The aforementioned view was reiterated in the subsequent decisions
of different High Courts in Marian Begum (supra) M/s. Mangilal Rungta,
Calcutta (supra) and Dr. M.K. Gourikutty (supra).
The aforementioned view was reiterated in the subsequent decisions
of different High Courts in Marian Begum (supra) M/s. Mangilal Rungta,
Calcutta (supra) and Dr. M.K. Gourikutty (supra).
Order 9, Rule 7 of the Code postulates an application for allowing a
defendant to be heard in answer to the suit when an order posting a suit for
ex-parte hearing was passed only in the event, the suit had not been heard as
in a case where hearing of the suit was complete and the court had adjourned
a suit for pronouncing the judgment, an application under Order 9, Rule 7
would not be maintainable. (See Arjun Singh Vs. Mohindra Kumar and
others, AIR 1964 SC 993) The purpose and object of Order 9, Rule 7 of the
Code has been explained by this Court in Vijay Kumar Madan and Others
Vs. R.N. Gupta Technical Education Society and Others [(2002) 5 SCC 30]
and Ramesh Chand Ardawatiya Vs. Anil Panjwani [(2003) 7 SCC 350]
It is true that the suit was not directed to be heard ex-parte against
Respondent No. 2 herein but it remains undisputed that both the
Respondents filed application for setting aside the ex-parte decree before the
learned Trial Judge, preferred appeal against the judgment dismissing the
same as also filled a revision application against the order dated 31.10.1985
setting the suit for ex-parte hearing. The said applications and appeal had
been dismissed. Even a Special Leave Petition filed was dismissed as
withdrawn. In that view of the matter it is not permissible for the
Respondents now to contend that it was open to the Respondent No. 2 to
reagitate the matter before the High Court. The contention which has been
raised by the Respondent No. 2 before the High Court in the first Appeal,
furthermore, was not raised in the said application under Order 9, Rule 13 of
the Code and even in the Misc. Petition and the Revision Application filed in
the High Court. Such a question having not been raised, in our opinion, the
Respondents disentitled themselves from raising the said contention yet
again before the High Court in the First Appeal.
Order 9, Rule 7 of the Code postulates an application for allowing a
defendant to be heard in answer to the suit when an order posting a suit for
ex-parte hearing was passed only in the event, the suit had not been heard as
in a case where hearing of the suit was complete and the court had adjourned
a suit for pronouncing the judgment, an application under Order 9, Rule 7
would not be maintainable. (See Arjun Singh Vs. Mohindra Kumar and
others, AIR 1964 SC 993) The purpose and object of Order 9, Rule 7 of the
Code has been explained by this Court in Vijay Kumar Madan and Others
Vs. R.N. Gupta Technical Education Society and Others [(2002) 5 SCC 30]
and Ramesh Chand Ardawatiya Vs. Anil Panjwani [(2003) 7 SCC 350]
It is true that the suit was not directed to be heard ex-parte against
Respondent No. 2 herein but it remains undisputed that both the
Respondents filed application for setting aside the ex-parte decree before the
learned Trial Judge, preferred appeal against the judgment dismissing the
same as also filled a revision application against the order dated 31.10.1985
setting the suit for ex-parte hearing. The said applications and appeal had
been dismissed. Even a Special Leave Petition filed was dismissed as
withdrawn. In that view of the matter it is not permissible for the
Respondents now to contend that it was open to the Respondent No. 2 to
reagitate the matter before the High Court. The contention which has been
raised by the Respondent No. 2 before the High Court in the first Appeal,
furthermore, was not raised in the said application under Order 9, Rule 13 of
the Code and even in the Misc. Petition and the Revision Application filed in
the High Court. Such a question having not been raised, in our opinion, the
Respondents disentitled themselves from raising the said contention yet
again before the High Court in the First Appeal.
Order 9, Rule 7 of the Code postulates an application for allowing a
defendant to be heard in answer to the suit when an order posting a suit for
ex-parte hearing was passed only in the event, the suit had not been heard as
in a case where hearing of the suit was complete and the court had adjourned
a suit for pronouncing the judgment, an application under Order 9, Rule 7
would not be maintainable. (See Arjun Singh Vs. Mohindra Kumar and
others, AIR 1964 SC 993) The purpose and object of Order 9, Rule 7 of the
Code has been explained by this Court in Vijay Kumar Madan and Others
Vs. R.N. Gupta Technical Education Society and Others [(2002) 5 SCC 30]
and Ramesh Chand Ardawatiya Vs. Anil Panjwani [(2003) 7 SCC 350]
It is true that the suit was not directed to be heard ex-parte against
Respondent No. 2 herein but it remains undisputed that both the
Respondents filed application for setting aside the ex-parte decree before the
learned Trial Judge, preferred appeal against the judgment dismissing the
same as also filled a revision application against the order dated 31.10.1985
setting the suit for ex-parte hearing. The said applications and appeal had
been dismissed. Even a Special Leave Petition filed was dismissed as
withdrawn. In that view of the matter it is not permissible for the
Respondents now to contend that it was open to the Respondent No. 2 to
reagitate the matter before the High Court. The contention which has been
raised by the Respondent No. 2 before the High Court in the first Appeal,
furthermore, was not raised in the said application under Order 9, Rule 13 of
the Code and even in the Misc. Petition and the Revision Application filed in
the High Court. Such a question having not been raised, in our opinion, the
Respondents disentitled themselves from raising the said contention yet
again before the High Court in the First Appeal.
It is now well-settled that principles of res judicata applies in different
stages of the same proceedings. [See Satyadhyan Ghosal and others Vs.
Smt. Deorajin Debi and another, AIR 1960 SC 941) and Prahlad Singh Vs.
Col. Sukhdev Singh [(1987) 1 SCC 727].