Ajay Singh Chaudhary and Anr v. Shiv Raj Singh (Now Deceased) Through His Lrs

1o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o Reservedoon:o04.08.2023o Pronouncedoon:o14.09.2023o

o AjayoSinghoChaudharyoandoanothero ......Petitionerso o o Versuso o o o ShivoRajoSingho(nowodeceased)othroughohisolegaloheirso ......Respondentso

CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoNAMIToKUMARo o Arguedoby:ooMr.oSahiloKhunger,oAdvocate,o o o forotheopetitioners.o o o o Mr.oRajeshoSethi,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.oArunoBiriwal,oAdvocate,o o o Mr.oParamdeepoSingh,oAdvocateoando o o Ms.oPreetioBansal,oAdvocate,o o o fororespondentoNo.2/caveator.o o NAMIToKUMAR,oJ.o

1.o o TheopresentoCiviloRevisionohasobeenofiledounderoArticleo 227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoforosettingoasideoimpugnedoorderodatedo

10.01.2023opassedobyolearnedoCiviloJudgeo(JunioroDivision),oSonepato wherebyotheoapplicationofiledobyotheopetitioners/defendantsounderoOrdero 18oRuleo17oreadowitho151oofoCodeoofoCiviloProcedure,o1908o(inoshorto CPC)oforoadditionaloevidenceowasodismissed.o

2.o o InobriefotheofactsoofotheopresentocaseoareothatoplaintiffoLateo Shivo Rajo Singho filedo ao suito againsto hiso sono Ajayo Chaudharyo ando RAVINDER SINGHDaughter-in-lawoRajeshoforodeclarationoandopermanentoinjunctionotootheo

2o effectothatoagreementotoosellodatedo21.07.2011oisoillegal,owrong,onulloando void.oTheodefendantsowhileofilingotheowrittenostatementofiledocountero claimoseekingoreliefoofospecificoperformanceoofotheoagreementotoosello datedo21.07.2011owithotheoconsequentialoreliefoofopermanentoinjunction.o Thereaftero respondents/plaintiffso ledo theiro evidenceo ando aftero culminationoofoevidenceoofoplaintiffs,otheodefendantsoledotheiroevidenceo ando duringo evidenceo petitioners/defendantso filedo ano applicationo foro comparisonoofosignatureoofoplaintiffoandoproductionoofosaleodeedoetco whichowasoallowedobyoLd.oCiviloJudgeovideoorderodatedo04.09.2018,o thereafteroaggrievedobyothisoorder,oplaintiffochallengedothisoorderoinothiso courto ino Civilo Revisiono no.o 6881o ofo 2018,o whicho waso dismissedo ono

05.07.2022o witho theo observationo thato o defendantso too concludeo theiro evidenceowithinoaoperiodoofothreeomonthsofromotheodateoonowhichotheo saleodeedoisoproducedobeforeotheotrialocourt.oSaleodeedowasoproducedobyo respondents/plaintiffsobeforeotrialocourtoono09.09.2022,otheoevidenceoofo defendantso waso closedo byo theo defendantso ono 06.12.2022,o thereaftero applicationodatedo05.01.2023otoocallostampovendoroandoRangoLalowhooiso attestingo witnesso ando alsoo foro producingo deatho certificateo ofo Kaptano Singhowhoowasoalsooaowitness,oasoadditionaloevidenceowasofiledoundero Ordero18oRuleo17oCPCoandosameowasodismissedobyotheotrialoCourtovideo impugnedoorder.ooHenceopresentopetition.o

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero contendedo thato theo additionaloevidenceowhichodefendantsowantotooexamineoandoplaceoono recordo wereo inadvertentlyo lefto outo byo theo counselo foro theo defendants/counter-claimantso ando theo evidenceo ofo defendantso waso

