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2022 DIGILAW 1377 (MP)

Anil Tiwari S/o Late Naval Kishore v. Laxmi Devi (Dead) through LRs. Mahendra Tiwari

2022-11-21

SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI

body2022
ORDER : 1. Heard on the question of admission and interim relief. 2. In this petition, under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has called in question the legality, validity and propriety of the order dated 01.09.2022 (Annexure-P/7) passed in Civil Suit No. 272-A/2016 by the 4th Additional Civil Judge to the Court of First Civil Judge, Senior Division, District Rewa whereby application filed by the petitioner/LRs of defendant No. 4 under order 23 Rule 1-A read with Order 1 Rule 10 of the C.P.C. for transposition as plaintiffs has been dismissed. 3. The brief facts leading to filing of the case are that respondent Nos. 1 to 5-plaintiffs filed a civil suit on 24.09.2009 for declaration and permanent injunction in respect of one half share in the lands bearing Khasra No. 62, area 7.19 acres, Khasra No. 63, area 0.48 acres, Khasra No. 74, area 0.21 acres, Khasra No. 75, area 6.06 acres, Khasra No. 78, area 1.55 acres, Khasra No. 79, area 0.28 acres, total area 15.77 acres, situated in Village Badraon, Tehsil Huzur, District Rewa and in the alternative they be declared as Bhumiswami in respect of 1/6th share in the lands shown in schedule B attached to the plaint. The defendants No. 1 to 9 (respondents No. 6 to 14) filed counter claim under Order 8 Rule 6 (a) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 on 08.11.2016. Vide order dated 10.04.2019, the learned trial Court dismissed the counter claim filed by the defendants No. 1 to 9 as not maintainable. During the pendency of the aforesaid civil suit, defendant No. 4 died and his legal heirs i.e. petitioners No. 1 to 3 were brought on record. It appears that the plaintiff No. 1-Smt. Laxmi Devi also died during the pendency of the suit and her legal heirs were also brought on record. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the trial Court has erred in rejecting the application under Order 23 Rule 1-A of the CPC read with Order 1 Rule 10 of the C.P.C., is absolutely arbitrary, illegal and cannot be sustained in the eyes of law as well as is liable to be set aside. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the trial Court has erred in rejecting the application under Order 23 Rule 1-A of the CPC read with Order 1 Rule 10 of the C.P.C., is absolutely arbitrary, illegal and cannot be sustained in the eyes of law as well as is liable to be set aside. The learned trial Court rejected the application on the ground that from the application as well as from the records, it cannot be ascertained that there exists any material ground or any change circumstances which is required to be decided. Therefore, the application for transposition has been dismissed. 5. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the record. 6. The order 23 Rule 1-A is reproduced below: “1A. When transposition of defendants as plaintiffs may be permitted - Where a suit is withdrawn or abandoned by a plaintiff under rule 1, and a defendant applies to be transposed as a plaintiff under rule 10 of Order I, the Court shall, in considering such application, have due regard to the question whether the applicant has a substantial question to be decided as against any of the other defendants.” 7. On perusal of the aforesaid provision, it is seen that transposition is permitted only where a suit is withdrawn or abandoned by a plaintiff under Rule 1, and a defendant applies to be transposed as a plaintiff under Rule 10 of Order 1, the Court can allow the application having due regard to the question whether the applicant has a substantial question to be decided as against any of the other defendants. From perusal of the application as well as the facts of the case, it is seen that neither the suit is sought to be withdrawn or abandoned by the plaintiff under Rule 1. Moreover, there is no substantial question to be decided as against any of the defendants as has been rightly held by the learned trial Court. 8. The Apex Court in the case of Shalini Shyam Shetty and Another vs. Rajendra Shankar Patil, (2010) 8 SCC 329 has held as under: “(c) High Courts cannot, on the drop of a hat, in exercise of its power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution, interfere with the orders of tribunals or Courts inferior to it. 8. The Apex Court in the case of Shalini Shyam Shetty and Another vs. Rajendra Shankar Patil, (2010) 8 SCC 329 has held as under: “(c) High Courts cannot, on the drop of a hat, in exercise of its power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution, interfere with the orders of tribunals or Courts inferior to it. Nor can it, in exercise of this power, act as a Court of appeal over the orders of Court or tribunal subordinate to it. In cases where an alternative statutory mode of redressal has been provided, that would also operate as a restrain on the exercise of this power by the High Court. ....................... (h) In exercise of its power of superintendence High Court cannot interfere to correct mere errors of law or fact or just because another view than the one taken by the tribunals or Courts subordinate to it, is a possible view. In other words the jurisdiction has to be very sparingly exercised. ....................... (m) The object of superintendence, both administrative and judicial, is to maintain efficiency, smooth and orderly functioning of the entire machinery of justice in such a way as it does not bring it into any disrepute. The power of interference under this Article is to be kept to the minimum to ensure that the wheel of justice does not come to a halt and the fountain of justice remains pure and unpolluted in order to maintain public confidence in the functioning of the tribunals and Courts subordinate to High Court. ....................... (o) An improper and a frequent exercise of this power will be counter-productive and will divest this extraordinary power of its strength and vitality.” 9. This Court finds no error in the findings recorded by the trial Court, therefore, this Court refrains from exercising the inherent powers under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. 10. Accordingly, the petition being bereft of merit and substance, is hereby dismissed at the admission stage itself.