Research › Search › Judgment

Punjab High Court · body

2004 DIGILAW 248 (PNJ)

Kanshi Ram v. State Of Haryana

2004-03-03

G.S.SINGHVI

body2004
Judgment G.S.Singhvi, J. 1. This revision is directed against order dated 8.12.1980 vide which learned District Judge, Bhiwani dismissed Civil Appeal No. 24 of 1979 filed by the petitioner and confirmed order dated 18.7.1979 passed by Sub Judge, 1st Class, Bhiwani dismissing the application made by him for restoration of the suit which had been dismissed in default. 2. A perusal of the record shows that the petitioner had filed a suit for recovery of Rs. 9300/-. After the parties concluded their evidence, the case was adjourned by the learned Sub Judge, 1st Class, Bhiwani on 19 different dates between 21.9.1977 and 8.5.1978. On 16.5.1978, the suit was dismissed in default on account of non-appearance of the petitioner and his advocate. The application for restoration filed by the petitioner was dismissed by learned Sub Judge, 1st Class on 18.7.1979 by observing that he had not produced cogent evidence to show that there was sufficient cause for his absence on the date of hearing. The learned District Judge confirmed the order of the trial court and dismissed the appeal field by the petitioner against order dated 18.7.1979 by observing that he had not examined any Doctor or Vaid to prove that he was ailing and the counsel who was representing him in the trial court did not step in the witness-box to prove that he had gone out of station. 3. I have heard Shri O.P. Sharma, learned counsel for the petitioner and Shri Rajesh Sethi, learned Deputy Advocate General, Haryana and carefully perused the record. 4. In my opinion, the courts below committed a material irregularity in the exercise of their jurisdiction to decide the application for restoration filed on behalf of the petitioner. It is an undisputed position that after recording the evidence of the parties, the trial court adjourned the case on 19 different dates and dismissed the suit on 16.5.1978 in default because on that particular day, his counsel was absent. In the restoration application, the petitioner had averred that he could not attend the court due to illness and his advocate had gone to Bhiwani, He appeared in the witness box and stated that he was suffering from dysentry and, therefore, he could not appear in the Court. He also produced the medical certificate as mark A to prove the factum of his illness. He also produced the medical certificate as mark A to prove the factum of his illness. The learned Sub Judge discarded his statement only on the ground that he had not examined any other witness and did not produce the medical certificate. The learned District Judge also rejected the explanation of the petitioner by observing that he had neither examined any Doctor or Vaid under whose treatment he was nor did he examine any other witness to corroborate his testimony and the advocate who represented him in the trial court had also not stepped into the witness box to prove that he had gone out of station. In my view, both the courts committed grave illegality by rejecting the explanation given by the petitioner for his absence on 16.5.1978. The learned Sub Judge did not even bother to read the statement of the petitioner, a perusal of which shows that he had not only deposed about his illness but had also produced medical certificate issued by Dr. M.C. Sharma (Physician and Surgeon) who was practising at Narnaul. No doubt, the petitioner did not examine any Doctor or Vaid to support his assertion regarding illness but this alone could not be made a ground for rejecting the explanation. 5. I am further of the view that the learned trial Judge and the learned District Judge gravely erred in penalising the petitioner ignoring the fact that the counsel in whom he has reposed trust had failed to appear on the date of hearing. Therefore, keeping in view the settled law that no party can be made to suffer for the fault of his counsel, I deem it proper to set aside the impugned orders and restore the suit. 6. For the reasons mentioned above, the revision petition is allowed. Orders dated 8.12.1980 and 18.7.1979 passed by District Judge, Bhiwani and Sub Judge, 1st Class, Bhiwani respectively are set aside. The application filed by the petitioner for setting aside order dated 16.5.1978 is allowed and the suit filed by the petitioner is restored to the Board of the trial Court with the direction that the same may now be disposed of as early as possible but latest within four months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 7. The parties are directed to appear before the trial Court on 15.4.2004. 8. 7. The parties are directed to appear before the trial Court on 15.4.2004. 8. Copy of the order be given dasti on payment of the fee prescribed for urgent applications.