3o closedo byo theiro counsel.o Heo furthero contendedo thato theo trialo courto withoutoassigningo anyo reasonohasodismissedotheo application.oo Ito waso furtheroarguedothatotrialocourtowhileopassingotheoimpugnedoorderofailedo tootakeointooconsiderationothatotheoapplicationoforoadditionaloevidenceo stoodoonoaototallyodifferentofootingoandothenoitowasoarguedothatotheotrialo courtonegatedotheofactowhileodecidingotheoapplicationothatodefendantso haveo seto upo countero claimo ino whicho theo maino relianceo ofo theo petitioners/defendantsoisoonotheoagreementotoosellodatedo21.07.2011oando itoisoutmostoimportantotooexamineotheowitnessostatedoinotheoapplication.o RelianceowasoplacedoonojudgmentsoofothisocourtoinoJaipalo Vs.o Hario Dasso ando Ors.o 2017(2)ICCo 483,o Manmohano Singho Vs.o Davindero Kauro @o Mohindero Kauro @o Gurmindero Kauro andOrs.2015(5)R.C.R.(Civil)o661,oRobinoJamesoVs.oGurdevoSingho ando Ors.o 2019(1)o Lawo Heraldo 915.o o Ato lasto ito wasoarguedobyo theo counselorepresentingopetitionersothatotheopetitionersohaveosetoupocountero claimowhichoisotoobeotriedoasoaoseparateosuit,osootheoimpugnedoordero shouldobeosetoasideoandoapplicationoshouldobeoallowed.o

4.o o Pero contrao theo counselo representingo respondentso arguedo thatotheodefendants/counteroclaimantsoavailedoasomanyoaso8oeffectiveo opportunitiesoincludingo3olastoopportunitiesoatotheofirstoinstanceobutodido notoconcludeotheiroevidenceoandoultimatelyoevenoatotheosecondoinstanceo whenothisocourtovideoitsoorderodatedo05.07.2022ograntedotheodefendantso anothero threeo monthso moreo timeo countedo fromo theo dayo fromo theo productiono ofo originalo saleo deedo byo theo plaintiffso whicho waso soo producedoinotheotrialocourtoono09.09.2022oandodefendantsocouldoexamineo

4o anyo numbero ofo witnesseso includingo theo witnesseso nowo soughto too beo calledoaso additionalo evidenceobutotheyo dido noto doo so,o thereforeo theyo shouldobeoprecludedoandoestoppedofromoseekingotheoproductionoofotheseo witnessesoinoadditionaloevidence.ooLearnedocounselofororespondentsoalsoo broughtotheoattentionoofothisoCourtoonorelevantoprovisionsoofoCPCoando arguedothatoOrdero18oRuleo17Aoforoadditionaloevidenceowasointroducedo inoCPCovideoamendmentoinotheoyearo1976ooandotheosameowasodeletedo videoamendmentoinoyearo2002oandosuchodeletionoofotheoprovisionowaso doneowithoaoviewoofoavoidingodelayoinotheodecisionoofotheosuitoatotheofirsto instanceo ando reliedo ono theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino SalemoAdvocateoBaroAssociationoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoAIRo2003o(SC)o

189.o Thereaftero learnedo counselo referredo too Ordero 17o ofo CPCo ando arguedothatoanoembargoohasobeenocreatedothatotheocourtowillonotogiveo moreothanothreeoadjournmentsotooaopartyoduringotheohearingoofoaosuit.o Learnedo counselo placedo relianceo ono judgmentso ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo CourtoinoM/soBagaioConstructionoVs.oM/soGuptaoBuildingoMaterialo Soreo 2013(3)o RCRo (Civil)o 304,o Ramo Ratio Vs.o Mangeo Ramo (dead)o throughoLRso2016(2)oRCRo(Civil)o464,oM/soShivoCotexoVs.oTirguno AutooPlastoP.oLtdoandoOrs.o2011(4)RCRo(Civil)o807,oNooroMohammedo Vs.oJethanando2013o(2)oRCRo(Civilo)o538.o

5.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoatolengthoando withotheiroassistanceoperusedotheorecord.o

6.o o TheoprovisionoofoOrdero18oRuleo17-AoCPCowasodeletedo w.e.f.o 01.07.2002.o Theo purposeo ofo deletiono ofo saido provisiono iso too expediteo trialo ofo theo case.o However,o eveno aftero deletiono ofo saido

