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Harbhajan Singh v. Chanan Singh And Others

Punjab & Haryana High Court
Sep 3, 1964
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Structured Summary of the Opinion (Shamsher Bahadur, J.)

Factual and Procedural Background

This judgment disposes of two petitions identified at the outset as Civil Revision Nos. 177 and 208 of 1963. The petitions arose from an order of the Subordinate Judge, Phillaur, appointing Pritam Singh as the legal representative of the deceased plaintiff, Smt. Santi, to continue a suit she had filed before her death.

Relevant factual chronology (as stated in the opinion):

  • Smt. Santi succeeded to the estate of her husband Chint Singh (died 29 March 1960).
  • She executed a will dated 19 April 1960 (Exhibit A-1) bequeathing her house and haveli to Pritam Singh; the will also referred to a gift to Chanan Singh (father of Pritam) said to have been made on 12 April 1960.
  • On 22 November 1961 Smt. Santi filed a suit for possession of 243 kanals 11 marlas of land (challenging the deed of gift to Chanan Singh as fraudulent). Evidence was complete and the case was at the stage of arguments when Smt. Santi died on 23 August 1962.
  • After her death three competing sets of claimants sought to be appointed legal representatives to continue the suit: (a) Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh (claiming as niece and nephew of Chint Singh); (b) Pritam Singh (as legatee under the 19 April 1960 will, Exhibit A-1); and (c) Harbhajan Singh (claiming as legatee under a subsequent will dated 7 January 1961, Exhibit A.W.12-A).
  • On 30 November 1962 the Subordinate Judge, Phillaur, found the will propounded by Harbhajan Singh suspicious (enumerating seven circumstances including failure to register that will), found the relationship of Dhan Kaur and Naranjan proved, but concluded that Smt. Santi intended to leave her entire property including the house and haveli to Pritam Singh and appointed Pritam Singh as legal representative.
  • Pritam Singh, on the day of his appointment, stated that he withdrew the suit; the suit was dismissed on 30 November 1962.
  • Aggrieved, Harbhajan Singh instituted Civil Revision No. 177 of 1963; Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh filed another Civil Revision petition (the opinion also refers to Civil Revision petition No. 268 of 1963). Both petitions arise from the same subordinate court order and are disposed of together in this judgment.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether a petition for revision under Section 115 of the Civil Procedure Code lies against an order of a subordinate court appointing a person as the legal representative of a deceased plaintiff to continue a suit (i.e., challenge to an appointment under Order 22, Rule 5 CPC).
  2. Whether the revisions have become infructuous because the appointment of the legal representative was followed by the dismissal of the suit (i.e., whether right of revision/appeal in interlocutory orders ceases after disposal of the suit).
  3. On the merits, which testamentary disposition (the registered will in favour of Pritam Singh or the subsequent unregistered will propounded by Harbhajan Singh) should be preferred for the purpose of appointing the legal representative.

Arguments of the Parties

Pritam Singh (represented by Mr. Sarin)

  • Preliminary objection 1: No petition for revision lies against an order appointing a legal representative to continue a suit because Section 115 CPC (revisional jurisdiction) applies only to jurisdictional errors; if a subordinate court had jurisdiction to decide the matter and did not act illegally or commit a material procedural error, its decision is not open to revision (authority cited: Chaube Jagdish Prasad v. Ganga Prasad Chaturvedi).
  • Preliminary objection 2: The suit in which Pritam Singh was appointed was subsequently dismissed and, therefore, the revision petitions have in any event become infructuous.
  • On the merits: The trial Judge correctly appraised the two testamentary dispositions. The registered will in favour of Pritam Singh was properly preferred to the unregistered will propounded by Harbhajan Singh; the subordinate court's factual conclusions are not open to being upset in revision.

