Khushkumar Soni vs Kapoorchand Soni (2026:Rj-Jd:15155) on 25 March, 2026

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    Rajasthan High Court – Jodhpur

    Khushkumar Soni vs Kapoorchand Soni (2026:Rj-Jd:15155) on 25 March, 2026

    [2026:RJ-JD:15155]
    
          HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
                           JODHPUR
                    S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 11425/2025
    
    1.       Khushkumar Soni S/o Murlidhar Soni, Aged About 44
             Years, R/o Village Aauwa, Sonaro Ka Bass, Tehsil Marwar
             Junction, District Pali Rajasthan.
    2.       Gaurav Soni S/o Murlidhar Soni, Aged About 38 Years, R/
             o Village Aauwa, Sonaro Ka Bass, Tehsil Marwar Junction,
             District Pali Rajasthan.
    3.       Lrs Of Bhanwarlal Soni S/o Narayanlal, Through -
    4.       Jitendra Kumar S/o Late Bhanwarlal, Aged About 46
             Years, Village Aauwa, At Present- Purusharthi Nagar, 1St
             Floor City Height Complex, Pali, District Pali Rajasthan.
    5.       Smt. Saroj D/o Late Bhanwarlal, W/o Prakash Soni, Aged
             About 54 Years, R/o Village Aauwa, At Present- 438
             Bhopal Chauk, Camp Pune Maharashtra.
    6.       Smt. Meena D/o Late Bhanwarlal, W/o Mahesh, Aged
             About 52 Years, R/o Village Aauwa, At Present- Hariniwas
             Building, Gwalior Tank, Mumbai Maharashtra.
    7.       Smt. Indubala D/o Late Bhanwarlal, W/o Pawan Kumar,
             Aged About 50 Years, Shanti Devi Market, Meena Marg,
             Merta City, Nagaur Rajasthan.
    8.       Gaytri Devi D/o Late Bhanwarlal, W/o Devraj Soni, Aged
             About 48 Years, R/o M/s Variety Jewellers, Pipri Nilakh,
             Pune Maharashtra.
    9.       Smt. Pushpa Devi D/o Late Bhanwarlal, Aged About 70
             Years, R/o Village Aauwa, At Present- Purusharthi Nagar,
             1St    Floor    City     Height       Complex,             Pali,    District   Pali
             Rajasthan.
                                                                                ----Petitioners
                                           Versus
    1.       Kapoorchand Soni S/o Mishrilal Soni, R/o Village Aauwa,
             Sonaro Ka Bass, Tehsil Marwar Junction, District Pali
             Rajasthan.
    2.       Lrs Of Smt. Laxmi Devi Soni, W/o Mishrilal Soni, Through
             -
    

    3. Smt. Shanti Devi W/o Pannalal D/o Mishrilal Soni, R/o Flat
    No. 208, Om City Vinayak, S R A Cooperative Society, T P
    S Nariman Road, Mumbai (Maharashtra).

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    SPONSORED

    4. Smt. Sushila W/o Dilip, D/o Mishrimal, R/o Village
    Musalia, Tehsil- Sojat, District Pali (Rajasthan).

    5. Smt. Bhagwati W/o Mohanlal D/o Mishrimal Soni, R/o
    Main Bazaar, Khivada, Tehsil Raji And District Pali
    (Rajasthan).

    6. Smt.ajodhya Devi W/o Kamal Soni, Bohron Ki Dhal, Pali,
    Tehsil And District Pali (Raj.).

    7. Smt. Ramiya W/o Ramesh D/o Mishrimal, R/o Village-

    Guda Aindla, Tehsil And District Pali (Rajasthan).

    8. Smt. Ratan Devi D/o Mishrimal, R/o Chalig, Shivam
    Apartment, 2Nd Floor, Akbar Nagar, Opposite Mahadev
    Temple, Nava Vadaj, Ahmedabad (Gujarat).

    9. Champalal S/o Mishrimal, R/o Aauwa, Khathiko Ka Bas,
    Tehsil Marwar Juntion, District Pali (Rajasthan).

    10. Lalit Kumar S/o Kapoorchand Soni, R/o Village Aauwa,
    Sonaro Ka Bass, Tehsil Marwar Junction, District Pali
    Rajasthan.

    11. Hemant Kumar S/o Kapoorchand Soni, R/o Village Aauwa,
    Sonaro Ka Bass, Tehsil Marwar Junction, District Pali
    Rajasthan.

                                                                       ----Respondents
    
    
    For Petitioner(s)          :     Mr. Narendra Singh A. Rajpurohit
    For Respondent(s)          :     Mr. J.K. Bhaiya
    
    
    
              HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUKESH RAJPUROHIT
    
                                          Order
    
    25/03/2026
    

    1. The petitioners-plaintiffs have filed the present writ petition

    under Article 227 of the Constitution of India challenging the order

    dated 05.04.2025 (Annx.7) passed by the Civil Judge, Marwar

    Junction, District Pali, whereby the petitioners’ application under

    Order VI Rule 17 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil

    Procedure, 1908 (for short ‘C.P.C.’ hereinafter) has been rejected.

