1 , ,MANU/SC/0288/2024Sudhanshu Dhulia#P.B. Varale#20SC3000Judgment/OrderINSC#MANUSudhanshu Dhulia,SUPREME COURT OF INDIAAcquisition#Application#Attached#Claim#Condonation#Condonation of Delay#Condone Delay#Consideration#Construction#Due Diligence#Duly Served#Gross Negligence#Land#Liberal Construction#Negligence#Notice#Owner#Possession#Property#Public#Registered#Right#Sale#Sale deed#Service of Notice#Setting Aside#Sufficient Cause#The Property#Title2024-4-917165,287276,26902 -->

MANU/SC/0288/2024

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Civil Appeal No. 4785 of 2024 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 14974 of 2022)

Decided On: 08.04.2024

Appellants: K.B. Lal Vs. Respondent: Gyanendra Pratap and Ors.

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
Sudhanshu Dhulia and P.B. Varale

JUDGMENT

Sudhanshu Dhulia, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The Appellant before this Court has challenged the order dated 19.05.2022 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, by which the petition filed by the Appellant Under Article 227 of the Constitution of India was dismissed. The Appellant had invoked the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court Under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, against the order dated 28.03.2022 of the Additional District Judge, Barabanki, who had upheld the order dated 07.10.2021 of the Civil Judge (Jr. Division), Barabanki.

3. The dispute between the parties to this appeal relates to a piece of land situated in village Gharsaniya, Pargana Dewa, Tehsil-Nawabganj, District - Barabanki, which was sold by one Kalawati (Respondent No. 4 herein) to one Mansa Ram (Respondent No. 5 herein), vide sale deed dated 30.03.2006. Thereafter, the property was sold by Respondent No. 5 to the Appellant herein vide a registered sale deed dt. 13.04.2006.

4. On 22.04.2006, Civil Suit for permanent injunction and cancellation of the sale deed dated 30.03.2006, was filed by the Respondent Nos. 1, 2 & 3 herein before the Civil Judge (Jr. Division), Barabanki. The Appellant was impleaded as Defendant No. 3 in the suit. It was contended before the Trial Court by Respondent Nos. 1, 2 & 3 that Respondent No. 4 had no transferrable right or title over the property when the sale deed dated 30.03.2006 was executed in favour of Respondent No. 5 and thus, the property could not have been sold to Respondent No. 5. Respondent Nos. 1, 2 & 3 asserted their claim over the property before the Trial Court stating that they were the bhumidhar & joint owners of the suit property and were also in possession of the same because the predecessor-in-interest of the property was their uncle and he had executed a will deed dated 20.05.1997 in their favour.

5. After service of notice, vakalatnama of the Appellant's counsel was filed on 22.04.2006. During the course of the hearing, an order dated 06.09.2006 was passed by the trial court, by which the suit was to proceed ex-parte against the Appellant. In the order dated 06.09.2006, it was recorded by the Trial Court that a perusal of the record would indicate that the Appellant was duly served, but he did not file any written statements, and thus, it would be appropriate to proceed ex-parte against him. It is this order of the trial court, which was sought to be recalled by the Appellant by filing an application Under Order IX, Rule 7 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter "CPC"). However, this application was filed by the Appellant on 01.........