Guzulu Devendra Ayyar vs P.C. Muthu Chettiar and Another

Abdur Rahman, J.—A suit for possession and injunction was filed by one Guzulu Devendra Iyer against Muthu Chettiar as defendant 1 and

Venkateswara Iyer as defendant 2 in July 1931 in the Court of the District Munsif at Melur in which the tenant was also imp leaded as defendant

Certain mesne profits were also claimed by the plaintiff in the suit. While filing his written statement, defendant 1 raised a number of contentions

in which ha attacked the locus standi of the plaintiff to maintain the suit on the ground that he was not an occupancy tenant and asserted that the

othi (Ex. A-l) was invalid. It was admitted by him that he was the landholder but alleged that defendant 2 was in possession of the lands in suit and

that the land was rightfully sold to him in a revenue auction for arrears of rent. It was also pleaded on his behalf that he was an unnecessary party to

the suit. A number of issues were then framed by the lower Court, but the objection raised by defendant 1 that he was an unnecessary party did

not form the subject matter of an issue at all.

It is true that as contended on behalf of the respondent, the duty of framing issues has been cast by the CPC on Courts. But it must not be

forgotten that at least on a technical matter like this, it is essential for the parties also to draw the attention of the Court to such an omission. In view

of serious contentions raised on behalf of defendant 1 on the merits of the claim, it appears to me that the issue in regard to defendant 1 as being an

unnecessary party was not pressed on his behalf deliberately when the issues were being framed and must in the circumstances be held to have

bean waived by him. This inference is further strengthened by the fact that the trial proceeded for about an year and a half and yet nothing was said

or done by or on behalf of defendant 1 who would have drawn the attention of the Court to such an omission, although another issue was

subsequently added by the trial Court. In fact, the result of the case in which a decree for possession was passed against defendant 1 in addition to

defendant 2 shows very clearly that there was no merit in that objection and must be necessarily, although impliedly, taken to have been decided

against defendant 1.

An appeal was filed by defendant 2 against the judgment and decree of the ferial Court passed on 30th January 1933 to the District Court

Judge at Madura to which defendant 1 was naturally imp leaded as a respondent. Having been served with a notice of appeal on 14th July 1933,

he filed cross-objections on 14th August 1933. The only ground which was raised in these objections was that he should not have been held liable

for the costs of the suit. When the matter came up for hearing, all the grounds urged by the appellant (i.e., defendant 2) failed but strangely enough

the Subordinate Judge found that defendant 1 was an unnecessary party. He same to this finding on the grounds that defendant 1 had first of all

disclaimed possession and the relief asked for by the plaintiff was one in which defendant 2 was alone interested. It was apparently overlooked

that the plaintiff had in this case asked for possession against both defendant 1 and defendant 2. The allegation in the plaint alone should have been

looked into in order to come to a finding whether defendant 1 was or was not a necessary party. If the plaintiff had failed do establish his

allegations, the suit should Java been dismissed against him on the merits. This was however not done. The finding arrived at by the Subordinate

Judge J.B. all the more surprising when one finds that this ground was not even taken by defendant 1 in his cross-objections.

Aggrieved by the judgment and decree of the lower Appellate Court, defendant 2, filed a second appeal and since defendant 1 was held to be

an unnecessary party by the Subordinate Judge, he was not imp leaded. The plaintiff has now filed cross-objections in which he prays that a

decree for possession and costs should have been passed by the lower Appellate Court not only against defendant 2 but also against defendant 1.

A separate petition has also been given on his behalf that in the circumstances of the case, defendant 1 should be imp leaded as a party to the

appeal. Not being content with his cross, objections and the petition filed to imp lead defendant 1 as a party to the appeal, he has yet put in

another petition in which he has asked his cross-objections to be converted into a second appeal and prayed for the delay in filing the appeal to be

excused. This has been done as stated by his counsel while arguing the case by way of caution.

The real point which I have now been called upon to decide is whether the cross-objections filed on behalf of the plaintiff are competent against

defendant 1 who has not been made a party to the appeal and if not whether he could be ordered to be imp leaded as a party to the appeal Under

the provisions of Order 1, Rule 10 read with Section 107, Civil P.C. If I hold on either of the two points in favour of the plaintiff, it is obvious that

no orders need be passed on the third application of his in which he has asked for his cross-objections to be converted into an appeal and for

excusing the delay u/s 5, Limitation Act. The provisions contained in Order 41, Rule 22 are quite general in my opinion and entitle a respondent to

take any cross-objection to the decree which he could have taken by way of appeal. It has been already held in a Full Bench ruling of this Court

given in Munisami Mudaly v. Abbu Reddy (1915) 2 AIR Mad 648 and followed in Alagappa Chettiar v. Chockalingam Chetty (1919) 6 AIR

Mad 784 and Chhajju v. Qutab Din (1923) 10 AIR Lah 39 that a respondent could urge cross-objections against a co-respondent in any and

every case. If this be so, why should a respondent''s right to file cross, objections and ask for relief be restricted to the parties only who have been

imp leaded in the appeal at the instance of the appellant. If the respondent could file an appeal against a respondent who although not a party to the

appeal was yet a party to the suit, there is nothing in the words of Order 41, Rule 22 which would prevent him from raising the contention in his

cross-objections which could be raised by him in an appeal. I am supported in this view by a ruling of a Division Bench of this Court given in

Ponnuawami Asari v. Palaniandi Mudali (1920) 1 AIR Mad 120.

The respondent''s counsel cited Ilahi Baksh v. Jawinda Mal (1920) 7 AIR Lah 438 in support of his contention that in as much as the

respondent was not a party to the appeal, no cross, objection could be entertained against him. In that case no notice was issued to a defendant

who was affected by the cross-objections and the lower Appellate Court had, in spite of the absence of that defendant chosen to pass a decree

against him. This was obviously wrong. Moreover unlike the present case, the defence of the two defendants one of whom was imp leaded in

appeal and the other who was not were not common. But if that ruling meant to lay down the general proposition that no cross-objections could be

entertained against a person who although a party to the suit, was not imp leaded by the appellant as a party to the appeal, I would with great

respect disagree. I see nothing in the words of Order 41, Rule 22 and no principle of law under which such a contention should be allowed to

prevail. The other ruling cited on behalf of respondent, v has no application to the facts of this case.

At all events the Court has ample powers Under the provisions of Order 1, Rule 10(2) read with Section 107, Civil P.C. to implead any person

in the appeal as a respondent who ought to have been joined or whose presence before the Court may be necessary in order to enable the Court

to adjudicate upon all the questions involved in the appeal effectively.

In view of what has been said, I consider that by putting in cross-objections defendant 1 has been legally impleaded in this appeal. In any case I

would order Mm to be so impleaded under the provisions of Order 1, Rule 10(2) read with Section 107, Civil P.C. It is unnecessary for me now

60 consider the third application for converting the cross-objections into a second appeal and for excusing the delay. I would prefer to pass no

orders on this application. Defendant 1 shall bear the costs of the application.