5o provision,otheoCourtoinoexerciseoofopoweroconferredounderoSectiono151o CPCocanoallowoanyopartyotooleadoevidenceoevenoatoaolaterostage,oifoitoiso necessaryoinotheointerestoofojustice,obutosuchodiscretionoshouldonotobeo exercisedoinoroutineomanner,omereoonotheoaskingoandothisopoweroshouldo notobeoexercisedoarbitrarilyobutoonlyoafteroapplyingojudicialomindoando keepingo ino mindo theo factso ofo theo case.o Referenceo couldobeo madeo too verdictoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoSalemoAdvocateo Baro Associationo (supra)o whereino ito haso beeno clarifiedo thato ono deletiono ofo Ordero18oRuleo17Aowhichoprovidedoforoleadingoofoadditionaloevidence,o theolawoexistingobeforeotheointroductionoofotheoamendment,oi.e.,o1stoJuly,o 2002,owouldostandorestored.oTheoRuleowasodeletedobyoAmendmentoActo ofo2002.oEvenobeforeoinsertionoofoOrdero18oRuleo17A,otheoCourtohado inbuiltopowerotoopermitopartiesotooproduceoevidenceonotoknownotoothemo earliero oro whicho couldo noto beo producedo ino spiteo ofo dueo diligence.o Ordero18oRuleo17Aodidonotocreateoanyoneworightobutoonlyoclarifiedotheo position.oTherefore,odeletionoofoOrdero18oRuleo17Aodoesonotodisentitleo productionoofoevidenceoatoaolaterostage.oOnoaopartyosatisfyingotheoCourto thatoafteroexerciseoofodueodiligenceothatoevidenceowasonotowithinohiso knowledgeoorocouldonotobeoproducedoatotheotimeotheopartyowasoleadingo evidence,otheoCourtomayopermitoleadingoofosuchoevidenceoatoaolaterostageo onosuchotermsoasomayoappearotoobeojust.o

7.o o Ino K.K.o Velusamyo Vs.o N.o Palanisamyo 2011(2)o R.C.R.(Civil)o875otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoexplainedotheoinherento poweroofoCourtounderosectiono151oCPCoandohowocautiouslyotheoinherento powersoareotoobeoused:o-o

6o o "10.oTheorespondentocontendedothatosectiono151ocannotobeo usedoforore-oopeningoevidenceoorofororecallingowitnesses.o Weo areo noto ableo too accepto theo saido submissiono aso ano absoluteoproposition.oWeohoweveroagreeothatosectiono151o ofo theo Codeo cannoto beo routinelyo invokedo foro reopeningo evidenceoororecallingowitnesses.oTheoscopeoofosectiono151o hasobeenoexplainedobyothisoCourtoinoseveralodecisionso(Seeo :oPadamoSenov.oStateoofoUP-AIRo1961oSupremeoCourto218;o ManoharlaloChopraov.oSethoHiralal,oAIRo1962oSupremeo Courto527;oArjunoSinghov.oMohindraoKumaro-oAIRo1964o SupremeoCourto993;oRamoChandoandoSonsoSugaroMillso(P)o Ltd.ov.oKanhayoLal,oAIRo1966oSupremeoCourto1899;oNaino Singhov.oKoonwarjee,o1970o(1)oSCCo732;oTheoNewabganjo SugaroMillsoCo.Ltd.ov.oUnionoofoIndiao-oAIRo1976oSupremeo Courto 1152;o Jaipuro Mineralo Developmento Syndicateo v.o Commissionero ofo Incomeo Tax,o Newo Delhi,o AIRo 1977o SupremeoCourto1348;oNationaloInstituteoofoMentaloHealtho &o Neuroo Scienceso v.o C.o Parameshwara,o 2005(1)o S.C.T.o 534o :o 2005o (2)o SCCo 256;o ando Vinodo Setho v.o Devindero Bajaj,o 2010(3)o RCRo (Civil)o 813o :o 2010(4)o R.A.J.o 246o :o 2010o(8)oSCCo1.oWeomayosummariseothemoasofollows:o

