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Romesh Satyanarayan Sharma vs Mrs. Swaran Singh Chawla And Ors
2026 Latest Caselaw 3818 Bom

Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 3818 Bom
Judgement Date : 16 April, 2026

[Cites 9, Cited by 0]

Bombay High Court

Romesh Satyanarayan Sharma vs Mrs. Swaran Singh Chawla And Ors on 16 April, 2026

    2026:BHC-AS:17872
                                                                                                                              AO/77/2021
                                                                                                             Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.




                                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                            CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                            APPEAL FROM ORDER NO. 77 OF 2021

                      Romesh Satyanarayan Sharma                                       }
                      Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park, Age- 68                              }
                      Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                          }
                      Mumbai-400 052.                                                  }          ..      Appellant
                           V/s.
                      1.     Mrs. Swaran Singh Chawla                                  }
                      Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                      }
                      Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                          }
                      Mumbai-400 052.                                                  }

                      2.     Mr. Parvinder Singh                                       }
                      Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                      }
                      Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                          }
                      Mumbai-400 052.                                                  }

                      3.   Mrs. Anju W/o Dilip Singh Nagpal                            }
                      KC-45-C, Ashok Vihar, Phase-I,                                   }
                      Near Water Tank,                                                 }
                      New Delhi - 110052                                               }

                      4.     Miss. Sheetal Sandeep Sawney                              }
                      Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                      }
                      Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                          }
                      Mumbai-400 052.                                                  }
AMOL
PREMNATH
JADHAV
Digitally signed by
                      5.     Ms. Disha Sandeep Sawney                                  }
AMOL PREMNATH
JADHAV                Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                      }
Date: 2026.04.16
20:01:52 +0530
                      Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                          }
                      Mumbai-400 052.                                                  }

                      6.   Mr. Harcharan Singh Natha Singh                             }
                      Chawla                                                           }

                                                                     Page 1 of 21
                                                          -------------------------------------
                                                            Order dated 16th April 2026

                           ::: Uploaded on - 16/04/2026                                           ::: Downloaded on - 16/04/2026 20:45:36 :::
                                                                                                          AO/77/2021
                                                                                        Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.




Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                       }
Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                           }
Mumbai-400 052.                                                   }

7.   Mr. Jasbir Singh Natha Singh                                 }
Chawla                                                            }
Sand Sadan, 10, Union Park,                                       }
Pali Hill, Khar (West),                                           }
Mumbai-400 052.                                                   }          ..      Respondents

                                   WITH
                    INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 1898 OF 2019
                                     IN
                      APPEAL FROM ORDER NO. 77 OF 2021

Romesh Satyanarayan Sharma                                                   ..      Applicant
     In the matter between
Romesh Satyanarayan Sharma                                                   ..      Appellant
      V/s.
Mrs. Swaran Singh Chawla & Ors.                                              ..      Respondents
                    ______________________________________

Mr. Salil Shah a/w Mr. Hemang Engineer i/b Mr. Jitendra Shukla for
Appellant.
Mr. Mutahhar Khan a/w Mr. Duj Jain, Mr. Rajan Yadav, Mr. Yash Jalandria,
Soham Bhagwat i/b Kiran Jain & Co. for Respondents.
                   _______________________________________

                                               CORAM :                       FARHAN P. DUBASH, J.


                                    RESERVED ON :                            08th APRIL 2026
                               PRONOUNCED ON :                               16th APRIL 2026

JUDGMENT :

1. The present Appeal impugns an order dated 13 th September

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

2019 (impugned order) passed by the Trial Court dismissing Chamber

Summons No. 701 of 2015 taken out by the Appellant/ Plaintiff in S.C. Suit

No. 68 of 1987 in which he had sought setting aside the abatement of the

suit and condonation of delay in preferring the said application for bringing

the heirs and legal representatives of Natha Singh Sant Singh Chawla

(Defendant No. 1) on record. Respondent Nos. 1 to 7 are the heirs and legal

representatives of Defendant No. 1.

2. By the impugned order, the Trial Court dismissed the Chamber

Summons with costs of Rs. 10,000/- payable by the Appellant to the

contesting Respondent Nos. 6 and 7 by recording a finding that the Appellant

had approached the Court with unclean hands and by making a false

statement on oath. The Trial Court held that despite being aware that

Defendant No. 1 had passed away more than 24 years ago ( viz. on 29th

October 1990) and despite being fully aware of his heirs and legal

representatives, the Appellant failed to implead them. As a result, the Trial

Court held that the suit stood abated and no case had been made out for

setting aside the abatement.

