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2025 DIGILAW 165 (RAJ)

Shyam S/o Late Shri Mangi Lal Mandora v. Ugamraj Sand S/o Shri Kewalchand Ji Sand

2025-01-29

MUNNURI LAXMAN

body2025
Order : MUNNURI LAXMAN, J. 1. The present writ petition has been directed against the common order dated 12.03.2024 passed by the learned Commercial Court No.2, Jodhpur in Civil Misc. Case No.32/2023 (N.C.V. No.03/2023), whereunder two applications preferred by the respondent-plaintiff under Order 9 Rule 4 read with 51 of CPC, were allowed. 2. The first application was filed to restore the original suit, which was dismissed in default for non-prosecution on 10.07.2018. The said application was filed by the plaintiff after two days of dismissal of the original suit and such application was also dismissed on 01.10.2021 for want of prosecution. The plaintiff filed the second application on 03.01.2023 to restore the first application. Though the provision of law mentioned in both applications as under Order 9 Rule 4 read with 151 C.P.C., the first application must be under Order 9 Rule 9 and the second application must be under Section 151 of C.P.C. 3. The plaintiff filed the original suit for specific performance in the year 2008. The suit was dismissed for default on 10.07.2018 at the stage of framing of issues. The plaintiff filed the first application to restore the said suit though quoted provision under Order 9 Rule 4 read with 151 C.P.C. The application should be treated as an application filed under Order 9 Rule 9 of C.P.C. The said application was also dismissed in default. The second application is filed to restore the first application and the provision quoted was Order 9 Rule 4 of C.P.C. read with 151 of C.P.C. In fact, such application should be under Section 151 of C.P.C. only. 4. The court below after hearing the parties allowed the said two applications by the impugned common order and consequently, the suit was restored. 5. In the above factual matrix, the learned counsel for the writ-petitioner/defendant has submitted that the court below should not have allowed two applications by a common order and he ought to have allowed the second application then, decided the first application. 6. The second contention of the learned counsel for the writ- petitioner/defendant is that the second application should have been filed within 30 days in terms of Article 122 of Limitation Act but the second application was filed after more than 1 year 5 months. 6. The second contention of the learned counsel for the writ- petitioner/defendant is that the second application should have been filed within 30 days in terms of Article 122 of Limitation Act but the second application was filed after more than 1 year 5 months. The said second application should have been accompanied by the application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, which is not done. Therefore, the order impugned requires to be set aside. 7. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent/plaintiff has submitted that the learned trial judge heard two applications together and passed the orders satisfying the reasons given by the plaintiff for non-appearance on the dates of dismissal of the suit and the first application. According to him, there is no illegality in passing such order. 8. The learned counsel for the respondent/plaintiff further submitted that the Article 122 of the Limitation Act would apply only to the applications filed to restore the suit, appeal, review or revision and such Article would not apply to any other misc. applications like the second application. According to him, in the present case, the appropriate Article for second application is 137 of Limitation Act. Learned counsel has placed reliance on the decision rendered by the High Court of Telengana in the case of K. Sudhakar Reddy Vs. Ind. Bank Housing Limited , reported in 2007 (6) ALD 476 . 9. I have considered the rival submissions advanced by learned counsels and carefully perused the impugned order as well as the material available on record. 10. In the backdrop of the above arguments, it is relevant to refer to the Articles 122 and 137 of Limitation Act, which reads hereunder:- Article Description of suit Period of limitation Time from which period begins to run 122 To restore a suit or appeal or application for review or revision dismissed for default of appearance or for want of prosecution or for failure to pay costs of service of process or to furnish security for costs. Thirty days. The date of dismissal. 137 Any other application for which no period of limitation is provided elsewhere in this Division. Three years. When the right to apply accrues. 11. Thirty days. The date of dismissal. 137 Any other application for which no period of limitation is provided elsewhere in this Division. Three years. When the right to apply accrues. 11. From a close reading of Article 122 of the Limitation Act, it is clear that the said Article would apply to the applications, which are filed to restore a suit or appeal and also applications for review or revision. The limitation prescribed under Article 122 of Limitation Act is 30 days. There is no doubt that the first application is governed by the Article 122 of the Limitation Act and it is also not in dispute that the first application was filed within 30 days. 12. From a close reading of Article 137 of the Limitation Act, it is crystal clear that it is a residuary Article, which deals with the applications which are not covered from the Articles 118 to 136 of the Limitation Act. 13. Admittedly, the second application cannot be said to be an application to restore a suit or an appeal and it was the application to restore the first application. The first application was filed to restore the suit, which was dismissed in default. It is also not in dispute that the second application is falling under any of the provisions under Articles 118 to 136 of the Limitation Act. Naturally, it must fall under the residuary Article i.e. 137 of Limitation Act. 14. The argument of learned counsel for the writ-petitioner/ defendant is that when the limitation was 30 days for the first application, for filing of the second application, the limitation, which is contemplated for filing the first application, shall be the same. This argument is misconceived. In the legislation in its wisdom prescribed the various kinds of applications, which are covered from Article 118 to 137 of the Limitation Act. The defendant cannot contend that 30 days limitation, which is prescribed under Section 122 of the Limitation Act, would also apply to the second application. The appropriate Article is 137 of the Limitation Act, which prescribes 3 years limitation and in fact, the second application was filed within the said period. Therefore, the requirement of filing application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act is unwarranted. 15. The appropriate Article is 137 of the Limitation Act, which prescribes 3 years limitation and in fact, the second application was filed within the said period. Therefore, the requirement of filing application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act is unwarranted. 15. The contention as canvassed by the learned counsel for the plaintiff get support from the decision of High Court of Telengana rendered in the case of K. Sudhakar Reddy (cited supra). I am also in complete agreement with the said decision of the Telengana High Court. 16. The argument of learned counsel for the writ petitioner/defendant that the Trial Court should not have decided both the applications together is also misconceived. When the applications were heard together, a common order was rightly passed. There is no irregularity in such proceedings. 17. There is no serious contest on the merits of the orders allowing the applications. The court below found the explanation offered for the absence on the date of dismissal of the suit as well as the first application to be well explained and satisfied. Such a discretion exercised by the court below cannot be interfered in the writ jurisdiction. Therefore, the writ petition is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed. 18. In the result, the writ petition is dismissed. 19. No order as to costs.