Dr. RAEES M. MUSHTAQUE through General Attorney vs PROVINCE OF SINDH
This constitutional petition challenges the appellate/revisional order passed by the District Judge rejecting the petitioner's plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 in a civil suit for declaration, possession, mesne profit, and permanent injunction, while setting aside the trial court's order dismissing the rejection application. The core legal question revolves around the propriety of rejecting a plaint at a belated stage after issues have already been framed and the matter has proceeded to evidence. The Sindh High Court held that where the parties are at serious issue and the case is ripe for evidence, the court should adjudicate the dispute on the basis of evidence rather than resorting to the rejection of the plaint. The court laid down the principle that plaint rejection is unwarranted when pleadings disclose triable issues requiring recording of evidence, setting aside the revisional order and remanding the matter to the trial court for a decision on merits.
- Whether a plaint can be rejected under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 after issues have been framed and the case is fixed for evidence?
- Is it proper for a court to reject a plaint when the pleadings show that the parties are seriously at issue regarding the subject matter?
- Order VII Rule 11, Code of Civil Procedure 1908
ORDER
1. ABDUL MALIK GADDI, J.---Through instant constitutional petition, the petitioner has assailed the legality and propriety of the order dated 10.3.2015 passed by the learned District Judge Shaheed Benazirabad in Civil Revision Application No.2 of 2015 whereby the learned District Judge Shaheed Benazirabad after hearing the parties rejected the plaint under Order VII, Rule 11, C.P.C. in F.C. Suit No.484/2013 filed by the petitioner and set aside the order dated 18.12.2014 passed by the learned 1st-Senior Civil Judge Nawabshah whereby he dismissed the application under Order VII, Rule 11, C.P.C.
2. Perusal of record shows that petitioner filed a Civil Suit No.484 of 2013 for declaration, possession, mesne profit and permanent injunction against the respondents in which written statement was filed by the official respondents, issues were framed and matter was fixed for evidence. The respondents at that juncture filed an application under Order VII, Rule 11, C.P.C. which was dismissed by the learned trial court vide order dated 18.12.2014. as mentioned above.
3. Today case is fixed for arguments. After arguing at some length learned counsel for the parties have agreed that since in this matter issues have been framed and matter is fixed for evidence, therefore, it would be proper to set aside the impugned order and remand the case to the learned trial court to decide the suit after recording the evidence of both sides and giving proper opportunity of hearing to them.
4. As observed above, in this matter issues have already been framed and matter is ripped for evidence as stated by the parties counsel, we have perused the pleadings of the parties showing that parties are seriously at issue, therefore, the court instead of rejecting the plaint could decide the dispute by referring to the evidence. Order of rejection of plaint was not warranted in the circumstances. In this regard we are supported with the case of Mst. Kareem Bibi and others v.
5. Zubair and others reported in 1993 SCM R 2039. Consequently the impugned order passed by the learned Revisional Court is set aside and the case is remanded to the learned trial court to decide the case in accordance with law as early as possible preferably within a period of three months after receipt of this order. The compliance report be submitted through Additional Registrar of this court.
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