RASIKLAL SHANKERLAL SONI v. NATVERLAL SHANKERLAL UPADHYAYA
1974-09-21
A.D.DESAI
body1974
DigiLaw.ai
A. D. DESAI, J. ( 1 ) THIS civil revision application raises an interesting question about the joinder of parties in a suit for specific performance in which only relief which is claimed is that the original defendant to the suit should execute a document in plaintiffs favour or the same should be executed through the court. The dispute between the parties is in respect of the house bearing Panchayat No. 99 situated in village Kathlal. The petitioner who is the original plaintiff filed Regular Civil Suit No. 85 of 1971 in the Court of the Civil Judge Junior Division Kapadvanj alleging that opponent No. 1. original defendant No. 1. had mortgaged the suit house to him by a registered document dated October 9 1967 for the amount of Rs. 1500. 00. On or about April 8 1969 a second mortgage for Rs. 2000. 00 was created by the said defendant by a registered document. Defendant No. 1 was in need of money and he had taken in all Rs. 4051 P. as loan from him. Defendant No. 1 then entered into an agreement with the petitioner to sell the suit property on September 29 1970 and this agreement is produced in the suit at Ex. 49. By a notice dated January 23 1971 the petitioner called upon defendant No. 1 to remain present at 11-00 a. m. on February 6 1971 in the office of the Sub-Registrar of Documents at Kapadvanj in order to get executed and registered the deed of sale in pursuance of the agreement of sale entered into on September 29 1970 Defendant No. 1 did not remain present. On these allegations the plaintiff filed the aforesaid suit for specific performance of the agreement. Defendant No. 1 filed written statement and the main pleas raised by him are that he had not executed any agreement of sale and that he had not received any amount as loan from the plaintiff.
On these allegations the plaintiff filed the aforesaid suit for specific performance of the agreement. Defendant No. 1 filed written statement and the main pleas raised by him are that he had not executed any agreement of sale and that he had not received any amount as loan from the plaintiff. On these pleadings the learned trial Judge raised the following issues:1 Whether the plaintiff proves that the defendant contracted to sell suit house to him ?2 Whether the defendant proves that he agreed to mortgage suit house by way of conditional sale3 Whether the defendant proves that this court has no jurisdiction to hear this suit ?4 Whether the court has jurisdiction ?5 Whether this court has pecuniary jurisdiction ?6 Whether the suit in its present form is maintainable ?7 Whether the defendant proves that the document dated 8-4-1969 is without consideration ?8 Whether the defendant proves that the Vasul of Rs. 8010. 00 as contained in para 6 of the written statement Ex. 10 ?the hearing of the suit commenced on or about September 7 1972 and the plaintiff was examined as a witness. The examination of the plaintiff was over on November 24 1972 The last witness on behalf of the plaintiff was examined on January 6 1973 Defendant No. 1 was examined on February 1 1973 His witness was examined on February 3 1973 At this stage opponent No. 2 and opponent No. 3 filed applications Exs. 57 and 70 to join them as parties to the suit on the ground that they are sisters of defendant No. 1 that their father Shankerlal Anopram executed a registered will dated April 17 1947 giving the properties including the suit property absolutely to their brother Batubhai that their father died on February 10 1956 that their brother Batubhai died on July 6 1957 that their mother died on May 11 1967 and according to the provisions of the Hindu Law they are entitled to inherit the suit property. The claim of opponents Nos. 2 and 3 was that they had direct interest in the property and defendant No. 1 had no power to execute the agreement of sale in respect of the entire property that the agreement of sale was not binding on them and if they are not joined as parties to the suit they would be seriously prejudiced.
2 and 3 was that they had direct interest in the property and defendant No. 1 had no power to execute the agreement of sale in respect of the entire property that the agreement of sale was not binding on them and if they are not joined as parties to the suit they would be seriously prejudiced. The learned trial Judge came to the conclusion that the sisters had direct interest in the property and therefore he allowed them to be joined as parties to the suit. It is this order which the petitioner challenges in this revision application. ( 2 ) NOW the provisions relating to adding of parties are to be found in sub-rule (2) of rule 10 of Order 1 of the Civil Procedure Code which provide that the Court may at any stage of the proceeding either upon or without the application of either party and on such terms as may appear to the Court to be just order that the name of any party improperly joined whether as plaintiff or defendant be struck out and that the name of any person who ought to have been joined whether as plaintiff or defendant or whose presence before the Court may be necessary in order to enable the Court effectually and completely to adjudicate upon and settle all the questions involved in the suit be added. Under these provisions a person may be added as a party to the suit in two cases only namely (1) when he ought to have been joined and is not joined that is whenever he is a necessary party and (2) when without his presence the quit cannot be completely adjudicated. There is no jurisdiction to add a party in any other case merely because that would save a third person the expense and botheration of separate suit for seeking adjudication of a collateral matter which was not directly and substantively in issue in the suit into which he seeks inclusion. The general rule is that the plaintiff is the master of his suit. He is dominus litis. He cannot be compelled to fight against a person against whom he does not wish to light and against whom he does not claim any relief. It is discretionery to grant a relief under Order 1 rule 10 (2) of the Civil Procedure Code.