FA C T S O F T H E C A S E

3. It is necessary to set out a few relevant facts that are required to

be considered by this Court whilst deciding the present Appeal. They are set

out hereunder:

------------------------------------- Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

(i) S.C. Suit No. 68 of 1987 was instituted by the Plaintiff seeking a

declaration that he is the owner of 2/3rd undivided share in the

suit property being Plot No. 10 together with building known as

'Sant Sadan' standing thereon, situate at Pali Hill, Khar, Mumbai

400052 with Defendant No. 1 being the owner of the remaining

1/3rd share therein. The Plaintiff also sought partition of the suit

property and other ancillary reliefs therein.

(ii) The Plaintiff has claimed ownership of the said 2/3rd undivided

share in the suit property under a deed of conveyance dated 7 th

October 1981 stated to have been executed in his favour by

Defendant Nos. 2 and 3.

(iii) Disputes arose between the parties which led to various suits

being filed by them against each other in respect of the suit

property including inter alia, R.A.D. Suit No. 6835 of 1980 filed

by the Plaintiff in the Small Causes Court at Mumbai; S.C. Suit

No. 5690 of 1981 filed by Defendant No. 1 in the Bombay City

Civil Court; S.C. Suit No. 2097 of 2011 filed by the Plaintiff in

the Bombay City Civil Court; L.E. & C Suit No. 7/8 of 1983 filed

by Defendant No. 1 in the Small Causes Court at Mumbai, etc.

(iv) In the meanwhile, Defendant No. 1 - Mr. Natha Singh Sant

Singh Chawla passed away on 29th October 1990.

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

(v) Acknowledging this, in the said R.A.D. Suit No. 6835 of 1980,

the Plaintiff is stated to have filed Interlocutory Notice No. 1750

of 1991 on 12th April 1991 to implead the heirs and legal

representatives of the deceased Defendant No. 1 on record

before the Small Causes Court. Thereafter, the parties are also

stated to have acted upon the demise of Defendant No. 1 in

some of the other suits, as more particularly reflected in orders

passed therein, from time to time, including inter alia, order

dated 11th September 1992 passed in S.C. Suit No. 5690 of

1981, order dated 31st July 1992 passed in Suit No. 4818 of

1992, etc.

(vi) As a result, since about 1991, the Plaintiff is stated to have had

knowledge of the demise of Defendant No. 1 and also

information/details of his heirs and legal representatives.

However, despite this, no amendment in that regard was made

by the Plaintiff in S.C. Suit No. 68 of 1987 until 2013.

(vii) In January 2013, the Plaintiff preferred Chamber Summons No.

250 of 2013 for setting aside the abatement of the suit and

condonation of delay in preferring the said application for

bringing the heirs and legal representatives of Defendant No. 1 -

Mr. Natha Singh Sant Singh Chawla and impleading three

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

persons viz. (i) Gurucharan Singh Natha Singh Chawla (ii)

Harcharan Singh Natha Singh Chawla (iii) Jasbir Singh Natha

Singh Chawla, Respondent Nos. 1 to 3 therein in his place and

stead.

(viii) Interestingly, in the affidavit in support dated 15th January 2013

filed by the Plaintiff, despite setting out the various litigation

between the parties, he has not disclosed the exact date on

which he is stated to have learnt about the demise of Defendant

No. 1. Instead, he has deposed that:

"7) ......I say that the Plaintiff was never aware about the death of the deceased Defendant No. 1 till the hearing of the application in Suit No. 1711 of 1994 Before the Hon'ble High Court and the intervention of the Respondents therein in person to oppose the reliefs to be granted to them. I say that the Plaintiff as well as the CA both were lodged in Tihar Jail and could not remain present Before the Hon'ble High Court...".

(ix) The said Chamber Summons No. 250 of 2013 was vehemently

opposed by the said Respondents. In the meanwhile, Mr.

Gurucharan Singh Natha Singh Chawla - Respondent No. 1 to

the said Chamber Summons No. 250 of 2013 passed away on 8 th

October 2013.

(x) As a result, the Plaintiff took out a separate Chamber Summons

on 11th March 2015 being Chamber Summons No. 701 of 2015.

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

By an order of the same date, the earlier Chamber Summons

bearing no. 250 of 2013 was disposed of as 'not pressed'.

