Research › Search › Judgment

Madhya Pradesh High Court · body

2003 DIGILAW 1034 (MP)

Vaishnav Dharmik Panchayat v. Shankar Lal

2003-08-29

A.M.SAPRE

body2003
Judgment ( 1. ) THIS is a revision filed under Section 115 of CPC by the plaintiff against the order, dated 16-7-2002, passed by learned Additional District Judge, Sardarpur, District Dhar in Miscellaneous Civil Appeal No. 18 of 2002, which in turn arises out of M. J. C. No. 30 of 1998, decided by Civil Judge, Class I, Sardarpur, on 12-9-2001. ( 2. ) PLAINTIFFS suit was dismissed in default. He, therefore, applied for its restoration. It was dismissed. In appeal, the dismissal was upheld and hence, this revision. ( 3. ) I am inclined to allow the revision and set aside the order of dismissal, dated 4-124996, passed in Civil Suit No. 42-A of 1995. This I do in the light of law laid down by the Supreme Court in the cases of (1993) 3 SCG 256 and AIR 1998 SC 258 . It was a case where the plaintiff was not noticed before the suit was dismissed in default. The dismissal of suit was in the absence of a lawyer. These two authorities of the Supreme Court does hold that notice to plaintiff should have been given prior to proceeding for dismissal of suit. Even otherwise, in my opinion, the cause shown by the plaintiff illness should have been held to be a good cause for the purpose of restoration of the suit. The imposition of cost would have met the interest of justice. The Court should always take into consideration the subtle observations of Supreme Court rendered by the Vivian Bose, J. , in one of leading case of Supreme Court reported in Sangram Sing v. Election Tribunal, AIR 1955 SC 425 . This is what an eminent Judge had ruled tor observations by the Courts while dealing with the issue relating to cases arising out of Order 9 of CPC:- " a Code of Procedure must be regarded as such. It is procedure something designed to facilitate justice and further its ends: not a penal enactment for punishment and penalties; not a thing designed to trip people up. Too technical a construction of sections that leave no room for reasonable elasticity of inter-pretation. should therefore be guarded against (provided always that justice is done to both sides) lest the very means designed for the furtherance of justice be used to frustrate it. Too technical a construction of sections that leave no room for reasonable elasticity of inter-pretation. should therefore be guarded against (provided always that justice is done to both sides) lest the very means designed for the furtherance of justice be used to frustrate it. Our Laws of procedure are grounded on a principle of natural justice which requires that men should not be condemned unheard, the decisions should not be reached behind their backs, that proceedings that affect their lives and property should not continue in their absence and that they should not be precluded from participating in them. Of course, there must be exceptions and where they are clearly defined they must be given effect to. But taken by and large, and subject to that proviso, our laws of procedure should be construed, wherever that is reasonably possible, in the light of that principle. " ( 4. ) THE revision, thus, succeeds and is allowed. Impugned orders are set aside. The Civil Suit No. 42-A of 1995 is restored to its file. Parties to appear on 20-9-2003 for proceeding in the trial. Record of the case be sent back forthwith. Plaintiff to pay cost of Rs. 500/- to respondent on the date of appearance.