High Court · 2025

C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDated : 17.04.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHAC.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024and CMP.No.267 of 20241.Kaliyammal2.Vennila3.Inbanila4.Ponnila5.Gandimathi6.Kalidoss ... Petitioners / Plaintiffs Vs.1.Thirumozhi2.Nandhini3.Vanithamani... Respondents / DefendantsPrayer: Civil Revision Petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, praying to set aside the order and decreetal order dated 05.08.2023 passed by the Sub Court, Uthangarai in I.A.No.5 of 2023 in O.S.No.304 of 2014.For Petitioners: Mr.N.SivaprakashFor Respondents: Mr.K.Bijai Sundar [R1 to R3]1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024ORDERChallenging the dismissal of their application seeking permission to withdraw the suit and to grant liberty to file a fresh suit on the same cause of action, the petitioner/plaintiffs are before this Court. 2. The revision petitioners/plaintiffs have filed a suit O.S.No.304 of 2014 on the file of Sub Court, Uthangarai, for the following reliefs:1/ jhth brhj;Jf;fs; thjpfSf;F ghj;jpag;gl;lbjd thjpfspd; chpikia tpsk;g[if bra;Jk;2/ jhth brhj;Jf;fspy; gpujpthjpfnsh mth;fsJ Ml;fnsh vt;tifapYk; mj;JkPwp EiHa Kw;gl;L thjpfspd; mikjpahd RthjPdj;jpw;F ahbjhU ,il";rYk; bra;a Tlhbjd xU epue;ju cWj;Jf;fl;lis gpwg;gpj;Jk;3/ jhth bryt[j; bjhifia thjpfSf;F gpujpthjpfsplkpUe;J fpilf;Fk;gof;Fk;4/ ,d;Dk; fzk; ePjpkd;wk; ,e;j tHf;Fr; NHiy fUj;jpw;bfhz;L thjpfSf;Fhpa ,ju ghpfhu';fis tH';fpa[k;. jPh;g;g[k; jPh;g;ghiza[k; gpwg;gpj;J ePjp tH';f ntz;Lkha[k; thjpfs; tzf;fKld; gpuhh;j;jpf;fpwhh;fs;/2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024The suit property consists of two schedule of properties 'A' & 'B', the details of which reads as below :brhj;Jf;fs; tptuk;"A" ml;ltiz brhj;J tptuk; fpUcp;zfphp gjpt[ khtl;lk; kw;Wk; khtl;lk;. nghr;rk;gs;sp rhh;gjpt[ khtl;lk; kw;Wk; tl;lk;. $p';fy;fjpuk;gl;o fpuhkk; rh;nt vz; 115/A g[";ir bcwf;lh; 0/78/5 (Vf;fh; 1/94) jPh;it U:/2/73 ,jpy; nkw;Fg[wKs;s Vf;fh; 0/71 ,jpy;rh;nt vz;/ 115/A -2 Md bghJg;ghijf;F fpHf;Frh;nt vz;/ 115/A -5-y; cs;s kPjp epyj;jpw;F nkw;Frh;nt vz;/121-B?y; cs;s epyj;jpw;F tlf;Frh;nt vz;/115-3?y; cs;s thjpfsJ tPl;ow;Fk;rh;nt vz;/ 115/A -4?y; cs;s Cuhl;rpkd;w fl;olj;jpw;Fk; bjw;F,jd; kj;jpapy; cs;s Vf;fh; 0/11 1-2 tp!;jPuzKs;s epyk; KGtJk; ,jpy; thjpfs; mikj;Js;s tptrha bghUl;fs; itf;Fk; bfhl;lifa[k;,jd; kjpg;g[ U:/2.00.000/00"B" ml;ltiz brhj;J tptuk; fpUcp;zfphp gjpt[ khtl;lk; kw;Wk; khtl;lk;. nghr;rk;gs;sp rhh;gjpt[ khtl;lk; kw;Wk; tl;lk;. $p';fy;fjpuk;gl;o fpuhkk; rh;nt vz;/ 115/A g[";ir bcwf;lh; 0/78/5 (Vf;fh; 1/94) jPh;it U:/2/73 ,jpy; nkw;Fg[wKs;s Vf;fh; 0/71 Kjy;rh;nt vz;/258?y; cs;s epyj;jpw;F tlf;Frh;nt vz;/111?f;F bjw;Frh;nt vz;/110-B ?y; cs;s epyj;jpw;F fpHf;Frh;nt vz;/ 115/A?y; thjpfSf;F ghj;jpag;gl;l jhth "B"3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024ml;ltiz brhj;Jtpw;Fk; khhpak;kd; nfhtpYf;Fk; nkw;F,jd; kj;jpapy; Kf;nfhz totKs;s Vf;fh; 0/32 tp!;jPuzKs;s KGtJk; 3. The bone of contention in the present application is the fact that the plaintiffs seek to withdraw the present suit and to file a fresh suit by restricting the suit property to an extent of 71/2 cents with a house, comprised in Sy.No.115A/3A of Jingalkadirampatti Village, Pochampalli Taluk, Krishnagiri District. In the plaint at paragraph 5, the plaintiffs have clearly and categorically stated that the extent of 7 1/2 cents in which they are residing is not the subject matter of the suit. They have stated as follows :5/ /////// ////// uhkrhkp ft[z;lh; jpk;kuha ft[z;lUf;F fpiuak; bra;J bfhLj;J Vf;fh; 1/23 tp!;j;jPuzKs;s epyj;jpYk; nkw;fz;l tpjkhf thjpfsJ je;ij nfhtpy;fSf;Fk;. Cuhl;rp mYtyfj;jpw;Fk;. ghijf;fhft[k; mspj;Js;s ,l';fis bghWj;Jk; thjpfs; ahbjhU ghj;jpaija[k; nfhUtjpy;iy/ nkYk; thjpfs; FoapUf;Fk; 7 1-2 brd;l; tp!;j;jPuzKs;s ,lj;jpYk; ahbjhU gpur;rida[k; ,y;iy vd;gjhy; mt;tplj;ij bghWj;Jk; thjpfs; ,t;tHf;Fit jhf;fy; bra;atpy;iy/ nkYk; gpujpthjpfs; FoapUf;Fk; 7 brd;l; tp!;j;jPuzKs;s ,lj;ij bghWj;J thjpfs; RthjPd ghpfhuk; nfhu