   and   averments   are   sought   to   be   introduced   in   respect   of   the 
allotment of the plots to the Defendant No. 1, the transfer of the plots 
by the Defendant No. 1 to the Defendant No. 3 by the agreement dated 
16th July 2008 and thereafter by the Defendant No. 3 to the Defendant 
No. 4 by agreement dated 12 th April 2009 and prayers are sought to be 
added in respect of the said agreements dated 26 th May, 2008, 16th July, 
2008   and   12th  November,   2009.     The   Plaintiffs   have   also   sought 
partition in respect of the plots, which have been allotted.  As indicated 
above,   the   Trial   Court   has   rejected   the   application   inter   alia   on   the 
ground   that   the   Plaintiffs   have   not   been   diligent   in   moving   the 
application, that the declarations sought in respect of the agreements 
would be beyond the period of three years, that the Plaintiffs’ version of 
they having acquired knowledge of the transfers only on 26 th July, 2013, 

through   one   Munraj   Puri   could   not   be   accepted   in   the   teeth   of   the 
evidence of the Plaintiff No. 2, that the amendments, if allowed, would 
change   the   nature   of   the   Suit,   as   the   Plaintiffs   are   now   claiming 
partition of the plots allotted, which is based on a different cause of 
action.
9)
Insofar as the present Petition is concerned, in the context 
of the submission of the learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioners 

Shri. Kulkarni that the application would have to be considered only on 
the touchstone of Order I Rule 10 of the CPC, the defining aspect would 
be the fact that the trial in the Suit in question has already commenced. 
If that be so, the entitlement of the Plaintiffs to seek amendment in the 
Plaint   would   therefore   have   to   be   considered   on   the   touchstone   of 
Order   VI   Rule   17   of   the   CPC.     The   said   provision   has   undergone   a 
change by virtue of the amendment, which has taken place in the year 
2002   and   a   proviso   to   the   said   provision   has   been   incorporated   by 
virtue of the said amendment, which reads thus:
“17. Amendment of pleadings. ­  The Court may at any stage of 
the proceedings allow either party to alter or amend his pleadings 
in such manner and on such terms as may be just, and all such 
amendments shall be made as may be necessary for the purpose of 
determining the real question in controversy between the parties. 
Where,   however,  an  application  for  amendment   is   made  by  the 
plaintiff in a suit in which the defendant has not appeared, though 
served with a summons, and where in the opinion of the Court the 
amendment   applied   for   is   a   material   one,   the   Court   shall   give 
notice   of   the   application   to   the   defendant   before   allowing   the 
amendment; and where in the absence of the defendant the Court 

grants any amendment in a form materially different from that of 
which   notice   has   been   given   to   the   defendant,   a   copy   of   the 
amended plaint shall be served on the defendant.”
Provided   that   no   application   for   amendment   shall   be 
allowed after the trial has commenced, unless the Court comes to 
the conclusion that in spite of due diligence, the party could not 
have raised the matter before the commencement of trial.
In the said context, it would also be advantageous to refer to the 
Judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Abdul Rehman and Anr. vs.  
Mohd.   Ruldu   and   Ors.7,   wherein,   the   Apex   Court   has   defined   the 
parameters for consideration of an application for amendment of the 

Plaint, after the trial has commenced and has laid down the matters to 
be considered, of which, one aspect is whether the relief claimed by way 
of amendment is time barred.  The Apex Court has further held that if 
an   application   is   made   after   the   commencement   of   the   trial,   in   that 
event, the Court would have to arrive at a conclusion that inspite of due 
diligence,   the   party   could   not   have   raised   the   matter   before   the 
commencement   of   trial.     In   view   of   the   fact   that   the   amendment 
application has admittedly been moved after the commencement of the 
trial, the mandate of Rule 17 would have to be followed, namely that 
the   Plaintiffs   would   have   to   satisfy   the   Court   that   inspite   of   due 
diligence, they could not have moved the amendment earlier.  Insofar as 
the   said   aspect   is   concerned,   the   deposition   of   the   Plaintiff   No.   2 
assumes significance.   The Plaintiff No. 2 has unequivocally stated in 
7 2012 (11) SCC 341

her cross­examination that she was having the papers of the transfers, 
which were effected by the Defendant No. 1 in favour of Shri. N. H. 
Patel (partner of Gurukrupa Enterprises) and that she became aware of 
the transfers three years prior to the date, on which, she deposed.  The 
Plaintiffs  have   sought  to  justify  the   delay  in  moving  the   amendment 
application by putting forward an explanation that they were not aware 
of  the   allotment,   until  one  Munraj   Puri,   who   is  acquainted  with   the 
ig
allotment under the 12.5% scheme told them that the allotment of plots 
was deficient having regard to entitlement of the Plaintiffs and that it is 
thereafter that the Plaintiffs made enquiries and on making enquiries 
with the Sub­Registrar’s office, they became aware of the transfers on 
27th  September,   2013.     This   explanation   was   not   found   worthy   of 
acceptance by the Trial Court, on the ground that no particulars, as to 
when the said Munraj Puri told the Plaintiffs about the said facts, have 
been given and that the said explanation could not be accepted in view 
of the statements, which have come in the deposition of the Plaintiff No. 
2.   In my view, the Trial Court was right in holding that the Plaintiffs 
have not satisfied the due diligence test.  The Trial Court has also held 
that the declaration sought by way of the amendments, which would be 
introduced in the year 2013 would be time barred, having regard to 
Article 58 of the Limitation Act.   In view of the fact that rights have 
accrued in  favour of the proposed Defendant Nos. 3 and 4, it is not 

possible to accept the contention of the learned Counsel appearing for 
the Petitioners that the issue of limitation can be kept open for being 
adjudicated at the time of trial, as in the instant case, ex­facie, the relief 
sought by way of declaration in respect of the agreements is barred.  In 
the   light   of   the   fact   that   the   trial   has   already   commenced,   the 
submission of the learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner that the 
application has to be considered giving predominance to Order I Rule 