He is dominus litis. He cannot be compelled to fight against a person against whom he does not wish to light and against whom he does not claim any relief. It is discretionery to grant a relief under Order 1 rule 10 (2) of the Civil Procedure Code. In exercising the discretion the Court will invariably take into account the wishes of the plaintiff before adding a third person as a defendant to his suit. Only in exceptional cases where the Court finds that the addition of the new defendant is absolutely necessary to enable it to adjudicate effectively and completely the matter in controversy between the parties will it add a person as a defendant without the consent of the plaintiff. Vide Banarsi Dass Durga Prasad v. Pannalal Ram Richhpal Oswal and others A. I. K. 1969 Punjab 57; Jivanlal Damodardas Wani v. Narayan Ukha Sali A. I. R. 1975 Bom. 148 and the decision of my brother J. M. Sheth in Civil Revision Application No. 514 of 1972 decided on April 9, 1974. ( 3 ) NOW the question whether a person should be added as a Party to the suit or not depends on the nature of the suit and the allegations made in the pleading. In the present case we are concerned with the suit for specific performance. The material allegations in the plaint are that defendant No 1 had executed an agreement of sale in favour of the plaintiff and that defendant No. 1 had received full consideration for the said transaction. Of the basis of these allegations the only relief which is claimed is that defendant No. 1 should execute a document of sale in plaintiffs favour or the same should be got executed through the Court. The main issue to be decided in the suit is whether an agreement had been executed by defendant No. 1. the agreement for sale constitutes the basis of the plaintiffs right to the relief which he claims and is also the basis of the suit. The contract between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1 regulates the rights or liability of the parties. The necessary party in a suit for specific performance of contract for sale are parties to the contract or if they are dead their legal representatives as also a person who purchased the property from a vendor after the contract.
The contract between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1 regulates the rights or liability of the parties. The necessary party in a suit for specific performance of contract for sale are parties to the contract or if they are dead their legal representatives as also a person who purchased the property from a vendor after the contract. Where a person sues for specific performance of an agreement of sale impleading the executent of the agreement as a party there is no necessity to determine the question of vendors title. The fact that the title which the purchaser may acquire might be defeasible by a third party as for example by the persons claiming right to the property under Hindu law is no ground for refusing specific performance if the purchaser is willing to take such title as the vendor has. Vide C. V. Muni Samappa v. Kolala Gurunanjappa and others A. I. R. 1950 Madras 90; and N. T. Palankaisamy Chettiar by agent V. D. Sitarama Mudaliar v. Komara Chettiar aud others A. I. R. 1950 Madras 91. The main question involved in the present suit is with respect to the execution of the agreement of sale The question of title of defendant No. 1 is not at all in issue. There is no necessity to determine the vendors title. The present opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot be said to be necessary parties for adjudicating the questions involved in the suit. An order for addition as parties cannot be made merely to avoid multiplicity of suit. The present suit is a simple suit for specific performance of an agreement. No relief in claimed against opponents Nos. 2 and 3. There is no claim for possession of the suit property. The suit is merely for the enforcement of the agreement of sale between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1. It is thus clear that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot claim to be joined as parties to the plaintiffs suit. On this point I am supported by the decisions of the Madras High Court in C. V. Muni Samappa v. Kolala Gurunanjappa and N. T. Palanisamy Chettiar v. Komara Chettiar (supra ). A simple suit for specific performance on agreement of sale cannot be allowed to be converted into a suit for title.