Petitioners (Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh; and Harbhajan Singh) — represented by Mr. Nayar and Mr. V.C. Mahajan

  • Primary contention: The subordinate court acted illegally or improperly in appointing Pritam Singh to continue the suit which Smt. Santi had instituted against Pritam's own father (Chanan Singh). The attack is framed as one of impropriety rather than strict lack of jurisdiction.
  • Reliance on authorities holding that an order substituting a person under Order 22, Rule 5 is not appealable under Section 104, and therefore revisional proceedings should be competent (cited: Kanailal Mitra v. Pannasashi Mitra and Radha Krishna Mohapatra v. Bhuyan Sri Shyam Sunder Mohapatra).
  • Contended that even if a suit has been dismissed, revisional jurisdiction may still be appropriate in certain circumstances; relied upon Full Bench and other decisions (e.g., Ram Charan Dass v. Hira Nand) to argue the High Court may exercise revisional jurisdiction rather than require a fresh suit.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Chaube Jagdish Prasad v. Ganga Prasad Chaturvedi, A.I.R. 1959 S.C. 492 Section 115 CPC (revisional jurisdiction) applies to matters of jurisdiction alone; if a subordinate court had jurisdiction and did not act in breach of law or commit material procedural error, High Court should not interfere. Cited by respondent's counsel (Mr. Sarin) to support the objection that revision does not lie. The Court accepted the principle as relevant in assessing competence of revision and inclined to agree that revision was incompetent on that basis.
Keshardeo Chamria v. Radha Kissen, A.I.R. 1953 (reported in text as S.C.R. 136 / A.I.R. 1953 S.C. 23) Reviewed prior Privy Council decisions and held Section 115 CPC limited to jurisdictional matters; erroneous adjudication where jurisdiction exists is generally not open to revision under Section 115. Quoted in the Chaube Jagdish Prasad authority; the Court relied on this line of authority when considering whether the High Court could entertain the revision against the subordinate court's appointment of a legal representative.
Amir Hassin Khan v. Sheo Bakhsh Singh, 11 Ind. App. 237 (P.C.) Mentioned as part of judgments reviewed in Keshardeo Chamria concerning the scope of Section 115 CPC. Referenced in the chain of authorities establishing the principle that Section 115 deals with jurisdictional facts; used to contextualize why an erroneous determination on a non-jurisdictional matter may not be open to revision.
Balakrishna Udayar v. Vasudeva Aiyar, 44 Ind. App. 261 Mentioned as another judgment reviewed in Keshardeo Chamria concerning the scope of Section 115 CPC. Referenced in the same line as the other Privy Council cases to show the settled principle cited by respondent's counsel.
Kanailal Mitra v. Pannasashi Mitra, A.I.R. 1954 Cal. 588 Held that an order deciding the right to substitution under Order 22, Rule 5 is not appealable and therefore revision may be entertained. Relied on by petitioners' counsel. The Court observed that this authority does not deal with the Supreme Court principle (Keshardeo Chamria) limiting Section 115 to jurisdictional matters, and therefore it did not displace that principle.
Radha Krishna Mohapatra v. Bhuyan Sri Shyam Sunder Mohapatra, A.I.R. 1964 Orissa 136 Held similarly that an Order 22, Rule 5 order is not appealable and that revision could be competent. Noted by the Court as an authority relied upon by petitioners, but the Court observed it did not address the broader Supreme Court principle on Section 115.
Nanibala Dasi v. Ichhamovee Dasi, A.I.R. 1925 Cal. 218 Authority that the right of appeal from interlocutory orders ceases after disposal of the suit; applies even where there are preliminary and final decrees or where final decree is not formally drawn up. Relied upon by respondent's counsel to support the contention that revision is no longer competent once the suit has been disposed; the Court considered this authority in examining whether the revisions had become infructuous.
Chiragh Din v. Dilawar Khan, A.I.R. 1934 Lah. 465 Held that a decision under Order 22, Rule 5 (as to who is the legal representative) can be re-agitated in a separate suit and is not barred by res judicata. Cited in the discussion on the effect of an Order 22, Rule 5 decision; the Court acknowledged this as part of the body of authority on the limited effect of substitution orders.
Daulat Ram v. Mst. Meero, A.I.R. 1941 Lah. 142 Decision under Order 22, Rule 5 should be limited to carrying on the suit and does not confer rights of heirship or property; also held that a person relying on a will can be brought on record as legal representative even without probate. Referred to by the Court to illustrate that substitution orders are limited in effect; part of the Court's consideration of whether the subordinate court's appointment had conclusive effects beyond carrying on the suit.
Ram Charan Dass v. Hira Nand, A.I.R. 1945 Lah. 298 (Full Bench) Held that it is not an inflexible rule that revisional jurisdiction should never be exercised where another remedy by way of a regular suit is open; in that case the remedy directed trial to resume from the stage where permission to continue was refused. Relied upon by petitioners to contend that the High Court could exercise revisional jurisdiction despite availability of a regular suit; the Court considered this authority but ultimately found the revision in the present case incompetent.
Rani Purnima Debi v. Kumar Khagendra Narayan Debi, A.I.R. 1962 S.C. 567 Held by the Supreme Court that registration of a will is a circumstance which may, depending on circumstances, establish its genuineness; admission of execution before the Sub-Registrar is strong evidence of execution and testamentary capacity. The Court relied on this authority in concluding that the registered will in favour of Pritam Singh was a strong circumstance supporting its genuineness; this formed part of the reasoning for rejecting Harbhajan Singh's propounded will and upholding the subordinate court's preference for the registered will.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court proceeded in two main stages: (A) consideration of procedural competence (whether revision was maintainable), and (B) consideration of the merits of the appointment and the competing wills.