(xi) However, in Chamber Summons No. 701 of 2015, the Plaintiff

arrayed the heirs and legal representatives of late Gurucharan

Singh Natha Singh Chawla as Respondent Nos. 1 to 5 and

Harcharan Singh Natha Singh Chawla and Jasbir Singh Natha

Singh Chawla - Respondent Nos. 6 and 7 therein, without

seeking the other reliefs (of condonation of delay, setting aside

of abatement, etc. that were sought in Chamber Summons No.

250 of 2013).

(xii) As a result, on 13th October 2015, the Plaintiff took out yet

another Chamber Summons bearing no. 1926 of 2015 to amend

the Schedule (of amendment) of Chamber Summons No. 701 of

2015 to include the other reliefs therein. In this amendment, the

Plaintiff also sought deletion of the names of Defendant Nos. 2

and 3 (who had passed away on 12 th January 1995 and 9th

September 2011 respectively) from the cause-title of the suit

without seeking to implead their heirs and legal representatives.

(xiii) Both these Chamber Summonses came to be vehemently

opposed by the Respondents. By an order dated 12 th April 2019,

the Trial Court allowed Chamber Summons No. 1926 of 2015

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

permitting the Plaintiff to amend the Schedule (of amendment)

of Chamber Summons No. 701 of 2015.

(xiv) In the affidavit in support of the said Chamber Summons No.

701 of 2015, there is no averment which discloses the exact date

on which the Plaintiff is stated to have learnt about the demise

of Defendant No. 1.

(xv) However, in the amended affidavit in support, the Plaintiff has

added that:

"4A) I say that I came to know about the demise of the Defendant No. 1 in the year 2011/2012 when the Plaintiff herein had filed a Suit bearing No. 2097 of 2011 before the Hon'ble City Civil Court at Dindoshi, Goregaon, Bombay, whereat the Advocate for Respondent Nos. 6 and 7 herein had intimated that the Defendant No. 1 had expired since long back, however, the Respondent Nos. 6 and 7 had failed to comply with the provisions of Order 22 Rule 10A of C.P.C.1908...".

(xvi) By the impugned order dated 13th September 2019, the Trial

Court dismissed the Chamber Summons on several grounds,

namely:

(a) the Plaintiff had filed the said Chamber Summons No. 701

of 2015 on a false basis and by making a false statement

that liberty was granted to him to file a fresh Chamber

Summons whilst the earlier Chamber Summons No. 250

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

of 2013 was disposed of, when no such liberty was given

by the Court as per order dated 11th March 2015;

(b) from the documents of various judicial proceedings filed

by the Respondents, the earliest of which was an affidavit

dated 12th April 1991 filed by the original Plaintiff in

Interlocutory Notice No. 1750 of 1991 in R.A.D. Suit No.

6835 of 1980, it is revealed that he had full knowledge

not only of the demise of Defendant No. 1 but also of his

heirs and legal representatives and as a result, the

statement made by the Plaintiff on oath that he came to

know of the demise of Defendant No. 1 only in

2011/2012 was totally false;

(c) despite knowledge of the above, the Plaintiff deliberately

failed to bring the heirs and legal representatives of

deceased Defendant No. 1 on record in the suit;

(d) the suit abated on account of the fact that the Plaintiff

failed to bring the heirs and legal representatives of the

deceased Defendant No. 1 on record, within the timelines

prescribed in Articles 120 and 121 of the Limitation Act,

1963;

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

(e) the reasons given by the Plaintiff for seeking the reliefs

sought in the said Chamber Summons were absolutely

false and he had come to Court with unclean hands which

prompted the Trial Court to impose costs of Rs. 10,000/-

on him payable to Respondent Nos. 6 and 7.

APPELLANTS' SUBMISSIONS

4. Mr. Salil Shah, learned Counsel appearing for the Appellant

submits that the Trial Court has adopted an unduly technical approach while

considering the Chamber Summons and the issue of delay. He submits that

under Order XXII Rule 10A of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC), the

pleader appearing for the deceased party is under an obligation to inform the

Court about the death of the party and that, in the absence of such steps, the

Appellant cannot be non-suited on the ground of delay alone. He submits

that the Trial Court erred in passing the impugned order without considering

this legal position inasmuch as, in the present case, the heirs and legal

representatives of deceased Defendant No. 1 failed to bring the demise of

Defendant No. 1 to the notice of the Plaintiff before the Trial Court.

5. Mr. Shah further points out that the Trial Court failed to

appreciate that his client was incarcerated in Tihar Jail for 13 years between

20th October 1998 and 2011 during which time, he could not effectively

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

prosecute or be diligent about the different proceedings pending before

various fora and the procedural requirements of each such litigation and

thus, his client had no proper knowledge of the death of Defendant No. 1 in

the suit filed before the Trial Court.

