Holding

An ex‑parte decree cannot be upheld where the defendant’s absence is due to counsel’s failure to give notice, and the decree must be set aside with the suit proceeding on the merits.

Summary

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of an agreement to sell a Shimla property after the vendor failed to execute the sale deed. During the trial, the vendor's counsel was absent because they were engaged in a High Court matter, and no representation of their absence was made to the District Judge. After evidence was recorded and arguments heard, the court proceeded ex‑parte and passed a decree, rejecting the vendor's last‑minute application to recall the order. The Supreme Court held that the trial court erred in passing an ex‑parte decree where the defendant was not at fault and the counsel failed to show the minimum courtesy of informing the court of their pre‑occupation. Citing the principle that an ex‑parte decree in such circumstances is a harsh consequence, the Court set aside the decree and directed the trial court to continue the suit expeditiously. The appeal was allowed, and the decree was vacated.

Issues considered

Whether a trial court can pass an ex‑parte decree when the defendant's counsel is absent but could have informed the court of their pre‑occupation.
Whether an application under Order IX Rule 7 or Rule 13 of the CPC is maintainable after the hearing has been completed.
Whether the ex‑parte decree in a suit for specific performance is a permissible consequence under the law.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Order IX Rule 13, s. Order IX Rule 7, s. Section 151
Specific Relief Act, 1963

Subjects

specific performanceex‑parte decreeCivil Procedure CodeOrder IXcourtesy of counselsetting aside decreeproperty saleearnest money

Judgment

LAL DEVI AND ANR. A
v.
VANEETA JAIN AND ORS

MAY 14,2007

(B.P. SINGH AND HARJIT SINGH BED!, JJ.] B

Specific Relief Act, 1963/Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; 0. IX R 13
read withs. 151and0. IX R 7:

Suit for specific performance-Agreement to sell immovable property-- C
Payment of earnest money-Vendor allegedly did not execute sale deed--
Suit-Trial Court passing an ex-parte decree against defendant though
application for recalling the order was filed by the counsel of defendant
before pronouncement ofthe Order, but it was dismissed as not maintainable--
Affirmed by High Court-On appeal, held, no doubt the counsel for the D
· defendants did not show even the minimum courtesy expected of them by not
informing to the Trial Court that they were busy in the High Court-However,
counsel for the defendant submitted an application for recalling the order
•
and that the matter may not be proceeding ex-parte, but the same was
rejected as not maintainable-Jn view of settled law on the subject, Trial E
Court could not have entertained an application under 0. IX R 7 but passing
of an ex-parte decree in a case of this nature is too harsh a consequence to
be upheld-Defendant could not be made to suffer an ex-parte decree
particularly when he was not at fault having instructed the counsel to
appear before the Court-Hence, Trial Court is directed to proceed with the
suit in accordance with law. F
-y Plaintiff and defendant, since deceased, were good friends. Defendant
owned a property in Shimla, which he agreed to sell to the defendant on March
26, 1982 for a consideration amount of Rs.4,20,000/-. A sum of Rs.40000/-
was stated to be paid by the plaintiff to the defendant as earnest money. However,
the defendant did not execute the sale deed. Therefore, a suit for specific G
performance of the agreement of sale was filed by the plaintiff before the High
Court.

_. )-- Before the trial Court, evidence had been recorded and ex-parte

561 H
562 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A arguments had been heard and even judgment had been dictated, and then an "" "'
application was moved by the Counsel for the defendant for re-calling of the
order for pronouncement of judgment. Since the application was moved after
the hearing stood completed and the case was adjourned to post lunch session
for pronouncement of judgment, the same was held to be not maintainable by
the trial Court in view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in "Arjun
B Singh v. Mohindra Kumar and Ors.," A.l.R. (1964) C.993. Moreover, no
sufficient ground had been shown in the application for the absence of the
defendant and/or his counsel when the case was called. The suit was decreed. 4
Aggrieved, the defendant filed an appeal, which was dismissed by the High 'r
Court. Hence the present appeal.
c Appellant-vendor contended that having regard to the facts and
circumstances of the case the District Judge/trial Court was not justified in
proceeding with the matter ex-parte, particularly when counsel for the
defendant appeared before him soon thereafter and made a request to re-call
the order. The request was made before the judgment was pronounced.
D However, the trial Court proceeded to pass an ex-parte decree on the same
day.
?'
Respondent submitted that in the absence of the defendant and his f'
counsel, and in the absence of any request on their behalf, the trial Court had
no option but to proceed ex-parte; and that the setting aside of an ex-parte
E decree may give to them an undue advantage and they may raise all sorts of
pleas to defeat the just claim of the respondents.