(a)oSectiono151oisonotoaosubstantiveoprovisionowhicho createso oro conferso anyo powero oro jurisdictiono ono courts.oItomerelyorecognizesotheodiscretionaryopowero inherentoinoeveryocourtoasoaonecessaryocorollaryoforo renderingo justiceo ino accordanceo witho law,o too doo whatoiso'right'oandoundoowhatoiso'wrong',othatois,otoo dooallothingsonecessaryotoosecureotheoendsoofojusticeo andopreventoabuseoofoitsoprocess.o

(b)oAsotheoprovisionsoofotheoCodeoareonotoexhaustive,o sectiono151orecognizesoandoconfirmsothatoifotheoCodeo doesonotoexpresslyooroimpliedlyocoveroanyoparticularo

7o proceduraloaspect,otheoinherentopowerocanobeousedo toodealowithosuchosituationooroaspect,oifotheoendsoofo justiceowarrantoit.oTheobreadthoofosuchopoweroisoco-extensiveowithotheoneedotooexerciseosuchopoweroono theofactsoandocircumstances.o

(c)o Ao Courto haso noo powero too doo thato whicho iso prohibitedo byo lawo oro theo Code,o byo purportedo exerciseoofoitsoinherentopowers.oIfotheoCodeocontainso provisionsodealingowithoaoparticularotopicooroaspect,o andosuchoprovisionsoeitheroexpresslyooronecessaryo implicationoexhaustotheoscopeoofotheopoweroofotheo courto oro theo jurisdictiono thato mayo exercisedo ino relationotoothatomatter,otheoinherentopowerocannotobeo invokedoinoorderotoocutoacrossotheopowersoconferredo byo theo Codeo oro ao mannero inconsistento witho sucho provisions.oInootherowordsotheocourtocannotomakeo useoofotheospecialoprovisionsoofoSectiono151oofotheo Code,owhereotheoremedyooroprocedureoisoprovidedoino theoCode.o

(d)o Theo inherento powerso ofo theo courto beingo complementaryotootheopowersospecificallyoconferred,o ao courto iso freeo too exerciseo themo foro theo purposeso mentionedo ino Sectiono 151o ofo theo Codeo wheno theo matteroisonotocoveredobyoanyospecificoprovisionoino theoCodeoandotheoexerciseoofothoseopowersowouldonoto ino anyo wayo beo ino conflicto witho whato haso beeno expresslyo providedo ino theo Codeo oro beo againsto theo intentionoofotheoLegislature.o

(e)oWhileoexercisingotheoinherentopower,otheocourto willobeodoublyocautious,oasothereoisonoolegislativeo guidanceotoodealowithotheoproceduralosituationoando theoexerciseoofopowerodependsouponotheodiscretiono ando wisdomo ofo theo court,o ando theo factso ando RAVINDER SINGH circumstanceso ofo theo case.o Theo absenceo ofo ano

8o expressoprovisionoinotheocodeoandotheorecognitiono andosavingoofotheoinherentopoweroofoaocourt,oshouldo notohoweverobeotreatedoasoaocarteoblancheotoogranto anyorelief.o

(f)oTheopowerounderosectiono151owillohaveotoobeousedo witho circumspectiono ando care,o onlyo whereo ito iso absolutelyonecessary,owhenothereoisonooprovisionoino theoCodeogoverningotheomatter,owhenotheobonaofideso ofo theo applicanto cannoto beo doubted,o wheno sucho exerciseoisotoomeetotheoendsoofojusticeoandotooprevento abuseoofoprocessoofocourt."o FurtherotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtodiscussedotheoobjectiveobehindodeletiono ofoOrdero18oRuleo17A:o "11.oTheoCodeoearlierohadoaospecificoprovisionoinoOrdero 18o Ruleo 17Ao foro productiono ofo evidenceo noto previouslyo knowno oro theo evidenceo whicho couldo noto beo producedo despiteo dueo diligence.o Ito enabledo theo courto too permito ao partyotooproduceoanyoevidenceoevenoatoaolateostage,oaftero theoconclusionoofohisoevidenceoifoheosatisfiedotheocourtothato evenoafterotheoexerciseoofodueodiligence,otheoevidenceowaso notowithinohisoknowledgeoandocouldonotobeoproducedobyo himowhenoheowasoleadingotheoevidence.oThatoprovisionowaso deletedowithoeffectofromo1.7.2002.oTheodeletionoofotheosaido provisionodoesonotomeanothatonooevidenceocanobeoreceivedo atoall,oafteroaopartyoclosesohisoevidence.oItoonlyomeansothato theoamendedostructureoofotheoCodeofoundonooneedoforosucho aoprovision,oasotheoamendedoCodeocontemplatedolittleooro noo timeo gapo betweeno completiono ofo evidenceo ando commencemento ando conclusiono ofo arguments.o Anothero reasono foro itso deletiono waso theo misuseo thereofo byo theo partieso too prolongo theo proceedingso undero theo pretexto ofo