A. Competence of Revision

- The respondent's (Pritam Singh's) primary contention was that Section 115 CPC limits revisional jurisdiction to matters of jurisdiction alone: if the subordinate court had jurisdiction to decide who should be appointed as legal representative and did not act illegally or commit a materially prejudicial procedural error, the High Court should not interfere in revision. The Court cited Chaube Jagdish Prasad (and the reasoning in Keshardeo Chamria) for this principle and accepted the relevance of this authority.

- The petitioners relied on High Court decisions (e.g., Kanailal Mitra; Radha Krishna Mohapatra) holding that an order under Order 22, Rule 5 is not appealable and that revision may therefore be entertained. The Court observed those Bench decisions did not address the Supreme Court's principle set out in Keshardeo Chamria and Chaube Jagdish Prasad limiting Section 115 to jurisdictional matters.

- The Court also considered authorities concerning the effect of interlocutory orders after final disposal of the suit. The respondent argued the revisions were infructuous because the suit had been dismissed; authorities such as Nanibala Dasi were referenced to show that rights of appeal from interlocutory orders cease after the suit is disposed. Other authorities (Chiragh Din; Daulat Ram) were noted for the proposition that an Order 22, Rule 5 determination is limited in effect and does not operate as res judicata on heirship.

- On balance the Court was "inclined to agree" with the contention that the petitions for revision were incompetent: that is, the Court found the preliminary objection on competence (based on the Section 115 jurisprudence) to be defensible in the circumstances of the case.

B. Merits — Validity and Preference of Wills

- Even on the merits the Court found the petitions to fail. The subordinate Judge had rejected the will propounded by Harbhajan Singh because (a) the attesting witnesses were held to be interested parties, and (b) the evidence of Dr. Thaman (who deposed the testator had testamentary capacity) was found unacceptable. The opinion notes that these factual findings supported the subordinate Judge's conclusion that Harbhajan's will was "suspicious," including the failure to have it registered.

- The earlier will in favour of Pritam Singh (Exhibit A-1) was a registered document. The Court relied on the Supreme Court's decision in Rani Purnima Debi v. Kumar Khagendra Narayan Debi that registration is a circumstance which may, depending on other circumstances, prove a will's genuineness; admission of execution before a Sub-Registrar is strong evidence of both execution and the disposing mind of the testator. The Court treated the registration and Smt. Santi's admission before the Sub-Registrar as relevant and weighty circumstances that dispelled doubts as to genuineness in this case.

