MUHAMMAD RIND and 3 others vs THE STATE
This civil revision petition challenges an appellate order that set aside a trial court's dismissal of a suit. The trial court had dismissed the plaintiff's suit under Order X Rule 4(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 due to the plaintiffs' failure to appear personally in court. The appellate court reversed this decision, remitting the case for a decision on merits. Upon review, the High Court observed that the trial court had ordered the plaintiffs' personal appearance without any valid justification or procedural necessity. The record indicated that the plaintiffs' counsel was present during the proceedings, and there was no evidence of a lack of interest in pursuing the litigation. The High Court held that the trial court acted without lawful authority by ordering personal appearance without rhyme or reason and subsequently penalizing the plaintiffs for non-compliance. Furthermore, the court noted that the underlying application for secondary evidence was unnecessary as the document in question was a notice. Consequently, the revision petition was dismissed, and the trial court was directed to proceed with the case on its merits.
- Can a trial court dismiss a suit under Order X Rule 4(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 solely for non-appearance when no specific query was put to the party's counsel?
- Is it lawful for a trial court to order the personal appearance of a party without sufficient justification or reason?
- Does the failure to produce secondary evidence for a notice document justify the dismissal of a suit?
- Order X Rule 4(2), Code of Civil Procedure 1908
' The respondent filed a suit for possession of suit land that had been purchased by the petitioner vide Mutation No,183 attested on 15-9-1994. The suit was resisted. Issues were framed on 20-3-1995 and the case was adjourned for evidence of the respondents. On 23-5-1995 an application was, filed by the respondents seeking permission to lead secondary evidence vis-a-vis notice of Talb- e-Ishhad. This application was replied to on 7-6-1995. Somehow or the other the learned trial Court proceeded to pass an order for the personal appearance of the respondents. On 9-7-1995 the suit was dismissed under Order X rule 4(2), C.P.C. As the respondents had failed to appear. Feeling aggrieved the respondents filed an appeal which has been allowed by the learned District Judge, Khushab vide order dated 19-6-1996 and the case has been remitted back for decision on merits.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the learned District Judge has acted without material irregularity in the exercise of his jurisdiction while reversing the said order of the learned trial Court.
3. I have gone through the copies of the records appended with this civil revision. Now, I find that the learned trail Court has observed that the respondents are not interested in pursuing the case. I find that the sale was effected by means of mutation dated 15-9-1994. The suit was filed on 15-1- 1995. The written statement was filed on 20-3-1995. On the same date issues were framed. The case was adjourned to 30-5-1995 for recording evidence of the respondents. The application for leave to produce the secondary evidence was filed pn 23-5-1995. The reply was filed on 7-6-1995.
The case was adjourned to 27-6-1995 for arguments and at the same time the learned trial Court ordered appearance of the respondent. Now admittedly learned counsel for the respondents was present on the said date and there is nothing on record to suggest that any query was made from the said learned counsel and he had failed to answer the same. The said proceedings hardly reflect any lack of interest on the part of the respondents. To my mind the learned District Judge had very correctly observed that the learned trial Court had acted without lawful authority in ordering the personal appearance of the respondents without any rhyme or reasons and then to punish them for non-appearance.
4. I may further note here that the document in question is itself a notice and permission to lead the secondary evidence is hardly necessary. This civil revision is without any force and is accordingly dismissed leaving the parties to bear their own costs.
5. A copy of this order be immediately remitted to the learned trial Court directing it to commence proceedings in the suit immediately and to decide the same before the year 2002 is out.
Cited by 1 case
- NAEEM-UL-ARFEEN Versus State 2016 YLRN 112