It seems to me that the lower Court was wrong in declining to consider this application on the merits. The case of Subbaraya Devai v. Sundaresa Devai(1) is authority for the view that O. 9, R. 9, read along with S. 141 Civil Procedure Code does apply to pauper petitions. There is a conflict of authority on the question whether the dismissal for default of a pauper petition bars a future petition on the same grounds. But whether the decision operates as res judicata or not, if the Court has jurisdiction to decide a petition under O. 9. R. 9 and S. 141, it has a duty to decide such a petition on its merits and cannot decline to exercise its jurisdiction merely because there is an alternative remedy. The petition is allowed and the case is remanded to the lower Court for disposal on the merits. Costs to abide the result.
N.R.RPetition allowed.