ANIL KUMAR AGARWAL v. ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE LUCKNOW
2004-05-25
DEVI PRASAD SINGH
body2004
DigiLaw.ai
DEVI PRASAD SINGH, J. Heard Shri Suryakant learned counsel for the petitioner. None present for the opposite parties. 2. In spite of service of notice counter affidavit has not been filed by the opposite parties. 3. The plaintiff/petitioner had filed a suit on 12-4-1979 for recovery of damages. During the course of trial on account of illness of petitioners counsel, Sri P. C. Agarwal an application dated 11-4-1984 was moved for adjournment of the case, a copy of which has been filed as Annexure No. 1 to the writ petition. However, by the impugned order passed on the same day the petitioners application for adjournment was rejected by the trial Court and evidence was closed. While passing the impugned order dated 11-4-1984, it was observed by the trial Court that plaintiff himself is in America and it is not possible for him to come and adduce evidence. The application for adjournment will prolong the litigation. At the face of record the application dated 11-4-1984 shows that only one ground taken for adjournment was the illness of plaintiff/petitioners counsel. There is no material on record as to from where the learned trial Court had gathered the fact that the plaintiff is in America and accordingly he is not in a position to attend the Court. 4. Mere presumption without filing of any objection will not empower the trial Court to brought on record certain materials which were not existing in the form of pleading, necessary for disposal of relevant application. It was not for the trial Court to presume that since plaintiff was not in a position to attend the Court the application for adjournment was moved. 5. As discussed hereinabove, the application for adjournment was moved only on one ground i. e. the illness of plaintiffs counsel. By rejecting the application for adjournment it was not open for the trial Court to travel beyond the relevant material placed on record by the parties necessary for disposal of the application. The trial Court seems to be exceeded its jurisdiction while passing the impugned order. A person residing in foreign country may attend the Court on a date fixed after getting prior information. Adverse inference drawn by the trial Court seems to be passed on unfounded facts and non-existing material. 6.
The trial Court seems to be exceeded its jurisdiction while passing the impugned order. A person residing in foreign country may attend the Court on a date fixed after getting prior information. Adverse inference drawn by the trial Court seems to be passed on unfounded facts and non-existing material. 6. Against the impugned order dated 11-4-1984 a recall application was also moved by the plaintiff/petitioner which was rejected by the trial Court by other impugned order dated 24-4-1984. A perusal of the recall application, filed as Annexure No. 3 to the writ petition, shows that plaintiff petitioner rebutted the observation of trial Court by showing cogent and justified reasons but the same was not considered in its real perspective while passing impugned order dated 24-4-1984. 7. After receipt of application on account of illness of the counsel it was desirable for the trial Court to fix a date directing the petitioner to produce further evidence instead of travelling beyond the pleading of parties. 8. In view of above, writ petition deserved to be allowed. A writ of certiorari is issued, quashing the impugned order dated 11-4-1984 followed by 24-4-1984 as contained in Annexure Nos. 2 and 5 to the writ petition with all consequential benefits. Status quo anti existing prior to 11-4-1984 is restored. The trial Court should proceed with the suit expeditiously and preferably within a period of one year in accordance with law and decide the same, from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. 9. Let the parties be appear in the trial Court on 8th July, 2004. The learned counsel for the petitioner shall inform the opposite parties by registered notice alongwith copy of this judgment within two weeks from today. No order as to costs. .