Cr / 215U / 2026Mukesh S/O Babu Lal vs Ghanshyam on 22 May, 2026

    0
    37
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Rajasthan High Court – Jaipur

    Urn: Cr / 215U / 2026Mukesh S/O Babu Lal vs Ghanshyam on 22 May, 2026

    [2026:RJ-JP:18037]
    
            HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
                        BENCH AT JAIPUR
    
                    S.B. Civil Revision Petition No. 119/2026
    
    1.       Mukesh S/o Babu Lal, Resident Of Morda, Tehsil Weir,
             District Bharatpur (Raj.).
    2.       Kamlesh D/o Babulal, W/o Vinod, R/o Mehmadpura, Tehsil
             Rajakheda, District Dholpur.
    3.       Devesh D/o Babulal, W/o Ram, R/o Parwana Road,
             Khureji Laxminagar, Delhi
    4.       Seema       D/o   Babulal,       W/o      Sunil,      Resident   Of   Near
             Parshuram Chatrawas, Vanki Road, Hindauncity, District
             Karauli (Raj.).
    5.       Rudra Sharma S/o Mukesh Chand Sharma, Resident Of
             Morda, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur (Raj.).
                                 ----Petitioners/Defendants Nos. 1,5,6,7,10
                                          Versus
    1.       Ghanshyam Aged About 65 years S/o Shri Latoor, R/o
             Morda, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur (Raj.)
    2.       Prem Chand, Aged About 60 Years S/o Shri Latoor,
             Resident Of Morda, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur (Raj.).
    3.       Horilal, Aged About 44 Years S/o Shri Latoor, Resident Of
             Morda, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur (Raj.).
    4.       Kusma, Aged About 55 Years D/o Latoor, Wife Of
             Shivdayal, Resident Of Village Jatmasi, Tehsil Roopwas,
             District Bharatpur (Raj.).
    5.       Darupti Aged About 57 Years D/o Shri Latoor, W/o
             Prabhudayal, Resident Of Village Jatmasi, Tehsil Roopwas,
             District Bharatpur (Raj.).
    6.       Pooja Aged About 52 Years D/o Lathoor, W/o Ashok
             Tiwari, Resident Of Mohammadi, Tehsil Tundla, District
             Firozabad (U.p.).
                                                          ----Respondents/Plaintiffs

    7. Pammi Devi W/o Hemendra, S/o Babulal

    8. Payal D/o Hemendra, S/o Babulal.

    SPONSORED

    9. Kaushal Aged About 14 Years, S/o Hemendra S/o
    Babulal,Minor Through Natural Guardian Mother Pammi
    Devi. All Resident Of Morda Tehsil Weir, At Present
    Resident Of Arjun Nagar Sonkh Road Behind Dainiki

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (2 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    Bhaskar Office, Bharatpur (Raj.).

    10. Mithlesh D/o Babulal, W/o Mahendra, Resident Of C/o
    Rajendra Prasad, Ram Nagar, Sitanagar, Rambagh, Agra,
    District Agra (U.p.)

    11. Krishankant Sharma S/o Mukesh Chand Sharma, Resident
    Of Morda, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur (Raj.).

    12. Sub-Divisional Officer, Weir, Tehsil Weir, District Bharatpur
    (Raj.).

    —-Respondents

    For Petitioner(s) : Mr. R.K. Daga, Adv.

    For Respondent(s) : Mr. J.P. Goyal, Sr. Adv. assisted by Ms.
    Jyoti Swami, Adv.

    Ms. Ronak Bansal, Adv.

    Mr. Naman Sharma, Adv.

