In the said case, it has also been held that it is desirable that the
recording of evidence should be continuous and followed by arguments
and decision thereon within a reasonable time. That apart, it has also
been held that the Courts should constantly endeavour to follow such
a time schedule so that the purpose of amendments brought in the
Code of Civil Procedure are not defeated. Painfully, the Court
observed:-
“… In fact, applications for adjournments,
reopening and recalling are interim measures,
could be as far as possible avoided and only in
compelling and acceptable reasons, those
applications are to be considered. We are satisfied
that the plaintiff has filed those two applications
before the trial Court in order to overcome the
lacunae in the plaint, pleadings and evidence. It is
not the case of the plaintiff that it was not given
adequate opportunity. In fact, the materials placed
show that the plaintiff has filed both the
applications after more than sufficient opportunity
had been granted to it to prove its case. During theentire trial, those documents have remained in
exclusive possession of the plaintiff, still plaintiff
has not placed those bills on record. It further
shows that final arguments were heard on number
of times and judgment was reserved and only
thereafter, in order to improve its case, the plaintiff
came forward with such an application to avoid the
final judgment against it. Such course is not
permissible even with the aid of Section 151 CPC.”
10. In the case at hand, as we have stated hereinbefore, the examination-in-chief
continued for long and the matter was adjourned seven
times. The defendant sought adjournment after adjournment for
cross-examination on some pretext or the other which are really not
entertainable in law. But the trial Court eventually granted permission
subject to payment of costs. Regardless of the allowance extended,
the defendant stood embedded on his adamantine platform
and prayed for adjournment as if it was his right to seek adjournment
on any ground whatsoever and on any circumstance. The non-concern
of the defendant-petitioner shown towards the proceedings of the
Court is absolutely manifest. The disregard shown to the plaintiff's
age is also visible from the marathon of interlocutory applications
filed. A counsel appearing for a litigant has to have institutional responsibility.
The Code of Civil Procedure so command. Applications
are not to be filed on the grounds which we have referred to hereinabove
and that too in such a brazen and obtrusive manner. It is
wholly reprehensible. The law does not countenance it and, if we permit
ourselves to say so, the professional ethics decries such practice.
It is because such acts are against the majesty of law.
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO. OF 2016
(CC NO.14061 OF 2016)
GAYATHRI V M. GIRISH
Dated:July 27, 2016.
Dipak Misra, J.
Citation:2016 SCC online SC744,(2016) 14 SCC142
If a case ever exposed the maladroit efforts of a litigant to
indulge in abuse of the process of Court, the present one is a
resplendent example. The factual narration, to which we shall advert
to immediately hereinafter, would limpidly show that the
defendant-petitioner has endeavoured very hard to master the art of
adjournment and on occasions having been successful become quite
ambitious. And the ambition had no bounds; it could reach the
Everestine heights or put it differently, could engulf the entire Pacific
Ocean.
2. The factual expose’ as is evincible from the impugned orders, the
respondent filed OS No.1712 of 2007 for recovery of possession and2
damages. The general power of attorney holder through which the
plaintiff prosecuted the litigation was examined on 13.1.2009 in chief
and it was completed on 12.9.2012. It is worthy to note here that for
examination-in-chief, the witness was constrained to come to court on
seven occasions. Thereafter, the defendant filed an interlocutory
application under Order XVII Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil
Procedure seeking adjournment of the matter for one month on the
ground that the mother of the senior counsel was unwell. The matter
stood adjourned. As the facts would further unfold, the defendant
filed I.A. No.9 under the very same provision seeking adjournment on
the ground that the counsel engaged by him was not keeping well. I.A.
No.10 was filed seeking adjournment for one month on the ground
that the senior counsel was out of station. I.A. No.11 was filed on the
plea that the defendant was unable to get certified copies of 'P' series
documents. The fifth application, i.e., IA No.12 was filed on the
similar ground. The incurable habit continued and I.A. no.13 was
filed seeking adjournment on the ground that the counsel was busy in
the marriage ceremony of a relative. And, the matter stood adjourned.
