LexM/S ADITYA HOTELS (P) LTD. versus BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. AND ORS.
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MIS ADITY A HOTELS (P) LTD. A v. BOMBAY SWADESHI STORES LTD. AND ORS. MARCH 26, 2007 [DR.ARinTPASAYAT ANDLOKESHWARSINGHPANTA,JJ.] B ...i. ~ Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: 0.8, r.1-Written statement-Filing of, beyond limitation period-Held, c Court to accept same only by way of exception and for reasons recorded in writing. In a civil suit filed by Appellant, the defendant-Respondents filed written statement 142 days after the date of service of summons. The Trial Court accepted the written statement subject to payment of costs of Rs. 2,000/-. The D order of Trial Court was challenged before the High Court in a writ petition -... filed under Art.227 of the Constitution. High Court summarily dismissed the ~ writ petition on the ground that discretionary power had been exercised by the Trial Court. In appeal to this Court, it was contended that after amendment to Order E VIII, CPC with effect from 1st July, 2002, the defendant is granted 30 days time to present the written statement which period is to be reckoned from the date of service of summons and that though the proviso to the said provision permits extension of time when the Court is satisfied about the existence of ~ reasons to be recorded in writing, in the instant case neither the Trial Court F nor the High Court indicated any reason justifying the extension of time. ~ Allowing the appeal, the Court HELD: 1.1. The parameters for extending the time granted by Order VIII Rule 1, CPC have been delineated by this Court in several cases. Ordinarily, the time schedule prescribed by Order VIII Rule 1 has to be G honoured. The defendant should be vigilant No sooner the writ of summons is served on him he should take steps for drafting his defence and filing the -:<' written statement on the appointed date of hearing without waiting for the arrival of the date appointed in the summons for his appearance in the Court. 471 H 472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R. A The extension of time sought for by the defendant from the Court whether ""'1 wilhin 30 days or 90 days, as the case may be, should not be granted just as a matter of routine and merely for the asking, more so, when the period of 90 days bas expir~d. The extension can be only by way of an exception and for reasons assigned by the defendant and also recorded in writing by the Court B to its satisfaction. (Para 6) (473-G-H; 474-A-B) 1.2. Since neither the Trial Court nor the High Court have indicated any reason to justify the acceptance of the written statement after the expiry of the time fixed, the orders of the Trial Court and that of the High Court are set aside. The matter is remitted to the Trial Court for fresh consideration. C (Para 7) (474-D-E] Kai/ash v. Nanhku and Ors., (2005) 4 SCC 480, relied on. CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1572 of2007. D From the Final Judgment and Order dated 07.03 2006 of the High Court of Judicature of Bombay in Writ Petition No. 8574 of 2005. Seema Bangari, Anshul Singh and Dr. Kailash Chand for the Appellant. S.R. Mishra, Vimal Chandra S. Dave and Neelam Kalsi for the E Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by DR. ARIJITPASAYAT,~. I. Leave granted. 2. Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a learned Single F Judge of the Bombay High Court dismissing the Writ Petition filed by the appellant holding that the order passed by the tJ:ial Com~ was a discretionary one. The trial Court by its order dated 9 .92005 gran.ted permission to the respondents to file written statement subject to payment of costs of Rs.2000/-. The said order was passed in Civil Suit No.59/2005 by the sniall G Cause Judge, Pune. " · ._ ' ~· 3. Background facts in a· nutshelrare as foII6ws;. ·· . ~ -~ ' . ! ·.\ -.. ··~ ·Appellant filed Civil Suit No.59 of zoo~ in the Co?rt of ~mall Cause- Judge, Pune, inter-alia seeking vacant and ·peaceful possession of the suit H premises. The suit was filed on 24. 12.2004. The Small Cause Judge, Pune, ADITYAHOTELS(P)LTD. v.BOMBAYSWADESHI STORES LTD. [PASAYAT,J.] 473 r issued summons to the respondents in the suit which were served on 22.3.2005. A On 25.4.2005 counsel for the respondents filed vakalatnama and prayed for time to get information from his client and to file written statement, if any. On 20.6.2005 the matter was fixed for filing of the written statement. However, no written statement was filed. The Advocate requested for
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