Full Order Text
Final Order 1 · 29 Oct 2018 · CNR MHCC010056192018
Order Details: Chamber summons Pdf Text: 1 CS No.79818 CNR No. MHCC010056192018 IN THE BOMBAY CITY CIVIL COURT AT BOMBAY CHAMBER SUMMONS NO.789 OF 2018 IN SUIT NO.9269 OF 1994 (HIGH COURT SUIT NO.5128 OF 1994) Prakash Laxman Kondurkar ] Age – Adult, Occ: ] Residing at 26, Babul Apartments, ] P.O. Katemanavali, Pune Link Road, ] Kalyan (East), Dist. Thane. ]...Applicant (Proposed Plaintiff)/plaintiff. V/s. ICICI Bank Ltd., ] Corporate office at BandraKurla ] Complex, Bandra (East), ] Mumbai – 400 051. ]...Defendants. Appearances: Ld. Adv. Ms. Vaishali Ugle for the plaintiff. Ld. Adv. Ms. Vrushali Kabre for the defendant. CORAM : HER HONOUR JUDGE SMT. KALPANA S. HORE COURT ROOM NO.14 DATED : 29th OCTOBER, 2018 ORDER 1. This is Chamber summons taken by defendant for amendment in written statement. -- 1 of 7 -- 2 CS No.79818 2. Defendant's contention is that the plaintiff filed suit for declaration that his service contract with the defendants has came to an end with effect from 11.12.1992 and further challenging the order of dismissal dated 27.1.1997 passed by the Disciplinary Committee of the defendant Bank at Sangli and all the papers and documents of the said Bank at the Sangli. Sangli Bank was merged in the ICICI Bank Limited in the year 2002 and hence ICICI Bank Ltd was incorporated as party defendant in the present suit. However, when this defendant joined as party to the present suit all the documents and records pertaining to the present suit were not available with the defendant. It further contended that at the time of merger some of the officers of the erstwhile Sangli Bank were taken on the pay roll of ICICI Bank and they were looking after the present suit. However, the said officers used to attend office at Sangli and said officers used to give instructions to the officers in Mumbai office of the defendant in respect of the present suit, and the officers in Mumbai used to coordinate with the advocate. And thereafter, the defendant filed its written statement on the basis of information available and found relevant by the then officers of this Bank with this defendant and instructions given by Mr. Kumbhar in respect of the subject matter of the suit. 3. It further contended that recently Mr. Kumbhar got retired from the defendant Bank and therefore, handed over all the document pertaining to the present suit which were with him to the H.R. department. Mr. Kumbhar which found very much relevant for the full and final adjudication of the present suit. -- 2 of 7 -- 3 CS No.79818 4. It further contended that the correspondences and documents which are now found were not known to the officers of the defendant at the time of filling of the written statement dated 25.9.2014 however, at the time of providing information to the advocate for preparing crossexamination of the plaintiff, the offenders searched for documents and records handed over by the then officers and therefore the defendant intend sought the amendment which is merely explanatory in nature and is in the nature of giving details and the averments in respect of the same as already incorporated in the written statement filed by this defendant. With this the defendant prayed for amendment in written statement as per schedule. 5. Plaintiff filed say objected the chamber summons. 6. Plaintiff's contention is that Chamber Summons taken out by the defendant is malafide and it amounts to abuse process of law. It further contended that amendments sought by the defendant are not pertaining to subsequent facts. The defendant is cooking the false case. The amendment sought is at a complete variance with the case pleaded in the written statement and therefore cannot be allowed. It further contended that amendment sought by the defendant is allowed at belated stage, it would cause serious prejudice to the plaintiff. The plaintiff is under crossexamination. It further contended that defence taken out by the defendant in schedule in para (v) of Schedule of amendment, is by way of afterthought. As no point of time, the defendant predecessor i.e. Sangli Bank, has taken such defence. Sangli Bank never wrote a letter to plaintiff communicating such defence . With this plaintiff prayed for dismissal of the Chamber Summons with costs . -- 3 of 7 -- 4 CS No.79818 7. Heard the advocate for both the parties. 8. Following point arise for my determination and consideration and I have recorded my finding thereon for the reasons as stated below: POINTS FINDING 1 Whether proposed amendment can be allowed? Partly affirmative. 2 What Order ? As per final order. R E A S O N S 9. The defendants advocate submitted that to allow amendment is woid and can be exercised at any stage of the proceeding. He relied upon 2000(4 Maharashtra Law Journal ) Page 203 (209) 10 S.C. Case page 84. He further submitted that the defendant can take any defence which are available to him and there is no bar to the defendant to amend the written statement. He further submitted that the defendant only intend to amend the para 2A by giving details of the irregularities or act committed by plaintiff. He also submitted that in original written statement the defendant has mentioned work of plaintiff is suspicious about involvement of plaintiff in commission of fraud scams with intention to seek certain monetary kinds and causing monetary loss to the Bank. The defendant also mentioned in written statement inquiry initiated against the present plaintiff and his services are terminated and informed that plaintiff designation letter was never accepted by the defendant. -- 4 of 7 -- 5 CS No.79818 10. The plaintiffs advocate submitted that the defendant gave written statement in 2014 then why the defendant has not taken all the defences in written statement. He further submitted that merely to prolong the suit defendant has taken this chamber Summons for amendment and so it be rejected and if court allowed the amendment cost be given to the plaintiff. 11. I have gone through the pleading and written statement, and proposed amendment. The proposed amendment is about details a list of illegality committed by plaintiff which come to know to the defendant after retirement of Kumbhar and handing over documents to HR Department therefore I find the proposed amendment is not allowed, it will cause injustice to the defendant. I also find already the defendant has taken defence about the disciplinary inquiry and action taken against the defendant. Therefore, I find proposed amendment is to be allowed. The defendant wants to give explanation why the plaintiff is not entitled for terminal dues which is adjusted against the dues therefore, I find proposed amendment is to be allowed however, I find suit of 1994 and it is part heard. Some costs is to be saddled on defendant which will compensate to plaintiff. Therefore, I find defendant is to be allowed to amend the written statement on cost of Rs.5000/ to the plaintiff. With this , Chamber Summons is allowed. I prayed to pass the following order: O R D E R 1. Chamber Summons No.789 of 2018 is allowed. 2. The Defendant is to carry out the amendment as per the schedule by paying costs of Rs.5000/ to the plaintiff on or before next date. -- 5 of 7 -- 6 CS No.79818 3. Amendment should carry out within eight days. 4. Chamber Summons No.789 of 2018 stands disposed of accordingly. Sd/ ( KALPANA S. HORE ) Judge, Dated : 29/10/2018 City Civil Court, Gr. MUMBAI Dictated on : 29/10/2018 Transcribed on : 12/11/2018 Signed on : 13/11/2018 -- 6 of 7 -- 7 CS No.79818 “CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED JUDGMENT/ORDER.” Upload Date Upload Time Name of Stenographer 16.11.2018 4.00 p.m. VARSHA U. PAWAR Name of the Judge (With Court Room No.) HHJ Smt. K. S. HORE (CR 14) Date of Pronouncement of JUDGEMENT /ORDER 29.10.2018 JUDGEMENT /ORDER signed by P.O. on 13.11.2018 JUDGEMENT /ORDER uploaded on 16.11.2018 -- 7 of 7 --