The proceedings in the suit got arrested as if “time” had been arrested.
Despite filing of so many interlocutory applications, the defendant
remained indefatigable with obsessed consistency and again filed I.A.
No.14 on the ground that certified copies were required by her.3
Thereafter, I.A. No.15 was preferred to recall PW-1 for
cross-examination on the foundation that on the previous occasion,
the senior counsel who was engaged by the defendant was busy in
some other court. The learned trial Judge, hoping that all his owe
would be over and the disease of adjournment affecting the marrows of
litigation would be kept at bay, allowed the said application on
27.5.2013 subject to payment of costs of Rs.800/-.
3. We must state here that the learned trial Judge was in total
illusion, for the defendant-petitioner had some other design in mind.
We are prompted to say so, had the story ended there, possibly the
trial court’s assessment of phenomenon would have been correct and
the matter would not have travelled to this Court. But it was not to be
so. In spite of the court granting adjournment subject to payment of
costs, the defendant chose not to cross-examine the witness and
continued filing interlocutory applications forming the subject matters
of I.A. Nos.16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 and the ordeal of the plaintiff, a
septuagenarian, continued. The difficulties faced by an old man when
he is compelled to come to Court so many times to give evidence can
be well imagined. In spite of this, the trial court adjourned the matter
to 3.10.2015. Notwithstanding the unwarranted indulgence shown,
the defendant remained adamant and thought it wise not to
participate in the suit. On 3.10.2015, though the witness was4
present, neither the defendant nor her counsel turned up. The trial
Court posted the suit for defendant's evidence and adjourned the
matter. After the aforesaid order came to be passed, on 22.2.2016 IA
No.22 of 2016 was filed seeking further cross-examination of the
plaintiff. The said prayer was declined by the trial court with costs of
Rs.1,000/-.
4. Grieved by the aforesaid order passed by the learned trial Judge,
the defendant preferred, W.P. No.36022 of 2016 (GM-CPC) before the
High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore and the learned Single Judge,
vide order dated 14.07.2016 recorded the facts, placed reliance on
K.K. Velusamy v. N. Palanisamy1
and held as follows :-
“6. The impugned order is a narration of classic
case of abuse of process of law. Trial Court has
rejected the said application by narrating in detail
the conduct of petitioner – defendant. Hence, there
is no error in the order passed by the Trial Court.”
Eventually, the High Court dismissed the writ petition without
imposition of any costs.
5. We have heard, Mr. Ashwin K. Kotemath, learned counsel for the
petitioner. We have narrated the facts in great detail so that what we
have said in the beginning with regard to the abuse of the process of
court gets fortified.
6. In K.K. Velusamy (supra), while dealing with the power of the
1 (2011) 11 SCC 2755
Court under Order XVIII Rule 17, this Court held that:-
“9. Order 18 Rule 17 of the Code enables the court,
at any stage of a suit, to recall any witness who has
been examined (subject to the law of evidence for
the time being in force) and put such questions to
him as it thinks fit. The power to recall any witness
under Order 18 Rule 17 can be exercised by the
court either on its own motion or on an application
filed by any of the parties to the suit requesting the
court to exercise the said power. The power is
discretionary and should be used sparingly in
appropriate cases to enable the court to clarify any
doubts it may have in regard to the evidence led by
the parties. The said power is not intended to be
used to fill up omissions in the evidence of a
witness who has already been examined. [Vide
Vadiraj Naggappa Vernekar v. Sharadchandra
Prabhakar Gogate - 2009 (4) SCC 410].