10 of the CPC, cannot be accepted.  Accepting such a contention would 
render the provisions of Rule 17 of Order VI of the CPC otiose.  Apart 
from the same, having regard to the well settled principles, applicable 
whilst   considering   an   application   for   amendment,   namely   that   in 
allowing the amendment, the nature of the Suit would not change and 
time barred claims are not introduced.  If the application is considered 
by applying the said principles, then, the order passed by the Trial Court 
cannot be faulted with, as by way of the instant amendments, the Suit 
for declaration in respect of the Gift Deed and Will Deed is sought to be 
converted to a Suit seeking declaration in respect of three agreements 
and the relief of partition.   The Plaintiffs have also sought to change 
their entitlement from 1/12th to 2/3rd and therefore, the finding of the 
Trial Court that the same would change the nature of the Suit, cannot 
be faulted with.

    
10)

Now,   coming   to   the   Judgments   cited   on   behalf   of   the 
Petitioners i.e. in the case of  Thomson Press (India) Ltd.  (supra) and 
Amit   Kumar   Shaw   and   Anr.  (supra),   the   said   cases   involve   the 
applications made by the transferee's pendente lite for being joined as 
parties   to   the   Suits   filed   for   specific   performance   and   whose 
applications   were   rejected.     It   is   in   the   context   of   the   fact   that   the 
transfers would be hit by Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act, 

1982.     The   Apex   Court   held   that   the   impleadment  of   the   transferee 
would   be   necessary   for  a  complete   and   effectual  adjudication   of   the 
Suit.     The   Apex   Court,   in   the   case   of  Amit   Kumar   Shaw   and   Anr.  
(supra)   observed   that   the   question   that   would   be   required   to   be 
addressed by the Court was whether the enforceable right of the person, 
who seeks his impleadment, would be affected, if not joined.  Insofar as 
Dhanlakshmi's case (supra) is concerned, in the said case, the issue of 
impleading the  transferees in  a  partition  suit, by co­owners, was the 
issue.  In the context of the partition suit, the Apex Court held that the 
transferees from a co­owner  are necessary and proper parties.   In the 
instant   case,   it   is   the   Plaintiffs   who   have   applied   for   adding   the 
proposed Defendants, who have acquired rights in respect of the plots 
in question by the agreement executed by the Defendant No. 1 in favour 
of the Defendant No. 3 and thereafter the Defendant No. 3 in favour of 
the   Defendant   No.   4   and   are   seeking   to   introduce   averments   in   the 

Plaint relating to the said transfers and seek reliefs in respect of the said 
transactions.     Therefore,   this   is   not   a   case   where   third   parties   are 
seeking their impleadment in the Suit so as to protect their interests. 
The instant application would therefore have to be considered having 
regard   to   the   well   settled   principles   applicable   after   the   trial   has 
commenced   i.e.   the   proviso   to   Order   VI   Rule   17   of   the   CPC.     If   so 
considered, as held by the Trial Court whilst rejecting the application, 

the Plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the due diligence test and that the 
of the Suit.
11)
incorporation of the amendments in the Suit would change the nature 
Now, coming to the Judgment of the learned Single Judge 
of   this   Court   in   the   case   of  Banu   w/o.   Kutubuddin   Sulemanji  
Vimanwala and Anr. (supra), in my view, apart from the fact that the 
said Judgment was rendered prior to a amendment of the CPC in the 
year 2002, it is in the facts of the said case that probably the learned 
Single Judge has observed that in exceptional circumstances the Court 
has power even to grant a time barred amendment.  In the instant case, 
no exceptional circumstances can be seen or made out so as to permit a 
time barred amendment.
Insofar as the Judgment of the learned Single Judge of this Court 
in   the   case   of  Krishnaji   Shankar   Moghe  (supra)   is   concerned,   the 
cause   for   citing   the   said   Judgment   are   the   observations   made   in 

paragraph 27 of the impugned order.  In my view, it was not necessary 
for   the   learned   Civil   Judge   Senior   Division   to   make   the   said 
observations,   as   obviously,   an   amendment   application   cannot   be 
rejected   on   the   ground   that   it   would   entail   the   following   of   the 
rigmarole of the filing of the Written Statement leading of evidence etc. 
In  my view,  since the  Trial  Court has not deemed it fit to allow  the 
amendments, for the reasons mentioned in the impugned order, namely 

i.e.   the   due   diligence   test   not   being   satisfied   and   the   change   in   the 
nature   of   the   Suit,   it   was   not   necessary   for   the   learned   Civil   Judge 
For the aforesaid reasons, there is no merit in  the above 
12)
Senior Division to make such observations.
Petition.  This Court does not find any error of jurisdiction, committed 
by the Trial Court, in rejecting the application or any other illegality or 
infirmity committed by the Trial Court, for this Court to interfere in its 
Writ Jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.   The 
Writ Petition is accordingly dismissed.
(R. M. SAVANT, J.)     


Print Page

No comments:

Post a Comment