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Amir Singh v. Om Prakash And Others

Allahabad High Court
Oct 7, 1977
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Summary of Opinion — M.P. Mehrotra, J.

Factual and Procedural Background

Bindeshwari Singh filed Suit No. 33 of 1968 in the court of the Civil Judge impugning certain gift deeds. The suit was dismissed and Bindeshwari Singh appealed to the lower appellate court. During the pendency of that appeal Bindeshwari Singh died; his son Musafir Singh applied to be substituted as appellant and was brought on record. Amir Singh (the present appellant) applied in the lower appellate court to be impleaded as appellant No. 2, supporting his application (purportedly under Order 22, Rule 10 read with Section 151 C.P.C.) by an affidavit and an agreement dated 23rd August 1969 said to have been entered into between him and the deceased Bindeshwari Singh. The lower appellate court rejected Amir Singh's application for several reasons, including delay in seeking to be impleaded in the trial court, that Amir Singh's presence was not necessary for effective adjudication, that Musafir Singh was prosecuting the appeal, and that Amir Singh could bring a separate suit if he had an interest. Amir Singh appealed to this court against that rejection.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether Amir Singh could be impleaded as appellant No. 2 under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. on the basis of the 23rd August 1969 agreement.
  2. Whether, alternatively, the lower appellate court's order should be treated or sustained under Section 151 C.P.C. or Order 1, Rule 10 C.P.C., and whether that would make the order non-appealable.
  3. Whether the present appeal could be converted into a revision petition on the ground of jurisdictional error.
  4. Whether respondent No. 6 (a defendant impleaded as a minor who subsequently attained majority) should be directed to pay costs and counsel/guardian fees incurred on his behalf by the guardian ad litem.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments (Sri Laxmi Behari)

  • The application before the lower appellate court was made under Order 22, Rule 10 read with Section 151 C.P.C., supported by an affidavit and an agreement dated 23rd August 1969 between Amir Singh and the deceased Bindeshwari Singh.
  • Contended that, if necessary, the question of whether an assignee (or person in whose favour an interest is created during the pendency of a suit) can be impleaded under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. should go before a larger Bench, since some High Courts had taken a view contrary to a Division Bench decision of this court.
  • Argued that the application might alternatively be treated as one under Section 151 C.P.C. or Order 1, Rule 10 C.P.C., and asked that if the appeal was not maintainable it be converted into a revision petition.

Opposing Submissions (Sri Prakash Gupta and other counsel)