On this point I am supported by the decisions of the Madras High Court in C. V. Muni Samappa v. Kolala Gurunanjappa and N. T. Palanisamy Chettiar v. Komara Chettiar (supra ). A simple suit for specific performance on agreement of sale cannot be allowed to be converted into a suit for title. ( 4 ) IT was contended on behalf of the opponents that in the present case opponents Nos. 2 and 3 had direct interest in the property that they claim adversely to the vendor and that any decree granted to the plaintiff would cut their legal rights. They have direct interest in the subject matter of the suit and hence their presence is necessary to enable the Court effectually adjudicate upon all the questions involved in the suit. The plaintiff has filed the suit in order to complete his title and therefore the question which is involved in the suit is one of title. Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 claim title in the suit property and in their absence the question involved in the case cannot be completely adjudicated upon by the Court. Reliance was sought to be placed on the decision in Shivshankareppa Mahadevappa Parakanhatti v. Shivappa Parappa Kupati and others A. I. R. 1943 Bom. 27. In that case the suit was for specific performance of an agreement of sale and a relief for possession was also sought against the original defendant. Defendants Nos. 3 to 20 who were in actual possession of the suit property filed an application to join them as parties and the question that arose was whether they should be added as parties to the suit. While considering the provisions of Order 1 Rule 10 (2) of the Civil Procedure Code the Court observed that the general rule is that in a suit for specific performance of contract only parties to the contract are necessary parties. This general rule is subject to certain exceptions. For instance strangers are made parties as an exception to the rule in cases of novatio; in cases of an interest arising under a prior contract and in cases where it is desirable to avoid multiplicity of suits.
This general rule is subject to certain exceptions. For instance strangers are made parties as an exception to the rule in cases of novatio; in cases of an interest arising under a prior contract and in cases where it is desirable to avoid multiplicity of suits. In a suit for specific performance in respect of a contract of sale a person who claims the property in the suit adversely to vendor and who is in possession of the property could be joined as a party as his possession is likely to be affected. Now if is every clear that in the case before Bombay High Court the suit was not only for specific performance of an agreement of sale but was also for possession of the suit property As a result of this relief for possession defendants Nos. 3 to 20 who were in possession of the property were likely to be directly affected. In light of these facts that the Court made the aforesaid observations. Reliance was also sought to be placed on the decision in Bai Devkabai and others v. Shah Shamji Mulji A. I. R. 1971 Guj. 256 wherein the suit was filed for specific performance of the agreement to sell as well as the partition of the properties. The case of the plaintiff was that because of the partition effected between the members of the joint family the suit property had gone to the share of his vendor and therefore he intended to obtain a sale deed from him. He had also joined other members of the joint family as defendants Nos. 2 to 6 as it was claimed by them that the previous partition was not acted upon and therefore they had proprietory interesting the suit property. Defendants Nos. 2 to 6 also claimed adverse possession. At the stage of final hearing of the suit the plaintiff did not press for the relief of possession. Both the lower Courts had held that defendants Nos. 2 to 6 were necessary parties to the suit. In the second appeal before the High Court a contention was raised on behalf of defendants Nos. 2 to 6 that they were not necessary parties.
Both the lower Courts had held that defendants Nos. 2 to 6 were necessary parties to the suit. In the second appeal before the High Court a contention was raised on behalf of defendants Nos. 2 to 6 that they were not necessary parties. The learned Judge having regard to the special facts of the case came to the conclusion following the decision of the Bombay High Court in Mahadevappa Parakanhatti v. Shivappa Parappa Kupati (supra) that the persons who according to the plaintiff claimed proprietory interest were necessary parties to the suit. Now it is to be noted that the plaintiff himself had joined certain persons who claimed proprietory interest as defendants to the suit. It is the choice of the plaintiff as to who should be the defendants in his suit. If he joins the defendants who are not necessary or proper parties to the suit he does so at his own risk. In that case the plaintiffs suit was not only for specific performance but was for partition and possession and it is for this reason that the Court came to the conclusion that the members who claimed proprietory interest in the property were necessary parties in a suit for specific performance. The aforesaid two decisions are quite distinguishable. In the present case the only relief which the plaintiff claims is against defendant No. 1 and the relief claimed by him is that defendant No. 1 should be ordered to execute a document of sale in pursuance of the agreement of sale or the same should be got executed through Court. No relief for possession of the suit property is claimed. No relief of any sort is claimed against opponents Nos. 2 and 3. No issue of title of defendant No. 1 arises in the suit. In the suit for specific performance opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot be said to be necessary parties nor their presence is necessary to adjudicate upon any of the issues between the parties.