- Against this factual and evidentiary backdrop, the Court concluded that the subordinate Judge's preference for the registered will and his appointment of Pritam Singh as legal representative were sustainable.

Holding and Implications

HOLDING: For the reasons set out in the opinion, the Court concluded that the petitions for revision were not maintainable and, on the merits, also failed. Accordingly, THE PETITIONS FOR REVISION ARE DISMISSED (the opinion states: "these petitions for revisions fail and are dismissed with costs" and records "Petition dismissed").

Implications:

  • The direct and stated consequence in the opinion is that the revision petitions have been dismissed with costs.
  • The Court's reasoning emphasises (a) the limited scope of revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 CPC where the subordinate court had jurisdiction and has not acted illegally or committed a material procedural error, and (b) the evidentiary weight of a registered will (following Rani Purnima Debi) as a factor supporting the subordinate court's factual finding. The opinion does not purport to lay down a new binding precedent beyond the application of these principles to the facts of the case.
Petition dismissed.

Note: Where the provided opinion referred to a "pedigree-table," the table itself was not reproduced in the text available for summary; the summary above relies only on the facts and findings explicitly stated in the opinion.

Show all summary ...

Shamsher Bahadur, J.:— This judgment will dispose of two petitions, Civil Revision Nos. 177 and 208 of 1963, both arising out of the judgment of the Subordinate Judge, Phillaur, oppointing Pritam Singh second respondent in both the petitions as a legal representative of Smt. Santi to proceed with the suit which she had filed before her death.

2. For a full comprehension of the dispute between the different persons who claim the right to be appointed as legal representatives of deceased Smt. Santi, the following pedigree-table is set out—

3. Smt. Santi succeeded to the estate of her husband Chint Singh who died on the 29th of March, 1960. Subsequently on the 19th of April, 1960 she bequeathed her house and haveli in village Bhalowal, tehsil Phillaur to the respondent Pritam Singh whom she described all her nephew. Reference was also made in this will to a gift of land which she made in favour of Chanan Singh father of Pritam Singh. As stated in the will Ex. A.1 made in favour of Pritam Singh, a gift had been made in favour of Chanan Singh on 12th of April, 1960. On 22nd of November, 1961, Smt. Santi filed a suit for possession of the land measuring 243 kanals 11 marlas which had been gifted to Chanan Singh on the ground that the deed of gift had been executed as a result of fraud and was not binding on her. This case after the evidence had been recorded was at the stage of arguments when Smt. Santi died on 23rd of August, 1962.

4. On the death of Smt. Santi there were three sets of claimants who moved the Court for continuing the suit as legal representatives of Smt. Santi. Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh claimed their right as niece and nephew respectively of Chint Singh, the deceased husband of Smt. Santi. Pritam Singh claimed to succeed as a legatte of Smt. Santi under the will Exhibit A-1 of the 19th of April, 1960. Harbhajan Singh son of Naranjan Singh and grandson of Lehna Singh also claimed as a legatee under the sub-equent will of 7th of January, 1961, Exhibit A.W 12-A. All these three petitions were disposed of by Shri V.P Bhatnagar, Subordinate Judge, Phillaur on the 30th November, 1962. It was held by the learned Judge that the will propounded by Harbhajan Singh was a suspicious document and as many as seven circumstances were set out for this conclusion including the failure of the propounder to have it registered. The relationship of Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh, as set out in the pedigree-table was found to have been proved by the learned Judge but being of the view that the intention of Smt. Santi was to leave her entire property including the house and haveli mentioned in the will Exhibit A.1 to Pritam Singh his claim has been preferred to that of Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh. Pritam Singh on the very day when he was appointed legal representative to continue this suit filed by Smt. Santi made a statement withdrawing it and the suit was consequently also dismissed on the 30th of November, 1962. Aggrieved by the order appointing Pritam Singh as legal representative, Harbhajan Singh has instituted the petition for revision No. 177 of 1963 and Smt. Dhan Kaur and Naranjan Singh have moved this Court in Civil Revision petition No. 268 of 1963. As stated aforesaid both these petitions, arising as they do from the same order, would be disposed of in this judgment.