  • Opposed the impleadment application in the lower appellate court; the lower appellate court had rejected the application for reasons including delay, non-necessity of Amir Singh's presence for effective adjudication and that Musafir Singh was prosecuting the appeal.
  • On the costs/fees point, counsel for respondent No. 6 (Sri B.B.P. Singh) drew attention to a letter and to an order-sheet direction to file an estimate of expenses; he requested suitable orders directing the now-major respondent No. 6 to pay the counsel and guardian fees claimed.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
S.V.S.N Pillai v. Pillai. A.I.R 1940 Madras 918. Authority on agreements of identical nature and on the inapplicability of Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. where there is no assignment in presenti. The court held this authority clearly applicable and treated it as supporting the conclusion that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. did not apply to the facts of the instant case.
Basant Singh v. Mahabir Prasad. 35 Alld. 273. Privy Council decision relied upon in S.V.S.N Pillai to support the same principle. Relied upon (via S.V.S.N Pillai) as authority that the appellant could not be impleaded under Order 22, Rule 10 in the present circumstances.
AIR 1934 Allahabad 442 Division Bench authority of this court on the question whether an assignee during pendency can be impleaded (not described in detail). Noted by the court as being against the appellant on that point; the Division Bench is binding but the court did not need to refer the matter further because it already concluded Order 22, Rule 10 was inapplicable.
T.K.C Iyer v. A. Amma. A.I.R 1949 Mad. 870. Representing High Court decisions taking a contrary view that an assignee or person in whose favour interest is created during pendency may be impleaded. Noted by the court as part of contrary authorities cited by the appellant, but not followed because the court concluded Order 22, Rule 10 did not apply here.
E. Ramjiwanji v. H. Raghunath. A.I.R 1947 Nag. 175. Another High Court decision cited as taking a contrary view on impleadment of assignees. Noted by the court but not applied for the same reason: Order 22, Rule 10 held inapplicable on the facts.
Lakshmi Narain v. Baba. A.I.R 1946 Lah. 33. High Court authority cited as supporting the view that assignment during pendency permits impleadment. Noted by the court; not followed because the court's primary conclusion rendered those authorities unnecessary to resolve here.
A. Raja v. N. Raja. A.I.R 1938 Mad. 757. High Court authority cited for the proposition favouring impleadment of an assignee. Noted but not applied for the reasons stated above.
R.K Roy v. J.P Singh Deo. A.I.R 1924 Cal. 90. High Court authority cited among other decisions favourable to the appellant's contention on impleadment. Not followed; the court relied on its conclusion that Order 22, Rule 10 was not attracted to the present facts.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court examined the 23rd August 1969 agreement and described it as an agreement intended to finance litigation with a stipulation that on success the property would be divided half-and-half between Bindeshwari Singh and Amir Singh. The court expressly declined to decide the genuineness of the agreement but reasoned that, even if genuine, the agreement did not effect an assignment, creation or devolution of any interest in presenti.

Relying on S.V.S.N. Pillai v. Pillai (and the Privy Council authority cited therein), the court treated that authority as directly applicable and concluded that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. was not attracted to the facts of the case. Because only an order under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. is appealable under Order 43, Rule 1(1), the court held the appeal to be not maintainable on that ground.

The court considered the appellant's submission that the lower appellate court's order could instead be treated under Section 151 C.P.C. or Order 1, Rule 10 C.P.C. and noted that an order under Section 151 C.P.C. is discretionary and generally not a ground for revision unless there is jurisdictional error. The court found no jurisdictional error in the impugned order and therefore refused to convert the appeal into a revision petition.

On the substantive remedy available to Amir Singh, the court observed that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. is an enabling provision and not obligatory; consequently, if Amir Singh has any cause of action or legal remedy, he remains free to pursue a regular suit (the court expressed no opinion on the merits of such a suit).

Separately, on the point of costs for respondent No. 6 (who had been a minor defendant and later attained majority), the court noted that respondent No. 6 had a duty to inform the trial court on attaining majority. The court held that the expenses incurred by the guardian ad litem and counsel on behalf of respondent No. 6 should not be saddled on other parties; accordingly, respondent No. 6 was directed to pay specified amounts as per the estimate filed: Rs. 220 to the counsel (Sri B.B.P. Singh) and Rs. 110 plus Rs. 30 to the guardian (Sri K.K. Srivastava).

Holding and Implications

Holding: The appeal is dismissed.

Implications:

  • Amir Singh's application to be impleaded as appellant No. 2 under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. was held not to be maintainable because the court found that the agreement did not effect an assignment in presenti and that Order 22, Rule 10 was not attracted.
  • The court refused to convert the appeal into a revision petition, finding no jurisdictional error in the lower appellate court's exercise of discretion under Section 151 C.P.C.
  • The court directed respondent No. 6 (who had been a minor but had attained majority) to pay Rs. 220 to his counsel (Sri B.B.P. Singh) and Rs. 110 and Rs. 30 to his guardian (Sri K.K. Srivastava). Apart from this liability, there will be no order as to costs in the appeal.
  • No broader precedent was declared by this decision beyond applying the authorities cited; the court stated that because it had already held Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C. inapplicable, it was unnecessary to refer the matter to a larger Bench.

Show all summary ...

