1. The present Civil Revision Application under section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure has been preferred by the petitioners herein – original defendants to quash and set aside the impugned order dated 11/05/2012 passed below Exh.16 in Regular Civil Suit No.67 of 2011, by which, learned Trial Court has dismissed the said application preferred by the petitioners herein to reject the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure on the ground that in view of earlier proceedings/decisions in Suit No.74 of 1967, the present suit is barred by res-judicata.
2. Mr.Champaneri, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners herein has vehemently submitted that learned Trial Court has materially erred in not rejecting the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure on the ground that the same is barred by res-judicata. It is submitted that as such in the earlier round of litigation, which was initiated by father of the petitioners being Suit No.74 of 1967 against Vidhyaben Nilkanth i.e. mother of the respondents – original plaintiffs, which was instituted u/s.6 of the Specific Relief Act to recover the possession of the suit land and decision in the aforesaid suit, which came to be confirmed by this Court, the present suit is barred by res- judicata. Therefore, it is submitted that learned Trial Court ought to have allowed the application and ought to have rejected the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure. In support of his above submissions, Mr.Champaneri, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners has relied upon decision of this Court in the case of State of Gujarat and others V/s.R.R. Lalaji reported in 1999(2) GLR 1348.
By making above submissions and relying upon above decision, it is requested to admit/allow the present civil revision application.
3. Heard Mr.Champaneri, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners herein – original defendants and considered the application at Exh.16 submitted by the petitioners herein – original defendants to reject the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure and also considered the earlier plaint as well as plaint of the present suit as well as documents produced on record.
4. As stated hereinabove, the plaint was sought to be rejected by the original defendants under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure on the ground that the present suit is barred by res-judicata. The powers of the Court to reject the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure on the ground that the same is barred by res- judicata, came to be considered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Kamala and others V/s. K.T.Eshwara Sa and others reported in 2008(12) SCC 661 and it is observed by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the said decision that as question of res-judicata being mixed question of law and fact, which may require not only examination of the plaint but also other evidence and the order passed in the earlier suit, may be taken up either as a preliminary issue at the final hearing and the said question cannot be determined at the stage of proceedings under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure. It is further observed by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the said decision that as such question may be taken up as preliminary issue or at the time of final hearing, the said question cannot be determined at the stage of proceedings under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure. Considering the aforesaid decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court, decision of this Court in the case of R.R. Lalaji relied upon by Mr.Champaneri, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners would not be of any assistance to the petitioners.
5. Under the circumstances and considering the aforesaid decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, no illegality has been committed by learned Trial Court in rejecting the application at Exh.16 and not rejecting the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure.
6. In view of the above and for the reasons stated hereinabove, there is no substance in the present Civil Revision Application and the same deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed. No costs.
[M.R.SHAH,J] *dipti