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1.1. It is no doubt true that when the suit was called out before
F the Court of the District Judge/trial Court, counsel for the parties ought to
have been present in Court. If on account of any unforeseen or unavoidable ..,.
reason it was not possible for the defendant or his counsel to be present in
Court, courtesy demanded that a representation ought to have been made before
the Court by any other counsel so that the Court was informed that the counsel
engaged were busy in the High Court. If such a request was made, no doubt,
G the trial Court would have accommodated counsel for the defendant. It is not
unusual for the lower Courts to accommodate counsel on whose behalf a
representation is made about their absence on account of remaining pre-
occupied before the High Court. No doubt, the counsel for the defendant were -..J .
remiss in not showing even the minimum courtesy expected of them. .,.__
H [Para 13) [567-F, G, H; 568-A)
LALDEV!v. VANEETAJAIN 563
• y
1.2. Having regard to the totality of circumstances, this court is of the A
view that in the interest of justice this appeal must be allowed. The trial Court
recorded evidence, heard arguments and posted the matter later in the day
for delivery of judgment If the Court had adjourned the proceedings to another
day after deciding to proceed ex-parte, the defendant could have applied for
being permitted to participate in the proceedings. In this case since everything B
happened on the same day the defendant did not get an opportunity to do so.
!Para 1511568-C, DJ
• -~
2.1. It is true that in view of the law laid down by this Court in Arjun
Singh v. Mahindra Kumar and Ors, the trial Court could not have entertained
an application under Order IX Rule 7 C.P.C. This Court has also no hesitation c
in observing that counsel of the defendant were not careful enough to inform
the Court about their pre-occupation before the High Court which prevented
them from being present in his Court when the case was called for hearing.
But the passing of an ex-parte decree in a case of this nature is too harsh a
consequence to be upheld. The defendant cannot be made to suffer an ex-parte D
decree particularly when he was not at fault, having duly instructed his counsel
~
to appear before the Court of the District Judge. The District Judge could
not entertain an application under Order IX Rule 7 C.P.C., and even the
application under Order IX Rule 13 was dismissed as not pressed. But nothing
prevented the High Court from setting aside the ex-parte decree in the appeal E
preferred against it. [Paras 15 and 16) (568-E, F, G; 569-A)

2.2. The Trial Court is directed to proceed with the suit in accordance
with law. [Para 19) (569-A)

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2494 of 2007. F
From the Final Judgment and Order dated 29.08.2005/22.09.2005 of the
High Court ofHimachal Pradesh at Shimla in RFA No.133of1998.

M.N. Rao, Rajni Hari Lal, Seema Jain and Himinder Lal for the Appellants.
G
K.K. Venugopal and Rajiv Dutta, E.C. Agrawala, Anand Sharma, Mahesh
Agarwal, Rishi Agrawala, Gaurav Goel, Varun Mathur, Neha Aggarwal, Amit
Kumar Sharma, Joy Abraham and C.K. Sasi for the Respondents.
~-

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
H
564 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A B.P. SINGH, J. I. Special Leave granted.

2. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order of the High
Court ofHimachal Pradesh dated August 29, 2005 and September 22, 2005 in
R.F.A. No.133 of 1998. By the impugned judgment and order the High Court
dismissed the appeal preferred by the defendants and affirmed the ex-parte
B decree for specific performance passed by the Trial Court by its impugned
judgment and decree of January 7, 1998.

3. In view of the order that we propose to pass it is not necessary for
us to consider in detail the facts of the case and the issues that arise in the
C suit, because we have reached the conclusion that the Trial Court was not
justified in passing an ex-parte decree in the facts and circumstances of the
case. We shall, therefore, notice the facts of the case only in so far as they
are relevant for disposal of this appeal.

