Holding

A written statement filed beyond the period prescribed by Order VIII Rule 1 of the CPC is admissible only as an exception on record of satisfactory reasons; absent such reasons, the acceptance is invalid.

Summary

The appellant filed a suit for possession and the respondents filed their written statement 142 days after service of summons, far exceeding the 30‑day period prescribed by Order VIII Rule 1 of the CPC. The trial court accepted the belated statement on the condition that the appellant pay costs, and the High Court dismissed the appellant’s writ petition on the ground that the trial court’s discretion had been exercised. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether a court may accept a written statement after the statutory period without recording satisfactory reasons, as required by the proviso to Order VIII Rule 1. The Court held that the time schedule must be honoured and any extension is an exception that must be justified in writing; the trial and High Courts had failed to give any such justification. Consequently, the orders of both courts were set aside and the matter was remitted to the trial court for fresh consideration. The appeal was allowed.

Issues considered

Whether a written statement filed after the period prescribed by Order VIII Rule 1 of the CPC can be accepted without the court recording satisfactory reasons.
Whether the court’s discretion to extend the time for filing a written statement is limited by the requirement of a written justification under the proviso to Order VIII Rule 1.
Whether the appellate court may set aside the trial court’s order for accepting a belated written statement in the absence of recorded reasons.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Order VIII Rule 1

Subjects

Order VIII Rule 1written statementlimitation periodcivil procedureextension of timediscretionary powercostsappeal

Judgment

MIS ADITYA 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,
Court to accept same only by way of exception and for reasons recorded in c
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
order of Trial Court was challenged before the High Court in a writ petition
D
-... 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
~

nor the High Court indicated any reason justifying the extension of time. F
~

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 further time. The trial
Court granted time to the respondents to file written statement at tneir own
risk. Again, the matter-Was fixed for 14.7.2005. On that date also written B
statement was not filed. Again time was granted at the risk of the respondents.
The written statement in fact was filed on 12.8.2005. Appellant sought for time
_,, .
~

to file the objections regarding the acceptability of the written statement
which was filed after 142 days. By a cryptic order dated 9.9.2005 as noted
above written statements were permitted to be filed and taken on record c
subject to payment of costs of Rs.2,000/-. The order of the trial Court was
challenged before the High Court in a writ petition filed under Article 227 of
the Constitution of India, 1950 (in short the 'Constitution'). The High Court
summarily dismissed the writ petition on 'the ground that discretionary power
has been exercised.
D
~ 4. In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted
that after amendment to Order VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (in
"""
short the 'Code') w.e.f. 1.7.2002, the defendant is granted 30 days time to
present the written statement. The period is to be reckoned from the date of
service of summons. However, the proviso to the said provision permits
extension of time when the Court is satisfied about the existence of reasons
E
to be recorded in writing. It is submitted that neither the trial Court nor the
High Court indicated any reason justifying the extension of time.

5. Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand submitted
~
that the reason for excuse was shown for filing of the written statement. F
.. Though elaborate reasonings have not been indicated, the order being a
discretionary one, no interference is called for.

6. The parameters for extending the time gr;mted by Order VIII Rule 1
of the Code have been delineated by this Court in several cases. In Kai/ash
v. Nanhku and Ors., [2005] 4 SCC 480, it was noted as follows: G
"42. Ordinarily, the time schedule·prescribed by Order 8 Rule'l has to
be 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 H
474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 4 S.C.R.

A summons for his appearance in the Court. The extension of time
sought for by the defendant from the Court whether within 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 has expired. The extension can be only by way of an exception
and for reasons assigned by the defendant and also recorded in
B writing by the court to it$ satisfaction. It must be spelled out that a
departure from the time schedule prescribed by Order 8 Rule I of the
Code was being allowed to. be made because the circumstances were
exceptional, occasioned by reasons beyond the control of the
defendant and such extension was required in the interest of justice,
c and grave injustice would be occasioned if the time was not extended.

44. The extension of time shall be only by way of exception and for
reasons to be recorded in writing, howsoever brief they may be, by
the court. In no case, shall th~ defendant be permitted to seek extension
of time when the court is satisfied that it is a case of laxity or gross
D negligence on the part of the defendant or his counsel. The court may
impose costs for dual purpose: (i) to deter the defendant from seeking
any extension of time just for the asking, and (ii) to compensate the
plaintiff for the delay and inconvenience caused to him."

7. Since neither the trial Court nor the High Court have indicated any
E reason to justify the acceptance of the written statement after the expiry of
the time fixed, we set aside the orders of the trial Court and that of the High
Court. The matter is remitted to the trial Court to consider the matter afresh
in the light of what has been stated in Kai/ash's case (supra). The appeal is
allowed to the aforesaid extent with no order as to costs.

F B.B.B. Appeal allowed.