M.P Mehrotra, J.:— This first appeal from order is directed against the order passed by the lower appellate court rejecting an application whereby the present appellant sought leave of the said court to be brought on record as appellant no. 2 in the appeal which was pending in the said court. The brief facts involved in the appeal are these:—

One Bindeshwari Singh filed suit no. 33 of 1968 in the court of the Civil Judge. He was the sole plaintiff in the suit and it seems that he impugned certain gift deeds. The suit was dismissed and an appeal was filed in the lower appellate court. Bindeshwari Singh was the appellant and the defendants were impleaded as respondents. During the pendency of the said appeal, Bindeshwari Singh died and his son Musafir Singh moved an application for being substituted in the place of the deceased appellant. That application was allowed and Musafir Singh was brought on record in the place of the deceased appellant.

2. The present appellant before me, Amir Singh, applied in the lower appellate court for being impleaded as appellant no. 2.

3. In support of his application which purported to be under Order 22, rule 10 read with Section 151 C.P.C, he filed an affidavit. He relied on an agreement dated 23rd August, 1969 which was alleged to have been entered into between him and the deceased Bindeshwari Singh the latter happened to be the uncle of Amir Singh. The other side filed objections. After hearing the parties, the lower appellate court rejected the application. One of the considerations which weighed with the said court was the fact that even though the agreement dated 23rd August, 1969, had been allegedly executed during the pendency of the suit, no application had been made by Amir Singh for being impleaded as a co-plaintiff in the said suit and the application was made in the lower appellate court some time in 1972 after Bindeshwari Singh had died. The court was also of the opinion that the presence of Amir Singh was not necessary before the court in order to enable it to effectually and completely adjudicate upon and settle the questions involved in the suit. The court also observed that the son of the deceased respondent brought on record was prosecuting the appeal before the said court and lastly an observation was made that Amir Singh, if he had any interest in the subject-matter of the suit, could bring another suit. On the said grounds the application was rejected. Hence, he has come up in appeal to this court and in support thereof, I have heard Sri Laxmi Behari and in opposition Sri Prakash Gupta has made his submissions.

4. I have perused the agreement dated 23rd August, 1969 and it appears to me that it was an agreement intended to finance the litigation with stipulation that on success the property would be divided half and half between the parties concerned, namely, Bindeshwari Singh and Amir Singh. I am not saying anything on the question whether the agreement should be treated as a genuine one or not but as the agreement stands, even if it were to be treated as genuine, still, there is no assignment, creation or devolution of any interest in presenti. It seems to me that the Division Bench authority reported in S.V.S.N Pillai v. Pillai . A.I.R 1940 Madras 918. is clearly applicable to the facts of the instant case. There also the agreement was of an identical nature and it was held that the party concerned who sought to be impleaded under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C could not be impleaded under the said provision. Reliance was placed on a Privy Council decision in Basant Singh v. Mahabir Prasad . 35 Alld. 273.. It seems to me, therefore, clear that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C was not attracted to the facts of the instant case. Reference has also been made at the bar to another aspect of the matter, namely, whether if the assignment, creation or devolution of any interest took place during the pendency of the suit, then whether an assignee or the person in whose favour such interest has been created or has devolved, has a right to move the appellate court for being brought on record under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C Sri Laxmi Behari has pointed out that whereas AIR 1934 Allahabad 442, a Division Bench authority of this court is against him on the said point, many High Courts have taken a contrary view and he has drawn my attention to T.K.C Iyer v. A. Amma . A.I.R 1949 Mad. 870., E. Ramjiwanji v. H. Raghunath . A.I.R 1947 Nag. 175., Lakshmi Narain v. Baba . A.I.R 1946 Lah. 33., A. Raja v. N. Raja . A.I.R 1938 Mad. 757. and R.K Roy v. J.P Singh Deo . A.I.R 1924 Cal. 90.. Sri Lakshmi Behari contended that in such a situation, if necessary, the case might go before a larger Bench as the Division Bench of this court is binding on me. However, in view of the fact that I have already held on another ground that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C is not attracted to the present case, it is not necessary that the matter should be referred to a larger Bench. Once it is decided that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C does not apply, then obviously, this appeal is not maintainable. It is only an order passed under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C which is appealable under Order 43 Rule 1, Clause (1). Thereafter, Sri Lakshmi Behari contended that the application of Amir Singh in the lower appellate court should have been treated as one under Section 151 C.P.C or Order 1, Rule 10 C.P.C and the trial court should have allowed it. It has to be seen that if the application is to be dealt with under the said provision, then irrespective of the merits of the matter, the order could not have been an appealable one. In this situation, the learned counsel for the appellant has prayed that he may be allowed to convert the appeal into revision. I am not granting the said prayer. In my view, I do not think any jurisdictional error is involved in the impugned order. It is well known that an order passed under Section 151 C.P.C is an order in the nature of discretion. In such circumstances, when the court has exercised its discretion in a particular manner, even if the exercise is wrong, still, no revision lies. I do not think that the impugned order can be said to have been suffering from any jurisdictional error.