4. It is not in dispute that late P.S. Multani (Defendant) and late Jawahar
D Lal Jain (Plaintiff) were good friends. Late P.S. Multani owned a property
known as Brombley Estate in Shimla which comprised of about 20 bighas of
land with house and orchard (h1:reinafter referred to as "the property").

5. The case of the plaintiff late Jawahar Lal Jain was that an agreement
to sell the property to him was executed by late P.S. Multani on March 26,
E 1982 for a sum of Rs.4,20,000/... A sum of Rs.40000/- was paid as earnest
money. Despite his best efforts la1te P.S. Multani did not execute the sale deed.
A suit for specific performance of agreement was filed before the High Court
at Shimla on March 26, 1985. Ten witnesses were examined on behalfof the
plaintiff. PW-8, S.C. Dave was under cross-examination which remained
p inconclusive and was deferred to August 27, 1993. The matter was
subsequently adjourned for production of documents and record etc .. The
matter was listed before the Court on several dates and ultimately the matter
came up before the Court on May 17, 1995. On that date no one appeared on
behalf of the parties. It appears that some time in 1995 in view of the
enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Court of the District Judge,
ClJ the matter was transferred and assigned to the Court of District Judge, Shim la
for disposal. The record of the case also shows that thereafter the matter was
fixed before the Trial Court on several dates and ultimately came up before
the Court on January 7, 1998. On that day while the plaintiffs witnesses were
present as also his counsel, no one appeared on behalf of the defendant. PW-
H 8 a witness who had been partly cross-examined was present but there was
LALDEVIv. VANEETAJAIN [B.P. SINGH,J.) 565

,A ~
no one to further cross-examine him. Witness Rajinder Singh Sethi was A
examined as PW-! 0. The order of the Trial Court passed on that day is quoted
below in extenso:-

"7.1.1998: Present: Plaintiffs counsel Shri Deepak Gupta.

Witness PW-8 S.C. Dave and witness Shri Rajinder Singh Sethi. B
None for the defendant. Hence proceeded ex-parte.

.. ~ There is no one to further cross-examine PW-8 Shri S.C. Dave .
Statement of Shri Rajinder Singh Sethi PW-! 0, has been recorded.
Arguments heard. Put up for pronouncement of judgment in the after
noon.
c
Sci/- District Judge, Shimla.

7. l .1998: (Case called again for the pronouncement of the judgment)

After the evidence had been recorded and the ex-parte arguments D
had been heard and even judgment had been dictated to the P.A., an
application was moved by the defendant's counsel Shri R.L. Sood
"'II
making prayer for the re-call of the order for pronouncement of
judgment. Since the application has been moved after the hearing
stood completed and the case was adjourned to post lunch session
for pronouncement of judgment, the same is not maintainable in view E
of law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "Arjun Singh v.
Mahindra Kumar and Ors.," A.LR. (1964) S.C.993. Moreover, no
ground, leave alone a sufficient ground, has been shown in the
application for the absence of the defendant and/or his counsel when
the case was called. F
Per separate judgment placed on the file, the suit is decreed.
Formal decree sheet be drawn accordingly. Record be completed and
consigned to the record room".

6. From the order aforesaid it would appear that the learned District
G
Judge decided to proceed ex-parte since neither the defendant nor his counsel
was present to cross-examine the witnesses examined by the plaintiff. After
closing the cross-examination of PW-8 and recording the statement of PW-
.> )--
I 0, the Court proceeded to hear arguments advanced by Counsel for the
plaintiff. After the arguments were heard the Court directed that the matter
be put up for pronouncement of judgment in the after noon. It also appears H
566 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A from the order aforesaid that the learned District Judge had dictated the
'-l
judgment to his personal assistant but before he could pronounce the judgment "
counsel for the defendant made a prayer for recall of the order for
pronouncement of judgment. An application under Section 151 of the Code
of Civil Procedure was filed for setting aside the order to proceed ex-parte.
This application was also disposed of by the same order holding the same
B to be not maintainable. The Court further observed that no sufficient ground
had been shown for the absence of the defendant and/or his counsel when
the case was called. The learned District Judge proceeded to deliver his
judgment decreeing the suit for specific performance.
•
~

c IX Rule7. It13isC.P.C.
not disputed that on January 9, 1998 an application under Order
read with Section 151 was filed for setting aside the ex-parte
decree dated January 7, 1998. However, the said application was not pressed
'by the defendant in view of the fac:t that an appeal had been filed in the High
Court against the ex-parte decree dated January 7, 1998.