    
    
    
                HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHUTOSH KUMAR
    
    
                                     Judgment
    
    Date of Arguments Concluded                             :        15/04/2026
    
    Date of Judgment Reserved                               :        15/04/2026
    
    Full/Operative Part Uploaded                           :         Full
    
    Date of Judgment Pronounced                             :        22/05/2026
    
    

    1. By way of filing this instant petition under Section 115 of the

    Civil Procedure Code (for short as ‘CPC‘), the petitioners have

    assailed the order dated 25.02.2026 passed by the learned

    Additional District Judge, Weir, District Bharatpur (hereinafter to

    be referred as learned ‘trial Court’), in Civil Suit No. 1/2025 titled

    as “Ghanshyam Vs. Mukesh and Ors.“, whereby the application

    preferred by the present petitioners/defendant Nos.1,5,6,7 and 10

    under Order VII Rule 11 CPC came to be rejected.

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (3 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    2. Briefly stated, the respondents-plaintiffs instituted a civil suit

    on 27.11.2024 seeking declaration and permanent injunction to

    the effect that the compromise dated 17.07.1982 and the

    judgment and decree dated 10.09.1982 passed by Additional

    Collector, Bayana (hereinafter referred to as ‘Revenue Court’) in

    Revenue Suit No. 95/1982, be declared null and void and further

    declaration, that the gift deed dated 31.10.2022 be declared void.

    3. The case set up in the plaint is that one Babulal had earlier

    instituted a revenue suit for declaration of khatedari rights and

    perpetual injunction against his brother Latoor (Father of the

    plaintiff-respondent) before the competent Revenue Court, which

    was decided on the basis of a compromise dated 17.07.1982,

    culminating into a compromise decree dated 10.09.1982.

    Consequently, mutation entries were effected in the revenue

    records in terms of compromise decree. Later on, Babulal

    executed a gift deed on 31.10.2022 in favour of Defendant Nos.9

    and 10. It is an admitted position that during his lifetime, Latoor

    never challenged the compromise or the compromise decree

    passed by the learned Revenue Court. After a lapse of more than

    four decades, the present suit has been instituted by his legal

    representatives challenging the said compromise decree on the

    ground that the compromise was obtained by playing fraud on

    Latoor and necessary parties were not impleaded in the suit. The

    present petitioners moved an application under Order VII Rule 11

    CPC contending, inter alia, that the suit is barred by law

    particularly, in view of Order XXIII Rule 3A CPC, and is also barred

    by limitation. The respondents-plaintiffs opposed the said

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (4 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    application, contending that the objections raised involve mixed

    questions of fact and law, which require adjudication after

    evidence. The learned trial Court, vide order dated 25.02.2026,

    dismissed the application under Order VII Rule 11 CPC holding

    that the issues raised cannot be decided at the threshold and

    require trial. Aggrieved thereby, the present civil revision petition

    has been filed.

    4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the

    impugned order suffers from jurisdictional error inasmuch as the

    learned trial Court failed to exercise jurisdiction vested in it under

    Order VII Rule 11 CPC. Learned counsel also submits that the

    respondent-plaintiffs have challenged the compromise

    decree/judgment dated 10.09.1982 by way of an independent civil

    suit, which is expressly prohibited under Order XXIII Rule 3A CPC.

    It is further submitted that the learned trial Court failed to

    appreciate that the bar under Order XXIII Rule 3A CPC is absolute

    and operates at the threshold, and therefore, the plaint was liable

    to be rejected under Order VII Rule 11(d) CPC without embarking

    upon a trial.

    5. Learned counsel for petitioners further contends that the

    original decree having been passed in the year 1982, and the suit

    having been instituted in the year 2024, the same is barred by

    limitation under Articles 58 and 59 of the Limitation Act. The plaint

    does not disclose any cause of action as to how the suit is within

    limitation, therefore, the suit is liable to be rejected on this ground

    also.

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (5 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    6. Learned counsel for petitioners further argues that the

    predecessor of the plaintiffs/respondents, namely Latoor, never

    challenged the compromise decree during his lifetime, and thus,

    the legal representatives are bound by the said decree. The

    plaintiffs, lack locus standi to challenge a decree which had

    attained finality decades ago. Learned counsel further argues that

    a decree passed by a competent court, particularly on the basis of

    compromise, cannot be challenged by way of a separate suit, and

    any such challenge must be raised before the same court which

    passed the Judgment and compromise decree.

