Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.HARIPRASAD & THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.V.ANILKUMAR FRIDAY, THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY 2021 / 9TH MAGHA, 1942 FAO.No.72 OF 2019 AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 22-01-2019 IN I.A NO.1732 OF 2017 IN OS 7/2012 OF SUB COURT, OTTAPPALAM. APPELLANTS/PLAINTIFFS :
1 NARAYANAN, AGED 68 YEARS, S/O.ACHUTHAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, NJANGATTIRI DESOM, THRITHALA AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 2 JANAKI, AGED 63 YEARS, W/O.NARAYANAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, NJANGATTIRI DESOM, THRITHALA AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. BY ADVS. SRI.P.JAYARAM SRI.SARATH CHANDRAN K.B. RESPONDENTS/DEFENDANTS : 1 GOPALAN, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O.KARUPPAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 2 SAROJINI, AGED 69 YEARS, W/O.LATE VASU, S/O.KARUPPAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. F.A.O No.72 of 2019 2 3 VIJAYALAKSHMI, AGED 61 YEARS, W/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM P.O., MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 4 SANTHOSH, AGED 34 YEARS, S/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 5 SATHEESH, AGED 31 YEARS, S/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 6 BINDU, AGED 37 YEARS, D/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 7 SINDHU, AGED 34 YEARS, D/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. 8 SANDHYA, AGED 30 YEARS, D/O.LATE PADMANABHAN, DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM, P.O.MEZHATHUR - 679 534. F.A.O No.72 of 2019 3
9 KARTHYAYANI, AGED 67 YEARS, D/O.LATE KARUPPAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT C/O.KRISHNANKUTTY, THOTTANGAL HOUSE, KUMBIDI P.O. - 679553, UMMATHUR. 10 LAKSHMIKUTTY, AGED 67 YEARS, D/O.LATE KALYANI, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRIKKUTTUR. 11 PRAKSHAN, AGED 48 YEARS, S/O.LATE PRABHAKARAN, S/O.LATE KALYANI, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRIKKUTTUR. 12 PRASAD, AGED 46 YEARS, S/O.LATE PRABHAKARAN, S/O.LATE KALYANI, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRIKKUTTUR. 13 (D14) PADMANABHAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.LATE KALYANI, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT HALL PET N.R.PURAM P.O. - 575 001, CHICK MANGALORE, KARNATAKA DISTRICT.
14 (D15) PARAMESWARAN, S/O.LATE KALYANI, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANAD DESOM, MEZHATHUR, AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK, NOW RESIDING AT MATCHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE - 679 533, RAYAMANGALAM. F.A.O No.72 of 2019 4 15 (D16) RAJAN, 52 YEARS, S/O.LATE KALYANI, THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, NEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, OTTAPALAM TALUK. * 16 (D18) NANI @ NARAYANI, (DIED) 81 YEARS, W/O.LATE VELAPPA, THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 17 (D20) SUSEELA, AGED 57 YEARS, D/O.LATE VELAPPA THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 18 (D21) PANKAJAM, AGED 50 YEARS, W/O.LATE SETHUMADHAVAN, S/O.LATE VELAPPA, THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 19 (D22) VASUDEVAN, 19 YEARS, S/O.LATE SETHUMADHAVAN, S/O.LATE VELAPPA, THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 20 (D23) AMRUTHA, AGED 18 YEARS, D/O.LATE SETHUMADHAVAN, S/O.LATE VELAPPA THURUTHIPARA HOUSE, KODANADU DESOM, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 21 (D24) LAKSHMI, AGED 75 YEARS, W/O.GOPALAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, 22 (D25) ACHUTHAN, AGED 52 YEARS, S/O.GOPALAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, F.A.O No.72 of 2019 5 23 (D26) SARASWATHY, AGED 50 YEARS, W/O.NARAYANAN, KUNNUMPALLAKKAL HOUSE, PERUMUDIYOOR P.O. - 679 303, PATTAMBI TALUK. 24 (D27)GEETHA, AGED 50 YEARS, D/O.GOPALAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, 25 (D28)VATSALA, AGED 48 YEARS, W/O.GANGADHARAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, NJANGATTIRI P.O. - 679311, PATTAMBI TALUK. 26 (D29)PREMA, AGED 46 YEARS, W/O.ACHUTHAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, 27 (D30)PAMBAVASAN, AGED 44 YEARS, S/O.GOPALAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, NJANGATTIRI P.O. - 679 311. PATTAMBI TALUK. 28 (D31)VASANTHA, AGED 42 YEARS, W/O.BALAKRISHNAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, NJANGATTIRI P.O. - 679 311, PATTAMBI TALUK. 29 (D32)SHEEJA, AGED 40 YEARS, D/O.GOPALAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, 30 (D33)BHASKARAN, AGED 74 YEARS, SREEKRISHNABHAVAN, KAVERY NAGAR, P.O.RAMANATHAPURAM, COIMBATORE - 641 001.