5. On behalf of Pritam Singh who has been represented before me by his learned counsel Mr. Sarin, two preliminary objections have been raised. It is contended in the first instance that no petition for revision lies from an order appointing a person as a legal representative of the deceased to continue the suit filed by him. It is further urged that the suit to continue in which Pritam Singh was appointed legal representative having been dismissed, the petitions for revisions have in any event become, in fructuous. On merits it is the case of Mr. Sarin that the trial Judge has appraised the two testamentary dispositions which had been made in favour of the respondents Pritam Singh and Harbhajan Singh, the former being a registered document an the later and unregistered one and the Courts' conclusion on the question of fact is unassailable in these proceedings.

6. In support of his first preliminary objection Mr. Sarin submits that the Court below had undoubted jurisdiction to decide the dispute which was raised before him about the relative merits the different claimants to be appointed legal representatives of the deceased Smt. Santi. If a court is vested with the jurisdiction to decide a matter, even an erroneous adjudication of it becomes unchallengeable in revision. An authority of the Supreme Court in Chaube Jagdish Prasad v. Ganga Prasad Chaturvedi . A.I.R 1959 S.C 492., has been cited in support of this proposition and my special attention has been drawn to the passage in the judgment of Mr. Justice Kapur who speaking for the Court observed at page 497—

“In Keshardeo Chamria v. Radha Kissen . 1953 S.C.R 136, both these judgments of the Privy Counsel as also the previous judgments in Amir Hassin Khan v. Sheo Bakhsh Singh . 11 Ind. App. 237 P.C., and Balakrishna Udayar v. Vasudeva Aiyar . 44. Ind App. 261 were reviewed and it was held that section 115, Civil Procedure Code, applies to matters of jurisdiction alone, the irregular exercise or non exercise of it or the illegal consumption of it. Thus if a Subordinate Court had jurisdiction to make the order it made and has not acted in breach of any provision of law or committed any error of procedure which is material and may have effected the ultimate decision, then the High Court has no power to interfere. But if on the other hand it dicides a jurisdictional fact erroneously and thereby assumes jurisdiction not vested in it or deprives itself of jurisdiction so vested then the power of interference under section 115, Civil Procedure Code, becomes operative.”

On basis of this authority it is submitted by Mr. Sarin that no illegality or irregular exercise of jurisdiction having been asserted much less proved, the decision, even if erroneous mu it be upheld in revision.

7. Mr. Nayar and Mr. V.C Mahajan for the petitioners have on the other hand argued that in the context of events the Court below acted illegally in appointing Pritam Singh to continue with the suit which was be ought by Smt. Santi against his own father. This attack in my view is mainly on the ground of impropriety and there seems to be nothing illegal or irregular in the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court. Mr. Nayar has asked me to follow the Division Bench judgment of the Calcutta High Court in Kanailal Mitra v. Pannasashi Mitra . A.I.R 1954 Cal. 588., in which it was held that—

“the order in so far as it decided the question of the right of the petitioner to get himself substituted in the place of the deceased was an order under Order 22, Rule 5 and the petitioner not having any right of appeal against that order could apply for revision under section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure”.