10. Order 18 Rule 17 of the Code is not a provision
intended to enable the parties to recall any
witnesses for their further examination-in- chief or
cross-examination or to place additional material or
evidence which could not be produced when the
evidence was being recorded. Order 18 Rule 17 is
primarily a provision enabling the court to clarify
any issue or doubt, by recalling any witness either
suo moto, or at the request of any party, so that the
court itself can put questions and elicit answers.
Once a witness is recalled for purposes of such
clarification, it may, of course, permit the parties to
assist it by putting some questions.”
And again:-
“19. We may add a word of caution. The power under
Section 151 or Order 18 Rule 17 of the Code is
not intended to be used routinely, merely for the
asking. If so used, it will defeat the very purpose of
various amendments to the Code to expedite trials.
But where the application is found to be bona fide
and where the additional evidence, oral or documentary,
will assist the court to clarify the evidence6
on the issues and will assist in rendering justice,
and the court is satisfied that non-production earlier
was for valid and sufficient reasons, the court
may exercise its discretion to recall the witnesses or
permit the fresh evidence. But if it does so, it should
ensure that the process does not become a protracting
tactic. The court should firstly award appropriate
costs to the other party to compensate for the
delay. Secondly, the court should take up and complete
the case within a fixed time schedule so that
the delay is avoided. Thirdly, if the application is
found to be mischievous, or frivolous, or to cover up
negligence or lacunae, it should be rejected with
heavy costs.
x x x x x
21. Ideally, the recording of evidence should be
continuous, followed by arguments, without any
gap. Courts should constantly endeavour to follow
such a time schedule. The amended Code expects
them to do so. If that is done, applications for
adjournments, re-opening, recalling, or interim
measures could be avoided. The more the period of
pendency, the more the number of interlocutory
applications which in turn add to the period of
pendency.”
7. We have referred to the said paragraphs to show the purpose of
filing an application under Order XVIII Rule 17 of the Code. We may
add that though in the said decision this Court allowed the appeals in
part, the fact situation, the conduct of the party and the grievance
agitated were different. The Court also thought it apposite to add a
word of caution and also laid down that if the application is
mischievous or frivolous, it is desirable to reject the application with
costs.7
8. In this context, we may fruitfully refer to Bagai Construction
Through its proprietor Lalit Bagai v. Gupta Building Material
Store2
. In the said case the Court had expressed its concern about the
order passed by the High Court whereby it had allowed the application
preferred under Order XVIII Rule 17 that was rejected by the trial
court on the ground that there was no acceptable reason to entertain
the prayer. Be it stated, this Court set aside the order passed by the
High Court.
9. In the said case, it has also been held that it is desirable that the
recording of evidence should be continuous and followed by arguments
and decision thereon within a reasonable time. That apart, it has also
been held that the Courts should constantly endeavour to follow such
a time schedule so that the purpose of amendments brought in the
Code of Civil Procedure are not defeated. Painfully, the Court
observed:-
“… In fact, applications for adjournments,
reopening and recalling are interim measures,
could be as far as possible avoided and only in
compelling and acceptable reasons, those
applications are to be considered. We are satisfied
that the plaintiff has filed those two applications
before the trial Court in order to overcome the
lacunae in the plaint, pleadings and evidence. It is
not the case of the plaintiff that it was not given
adequate opportunity. In fact, the materials placed
show that the plaintiff has filed both the
applications after more than sufficient opportunity
2 (2013) 14 SCC 18
had been granted to it to prove its case. During the
entire trial, those documents have remained in
exclusive possession of the plaintiff, still plaintiff
has not placed those bills on record. It further
shows that final arguments were heard on number
of times and judgment was reserved and only
thereafter, in order to improve its case, the plaintiff
came forward with such an application to avoid the
final judgment against it. Such course is not
permissible even with the aid of Section 151 CPC.”