31 (D34)RAMANKUTTY, AGED 69 YEARS, S/O.ACHUTHAN, KADATHODI HOUSE, F.A.O No.72 of 2019 6 32 (D35)RUGMINI, AGED 72 YEARS, PANDARATHODIYIL HOUSE, MARUTHUR P.O. -679 306, PATTAMBI TALUK. * 33 SULOCHANA, (DIED)
AGED 69 YEARS, W/O.LATE VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRUMPAKASSERY, SHORANUR. 34 PRASANNADASAN, AGED 47 YEARS, S/O.LATE VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, EZHUMANGAD, ARANGOTTUKARA P.O. - 680 593, SHORANUR. 35 SURESHKUMAR, AGED 42 YEARS, S/O.LATE VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, EZHUMANGAD, ARANGOTTUKARA P.O. - 680 593, SHORANUR. 36 BALAN, AGED 42 YEARS, S/O.LATE VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRUMBAKASSERY, SHORANUR. 37 PRAMEELA, AGED 48 YEARS, D/O.LATE VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRUMBAKASSERY, SHORANUR. 38 BHAVANI, AGED 50 YEARS, W/O.LATE RAGHAVAN, C/O.VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679 533, IRUMBAKASSERY, SHORANUR. 39 RAJANI, AGED 29 YEARS, D/O.LATE RAGHAVAN, C/O.VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O. - 679533, IRUMBAKASSERY, SHORANUR. F.A.O No.72 of 2019 7 40 SAJANI, AGED 26 YEARS, D/O.LATE RAGHAVAN, C/O.VASUDEVAN, MACHATH HOUSE, THIRUMITTAKODE P.O, - 679 533, IRUMBAKASSERY, SHORANUR. 41 MALLIKA, AGED 56 YEARS, W/O.UNNIKRISHNAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, KODANADU DESOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 42 AMBIKA, AGED 32 YEARS, D/O.UNNKRISHNAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, KODANADU DESOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 43 ABHILASH, AGED 27 YEARS, S/O.UNNIKRISHNAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, KODANADU DESOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK. 44 AJEESH, AGED 25 YEARS, S/O.UNNIKRISHNAN, THIRUTHIPARA HOUSE, MEZHATHUR AMSOM - 679 534, KODANADU DESOM, OTTAPALAM TALUK.
* (IT IS RECORDED THAT RESPONDENT NOS.17 TO 20 AND 41 TO 44 ARE THE LEGAL HEIRS OF DECEASED RESPONDENT NO.16 AND RESPONDENT NOS.34 TO 37 ARE THE LEGAL HEIRS OF DECEASED RESPONDENT NO.33 AS PER ORDER DATED 25.02.2020 IN I.A.NO.2/2020.
R1, R3, R4, R41 & R44 BY ADV.SRI.P.K.MOHANAN(PALAKKAD) THIS FIRST APPEAL FROM ORDERS HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29.01.2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: F.A.O No.72 of 2019 8 A.HARIPRASAD & T.V.ANILKUMAR, J J. -------------------------------------- F.A.O No.72 of 2019 -------------------------------------- Dated this the 29th day of January, 2021
JUDGMENT
A.HARIPRASAD, J Heard the learned counsel for the appellants and the respondents.
2. Appellants are aggrieved by dismissal of I.A No.1732 of 2017
in O.S No.7 of 2012 before the Court of Subordinate Judge, Ottapalam. Appellants are the plaintiffs in the above suit which is filed for partition of immovable property. Appellants failed to appear before the court on the date of posting of the case for trial. Therefore, the court dismissed the suit for default. Thereafter, the appellants filed an application to restore the suit F.A.O No.72 of 2019 9 to file. That application was dismissed by the impugned order.
3. Learned Sub Judge found no merit in the plea raised by the appellants for restoring the suit. Further, it was noticed that a wrong provision of law has been quoted in the petition. Instead of mentioning
Order 9 Rule IX C.P.C, Order 9 Rule XIII C.P.C has been mentioned in the
application. That is also found to be a reason for dismissing the application.
4. Learned counsel for the respondents strongly opposed the matter contending that there is no reasonable ground established for restoring the suit.
5. Having heard the learned counsel on both sides and considering the fundamental principle that a meritorious matter shall not be rejected at the threshold, we are inclined to allow the appeal.
6. It is also to be stated that no application of such a nature shall
be dismissed merely for the reason that a wrong provision of law is quoted F.A.O No.72 of 2019 10 by the aggrieved party. In the result, the appeal is allowed. The order passed by the Subordinate Judge, Ottapalam on I.A No.1732 of 2017 in O.S No.7 of 2012 is hereby set aside. The parties shall co-operate to expedite the trial of the matter and the learned Sub Judge shall make all efforts to dispose of the case within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this
judgment.
All pending interlocutory applications will stand closed. A. HARIPRASAD, JUDGE. T.V.ANILKUMAR JUDGE amk