9o

12.oTheoamendedoprovisionsoofotheoCodeocontemplateoando expecto ao trialo courto too hearo theo argumentso immediatelyo aftero theo completiono ofo evidenceo ando theno proceedo too judgment.o Therefore,o ito waso unnecessaryo too haveo ano expressoprovisionoforore-openingotheoevidenceotooexamineo ao fresho witnesso oro foro recallingo anyo witnesso foro furthero examination.o Buto ifo thereo iso ao timeo gapo betweeno theo completionoofoevidenceoandohearingoofotheoarguments,oforo whatsoevero reason,o ando ifo ino thato interregnum,o ao partyo comesoacrossosomeoevidenceowhichoheocouldonotolayohiso handsoearlier,oorosomeoevidenceoinoregardotootheoconducto oroactionoofotheootheropartyocomesointooexistence,otheocourto mayoinoexerciseoofoitsoinherentopowerounderosectiono151oofo theoCode,opermitotheoproductionoofosuchoevidenceoifoitoiso relevantoandonecessaryoinotheointerestoofojustice,osubjectotoo suchotermsoasotheocourtomayodeemofitotooimpose."o

8.oo o Theo petitionero wantso too adduceo additionalo evidenceo ofo stampo vendor,o attestingo witness,o deatho certificateo ofo anothero witnesso regardingoagreementotoosellodatedo21.07.2011,owhichoclearlyoshowsothato noneoofotheoevidenceoonowhichopetitionerowantsotooplaceorelianceoiso subsequentotooclosingoofohisoevidenceoono06.12.2022,oinootherowordsoito canobeosaidothatotheseoevidenceowereoalreadyothereobeforeoclosingoofo defenceoevidence.o

9.ooo o Perusalo ofo zimnio orderso ofo trialo courto showso defendantso availedo aso manyo aso 8o effectiveo opportunitieso too leado theiro evidenceo includingo lasto opportunitieso ando eveno costo waso imposedo ,o thereaftero threeomonthsowereogivenobyothisoCourtotooconcludeotheiroevidenceobuto stillonooapplicationotooleadoadditionaloevidenceowasofiledoandodefendantso closedotheiroevidenceoono06.12.2022oandoafterooneomonthoofoclosingoofo

10o theiro evidence,o applicationo foro additionalo evidenceo waso madeo ono

05.01.2023owhichoclearlyoshowsointentionoofodefendantsotoodelayoando embarrasso theo trialo ando ito cano beo saido thato theseo areo theo trickso ando stratagemo too prolongo theo trial.o Ino Nooro Mohammedo v.o Jethanand,o 2013(2)oRCRo(Civil)o538:o(2013)o5oSCCo202ocommentingoonotheodelayo causedodueotoodilatoryotacticsoadoptedobyotheoparties,otheoHon'bleoApexo Courtowasocompelledotoosay:-o "Inoaodemocraticoset-up,ointrinsicoandoembeddedofaithoino theoadjudicatoryosystemoisoofoseminaloandopivotaloconcern.o Delayograduallyodeclinesotheocitizenryofaithoinotheosystem.o Itoisotheofaithoandofaithoaloneothatokeepsotheosystemoalive.oIto providesooxygenoconstantly.oFragmentationoofofaithohasotheo effect-potentialityotoobringoinoaostateoofocataclysmowhereo justiceo mayo becomeo ao casualty.o Ao litiganto expectso ao reasonedo verdicto fromo ao temperateo Judgeo buto doeso noto intendotooand,orightlyoso,otooguillotineomuchoofotimeoatotheo altarooforeasons.oTimelyodeliveryoofojusticeokeepsotheofaitho ingrainedoandoestablishesotheosustainedostability.oAccessotoo speedyo justiceo iso regardedo aso ao humano righto whicho iso deeplyorootedoinotheofoundationaloconceptoofodemocracyo andosuchoaorightoisonotoonlyotheocreationoofolawobutoalsooao naturalo right.o Thiso righto cano beo fullyo ripenedo byo theo requisiteocommitmentoofoalloconcernedowithotheosystem.oIto cannotobeoregardedoasoaofacetoofoUtopianismobecauseosucho aothoughtoisolikelyotoomakeotheorightoaomirageolosingotheo centralityo ofo purpose.o Therefore,o whoevero haso ao roleo too playoinotheojustice-dispensationosystemocannotobeoallowedo tooremotelyoconceiveoofoaocasualoapproach."o