The only basis on which the argument was addressed before the Calcutta Bench was that the order impugned was not appealable and therefore a revision could be entertained. This authority does not deal with the basic principle which has been enunciated in the decision of the Supreme Court in Keshardeo Chamria v. Radha Kissan . A.I.R 1953 S.C 23., relied on by Kapur, J. in Chaube Jagdish Prasad's case. A similar observation applies to the other Bench decision of the Orissa High Court in Radha Krishna Mohapatra v. Bhuyan Sri Shyam Sunder Mohapatra . A.I.R 1964 Orissa 136., were also it was held that an order under Order 22, Rule 5, Civil Procedure Code is not appealable under Section 104 and a revision was therefore competent.

8. The other question raised by Mr. Sarin as a preliminary objection is also of substance. It is argued that the order sought to be revised having been superseded by a subsequent decree of the Court leading to the dismissal of the suit, the revisions have become in fructuous, the reason being that the principle of res judicata would not operate as a bar to a subsequent suit which may be brought on the same cause of action by the parties aggrieved. Reliance has been placed on a Bench authority of Sir Asutosh Mookerjee and Suhrawardy JJ. in Nanibala Dasi v. Ichhamovee Dasi . A.I.R 1925 Cal. 218.. where it was held that the right of appeal from interlocutory orders ceases after disposal of the suits and this principle applies even to cases where there are preliminary and final decree and oven where the decree is not formally drawn up. There is a decision of the Punjab High Court of Sir Shadi Lal Chief Justice and Abdul Qadir, J. in Chiragh Din v. Dilawar Khan . A.I.R 1934 Lah. 465. in which it was held that—

“Where in a proceeding under Order 22 rule 5 a certain person is or is not held to be the legal representative of a deceased party the same question can be reagitated in a separate suit and is not barred by the rule of res judicata.”

Backett, J. in Daulat Ram v. Mst. Meero . A.I.R 1941 Lah. 142 was also of the view that “a decision under rule 5 of Order 22 should be limited to the purpose of carrying on the suit and cannot have the effect of conferring any right to heirship or the property” and for this reason does not operate as a res judicata. Backett, J. also observed that on the death of a plaintiff a person relying on the will executed in his favour by the deceased plaintiff can be brought on record as his legal representative even though no probate has been taken of the will.

9. Both the learned counsel for the petitioners have contested the proposition that a revision is no longer competent after a suit had been dismissed and have made a special reference to the Full Bench decision of Din Muhammad, Teja Singh and Achhru Ram, JJ. in Ram Charan Dass v. Hira Nand . A.I.R 1945 Lah. 298. where it was observed by Mr. Justice Achhru Ram speaking for the Court that—

“It is not an inflexible rule that where another remedy by way of a regular suit is open, revisional jurisdiction should under no circumstances be exercised”.

In that case it was directed that the suit should be tried on merits from the stage when the aggrieved party was refused permission to continue its suit as a representative of the deceased plaintiff.

10. On a consideration of the authorities I am inclined to agree with in the contention raised by Mr. Sarin that the petition for revision is in-competent. On merits as well I think the petition must fail. The will set up by Harbhajan Singh has been rejected because the attesting witness were held to be interested parties and the evidence of Dr. Thaman who deposed that the testator was of sound disposing mind was found to be unacceptable. The earlier will executed in favour of Pritam Singh was preferred mainly on the ground that it was a registered document and the trial Judge observed that adverse inference has been drawn against the will propounded by Harbhajan Singh because it was not registered. This is a very relevant circumstance to be taken in considering the question about the validity of the wills, in Rani Purnima Debi v. Kumar Khagendra Narayan Debi . A.I.R 1962 S.C 567., it was held by their lordships of the Supreme Court that where a will has been registered, that is a circumstance which may, having regard to the circumstances, prove its genuineness. Before Sub-Registrar Smt. Santi admitted the execution of the will and as observed by their Lofdships of the Supreme Court in Rani Purnima Debt's case such evidence goes a long J way to prove execution and the disposing mind of the person making of the will. The registeration in such circumstances will dispel the doubt as to the genuineness of the will.

11. For the reasons set out aforesaid these petitions for revisions fail and are dismissed with costs.

Petition dismissed.