6. He submits that the Plaintiff was represented by his constituted

attorney, who did not understand English and especially the legal

submissions made in the pleadings/affidavits filed in the various proceedings

and was dependent solely on legal advice given by his advocates. Mr. Shah

therefore submits that the delay in preferring the application was neither

deliberate nor with any mala fide motive and that, in the interests of justice,

an opportunity ought to have been granted to the Plaintiff and the abatement

of the suit against Defendant No. 1 ought to have been set aside and the

delay in preferring the said application ought to have been condoned and the

Respondents ought to have been impleaded as Defendants in place and stead

of Defendant No. 1 so that the suit could be decided on the merits.

7. Mr. Shah further submits that the Trial Court erred in holding

that the suit stood abated under Order XXII Rule 4(1) of the CPC by relying

on Article 120 of the Limitation Act. He submits that even after the expiry of

the prescribed period of limitation, abatement is not automatic until a formal

order to that effect is passed by the Court seized of the matter.

8. He therefore submits that the impugned order is required to be

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

set aside and this Court should permit the Plaintiff to amend the plaint in

terms of the Schedule (of amendment) to the Chamber Summons after

setting aside the abatement of the suit and condoning the delay in preferring

the said application.

RESPONDENTS' SUBMISSIONS

9. In response, Mr. Mutahhar Khan, learned Counsel who appears

for the Respondents supports the impugned order passed by the Trial Court.

He submits that the Chamber Summons has been rightly dismissed by the

Trial Court after recording a finding that the Plaintiff had come with unclean

hands and by making a false statement on oath.

10. He submits that the Plaintiff was aware of the demise of

Defendant No. 1 since as far back as 1991 and relies on the affidavit dated

12th April 1991, filed by the Plaintiff in Interlocutory Notice No. 1750 of

1991 taken out in R.A.D. Suit No. 6835 of 1980, wherein the Plaintiff had

himself sought to implead the heirs and legal representatives of Defendant

No. 1 on record in the said suit pending in the Small Causes Court at

Mumbai by acknowledging that Defendant No. 1 had passed away on 29 th

October 1990. He therefore submits that the statement made by the Plaintiff

in the amended affidavit in support of the Chamber Summons that he came

to know about the demise of Defendant No. 1 only in 2011-2012 is therefore

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

ex facie false and incorrect.

11. He submits that even after April 1991, the factum of the demise

of Defendant No. 1 was acted upon by the parties in various other litigation

that was pending between them and therefore, it is totally false on the part

of the Plaintiff to feign ignorance of the same and claim such knowledge,

only in 2011/2012. He relies on orders passed and/or pleadings filed in Suit

No. 4818 of 1992; Suit No. 1711 of 1994; Suit No. 5690 of 1981; Suit No.

2661 of 1987 and Execution Application No. 13 of 2007 in support of his

said contention.

12. By relying on the above, Mr. Khan is at pains to point out that

despite such prior knowledge, the Plaintiff deliberately suppressed this

material fact from the Trial Court and instead, made false statements on oath

which disentitle him to any relief. He relies on the decision of the Apex Court

in S. P . Chengalvaraya Naidu vs. Jagannath 1.

13. He relies on Order XXII Rule 4 of the CPC and Article 120 of the

Limitation Act and contends that the Plaintiff was required to implead the

heirs and legal representatives of the deceased Defendant No. 1 within the

prescribed period failing which, the suit abates. He points out that the

Plaintiff had knowledge of the passing of Defendant No. 1 since 1991 and

hence, the Chamber Summons was hopelessly time-barred since the same did

1 AIR 1994 SC 853

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

not set out and/or explain the delay and show sufficient cause for its

condonation. In that regard, he relies on the decision of the Apex Court in

Union of India vs. Jahangir Byramji Jeejeebhoy 2.

14. Mr. Khan further submits that the reliance on Order XXII Rule

10A of the CPC by the Plaintiff is entirely misconceived and the same would

not apply to the present case. In support, he relies on the decisions of the

Apex Court in Binod Pathak vs. Shankar Choudhary 3 and Om Prakash Gupta

alias Lalloowa vs. Satish Chandra 4.

A N A LY S I S & F I N D I N G S

15. I have heard both parties at some length and with their

assistance, also perused the record. After careful consideration and for the

reasons more particularly recorded hereinbelow, I am of the opinion that

there is no infirmity with the impugned order and the view taken therein by

the Trial Court.