D 8. During the pendency of the appeal before the High Court both the
plaintiff Jawahar Lal Jain and th,e defendant P.S. Multani died. The legal
representatives of the plaintiff and defendant were brought on record to
pursue the appeal. The legal representatives of the deceased/defendant are .,
'the appellants before this Court while the legal representatives of the plaintiff
are the respondents herein.
E
9. From the application filed for setting aside the ex-parte decree it
appears that on that day i.e. on January 7, 1998 both the advocates engaged
by the defendant were busy in the High Court and on account of some
misunderstanding that the other would be attending the Court of the District
Judge, neither of them was prese:nt when the matter was taken up by the
F learned District Judge at about 11.30 a.m .. On account of their absence the
learned District Judge decided to proceed ex-parte. When the advocate for
y
the defendant was informed that the matter had been called out for hearing
by the learned District Judge he rushed from the High Court to appear before
the District Judge but by the time he reached the Court of the District Judge
G at about 12.05 p.m. he learnt that the Court had recorded the evidence and
also heard arguments in the matteir and that the matter was to be put up later
in the day for pronouncement of the judgment. In these circumstances, an
application under Section 151 C.P.C was filed praying that the order may be
recalled and the witnesses be re-exam in ed. -.,( ....
H 10. It was, therefore, submitted before us on behalf of the appellants
LALDEVlv. VANEETAJAIN(B.P.SINGH.J.] 567

.,.._ y that having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case the learned A
District Judge was not justified in proceeding with the matter ex-parte,
particularly when counsel for the defendant appeared before him soon
thereafter and made a request to re-call the order. This request was made
before the judgment was pronounced. However, the learned District Judge
proceeded to pass an ex-parte decree on the same day.
B
11. From the reply filed by the plaintiff/respondents to the application
filed by the appellants for setting aside the ex-parte decree it appears to be
~ the case of the respondents that the case was called out at I 0.30 a.m. in the
~ Court of the learned District Judge and since no one was present on behalf
of the defendant it was again called out at about 11.30 a.m .. Since neither the c
defendant nor his counsel was present when the matter was again called out
the Court decided to proceed ex-parte, and accordingly, after hearing
arguments reserved judgment to be delivered later in the day. The plaintiff
' submitted that the counsel engaged by the plaintiff could have sent one of
his juniors to the Court of the learned District Judge to make a request for
accommodating them on account of their pre-occupation with matters before D
the High Court. The minimum courtesy which the defendant was expected to
show to the Court was also not shown. It was, therefore, submitted that in
~
the absence of the defendant and his counsel, and in the absence of any
request on their behalf, the Court had no option but to proceed ex-parte.
E
12. Learned counsel for the parties have addressed us at length and
cited several authorities in support of their respective submissions. We are
satisfied that having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case this
appeal ought to be allowed and the ex-parte decree set aside.

13. It is no doubt true that when the suit was called out before the Court F
of the learned District Judge counsel for the parties ought to have been
--.,- present in Court. If on account of any unforeseen or um.voidable reason it
was not possible for the defendant or his counsel to be present in Court,
courtesy demanded that a representation ought to have been made before the
Court by any other counsel so that the Court was infonned that the counsel
engaged were busy in the High Court. If such a request was made, we have
G
.... no doubt that the learned District Judge would have accommodated counsel
for the defendant. It is not unusual for the lower Courts to accommodate
counsel on whose behalf a representation is made about their absence on
,..>
.>--· account of remaining pre-occupied before the High Court. We have no doubt
that the counsel for the defendant were remiss in not showing even the H
568 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A minimum courtesy expected of them. It was argued on behalf of the appellants
before us that the two advocates engaged by the defendant miscalculated
!llld under the impression that the other would be attending the Court neither
pf them made an effort to send someone to the Court of the District Judge
to make a representation on their behalf.

