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4. In my opinion, an order refusing to grant leave to a party to deliver interrogatories is not a case decided within meaning of Section 115, C. P. C."

In the case of Union of India Vs. Ibrahim Uddin and another (Civil Appeal No. 1374 of 2008) decided on 17th July, 2012, Hon'ble Supreme Court has considered the scope of interrogatories. Relevant Paragraph nos. 15 and 16 of the judgment are being reproduced below:

"15. Order XI CPC contains certain provisions with the object to save expense by obtaining information as to material facts and to obtain admission of any fact which he has to prove on any issue. Therefore, a party has a right to submit interrogatories relating to the same matter in issue. The expression "matter" means a question or issue in dispute in the action and not the thing about which such dispute arises. The object of introducing such provision is to secure all material documents and to put an end to protracted enquiry with respect to document/material in possession of the other party. In such a fact-situation, no adverse inference can be drawn against a party for non-production of a document unless notice is served and procedure is followed. Under Rule 14 of Order XI, the court is competent to direct any party to produce the document asked by the other party which is in his possession or power and relating to any material in question in such suit. Rule 15 Order XI provides for inspection of documents referred to in pleadings or affidavits. Rule 18 thereof, empowers the court to issue order for inspection. Rule 21 thereof provides for very stringent consequences for non-compliance with the order of discovery, as in view of the said provisions in case the party fails to comply with any order to answer interrogatories or for discovery or inspection of documents, he shall, if he is a plaintiff, be liable to have his suit dismissed for want of prosecution and if he is a defendant, to have his defence, if any, struck out and to be placed in the same position as if he had not defended, and the party interrogating or seeking discovery or inspection may apply to the court for an order to that effect. Thus, in view of the above, the suit may be dismissed for non-compliance of the aforesaid orders by the plaintiff and the plaintiff shall also be precluded from bringing a fresh suit on the same cause of action. Similarly, defence of the defendant may be struck off for non-compliance of such orders.

Order XI Rule 1 C.P.C. is being reproduced below: 

"1. Discovery by interrogatories.- In any Suit the plaintiff or defendant by leave of the court may deliver interrogatories in writing for the examination of the opposite parties or any one or more of such parties, and such interrogatories when delivered shall have a note at the foot thereof stating which of such interrogatories each of such persons is required to answer: Provided that no party shall deliver more than one set of interrogatories to the same party without an Order for that purpose: Provided also that interrogatories which do not relate to any matters in question in the Suit shall be deemed irrelevant, notwithstanding that they might be admissible on the oral cross examination of a witness."

Discovery is not limited to giving the plaintiff a knowledge of that which he does not know, but includes the getting an admission of anything which he is to prove on any issue which is raised between him and the defendant.

Order 11, Rule 6, C. P. C., enacts the nature of objections that can be advanced to the interrogatories. It says that any objection to answering any interrogatory on the ground that it is scandalous or irrelevant or not exhibited bona fide for the purpose of the suit or that the matters enquired into are not sufficiently material at that stage, or on any other ground, may be taken on affidavit in answer. To say that the question must not be fishing only means that the question must relate to definite, existing and relevant circumstances and must not be merely in the hope of discovering some flaw in the opponents case, or with the object of filling a blank in the interrogatories, see (1936) 2 All ER 1334 Rofe v. Kevorkian.