Full Order Text
Order 1 · 07 Jun 2018 · CNR MHCC010017362018
Order Details: Chamber summons Pdf Text: Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :1: IN THE BOMBAY CITY CIVIL COURT, AT MUMBAI CHAMBER SUMMONS NO.231 OF 2018 IN SUIT NO. 4661 OF 2013 Shri. Jayant Chintaman Sahasrabudhe. Plaintiff. V/s. Mumbai Municipal Corporation & Others. Defendants. Advocate Mr. R. K. Yadav for plaintiff. Advocate Mr. N. V. Sanglikar defendant No.2. CORAM : HER HONOUR JUDGE MS. S.R. PATIL. (C.R.NO.11) DATE : 07th JUNE, 2018 ORAL ORDER The present Chamber Summons is moved by the plaintiff thereby seeking amendment as per the schedule mentioned in the Chamber Summons. The plaintiff has filed the suit in the year 2013 for various reliefs against Bombay Municipal Corporation, Vasant Shamji Kenia and his wife Manju Vasant Kenia i.e. defendant Nos.2 and 3. The plaintiff submits that he issued notice of the present suit to defendant Nos.2 and 3. After filing of written statement by the defendant Nos.2 & 3 the plaintiff came to know that defendant nos.2 and 3 had filed Short Cause Suit bearing No. 1285 of 1997 in the said case the plaintiff was defendant No.3. The said suit was hotly contested. In the said suit court appointed Court Commissioner to verify the existence of two or three toilets in the suit flat. In that matter Court Commissioner visited site and filed his report. The plaintiff also filed application under RTI dated -- 1 of 6 -- Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :2: 13.02.2013 and sought certain information from defendant No.1. He wants to bring the report of Court Commissioner and also whatever information received by him under RTI on record by seeking the amendment in the plaint by filing the present Chamber Summons. 2. Notice of Chamber Summons issued to defendant Nos.2 and 3. They filed their reply and thereby strongly objected the present Chamber Summons on the ground that the plaintiff was party to Suit No. 1285 of 1997 in which they were appeared and filed their written statement. Whatever the plaintiff seeks to amend in the plaint the said fact are well within the knowledge of the plaintiff prior to filing of this suit inspite of that he deliberately not stated the said things in his plaint. After the defendant nos.2 and 3 brought the said fact before the court by filing their written statement on 20.08.2014. Only to prolong the matter the plaintiff filed one or other application before the court. The present application is barred by law of limitation as the defendant Nos.2 & 3 filed their written statement on 20.08.2014. The application for amendment ought to have been made within 90 days from the date of filing written statement by the defendants. Hence they prayed to reject the present Chamber Summons. 3. Heard both sides. As per the Order VI Rule 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure “the court may at any stage of the proceeding allow either party to alter or amend his pleadings in such manner and on such term as may be just and all such amendment shall be made as may be necessary for the purpose of determining the real question in controversy between the parties”. Provided that no application for amendment shall be filed after trial has commenced unless the court comes to the conclusion that inspite of due diligence the party could not -- 2 of 6 -- Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :3: have raised the matter before the commencement of trial. 4. After perusal of the Chamber Summons and reply filed by defendant Nos.2 & 3, it is admitted fact that the plaintiff was party to Suit No. 1285 of 1997 and he is aware about all the orders passed in the said suit. Inspite of having knowledge of all the facts he has not mentioned the said fact in his plaint which he has filed on 30.08.2013. Even the plaintiff sought the information from the Bombay Municipal Corporation under RTI on 13.02.2013 means prior to lodging of the present suit. Whatever amendment the plaintiff wants to carry out prior to filing of the suit he is having knowledge of all the orders and information sought from Bombay Municipal Corporation under RTI. Even the defendants filed written statement in which they have put up all the facts before the court on 20.08.2014 at that time also the plaintiff has not taken any steps to file the present Chamber Summons. Whatever the amendment the plaintiff seeks to carry out are the orders and the information received under RTI from the Bombay Municipal Corporation which he can refer the during the course of evidence. 5. The defendants have rightly relied on judgment of the Apex Court in Civil Appeal No.561 of 2012 (Arising out of SLP © No.8985 of 2011) J. Samuel and Others V/s. Gattu Mahesh and Others. Para 12 of the citation. Para12: The primary aim of the court is to try the case on its merits and ensure that the rule of justice prevails. For this the need is for the true facts of the case to be placed before the court so that the court has access to all the relevant information in coming to its decision. Therefore, at times it is -- 3 of 6 -- Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :4: required to permit parties to amend their plaints. The Court's discretion to grant permission for a party to amend his pleadings lies on two conditions, firstly, no injustice must be done to the other side and secondly, the amendment must be necessary for the purpose of determining the real question in controversy between the parties. However to balance the interests of the parties in pursuit of doing justice, the proviso has been added which clearly states that no application for amendment shall be allowed after the trial has commenced, unless the court comes to the conclusion that in spite of diligence, the party could not have raised the matter before the commencement of trial. Para 13: Due diligence is the idea that reasonable investigation is necessary before certain kinds of relief are requested. Duly diligent efforts are a requirement for a party seeking to use the adjudicatory mechanism to attain an anticipated relief. An Advocate representing someone must engage in due diligence to determine that the representations made are factually accurate and sufficient. The term 'Due diligence' is specifically used in the Code so as to provide a test for determining whether to exercise the discretion in situations of requested amendment after the commencement of trial. In the present case there is no due diligence on the part of the plaintiff inspite of he was party defendant No.3 in Suit No. 1285 of 1997 and he was well aware of whatever orders passed in the said suit by the court he intentionally not made the said averments in his plaint regarding the -- 4 of 6 -- Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :5: same and even he has received information under RTI on 08.03.2013 prior to filing the present suit. For the reason best known to him why he has not inserted the said contention in his plaint. From the conduct of the plaintiff, it seems that only to delay the matter he wants to seek the said amendment. Plaintiff has not given satisfactory explanation why the said amendment are necessary. The order and judgment passed in Suit No. 1285 of 1997 the plaintiff can relied before the court during trial for which it is not necessary to amend the plaint. Hence I proceed to pass following order. ORDER Chamber Summons No.231 of 2018 is rejected. (SUREKHA R.PATIL) Judge, City Civil Court, Gr. Bombay. Date: 07/06/2018. Dictated on : 07/06/2018 Transcribed on : 07/06/2018 Signed on : 07/06/2018 -- 5 of 6 -- Order CS 231-2018 S-4661-2013 :6: CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGMENT/ORDER.” 07/06/2018 At 5.15 p.m. MR. V. S. SHINDE UPLOAD DATE AND TIME NAME OF STENOGRAPHER Name of the Judge (With Court Room No.) HHJ MS. S. R. PATIL (C.R.NO.11) Date of pronouncement of Judgment/Order 07/06/2018 Judgment/Order signed by P.O. on 07/06/2018 Judgment/Order uploaded on 07/06/2018 -- 6 of 6 --
