Shri Charanjit Sharma vs Shri Bal Kishan
2010 Latest Caselaw 716 Del

         *          IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI


                                                         Date of Reserve: January 18, 2009
                                                           Date of Order: February 08, 2010
+ CM(M) 189/2009
%                                                                                  08.02.2010
     Shri Charanjit Sharma                                                ...Petitioner
     Through: Mr. Rajiv Shukla, Advocate

        Versus

        Shri Bal Kishan                                              ...Respondent
        Through: Mr. Rajinder Dhawan, Mr. B.S. Rana and Mr. Shafali Dhawan, Advocates


        JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA

1.      Whether reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?

2.      To be referred to the reporter or not?

3.      Whether judgment should be reported in Digest?


        JUDGMENT

1. By this petition, the petitioner has assailed an order dated 24 th May, 2008 passed by

learned trial court whereby the trial court refused to grant adjournment to the petitioner's counsel

for cross examination of witnesses.

2. Brief facts relevant for the purpose of deciding the present petition are that the petitioner

is a defendant before the trial court in Suit No.374 of 2008 (pending since 1984). On 24th May,

2008, the case was listed for cross examination of PW-1 whose part cross examination was

recorded on 15th March, 1995. The counsel for the petitioner moved an application for

adjournment on the ground that the petitioner had gone to Ambala Court and he was not in a

position to cross examine the witness without presence of petitioner who was to give instructions

to him during cross examination. The trial court after noting down the manner in which the case

has been adjourned from time to time, refused to allow the adjournment application and

dismissed the same with costs of Rs.1,000/-. After dismissal of the application with costs, the

counsel for the petitioner showed willingness given to cross examine the witness and he cross

examined the witness. After cross examination of witness, the PE was closed and the matter was

CM(M) 189/2009 Charanjit Sharma v. Bal Kishan Page 1 Of 2 listed for defendant's evidence.

3. The contention of the petitioner is that the learned trial court wrongly disallowed the

application for adjournment since the counsel in absence of client could not effectively cross

examine the witness and many important questions were left and he, therefore, wanted the order

to be recalled and the witness also to be recalled.

4. It is not in dispute that the date of cross examination of this witness was given in

advance. The petitioner knew the date of cross examination. If he got another case in Ambala

fixed on the same date and had to attend the Ambala Court, he could have given instructions to

his counsel well-in-advance on the points and issues on which the witness was to be cross

examined. His being busy in another court was no ground for adjournment. Moreover, the

counsel in this case was also obliged to prepare for cross examination of witness well-in-advance

and do cross examination as per instructions of his client. A witness cannot be allowed to be

recalled on the ground that he was not effectively cross examined due to absence of the

petitioner.

5. In the result, I find no force in this petition. The petition is hereby dismissed with costs of

Rs.10,000/-.

February 08, 2010                                                  SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA J.
rd




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