    7. Learned counsel for the petitioners prays that the order

    passed by the learned trial Court be quashed and set aside, while

    allowing the application filed by the petitioner for rejecting the

    plaint.

    8. Learned counsel for the petitioners has placed reliance on

    the following judgments:-

    • Navratan Lal Sharma v. Radha Mohan Sharma reported
    in 2024 SCC Online SC 3720
    • Sree Surya Developers and Promoters Vs. N. Sailesh
    Prasad and Ors.
    with Raja Pushpa Properties Pvt. Ltd.
    Vs. N.Sailesh Prasad and Ors.
    reported in (2022) 5 SCC
    736
    • Shri Ram & Anr. v. 1st Addl. Distt.
    Judge & Ors.
    reported in 2001 3 SCC 24
    • Pushpa devi Bhagat v. Rajinder Singh & Ors. reported
    in (2006) 5 SCC 566
    • T. Arivandandam v. T.V. Satyapal & Anr. reported in
    (1977) 4 SCC 467
    • Manjunath Tirakappa Malagi & Anr. v. Gurusiddappa
    Tirakappa Malagi (Dead Through LRs
    ) reported in 2025
    SCC online SC 835.

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (6 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    • Jitendra Singh Deora v. Paras Kumar & Ors. reported in
    2025 Supreme(Raj) 1881
    • Anju (Smt.) & Ors. v. Vikram Kaur reported in 2013
    Supreme (All) 1160
    • Dunia Lal Dutta v. Nagendra Nath Datta & Anr. reported
    in AIR 1982 CALCUTTA 163.

    9. On the contrary, learned counsel appearing for the

    respondents, vehemently argued that a suit to examine the

    validity and correctness of the compromise or the question

    regarding legality of the same cannot be adjudicated by Revenue

    Court, therefore, only a Civil Court would be able to adjudicate the

    issue. Hence, the learned trial Court has rightly rejected the

    application moved by the petitioners before it.

    10. Learned counsel for the respondents has placed reliance on

    the following judgments:-

    • Horil Vs. Keshav and Ors. reported in (2012) 5 SCC 525
    • Sree Surya Developers (supra)
    • S.P. Chengalvaraya Naidu (dead) by L.Rs. v. Jagannath
    (dead) by L.Rs. & Ors. reported in 1994 1 SCC 1
    • Jitendra Singh Deora (supra)
    • Siri Bhagwan v. VBM Estates Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. reported in
    2015 Supreme(Del) 4151
    • Harbir & Ors. v. Bhabhuti reported in 2012
    Supreme(P&H) 1486.

    11. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

    material on record.

    12. Before proceeding with the discussion, it is pertinent to first

    examine Order XXIII Rule 3 and Rule 3A of the CPC. For ease of

    reference, the provisions are reproduced herein below:

    “ORDER XXIII
    Withdrawal and Adjustment of Suits
    [1. Withdrawal of suit or abandonment of
    part of claim.–(1) At any time after the

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (7 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    institution of a suit, the plaintiff may as against all
    or any of the defendants abandon his suit or
    abandon a part of his claim:

    Provided that where the plaintiff is a minor or
    other person to whom the provisions contained in
    rules 1 to 14 of Order XXXII extend, neither the
    suit nor any part of the claim shall be abandoned
    without the leave of the Court.

    (2) An application for leave under the proviso
    to sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by an
    affidavit of the next friend and also, if the minor or
    such other person is represented by a pleader, by
    a certificate of the pleader to the effect that the
    abandonment proposed is, in his opinion, for the
    benefit of the minor or such other person.