No relief of any sort is claimed against opponents Nos. 2 and 3. No issue of title of defendant No. 1 arises in the suit. In the suit for specific performance opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot be said to be necessary parties nor their presence is necessary to adjudicate upon any of the issues between the parties. ( 5 ) IT was contended on behalf of the opponents that the words all question involved in the suit must be widely interpreted and must not only mean the questions involved in the suit as originally framed between the parties to the suit but the object of the provision is that where several disputes arise out of one subject matter all the parties interested in such disputes should be brought before the Court and all questions in controversy between them should be completely settled in the action. For this proposition reliance was placed on the decisions in Vanjiappa Goundan v. N. P. V. L. R. Annamalai Chettiar and others A. I. R. 1940 Madras 69 and Bindashwari Chaudhary v. Dr. Sheo Nandan Upadhya and others A. I. R. 1973 Patna 347. Now on this point the decisions of the Courts are not unanimous. The decision in Banbihari v. Baijneth Sing I. L. R. 1959 Cal. 329 takes a contrary view and the view taken is that the afore said words must only mean that the questions which are involved in the suit as originally framed between the parties to the suit should be only considered for adding parties to the suit. The Supreme Court case in Razia Begum v. Sahebzadi Anwar Begum A. I. R. 1958 S. C. 886 throws much light on the point. But it is not necessary for me to decide this question because assuming that the words. have wider connotation the question is whether on the facts of this case the presence of opponents Nos. 2 and 3 is essential to completely adjudicate the dispute in the suit. Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot be said to be necessary parties nor their presence is essential to completely adjudicate upon the controversy in the suit because the suit is a simple suit for specific performance of an agreement of sale an agreement of sale passed by defendant No. 1 in favour of plaintiff.
Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 cannot be said to be necessary parties nor their presence is essential to completely adjudicate upon the controversy in the suit because the suit is a simple suit for specific performance of an agreement of sale an agreement of sale passed by defendant No. 1 in favour of plaintiff. In the instant case no question of possession is involved and no relief against opponents Nos. 2 and 3 has been asked for. ( 6 ) IT was then urged that the relief for specific performance is in the discretion of the Court and the Court will not grant a decree to a party if such a decree is not likely to be effective. If defendant No. 1 is not the exclusive owner of the suit property and it is ultimately found that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 have proprietory interest therein the decree for conveying the entire suit property would be rendered infructuous. It cannot be gainsaid that granting a relief for specific performance is in the discretion of the Court. Discretion has to be judicially exercised. Judicial discretion to add a party to the plaintiffs suit for specific performance has to be exercised keeping in mind the provisions of Order I rule 10 (2) of the Civil Procedure Code. In the present suit no relief is claimed against opponents Nos. 2 and 3 No relief for possession is asked for. It is a simple suit for the enforcement of an agreement which is legal and valid. The parties to the agreement are the plaintiff and defendant No. 1. The plaintiff is willing to take the risk and he can get whatever title his vendor has. The plaintiff is willing to take such title which his vendor has. A simple SUit for specific enforcement of an agreement between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1 cannot be permitted to be converted into a suit for establishing title and that too against the wish of the plaintiff. In view of the peculiar facts of this case it cannot be said that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are necessary parties to the suit or their presence is necessary to adjudicate upon all the questions involved in the case. ( 7 ) THERE is one more point to be noticed and it is this. Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are the sisters of defendant No. 1.
2 and 3 are necessary parties to the suit or their presence is necessary to adjudicate upon all the questions involved in the case. ( 7 ) THERE is one more point to be noticed and it is this. Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are the sisters of defendant No. 1. Prior to the agreement of sale defendant No. 1 had executed two mortgages in respect of the suit house. These mortgage transactions are evidenced by registered deeds. One of the mortgage is of the year 1969. Exhibit 39 is the letter on the record and on the basis of the letter the learned trial Judge has come to the conclusion that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 were aware of the transactions between defendant No. 1 and the plaintiff at least from September 1967 that is prior to one mortgage transaction. Opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are not strangers to the plaintiff as they are his sisters. The record of the case also shows that the plaintiff is in possession of a part of the property. All these circumstances clearly indicate that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 had full knowledge of the transactions between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1 at least since February 4 1967 No attempt has been made by opponents Nos. 2 and 3 to challenge the mortgage transactions entered into between the plaintiff and defendant No. 1. It is only at the fag end of the litigation that they have made this application to be added as parties to the suit claiming proprietory interest in the suit property. This application is made after a long delay and from the said delay want of bona fide on the part of opponents Nos. 2 and 3 can easily be inferred. It is in the discretion of the Court to order addition of the parties and I am of the opinion that such discretion cannot be exercised in favour of opponents Nos. 2 and 3 who have come to the Court with an ulterior motive. ( 8 ) THE result is that order of the learned trial Judge passed on Exs. 57 and 70 that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are necessary parties to the suit cannot be sustained as the same is without jurisdiction. The said order is set aside and the applications Exs. 57 and 70 made by opponents Nos.
( 8 ) THE result is that order of the learned trial Judge passed on Exs. 57 and 70 that opponents Nos. 2 and 3 are necessary parties to the suit cannot be sustained as the same is without jurisdiction. The said order is set aside and the applications Exs. 57 and 70 made by opponents Nos. 2 and 3 to join them as parties to the suit are rejected. There shall be no order as to costs. Orders accordingly. .