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    2. The application sought permission to amend the plaint to

    include a prayer for reconstruction of ventilators (sunshades)

    allegedly demolished by the respondents, which the petitioners

    claim affects their easementary rights to light and air.

    3. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

    4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the

    petitioners are co-owners of an ancestral house at Village Auwa,

    Tehsil Marwar Junction, District Pali, constructed approximately 61

    years ago, with three ventilators (sunshades) adjoining the

    respondents’ house. Through these, the petitioners have enjoyed

    uninterrupted air and light, thereby acquiring an easementary

    right. It is alleged that during construction of the adjoining

    property, the respondents demolished the sunshades, interfering

    with this right.

    5. It is submitted that the petitioners instituted a suit for

    permanent and mandatory injunction on 16.05.2016 seeking

    protection of their easementary rights. The respondents filed a

    written statement denying the allegations. Issues were framed on

    24.05.2018, and the trial court granted a temporary injunction

    restraining the respondents from causing obstruction.

    Subsequently, the petitioners filed an application under Order VI

    Rule 17 read with Section 151 of C.P.C., which was dismissed by

    the trial court on 05.04.2025.

    6. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that

    amendments necessary to determine the real controversy must be

    allowed. It is submitted that the relief sought was already

    reflected in paragraph 8 of the plaint, and the application was

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    merely clarificatory. It is further contended that the proposed

    amendment does not alter the nature of the suit and seeks

    additional or alternative relief based on already pleaded facts, and

    thus, causes no prejudice to the respondents.

    7. In support of his contention, learned counsel for the

    petitioners has relied upon the following decisions :-

    i. Life Insurance Corporation of India vs.
    Sanjeev Builders Private Limited & Anr
    .

    reported in (2022) 0 AIR (SC) 4256
    ii. Dinesh Goyal @ Pappu vs. Suman Agarwal
    (Bindal) & Ors.
    (2024 INSC 726).

    iii. Pankaja and Ors. vs. Yellappa (D) by LR’s
    and Ors. reported in AIR 2004 SC 4102

    8. In contrast, Mr. J.K. Bhaiya, learned counsel appearing on

    behalf of the respondents, while supporting the order impugned

    has opposed the writ petition. It is submitted that the issues were

    framed on 24.05.2018 and the statement of P.W. 1 – Khush Kumar

    was recorded on 04.11.2024, whereas, application for amendment

    has been filed only on 25.11.2024. It is contended that the

    application for amendment was, thus, filed only after the

    commencement of the trial, which reflects an undue delay on the

    part of the petitioners. Further, it is emphasized that the issues

    relating to the claim for a mandatory injunction have already been

    duly framed and are presently under consideration by the court. It

    is argued that allowing the proposed amendment at this stage,

    would not only disrupt the orderly progress of the proceedings but

    would also effectively alter the very nature of the suit. Such an

    alteration, according to the respondents, would cause serious

    prejudice to them, as it would necessitate reopening issues

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    already settled and compel additional evidence, thereby impeding

    the fair and expeditious adjudication of the matter.

    9. Lastly, it is argued that provisions of Order II Rule 2 of C.P.C.

    cannot apply to an amendment which is sought on an existing

    suit.

    10. Reliance has been placed by learned counsel for the

    respondents on the following decisions :-

              i.    Noor Kabirdin Meghani & Ors. vs. Sanjeev
                    Manuel D'Souza reported in 2022(1) Civil
                    Court Cases 204 (Bombay)
    

    ii. Parvez Ahmad vs. District Judge Balrampur
    & Ors.
    reported in 2021(3) Civil Court Cases 198
    (Allahabad)

    11. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel

    for the parties, perused the material available on record and gone

    through the judgments cited at Bar.

    12. Upon consideration of the pleadings, evidence, and

    submissions, it is observed that paragraph 8 of the plaint already

    referred to obstruction of the petitioners’ easementary rights.

    However, the specific relief of reconstruction of the sunshades was

    not expressly claimed in the original plaint. The amendment, filed

    after the commencement of trial, seeks to introduce a distinct and

    specific relief, which goes beyond mere clarification. In such

    circumstances, the trial court rightly applied Order II Rule 2 of

    C.P.C., holding that a part of a claim omitted at the outset cannot

    be revived without sufficient justification. The belated filing of the

    amendment, after the trial had commenced, further underscores

    the absence of adequate justification for disturbing the procedural

    framework and the orderly conduct of the suit.

