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1954 DIGILAW 21 (HP)

Lagnu v. Mt. Surmi

1954-08-05

RAMABHADRAN

body1954
ORDER:- This revision petition arises out of an order passed by the Subordinate Judge, Theog, disallowing an application for amendment of the plaint under O.6, R.17, Civil P. Code. The petitioners filed a suit, in the first instance, against Mt. Surmi, respondent 1, in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Theog, claiming that, as reversioners of Bairagi, deceased husband of Surmi, they were entitled to succeed to the ancestral properties left by Bairagi, after the death of Mt. Surmi. They alleged that Mt. Surmi was intending to alienate the aforesaid properties in favour of her daughter, Mt. Bishni. They, therefore, sought a declaration to the effect that they were the reversioners of Bairagi and were entitled to succeed to the ancestral properties on the death of Mt. Surmi. They further prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining Mt. Surmi from alienating the aforesaid properties. 2. The suit was contested by Mt. Surmi on the ground that half the properties had been gifted by Bairagi to his daughter, Mt. Bishni, during his life-time. As regards the other half, she denied that she intended to alienate it. She further contended that the properties were not ancestral qua the plaintiffs. At the request of the plaintiffs, Mt. Bishni was impleaded as defendant 2. Subsequently, an application under O.6, R.17 was put in by plaintiffs counsel seeking permission to amend the plaint in such a way as "to mention the cause of action so far as alienation made by Bairagi in favour of his daughter, defendant 2, is concerned." This was objected to by the defendants. The learned Subordinate Judge refused to permit this amendment on the ground that the amendment would set up a new case and the defendants would be deprived of a valuable right, which had accrued to them by lapse of time. Hence, this revision petition. 3. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and, in my opinion, no case is made out for interference in revision. Learned counsel for the respondents argued that the revision petition was not maintainable and cited - Mt. Suraj Pali v. Ariya Pretinidhi Sabha, AIR 1936 All 686 (PB) (A), where a Full Bench of that High Court held that: "No revision lies from an order refusing to allow an amendment of a pleading. Learned counsel for the respondents argued that the revision petition was not maintainable and cited - Mt. Suraj Pali v. Ariya Pretinidhi Sabha, AIR 1936 All 686 (PB) (A), where a Full Bench of that High Court held that: "No revision lies from an order refusing to allow an amendment of a pleading. Cases where the amendment comes under some other order of the Court, e.g., the addition or substitution of parties or the striking off of a pleading may amount to a case decided, but an order passed purely under O.6, R.17 does not." This Court might interfere in an extreme case, e.g., where a Subordinate Court passes an order, without applying its mind to the correct provisions of the procedural law and where the passing of the order has resulted in creating an impossible situation. I am not, however, satisfied that such a contingency has arisen in the present case. The order, sought to be set aside, is an interlocutory order. The learned Subordinate Judge has given his reasons for coming to the conclusion that amendment should not be allowed. This was a matter entirely within the discretion of the Court below. If and when the suit is finally decided, the aggrieved party will have a right of appeal. In appeal, it will be open to the aggrieved party to attack the judgment of the Subordinate Judge on all points, including the present order. In - Lalla Ram v. Naresh Chand, AIR 1952 Him-P and Bilaspur 28(B), my learned predecessor observed as follows: "The arriving at a conclusion or decision is a mental operation and the Court cannot be said to be acting in so coming to a conclusion or decision on a question of law or of fact; and so far as arriving at a conclusion or decision is concerned, whether the lower appellate Court decides the questions rightly or wrongly it has jurisdiction to do so, and even if it decides wrongly, it cannot be said to have acted with material irregularity in the exercise of its jurisdiction." On the same analogy, I would say that the Subordinate Judge of Theog was well within his jurisdiction in not permitting the amendment of the plaint. Learned counsel for the petitioners suggested that, if amendment was not permitted, it would lead to multiplicity of suits. Learned counsel for the petitioners suggested that, if amendment was not permitted, it would lead to multiplicity of suits. If this be the ultimate result, the petitioners will have to thank themselves for rushing to Court with an imperfect plaint. 4. In the result, I reject the revision petition with costs assessed at Rs.30/-. Stay order granted by this Court on 7-7-1953 is discharged. Revision dismissed.