5. Learned counsel contended that the result of the impugned order has been that his client's half interest in the property would be put in jeopardy. It is not possible to say at present whether the alleged half share would have really come to the appellant. In other words, it is not possible without a further probe in the matter to proceed on the said assumption. The trial court made it clear that Amir Singh could file a regular suit if he so desired. It is well known that Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C is a mere enabling provision and it is not obligatory that an assignee, or a person in whose favour an interest is created or devolved during the pendency of the suit, must necessarily be impleaded under Order 22, Rule 10 C.P.C In view of this position, there is nothing to prevent the appellant to seek his remedies, if he has any in law (for which I offer no opinion whatsoever,) by a regular suit if he is advised to do so.

6. During the course of hearing, Sri B.B.P Singh, Advocate, drew my attention to a letter which he had addressed to the Deputy Registrar dated 23rd February, 1973 which is on record. He further drew my attention to the order sheet which shows that he took up the matter of fee payable to him as counsel on behalf of the respondent no. 6 before the court and he was directed to file an estimate of expenses. Thereafter he filed an estimate of expenses which also is on record. He desires that suitable orders be passed on the said matter. Respondent no. 6 it seems, had been impleaded in the suit as a minor defendant no. 6 aged about 16 years. The suit was filed in 1968. Therefore, in the ordinary course he attained majority some time in 1970. This F.A.F.O was filed in 1972. Therefore, it was his duty to have informed the trial court that he had attained majority. It is true that in terms order 32, Rule 12 C.P.C does not apply to the minor defendants. Still the minor defendants on attaining majority, if they choose not to inform the court, cannot expect that cost of litigation on their behalf to be incurred by an Officer of the court appointed as a guardian, should be saddled on the shoulders of other parties. There seems to be no justification for burdening the other party with the costs incurred on behalf of a person who has already attained majority. In these circumstances, it seems to me that primarily it was defendant respondent no. 6 who must be held responsible for the costs which were incurred on his behalf by the guardian appointed for his benefit by the trial court. In these circumstances, I think the defendant respondent no. 6 should be directed to pay the amounts mentioned in the estimate which has been filed in this court on his behalf by his guardian ad litem. The said estimate shows that a sum of Rs. 220/- has been claimed as the counsels fee, Rs. 110/- as guardian fee and Rs. 30/- as miscellaneous expenses. The estimate seems to be reasonable. The defendant respondent no. 6 shall pay the sum of Rs. 220/- to Sri B.B.P Singh, Advocate who put in appearance in this appeal as a counsel on his behalf and the rest of the amount, namely, Rs. 110/- and Rs. 30/- to Sri K.K Srivastava, the guardian concerned.

7. In the result, the appeal fails and is dismissed. Subject to the aforementioned liability of defendant respondent no. 6 to pay the expenses to his counsel and his guardian, as stated above there will be no order as to costs in this appeal.