Case: State Bank Of Hyderabad Vs. Town Municipal Council

2. Appellant -Bank filed a suit against the respondent. The suit related to ownership of a plot admeasuring 610 ft. x 250 ft. situated in the town Yadgir. It was purchased by the plaintiff in a public auction. Allegedly, the respondent is now claiming back the said amount. The suit was initially filed for a decree for injunction. The respondent filed another suit in the same court also for a suit for permanent injunction restraining the Bank from constructing any building. The suit of the appellant was dismissed whereas the suit of the respondent was decreed. Appeals were preferred there against by both the parties. In the said appeals, an application was filed for grant of leave to amend the plaint. The said application for grant of leave to amend the plaint was allowed by the appellate court by an order dated 7.04.2003. The appellate court remanded both the suits to the trial court for their disposal afresh on merits. Second Appeals were filed by the respondent herein before the High Court. The High Court by reason of the impugned judgment opined that the said application for amendment was not maintainable in view of the proviso appended to Order VI, Rule 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code). On the said finding not only the order granting leave to amend the plaint was set aside, the appeals were also allowed and the matter was remitted to the first appellate court for its consideration afresh in accordance with law.3. The appellant is, thus, before us.

Court's reasoning:
7. In view of the said provision there cannot be any doubt whatsoever that the suit having been filed in the year 1998, proviso to Order VI, Rule 17 of the Code shall not apply.8. The High Court relied upon the said proviso and opined that having regard thereto the plaintiff was obligated to establish that in spite of due diligence it could not have raised the matter before commencement of the trial of the suit. The High Court evidently committed an illegality in relying upon the said provision.It is one thing to say that the application for amendment suffers from delay or laches but it is another thing to say that thereby the defendant was prejudiced. It is also not a case of the respondent that by reason of such an amendment, the relief which could not be granted having regard to the law of limitation has become available. The court even in such a case is not powerless although the question as to whether the relief sought for would be otherwise barred by limitation is a relevant factor to determine the issue.As the High Court has failed to invoke the law as it then existed, we do not think that it was correct in its view.