16. At the outset, I concur with the Trial Court that the Plaintiff has

approached the Court with unclean hands and by making a deliberate false

statement on oath that he acquired knowledge of the demise of Defendant

No. 1 only in the year 2011-2012. I have perused the documents relied upon

by the Respondents and they reveal an entirely different story. They also 2 2024 SCC OnLine SC 489 3 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1411 4 2025 SCC OnLine SC 291

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

undeniably expose the patently false case with which he had approached the

Trial Court and also this Court. The affidavit dated 12 th April 1991 filed by

the Plaintiff in Interlocutory Notice No. 1750 of 1991 taken out in R.A.D.

Suit No. 6835 of 1980 expressly records that Defendant No. 1 had expired on

29th October 1990 and seeks to bring his heirs and legal representatives on

record. That apart, the said parties have also acted upon the demise of

Defendant No. 1 in some of the other suits, as more particularly reflected in

orders passed therein, including inter alia, order dated 11th September 1992

passed in S.C. Suit No. 5690 of 1981; order dated 31 st July 1992 passed in

Suit No. 4818 of 1992.

17. In the face of this record, the statement of the Plaintiff on oath

that he acquired knowledge of the demise of Defendant No. 1 only in

2011/2012 cannot be accepted. As more particularly held in Chengalvaraya

Naidu (supra), a party who approaches the Court with unclean hands is

disentitled to any reliefs and he can be summarily thrown out at any stage of

the proceedings. Thus, the Trial Court was fully justified in holding that the

said statement was untrue and that the Plaintiff had approached the Court

with a false case and thereby, being disentitled to the reliefs sought in the

Chamber Summons.

18. Once it is held that the Plaintiff had knowledge of the demise of

Defendant No. 1 since 1991, the inordinate delay of about 24 years remains

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

wholly unexplained in the affidavit in support of the Chamber Summons. No

satisfactory cause has been shown explaining the delay and why no steps

were taken in the present Suit for all these years.

19. It is well settled that condonation of delay is not a matter of

course. The law of limitation confers upon the successful party a valuable

right which cannot be lightly disturbed. The Supreme Court in Jahangir

Byramji Jeejeebhoy (supra) has emphasized that the Court must arrive at an

independent judicial satisfaction as to whether ' sufficient cause' has been

made out for the entire period of delay. The discretion to condone delay,

though equitable in nature, is required to be exercised judicially and not on

mere sympathy or indulgence. The applicant must furnish a reasonable, bona

fide and satisfactory explanation demonstrating that despite due diligence

the proceedings could not be instituted within time. Mere inaction,

administrative delay or absence of diligence cannot constitute sufficient

cause. The Court, therefore, is duty bound to scrutinize the explanation

offered and balance the principle of substantial justice with the equally

important requirement of certainty and finality in litigation. In the present

case, the Plaintiff has miserably failed the test that is laid down by the

Supreme Court. No sufficient cause has been made out which would justify

the reliefs sought in the Chamber Summons and on this ground also, the

same is required to be dismissed. There is thus no infirmity in the impugned

order on this ground also.

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

20. Next, in order to consider the defense of Order XXII Rule 10A of

the CPC that has been raised by the Plaintiff, it would be profitable to note

the said provision, which reads thus:

"10A. Duty of pleader to communicate to Court death of a party -- Wherever a pleader appearing for a party to the suit comes to know of the death of that party, he shall inform the Court about it, and the Court shall thereupon give notice of such death to the other party, and, for this purpose, the contract between the pleader and the deceased party shall be deemed to subsist."

21. The ambit of Order XXII Rule 10A of the CPC is no longer res

integra. In Binod Pathak (supra) and also in Om Prakash Gupta (supra), the

Supreme Court has explained that Rule 10A casts a duty upon the pleader of

a deceased party, on acquiring knowledge of such death, to inform the Court

so that appropriate steps for substitution may be taken. The reason for the

introduction of Rule 10A in the CPC (Amendment) Act of 1976 was to avoid

procedural justice scoring a march over substantial justice. However, as held

by the Court, the applicability of this provision would be inconsequential if

the knowledge of demise of Defendant No. 1 was known to the Plaintiff.