    (3) Where the Court is satisfied,–

    (a) that a suit must fail by reason of some
    formal defect, or

    (b) that there are sufficient grounds for
    allowing the plaintiff to institute a fresh suit
    for the subject matter of suit or part of a
    claim,
    It may, on such terms as it thinks fit grant the
    plaintiff permission to withdraw from such suit or
    such part of the claim with liberty to institute a
    fresh suit in respect of the subject-matter of such
    suit or such part of the claim.

    (4) Where the plaintiff–

    (a) abandons any suit or part of claim under
    sub-rule (1), or

    (b) withdraws from a suit or part of a claim
    without the permission referred to in sub-

    rule (3),
    he shall be liable for such costs as the Court may
    award and shall be precluded from instituting any
    fresh suit in respect of such subject-matter or such
    part of the claim.

    (5) Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to
    authorise the Court to permit one of several
    plaintiffs to abandon a suit or part of a claim under
    sub-rule (1), or to withdraw, under sub-rule (3),
    any suit or part of a claim, without the consent of
    the other plaintiff.]
    [1A.When transposition of defendants as
    plaintiffs may be permitted.–Where a suit is
    withdrawn or abandoned by a plaintiff under rule
    1, and a defendant applies to be transposed as a
    plaintiff under rule 10 of Order I the Court shall, in

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (8 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    considering such application, have due regard to
    the question whether the applicant has a
    substantial question to be decided as against any
    of the other defendants.]

    2. Limitation law not affected by first
    suit.–In any fresh suit instituted on permission
    granted under the last preceding rule, the plaintiff
    shall be bound by the law of limitation in the same
    manner as if the first suit had not been instituted.

    3. Compromise of suit.-Where it is proved
    to the satisfaction of the Court that a suit has been
    adjusted wholly or in part by any lawful agreement
    or compromise [in writing and signed by the
    parties]or where the defendant satisfied the
    plaintiff in respect to the whole or any part of the
    subject-matter of the suit, the Court shall order
    such agreement, compromise or satisfaction to be
    recorded, and shall pass a decree in accordance
    therewith [so far as it relates to the parties to the
    suit, whether or not the subject-matter of the
    agreement, compromise or satisfaction is the same
    as the subject-matter of the suit:]
    [Provided that where it is alleged by one party and
    denied by the other that an adjustment or
    satisfaction has been arrived at, the Court shall
    decide the question; but not adjournment shall be
    granted for the purpose of deciding the question,
    unless the Court, for reasons to be recorded,
    thinks fit to grant such adjournment.]
    [Explanation.- An agreement or compromise which
    is void or voidable under the Indian Contract Act,
    1872
    (9 of 1872), shall not he deemed to be lawful
    within the meaning of this rule.]”

    [3A. Bar to suit.-No suit shall lie to set aside
    a decree on the ground that the compromise on
    which the decree is based was not lawful.

    3B. No agreement or compromise to be
    entered in a representative suit without leave
    of Court.–(1) No agreement or compromise in a
    representative suit shall be entered into without
    the leave of the Court expressly recorded in the
    proceedings; and any such agreement or
    compromise entered into without the leave of the
    Court as recorded shall be void.

    (2) Below granting such leave, the Court shall
    give notice in such manner as it may think fit to
    such persons is as may appear to it to be
    interested in the suit.

    Explanation.–In this rule, “representative
    suit” means,–

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (9 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    (a) a suit under Section 91 or Section 92,

    (b) a suit under rule 8 of Order I,

    (c) a suit in which the manager of an
    undivided Hindu family sues or is sued as
    representing the other members of the family,

    (d) any other suit in which the decree passed
    may, by virtue of the provisions of this Code or of
    any other law for the time being in force, bind any
    person who is not named as party to the suit.]

    4. Proceedings in execution of decrees
    not affected.–Nothing in this Order shall apply to
    any proceedings in execution of a decree or order.”

