Case: Kamlesh Kohli  Vs. Escortrac Finance &amp; Invest.Ltd.&amp;Ors

of Agreement was signed by Rajiv Kohli as constituted attorney of defendant Nos. 1 and 2. It was also not disputed that mother and son were living together. It was also admitted that in pursuance of the Memorandum of Agreement Smt. Kamlesh Kohli had signed the cheque in the sum of Rs. 65 lakhs which was given to the plaintiffs. In the appeals, it was contended before the Court on behalf of Smt. Kamlesh Kohli that her son was only attorney for prosecuting the writ petition and that he had no authority to enter into the agreement dated 19th November, 1992. The Court rejected the said contention by holding that, to say the least, the plea is wholly misconceived, mala fide and abuse of the process of law and may even amount to contempt of the Court. The Court further observed that such dishonest and convenient pleas deserve to be severally condemned. Accordingly, Appeal No. FAO. (OS) 197 of 1997 filed by Smt. Kamlesh Kohli was dismissed with costs quantified at Rs. 22,000 payable to plaintiffs.4. In appeal No. FAO (OS) 160 of 1997 filed by Rajiv Kohli (son), the Court granted unconditional leave to defend as it was averred by the plaintiffs in reply to the application for leave to defend that he was arrayed only as a proforma party and no relief was claimed against him personally.5. Against the said judgment and decree, the defendants Nos. 1 and 2 have preferred this appeal. 6. Learned Counsel for the appellant submitted that when leave to defend was granted to defendant No. 3, it ought to have been granted to the appellants otherwise there would be inconsistent decree. He submitted that the suit was for recovery of composite amount and, therefore, once leave to defend was granted to defendant No. 3, the Court ought to have granted leave to defend, to the remaining defendants i.e. the present appellants. He further submitted that considering the defence raised by defendant No. 2 this was a fit case for grant of leave to defend. 7. There is no substance in the contentions raised by the learned Counsel for the appellant. Civil Procedure Code nowhere prescribes that decree against some of the defendants to a suit cannot be passed or that if the suit is dismissed qua one defendant it is required to be dismissed against other defendants too. Order 1, Rule 6 makes the position clear by providing that plaintiff may at his option join as parties to the same suit all or any of the persons severally, or jointly and severally, liable on anyone contract including parties to bills of exchange, hundis and promissory notes. Therefore, even presuming that defendant No. 3 was jointly and severally liable to pay the amount specified in the Memorandum of Agreement, it was optional for the plaintiff to join him as party defendant. In the present case, however, that is not the situation because plaintiff has specifically averred that defendant No. 3 is joined as formal party. Further Order VIII, Rules 5 and 10, Order IX, Rule 11 and Order XV, Rule 2 make the position clear by providing that decree can be passed against the defendant who has not filed the written statement or who remains absent or who is not at issue with the plaintiff on any question of law or of fact. The said provisions are clear and unambiguous requiring no further elucidation, which read thus: Order VIII, Rule 5 Every allegation of fact in the plaint, if not denied specifically or by necessary implication, or stated to be not admitted in the pleading of the defendant, shall be taken to be admitted except as against a person under disability. Proviso…. Order VIII, Rule 10 Procedure when party fails to present written statement called for by Court. Where any party from whom a written statement [is required under Rule 1 or Rule 9] fails to present the same within the time [permitted or fixed by the Court, as the case may be, the Court shall] pronounce judgment against him, or make such order in relation to the suit as it thinks fit [and on the pronouncement of such judgment, a decree shall be drawn up]. Order IX, Rule 11 Where there are more defendants than one, and one or more of them appear, and the others do not appear, the suit shall proceed, and the Court shall, at the time of pronouncing judgment, make such order as it thinks fit with respect to the defendants who do not appear. Order XV, Rule 2 (1) Where there are more defendants than one, and anyone of the defendants is not at issue with the plaintiff on any question of law or of fact, the Court may at once pronounce judgment for or against such defendant and the suit shall proceed only against the other defendants. (2) Whenever a judgment is pronounced under this rule, a decree shall be drawn up in accordance with such judgment and the decree shall bear the date on which the judgment was pronounced. 8. Learned Counsel further submitted that this is a fit case in which Court ought to have granted leave to defend. In our view, me High Court rightly arrived at the conclusion that defence, is on the face of it, dishonest and mala fide. The reason is not too far to find out because in a writ petition filed by the plaintiffs, a Memorandum of Agreement was arrived at, which was duly signed by the plaintiffs and Smt. Kamlesh Kohli as well as Rajiv Kohli as attorney of Smt. Kamlesh Kohli. The Division Bench of the High Court, after recording the presence of constituted attorneys of the parties and considering the Memorandum of Agreement accompanied by application containing Annexures A and B permitted the plaintiffs to withdraw the writ petition. The plaintiffs acted upon the said agreement and withdrew the petition. The defendant also acted upon the said agreement and paid Rs. 65 lakhs to the plaintiff.

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 0

Explanation:
0[ds]7. There is no substance in the contentions raised by the learned Counsel for the appellant. Civil Procedure Code nowhere prescribes that decree against some of the defendants to a suit cannot be passed or that if the suit is dismissed qua one defendant it is required to be dismissed against other defendants too. Order 1, Rule 6 makes the position clear by providing that plaintiff may at his option join as parties to the same suit all or any of the persons severally, or jointly and severally, liable on anyone contract including parties to bills of exchange, hundis and promissory notes. Therefore, even presuming that defendant No. 3 was jointly and severally liable to pay the amount specified in the Memorandum of Agreement, it was optional for the plaintiff to join him as party defendant. In the present case, however, that is not the situation because plaintiff has specifically averred that defendant No. 3 is joined as formal party. Further Order VIII, Rules 5 and 10, Order IX, Rule 11 and Order XV, Rule 2 make the position clear by providing that decree can be passed against the defendant who has not filed the written statement or who remains absent or who is not at issue with the plaintiff on any question of law or ofour view, me High Court rightly arrived at the conclusion that defence, is on the face of it, dishonest and mala fide. The reason is not too far to find out because in a writ petition filed by the plaintiffs, a Memorandum of Agreement was arrived at, which was duly signed by the plaintiffs and Smt. Kamlesh Kohli as well as Rajiv Kohli as attorney of Smt. Kamlesh Kohli. The Division Bench of the High Court, after recording the presence of constituted attorneys of the parties and considering the Memorandum of Agreement accompanied by application containing Annexures A and B permitted the plaintiffs to withdraw the writ petition. The plaintiffs acted upon the said agreement and withdrew the petition. The defendant also acted upon the said agreement and paid Rs. 65 lakhs to the plaintiff.