22. In the present case, as held above, the Plaintiff was not only well

aware of the demise of Defendant No. 1 since 1991 but also aware of the

details of his heirs and legal representatives who were impleaded by the

Plaintiff himself, in the other proceedings pending between the same parties

before the Small Causes Court at Mumbai. Additionally, orders dated 31 st

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

July 1992 and 11th September 1992 passed therein also clearly show that the

Plaintiff had full knowledge of these details since 1992. In these

circumstances, the Plaintiff's reliance on Order XXII Rule 10A of the CPC to

contend that despite his said knowledge in the other proceedings, the present

suit could not be said to abate on account of non-compliance with the said

provisions, is entirely misconceived and I have no hesitation in rejecting this

argument which runs contrary to the legislative intent behind its

introduction. The Plaintiff cannot be permitted to use this plea to justify

and/or nullify the effect of his own lackadaisical conduct in the present

proceedings.

23. Similarly, the explanation that the Plaintiff acted through a

constituted attorney and/or that his advocate did not take proper steps to

explain the matter to him, does not constitute sufficient cause in the facts of

the present case. A vague plea of attorney error or negligence, unsupported

by a satisfactory account of the entire delay, cannot justify condonation of

the huge delay of over two decades. This is more so in the facts of the

present case where the parties were engaged in litigation across multiple fora

across the city. As more particularly reiterated by the Supreme Court in

Jahangir Byramji Jeejeebhoy (supra), "The rules of limitation are based on

the principles of sound public policy and principles of equity. We should not

keep the 'sword of Damocles' hanging over the head of the respondent for

indefinite period of time to be determined at the whims and fancies of the

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

appellants".

24. There is another aspect of the matter. The record shows that the

Plaintiff had earlier filed Chamber Summons No. 250 of 2013, which came to

be disposed of by an order dated 11th March 2015 as "not pressed". In the

impugned order, the Trial Court has correctly noted that no liberty was

granted to the Plaintiff to file a fresh Chamber Summons and the statement

to the contrary, made by him in the Chamber Summons was also rightly

viewed with doubt. A party seeking discretionary and equitable relief is

required to approach the Court with clean hands, and where the record

discloses suppression of material facts and an inconsistent stand on oath, this

Court is justified in declining relief to the said party.

25. Even otherwise, the suit seeks a declaration that the Plaintiff is

the owner of 2/3rd undivided share in the suit property which is stated to

have been purchased by him from original Defendant Nos. 2 and 3 who had

passed away on 12th January 1995 and 9th September 2011 respectively.

Since then, the Plaintiff has simpliciter deleted their names from the array of

parties in the suit and not impleaded their heirs and legal representatives

without any reason and/or justification for the same.

26. Having regard to the above consideration, analysis and findings,

I am of the opinion that the said Chamber Summons deserves to be

dismissed with costs and there is no infirmity with the impugned order

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

passed by the Trial Court.

27. Lastly, I have observed that whilst passing the impugned order

dated 13th September 2019, the Trial Court directed the Plaintiff to pay costs

of Rs. 10,000/- to Defendant Nos. 6 and 7 who were contesting the Chamber

Summons. These costs were imposed since the Plaintiff was held to have

approached the Court with unclean hands and with a false case on oath. I am

informed that till date, these costs have not yet been paid. Instead, the

Plaintiff has chosen to file the present Appeal and reiterate the same

untenable plea/s before this Court despite clear and unequivocal

documentary evidence. As a result, the Respondents have been constrained

to spend 7 further years in litigation (from 2019 till date) in order to defend

this Appeal and in the bargain, incur additional litigation expenses.

Considering this conduct, whilst dismissing this Appeal, I am constrained to

increase this amount and impose more realistic costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- on the

Appellant which shall be payable by him to the contesting Respondents

within a period of 30 days from the date of uploading of this order.

28. Accordingly, I pass the following order:

::ORDER::

(i) The present Appeal From Order is dismissed.

(ii) The Appellant shall pay costs of Rs. 1,00,000/- to

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Order dated 16th April 2026

AO/77/2021 Romesh vs. Mrs. Swaran & Ors.

the Respondents within a period of 30 days from

the date of uploading of this order.

(iii) All pending Interim Applications/Civil Applications

taken out in the present Appeal, if any, also stand

disposed of in terms of this order, and all interim

orders passed, therein if any, also stand vacated.

( FARHAN P. DUBASH, J. ) Ajay Jadhav

-------------------------------------

Order dated 16th April 2026

 
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LatestLaws.com presents: Lexidem Offline Internship Program, 2026

 

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LatestLaws Partner Event : IJJ

 

LatestLaws Partner Event : Smt. Nirmala Devi Bam Memorial International Moot Court Competition

 
 
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