10.o o Furthero ino theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo Apexo Courto ino Gayathrio Vs.o Mo Girisho 2016(3)RCRo (Civil)o 942odiscussingo thatotheo

11o diseaseo ofo prolongingo theo trialo ando seekingo adjournmentso haso too beo curtailedo:o "13.oInotheocaseoatohand,oitocanoindubitablyobeostatedothato theodefendant-petitionerohasoactedoinoaomannerotoocauseo colossalo insulto too justiceo ando too theo concepto ofo speedyo disposaloofocivilolitigation.oWeoareoconstrainedotoosayotheo viruso ofo seekingo adjournmento haso too beo controlled.o Theo sayingoofoGitao"Awake?oArise?oOhoPartha"oisoaptohereotoobeo statedoforoguidanceoofotrialocourts."o

11.o o InoanotherojudgmentobyoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoM/soShivo CotexoVs.ooTirgunoAutooPlastoP.oLtd.oandootherso(supra)oheldoasounder:oo "16.o Noo litiganto haso ao righto too abuseo theo procedureo providedo ino theo CPC.o Adjournmentso haveo growno likeo cancero corrodingo theo entireo bodyo ofo justiceo deliveryo system.o Ito iso trueo thato capo ono adjournmentso too ao partyo duringotheohearingoofotheosuitoprovidedoinoprovisootooOrdero 17oRuleo1oCiviloProcedureoCodeoisonotomandatoryoandoinoao suitableo case,o ono justifiableo cause,o theo courto mayo granto moreothanothreeoadjournmentsotooaopartyoforoitsoevidenceo butoordinarilyotheocapoprovidedoinotheoprovisootooOrdero17o Ruleo1oCiviloProcedureoCodeoshouldobeomaintained.oWheno weosayo'justifiableocause'owhatoweomeanotoosayois,oaocauseo whichoisonotoonlyo'sufficientocause'oasocontemplatedoinosubo -oruleo(1)oofoOrdero17oCiviloProcedureoCodeobutoaocauseo whicho makeso theo requesto foro adjournmento byo ao partyo duringotheohearingoofotheosuitobeyondothreeoadjournmentso unavoidableoandosortoofoaocompellingonecessityolikeosuddeno illnessoofotheolitigantoorotheowitnessoortheolawyer;odeathoino theofamilyoofoanyooneoofothem;onaturalocalamityolikeofloods,o earthquake,oetc.oinotheoareaowhereoanyoofotheseopersonso reside;oanoaccidentoinvolvingotheolitigantoorotheowitnessooro theolawyeroonowayotootheocourtoandosucholikeocause.oTheo