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    13. The aforesaid view is corroborated by the ratio decidendi in

    Noor Kabirdin Meghani & Ors. (supra), where the Bombay High

    Court observed as under :-

    “10. Proviso, to Order 6 Rule 17 mandates that no application for
    amendment shall be allowed after commencement of trial, unless
    Court comes to conclusion that in spite of due diligence, the parties
    would not have raised the matter before the commencement of the
    trial. Trial in the civil suit commences from the date of fling of
    affidavits in lieu of examination-in-chief of the witnesses and,
    therefore, proviso to Order 6 Rule 17 of the Code comes into play
    only after fling of such of the affidavit in lieu of examination-in-
    chief of the witnesses. In the back-drop of the facts of the case, it
    cannot be said that plaintiff was unaware of the fact that the suit
    premises were sub-let by the defendants. In fact, defendants in their
    Written Statement categorically stated that they were sub-letting suit
    premises to different parties with the consent and knowledge of the
    plaintiff’s constituted attorney. Written statement was fled on 29th
    November, 2004; whereas the application seeking leave to amend
    the plaint was fled in January, 2019. As such, the averments of the
    plaintiff in the application, to amend the plaint, that after his cross-
    examination when he enquired with the mother about leave and
    licence agreements with which he was confronted to, his mother
    informed him that she did not remember as and when she had
    signed aforesaid documents, was clearly after thought. Averments in
    paragraph 5 of the application seeking leave to amend the plaint
    are to be rejected on the face of it because in the Written Statement,
    defendants had disclosed that they had sub-let the premises to
    different parties under the leave and licence agreements with
    consent of constituted attorney of the plaintiff. Under these
    circumstances, the plaintiff’s assertion that he was unaware of the
    fact of sub-letting and he perceived it, during his cross-examination
    and, therefore, it constitutes subsequent events, is obviously
    incorrect and to be rejected on the face of it. No doubt, that where
    suit for ejectment of tenancy is fled on certain grounds, subsequent
    addition of fresh ground in the plaint does not change the nature of
    the suit and, therefore, amendment to add such new grounds is
    permissible. In the case of Smt. Abnash Kaur v. Dr. Avinash
    Nayyar
    , AIR 1975 Delhi 46, Full Bench of the Delhi High Court
    has held that if a new ground for recovery of possession under Rent
    Control Legislation arises after the fling of the petition then that can
    also be combined with previously existing grounds. Landlord can
    either fle new suit on these grounds or he may apply for amendment
    in existing eviction petitions and urged this ground also. It is said
    that in practice, it is undesirable for the landlord to pursue two
    different petitions for eviction on different grounds and that he
    should be allowed to amend his suit to cover new ground also. In

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    the case in hand, the plaintiff had fled suit also on the ground of
    sub-letting under Section 16(1)(e) of the Maharashtra Rent Control
    Act. What is now sought to be added is a ground under Section
    16(1)(m)
    . The averments in the application seeking amendment to
    the plaint is lacking the details of the rent allegedly charged by the
    defendant was in excess of standard rent and permitted increases for
    the premises sub-let by him. In fact, the ground for eviction
    contemplated under Clause (m) of Section 16(1) could be said to be
    available to the plaintiff when the suit was instituted and, therefore,
    it is neither subsequent event nor a new ground for recovery of
    possession that arose after fling of the suit.”

    14. So far as contention in that Order II Rule 2 of C.P.C. does not

    apply to amendments in an existing suit, is without merit. The

    proposed amendment, filed after trial commenced, seeks a new

    and specific relief of reconstruction of the sunshades which is

    omitted in the original plaint. No sufficient justification has been

    offered for the delay, and allowing it would disrupt the trial and

    prejudice the respondents. The trial court therefore correctly

    rejected the amendment under Order VI Rule 17 read with Section

    151 of C.P.C.

    15. The judgments in Life Insurance Corporation of India

    (supra), Dinesh Goyal (supra) and Pankaja (supra) relied upon

    by the petitioners, concern amendments allowed to clarify existing

    claims or correct clerical errors without introducing new relief. In

    contrast, the present amendment seeks to add a distinct relief

    that was not originally claimed.

    16. In these circumstances, the trial court’s order rejecting the

    amendment under Order VI Rule 17 read with Section 151 of

    C.P.C. cannot be said to be illegal, arbitrary or liable to

    interference.

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    17. The scope of interference under Article 227 of the

    Constitution of India against an interlocutory order, is limited.

    Unless the order suffers from patent illegality, perversity or

    jurisdictional error, interference is not warranted.

    18. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed.

    19. The petitioners are at liberty to pursue their suit within the

    framework of the pleadings already admitted, without prejudice to

    any further evidence regarding the easementary rights already

    claimed.

    20. Stay petition as well as all pending application(s), if any,

    shall also stand disposed of.

    (MUKESH RAJPUROHIT),J
    179-/Inder//-

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