B 14. However, it is equally tru'e that soon after the Court heard arguments
and reserved judgment to be delivered later in the day, counsel for the
defendant appeared before him and filed an application and prayed that the
order may be recalled and the matter may not be proceeded with ex-parte. The
District Judge however refused to grant the prayer and held the application
C to be not maintainable. He thernafter proceeded to pass a judgment and
decreed the suit for specific performance on the same day.

15. Having regard to the totality of circumstances we are of the view
that in the interest of justice this appeal must be allowed. The learned District
Judge recorded evidence, heard arguments and posted the matter later in the
D day for delivery of judgment. If 1he Court had adjourned the proceedings to
another day after deciding to proceed ex-parte, the defendant could have
applied for being permitted to participate in the proceedings. In this case
since everything happened on the same day the defendant did not get an
opportunity to do so. The learned District Judge decided to proceed ex-parte.
E It thereafter examined the witnesses present in Court and proceeded to hear
arguments. It reserved its judgment to be pronounced later in the day. Even
before he could pronounce judgment counsel for the defendant had moved
an application before him for recall of the order. It is true that in view of the
law laid down by this Court in Arjun Singh (supra) the learned District Judge
could not have entertained an application under Order IX Rule 7 C.P.C. We
F have also no hesitation in observing that counsel of the defendant were not
careful enough to inform the learned District Judge about their pre-occupation
before the High Court which pre:vented them from being present in his Court
when the case was called for hearing. But the passing of an ex-parte decree
in a case of this nature is too harsh a consequence to be upheld. The
G defendant cannot be made to suffer an ex-parte decree particularly when he
was not at fault, having duly instructed his counsel to appear before the
Cou1t of the learned District Judge.
..
16. We are not delving into the technicalities of the legal questions
argued before us because we are of the view that in the facts of this case
l'I the interest of justice demands that the ex-parte decree be set aside. We
LAL DEVI v. VANEETA JAIN [B.P. SINGH, J.] 569
J< y appreciate that the learned District Judge could not entertain an application A
under Order IX Rule 7 C.P.C., and even the application under Order IX Rule
13 was dismissed as not pressed. But nothing prevented the High Court from
setting aside the ex-parte decree in the appeal preferred against it.

17. Shri K.K. Venugopal, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of
the respondents submitted before us that if the ex-parte decree is set aside, B
the appellant~ may take undue advantage of the death of the defendant. They
may now seek amendment of the written statement and set up fresh pleas .
• -"'! ; Counsel referred to the decree suffered by the wife of the defendant Smt. Lal
Devi, appellant No. l herein in Civil Suit No.259 of 1999 dated April 6, 2002
whereby a decree for permanent prohibitory injunction restraining the
defendant No.I from selling or conveying the property mentioned therein has
c
been passed. He, therefore submitted that the setting aside of the ex-parte
decree may give to the appellants an undue advantage and they may raise
all sorts of pleas to defeat the just claim of the respondents. They may find
ways and means of delaying the suit which has already been considerably
delayed. D
._., 18. We have no doubt that the Courts are not helpless. When parties
adopt unfair or delaying tactics Courts have abundant powers to deal with
such situations. We direct the Court of District Judge who shall try the suit
to proceed with utmost expedition so as to conclude the suit within a period
of six months from the date on which the parties appear before him. He shall E
not grant adjournment unless it becomes absolutely necessary. To the extent
possible he shall proceed with day-to-day hearing of the suit.

19. In the result this appeal is allowed and the impugned judgment and
order of the High Court as also the ex-parte decree passed by the Court of
F
the learned District Judge on January 7, 1998 are set aside. The Trial Court
~ is directed to proceed with the suit in accordance with law so as to dispose
it of within a period of six months from the day of which the parties appear
before it pursuant to this Court's order.

20. The parties are directed to appear before the Court of the learned G
District Judge for further directions on June 11, 2007.

S.KS. Appeal allowed.
..>
~

H