10. In the case at hand, as we have stated hereinbefore, the examination-in-chief
continued for long and the matter was adjourned seven
times. The defendant sought adjournment after adjournment for
cross-examination on some pretext or the other which are really not
entertainable in law. But the trial Court eventually granted permission
subject to payment of costs. Regardless of the allowance extended,
the defendant stood embedded on his adamantine platform
and prayed for adjournment as if it was his right to seek adjournment
on any ground whatsoever and on any circumstance. The non-concern
of the defendant-petitioner shown towards the proceedings of the
Court is absolutely manifest. The disregard shown to the plaintiff's
age is also visible from the marathon of interlocutory applications
filed. A counsel appearing for a litigant has to have institutional responsibility.
The Code of Civil Procedure so command. Applications
are not to be filed on the grounds which we have referred to hereinabove
and that too in such a brazen and obtrusive manner. It is9
wholly reprehensible. The law does not countenance it and, if we permit
ourselves to say so, the professional ethics decries such practice.
It is because such acts are against the majesty of law.
11. In this context, we may profitable reproduce a passage from Shiv
Cotex v. Tirgun Auto Plast (P) Ltd.3
wherein it has been stated that
it is sad, but true, that the litigants seek — and the courts grant —adjournments
at the drop of a hat. In the cases where the Judges are little
proactive and refuse to accede to the requests of unnecessary adjournments,
the litigants deploy all sorts of methods in protracting the
litigation. The court has further laid down that it is not surprising
that civil disputes drag on and on. The misplaced sympathy and indulgence
by the appellate and revisional courts compound the malady
further.
12. In Noor Mohammed v. Jethanand4
commenting on the delay
caused due to dilatory tactics adopted by the parties, the Court was
compelled to say:-
“In a democratic set-up, intrinsic and embedded
faith in the adjudicatory system is of seminal and
pivotal concern. Delay gradually declines the citizenry
faith in the system. It is the faith and faith
alone that keeps the system alive. It provides oxygen
constantly. Fragmentation of faith has the effect-potentiality
to bring in a state of cataclysm where justice
may become a casualty. A litigant expects a reasoned
verdict from a temperate Judge but does not
3 (2011) 9 SCC 678
4 (2013) 5 SCC 20210
intend to and, rightly so, to guillotine much of time
at the altar of reasons. Timely delivery of justice
keeps the faith ingrained and establishes the sustained
stability. Access to speedy justice is regarded
as a human right which is deeply rooted in the
foundational concept of democracy and such a right
is not only the creation of law but also a natural
right. This right can be fully ripened by the requisite
commitment of all concerned with the system. It
cannot be regarded as a facet of Utopianism because
such a thought is likely to make the right a
mirage losing the centrality of purpose. Therefore,
whoever has a role to play in the justice-dispensation
system cannot be allowed to remotely conceive
of a casual approach.”
And, again:-
“Thus, from the aforesaid, it is clear as day that everyone
involved in the system of dispensation of justice
has to inspire the confidence of the common
man in the effectiveness of the judicial system. Sustenance
of faith has to be treated as spinal sans
sympathy or indulgence. If someone considers the
task to be Herculean, the same has to be performed
with solemnity, for faith is the “élan vital” of our
system.”
13. In the case at hand, it can indubitably be stated that the
defendant-petitioner has acted in a manner to cause colossal insult to
justice and to the concept of speedy disposal of civil litigation. We are
constrained to say the virus of seeking adjournment has to be
controlled. The saying of Gita “Awake! Arise! Oh Partha” is apt here to
be stated for guidance of trial courts.
14. In view of the aforesaid analysis, we decline to entertain the
special leave petition and dismiss it with costs which is assessed at11
Rs.50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand only). The costs shall be paid to
the State Legal Services Authority, Karnataka. The said amount shall
be deposited before the trial Court within eight weeks hence, which
shall do the needful to transfer it to the State Legal Services Authority.
If the amount is not deposited, the right of defence to examine its
witnesses shall stand foreclosed.
…...............................,J.
(Dipak Misra)
New Delhi …...............................,J.
July 27, 2016. (Rohinton F. Nariman)
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