    13. Reliance has been placed by learned counsel for the

    respondents upon the judgment passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court

    in the case of Horil (supra),wherein the case of the appellant was

    as hereinbelow –

    “3. According to the appellant, the defendants had
    instituted the suit before the Assistant Collector in
    which his father, namely, Chunkai was made as
    one of the opposite party. In that suit, a
    compromise petition was filed on 7-10-1971 with
    the fake signature of Chunkai and on that basis a
    compromise decree finally came to be passed on
    25-4-1979.

    4. It is the case of the appellant that no notice of
    the suit was ever served upon his father Chunkai.
    He never appeared in the proceeding and was not
    even aware of it. He did not sign any compromise
    petition and his alleged signature on the
    compromise petition dated 7-10-1971 was faked.
    He had died much earlier and was not even alive in
    1979 when the decree was passed. The appellant,
    accordingly, sought a declaration that the decree
    dated 25-4-1979 passed by the Assistant Collector,
    Class I, Karwi, may be cancelled or it may be
    declared as void ab initio, inoperative and not
    binding upon him.”

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (10 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    After analyzing the provision of Order XXIII of CPC, the

    Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Horil (supra), has held as

    under:-

    “15. We are of the view that the Revenue Courts
    are neither equipped nor competent to effectively
    adjudicate on allegations of fraud that have
    overtones of criminality and the courts really
    skilled and experienced to try such issues are the
    courts constituted under the Code of Civil
    Procedure
    .”

    Hence, on the facts of the case, the Hon’ble Apex Court

    came to the conclusion that the provisions of Order XXIII of CPC

    shall not act as a bar against the suit filed by the appellant.

    14. On the other hand, reliance has been placed by learned

    counsel for petitioner on the settled proposition in the judgment

    passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Sree Surya

    Developers (supra) as well as the judgment passed by the

    Coordinate bench of this Court at Principal seat at Jodhpur in case

    of Jitendra Singh Deora (supra), has held that a separate suit

    challenging a compromise decree is not maintainable and is barred

    by Order XXIII Rule 3A CPC particularly when read in conjunction

    with the aforesaid explanation to Rule 3. It was also observed that

    the Explanation underscores that the question of legality or

    validity of a compromise must be examined by the very Court

    before which such compromise is presented without a separate

    suit; consequently, the only recourse available to an aggrieved

    party is to invoke the proviso to Rule 3 of Order XXIII CPC and

    required to file an application seeking recall of the compromise

    decree before the same Court which passed the compromise

    decree, which alone is competent to examine the lawfulness of the

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)
    [2026:RJ-JP:18037] (11 of 11) [CR-119/2026]

    compromise and adjudicate the issue upon consideration of the

    material placed before it.

    15. The facts of Horil‘s (supra) case are clearly distinguishable

    with the facts of present case, because in Horil‘s (supra) case no

    notice was ever served on appellant’s father and he had died

    much earlier then the filing of the compromise on the basis of

    which compromise decree was passed, whereas, in the present

    matter, it is not the case of petitioner that alleged compromise

    was not signed by father of the plaintiff-respondent. The objection

    of the plaintiff-respondent with regard to not including the

    necessary parties also can be looked into by the Revenue Court

    which has passed the compromise decree/judgment on the basis

    of compromise.

    16. Hence, in light of decision in Sree Surya Developers

    (supra), wherein it was held that the Court passing the

    compromise decree retains the jurisdiction to scrutinise its

    lawfulness upon challenge, the present revision petition is liable to

    be allowed. Hence, the impugned order dated 25.02.2026 passed

    by the learned Additional District Judge, Weir, District Bharatpur, in

    Civil Suit No. 1/2025 is hereby quashed and set aside. The trial

    Court is directed to decide the application under Order VII Rule 11

    of CPC afresh in the light of the observations made in this order.

    17. The revision petition is allowed accordingly and stay petition

    as well as all pending applications, if any, stands disposed of.

    (ASHUTOSH KUMAR),J

    AARZOO ARORA /–

    (Uploaded on 22/05/2026 at 02:01:18 PM)
    (Downloaded on 23/05/2026 at 08:21:32 AM)

    Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)



    Source link

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here