(1.) This petition is directed against an order made by the I Adl. Munsiff, Belgaum, on I.A.No.III in O.S.No.150/1966, on his file. I.A.No.III was an application made under Rule 5 of Or.38 CPC by the petitioner herein. It would appear that another suit raising substantially same issues between the same parties had been filed earlier which was pending and consequently this suit had been stayed pursuant to the provisions of Sec.10, CPC. When the present suit had been so stayed, the plaintiff filed the aforesaid application for an order of attachment before judgment. The learned Munsiff has refused to consider that application on the short ground that once a suit was stayed, the Court had no jurisdiction to pass even an interlocutory order of the nature claimed in this case.
(2.) It seems to me that this order is clearly unsustainable This Court in CRP.No.2745/1972 decided on 22-2-1973, has laid down that a Court which is seized of a suit which has been stayed pursuant to the provisions of S.10 CPC had nevertheless jurisdiction to make interlocutory orders, if relief in that behalf, is claimed by any of the parties. S.10 CPC also seems to refer to the stay of trial of a suit and not other proceedings of an interlocutory character.
(3.) In the result, this petition succeeds and is allowed. The order made by the learned Munsiff on I.A.No.III on 10-7-1972 is hereby set aside. The matter will, however, stand remitted to that Count for fresh disposal of I.A.No.III on its merits. There will be no order as to costs.