Vijay Pratap & Ors vs Sambhu Saran Sinha & Ors
- SCC(1996) 10 SCC 53
- Neutral1996 INSC 803
- AIRAIR 1996 SC 2755
- SCR[1996] Supp (4) SCR 173
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a defendant has compromised a suit for specific performance and sought deletion from the record before the compromise is formally recorded, and his heirs subsequently seek to be impleaded as necessary and proper parties under Order 1, Rule 10 CPC on the ground that a relinquishment deed allegedly executed by the deceased defendant may not bind them, the heirs are not necessary and proper parties to the suit for the purpose of deciding the validity or genuineness of the relinquishment deed, as such questions go beyond the scope of a suit for specific performance and cannot be determined in the absence of the original party to the compromise. The remedy of heirs who dispute the validity of a relinquishment deed executed by their deceased predecessor and its effect on their rights lies outside the suit for specific performance and must be pursued through separate proceedings according to law.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
O R D E R This petition is against an order dismissing the application under Order 1, Rule 10, CPC filed by the petitioners to come on record in place of their father. The suit was laid for specific performance wherein the father during his life time is alleged to have entered into compromise and requested to delete his name from the arraignment of the parties as respondent No.1. The deletion of the first respondent came to be made after his demise. Pending suit before compromise memo was recorded, the petitioners sought to come on record under Order 1, Rule 10 being that they were necessary and proper parties. The trial Court recorded the finding that deletion had taken place and observed as under:
"At present I am not giving any finding with respect of Ext-6 and compromise petition in the light of an objections raised by petitioners in their other two petitions.
Simply I have stated the facts which are available on record. If these petitioners are made parties in the suit as prayed then dispute will arise between petitioners and plaintiff No.1 with respect of compromise and Ext-6. Its result will be that there will be dispute between the co-plaintiffs with respect of their right, title and interest in suit property. This suit will turn into a regular title suit. To decide right, title and interest of co-plaintiffs in suit property is beyond the scope of this suit. Suit of Specific performance of contract Can't be turned into a regular Title Suit.
So, in my opinion these petitioners are not necessary and proper parties under Order 1 Rule 10 C.P.C.
The trial Court accordingly held that the petitioners are neither necessary nor proper parties to the suit. On revision, the High Court upheld the same. Shri Sanyal, the learned counsel for the petitioners contended that their father had not signed the relinquishment deed and the signatures appended to it were not that of him. The deed of relinquishment said to have been signed by the father of the petitioners was not genuine. These questions are matters to be taken into consideration in the suit before the relinquishment deed and compromise memo between the other contesting respondents were acted upon and cannot be done in the absence of the petitioners. The share of the petitioners will be effected and, therefore, it would prejudice their right, title and interest in the property, We cannot go into these questions at this stage. The trial Court has rightly pointed that the petitioners are necessary and proper parties so long as the alleged relinquishment deed said to have been signed by the deceased father of the petitioners is on record. It may not bind petitioners but whether it is true or valid or binding on them and all questions which in the present suit cannot be gone into. Under those circumstances, the courts below were right in holding that the petitioners are not necessary and proper parties but the remedy is elsewhere. If the petitioners have got any remedy it is open to them to avail of the same according to law.
The special leave petition is dismissed.
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