12o listoisoonlyoillustrativeoandonotoexhaustive.oHowever,otheo absenceoofotheolawyeroorohisonono-oavailabilityobecauseoofo professionaloworkoinootherocourtooroelsewhereooroonotheo groundo ofo strikeo callo oro theo changeo ofo ao lawyero oro theo continuouso illnesso ofo theo lawyero (theo partyo whomo heo representsomustothenomakeoalternativeoarrangementowelloino advance)o oro similaro groundso willo noto justifyo moreo thano threeoadjournmentsotooaopartyoduringotheohearingoofotheo suit.o Theo pasto conducto ofo ao partyo ino theo conducto ofo theo proceedingso iso ano importanto circumstanceo whicho theo courtso musto keepo ino viewo whenevero ao requesto foro adjournmentoisomade.oAopartyotootheosuitoisonotoatolibertyotoo proceedowithotheotrialoatoitsoleisureoandopleasureoandohaso noorightotoodetermineowhenotheoevidenceowouldobeoletoinobyo itoorotheomatteroshouldobeoheard.oTheopartiesotooaosuito-o whetheroplaintiffoorodefendanto-omustocooperateowithotheo courtoinoensuringotheoeffectiveoworkoonotheodateoofohearingo forowhichotheomatterohasobeenofixed.oIfotheyodon't,otheyodoo sooatotheiroownoperil.oInsofaroasopresentocaseoisoconcerned,o ifotheostakesowereohigh,otheoplaintiffooughtotoohaveobeeno moreo seriouso ando vigilanto ino prosecutingo theo suito ando producingoitsoevidence.oIfodespiteothreeoopportunities,onoo evidenceowasoletoinobyotheoplaintiff,oinoouroview,oitodeservedo noosympathyoinosecondoappealoinoexerciseoofopoweroundero Sectiono100oCPC.oWeofindonoojustificationoatoalloforotheo HighoCourtoinoupsettingotheoconcurrentojudgmentoofotheo courtso below.o Theo Higho Courto waso clearlyo ino erroro ino givingo theo plaintiffo ano opportunityo too produceo evidenceo whenonoojustificationoforothatocourseoexisted."o

12.oo o Perusalo ofo theo petitioner-defendants'o applicationo foro additionaloevidenceoshowsothatothereoisonotoevenoaosingleoavermentotoo dischargeotheoburdenoasotoohowodespiteoofodueodiligenceotheseofactso

13o wereonotoinotheiroknowledgeoatotheotimeoofofilingoofowrittenostatemento andoevenolateroatotheotimeoofoevidence.o

13.oo o Theo petitioner-defendantso haveo mentionedo ino theiro applicationoforoadditionaloevidenceoandoalsooarguedothatotheoevidenceoofo theoapplicantowasoinadvertentlyoclosedobyotheocounsel.ooThisopleaoisoofo noouseotootheopetitionersoasoinadvertenceooronegligenceoofocounseloino dischargeo ofo hiso dutyo iso noo groundo too allowo additionalo evidence,o relianceocanobeoplacedouponojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinoLakhbiroSingho andoothersoVs.oKesaroKauroandoOtherso1984oCurLJo599.o

14.oo o ThisoCourtoagreesowithotheocontentionoraisedobyotheolearnedo counseloforopetitionersothatotheocounteroclaimofiledobyotheodefendantoiso toobeotriedoasoanoindependentosuit,oasoitoisoitselfoclearofromotheobareo readingoofotheoprovisionsoofotheostatuteoandoalsooheldobyotheoHon'bleo Apexo Courto ino plethorao ofo judgments,o buto thiso contentiono doeso noto containoanyosubstanceotoosetoasideotheoorderoofotheolearnedotrialoCourt.o Theojudgmentsoreliedouponobyolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoareoofo noo useo too themo aso theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo thoseo caseso areo distinguishableofromotheofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoinohand.o

15.oo o Keepingo ino viewo theo foregoingo reasonso ando discussionso detailedoabove,othisocourtodoonotofindoanyoinfirmityooroillegality,omucho lessoperversityoinotheoimpugnedoorderopassedobyotheolearnedotrialocourt.o Henceo findingo theo presento petitiono aso devoido ofo anyo merito ando noo illegalityooroirregularityoinotheoimpugnedoorder,othisoCourtodoesonotofindo itoaofitocaseotooexerciseoitsorevisionalojurisdictionoandointerfereowithotheo

14o orderoofolearnedoCiviloJudge,oSonipat.oTherefore,otheopresentopetitionoiso dismissed.o

16.oo o Dismissed.o o

(NAMIToKUMAR)o

14.09.2023o o o o o o ooooooooJUDGEo R.S.o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :o Yes/Noo o WhetheroReportableoo o :o Yes/Noo o