ntz;oa[s;sjhy; mt;tplj;ij bghWj;Jk; thjpfs; ,t;tHf;Fit jhf;fy; bra;atpy;iy/*The plaintiffs have therefore admitted that this 7 1/2 cents is not the subject 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024matter of the suit.4. In the written statement that was filed by the defendants, they have admitted to the fact that there is a house property in the aforesaid survey number and they have clearly stated in their written statement as follows :gpujpthjpfs; FoapUf;Fk; 7 brd;l; tp!;;j;jPuzKs;s ,lj;ij bghWj;J thjpfs; RthjPd ghpfhuk; nfhu ntz;oa[s;sjhy; mt;tplj;ij bghWj;Jk; thjpfs; ,t;tHf;Fit jhf;fy; bra;atpy;iy vd;gJ jtW/ ,e;j 7 brd;l; ,lj;ij bghWj;J thjpfs; gpw;fhyj;jpy; ntW tHf;Fit jhf;fy; bra;a j';fsJ chpikia epiyepWj;jp bfhs;fpd;wdh; vd;gJ jtW/ tPL cs;s gFjpapy; ve;jtpjkhd ghj;jpaKk; chpika[k; mDgt ghj;jpaKk; ,y;iy/5. Now by virtue of the impugned application, which is the subject matter of this revision petition, the plaintiffs seek to withdraw the suit with a liberty to file a fresh suit on the same cause of action for the following reasons that has been set out in the affidavit. Mifahy; eh';fs; FoapUf;Fk; tPL mike;Js;s 7 1-2 brz;l; epyk; kl;Lnk v';fSf;F ghj;jpag;gl;lJ vd;gJ jw;nghJjhd; v';fSf;F bjhpa te;jJ/ nkYk; nkw;go eh';fs; FoapUf;Fk; tPl;ow;Fjhd; gpujpthjpfs; bgahpy; gl;lh tH';fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ eh';fs; jhth jhf;fy; bra;a[k;nghJ nkw;go tPL 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024mike;Js;s gFjp Fwpj;J v';fSf;Fk; gpujpthjpfSf;Fk; vt;tpj jfuhWk; ,y;iy/ jw;nghJ nkw;go gpujpthjpfs; jtwhf gl;lh bgw;Ws;sij rhjfkhf bfhz;L chpik nfhhp tUfpwhh;fs;/This is the basis on which the application has been moved. As stated supra, the defendants have already in their written statement taken a stand that the house property belonged to them in their words that there is a house situated and the defendants are in possession of the same. The plaintiffs have also stated that the 7 1/2 cents with house is not the subject matter of the suit. 6. The petition, subject matter of this revision is filed invoking the provisions of Order XXIII Rule 1 r/w. Sec.151 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Order XXIII Rule 1 CPC reads as follows :Order XXIII : Withdrawal and Adjustment of Suits:1. Withdrawal of suit or abandonment of part of claim - (1)At any time after the 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 6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024proposed 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 a 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 plaintiffs.Sub-Rule (4) is relevant for the case on hand. A perusal of the same would clearly show that the liberty to institute a fresh suit is in respect of the 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024subject matter of the original suit. From the discussion supra, it is clearly evident that the 7 1/2 cents of land with a house is not the subject matter of the suit from the pleadings in the suit O.S.No.304 of 2014 extracted in paragraph 3 supra. Therefore, the plaintiffs cannot invoke the provisions of Order XXXIII Rule(1)(4) CPC. 7. In the light of the stand taken by the plaintiffs in the plaint extracted above, the learned Judge has rightly rejected the said application stating that the issue to be decided is as to whether the plaintiffs or the defendants are the owners of 71/2 cents of property which is not the subject matter of the suit O.S.No.304 of 2014. I therefore see no reason to interfere with the order of the learned Sub Judge, Uthangarai, dated 05.08.2023 in I.A.No.5 of 2023 in O.S.No.304 of 2014.8. The civil revision petition is accordingly dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 202417.04.2025 Index : Yes / NoInternet : Yes / NoNeutral Citation : Yes / NodsTo:1.The Judge Subordinate Court Uthangarai.2.The Section Officer VR Section, High Court, Madras.9/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis C.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 2024P.T. ASHA, J, dsC.R.P.(PD) No.69 of 202417.04.202510/10