Vilas Gajanan Udawant v. Babubhai Alias Tajjmul Hussain Died Thr. Lrs Smt NaginabiUsmangani Aatar..Advocate & Ors.

1 wp 364.26.odtIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAYBENCH AT AURANGABAD945 WRIT PETITION NO.364 OF 2026 Vilas Gajanan UdawantVERSUSBabubhai Alias Tajjmul Hussain Died Thr. Lrs Smt NaginabiUsmangani Aatar And Others...Advocate for Petitioner : Mr. V. S. Bedre ...CORAM :S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J.Dated: January 14, 2026PER COURT :-

Present writ petition takes exception to the order dated9.12.2025 passed by Civil Judge Senior Division, Rahuri belowExhibit-196 in Special Civil Suit No.2 of 2025 (old Special CivilSuit No.106 of 2013), whereby application filed by petitioner for setting aide “No WS” order is rejected.

The petitioner is defendant no.52 in Special Civil Suitno.106 of 2013 (new no.2 of 2025). Petitioner was served with suit summons. In deference to service of summons, heappeared in the suit, however, failed to file written statement. Therefore, “No WS” order has been passed on 28.1.2014.Petitioner filed present application below Exhibit-196 on28.10.2015 contending that he was under the impression that his Advocate had filed written statement. He was not 2 wp 364.26.odtcommunicated by his advocate regarding ‘no ws’ order passed by the Court. Learned Trial Court, after considering submissions advanced by the parties, observed that aforesaid reasons cannot be countenanced. It is also observed thatpetitioner/defendant had filed an application below Exhibit-41firstly on 2.1.2014 and sought time for filing written statement, however, despite grant of sufficient opportunity, he did not file written statement. Resultantly, ‘no ws’ order was passed. Suddenly, after eleven years, present application is moved, which cannot be entertained.

Mr. Bedre, learned advocate appearing for petitioner endeavours to impress upon this Court that once petitioner had engaged an Advocate, he was under the belief that Advocatewould take necessary steps, no blame can be attributed against petitioner. However, such contentions cannot be countenanced. It is obligation of the party to take care of litigation and ensure necessary steps. Merely by putting blame on advocate, party cannot shrug its responsibility.

Although, Mr. Bedre, relies upon observations of the Supreme Court in case of SCG Contracts (India) PrivateLimited Vs. K.S. Chamankar Infrastructure Private Limited and 3 wp 364.26.odtothers, reported in (2019) 12 Supreme Court Cases 210. Factsof case in hand are clearly distinguishable. In that case written statement was not filed by the party, who was pursuing application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC for rejection of plaint, and in that process, ‘no WS’ order was passed. It is nota case of inordinate delay of 11 years as in the present case. Inthat case suit was filed in the year 2017 and impugned order of‘no WS’ was passed in December, 2017. Application for setting aside ‘no WS’ order was moved on 6.8.2018. In that eventuality, liberal approach was adopted by the SupremeCourt. In that view of the matter, this Court do not find any jurisdictional error requiring interference under Article 227 of Constitution of India in the impugned order. Hence, writ petition stands rejected. ( S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J. )…AAA