LAWS(ALL)-1974-5-3

UMA SHANKER Vs. SALIG RAM

Decided On May 22, 1974
UMA SHANKER Appellant
V/S
SALIG RAM Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE following three questions have been referred to us :-

(2.) WE propose to answer these questions in seriatim. Question no. 1 really consists of two questions, one as to whether a declaratory decree can be passed in a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and whether in such a suit a stranger can be made a party. One would have thought that the curtain on this controversy had fallen after the decisions of the Privy Council in the case of Abdur Rahim v. Abu Mahomed Barkat Ali (AIR 1928 PC 16) and of the Supreme Court in the case of Pragdasji v. Ishwarlalbhai, (AIR 1952 SC 143) and in the case of Bishwanath v. Sri Thakur Radha Ballabhji (AIR 1967 SC 1044), but counsel for the respondents has by reference to a large number of cases including some of this Court made a futile attempt to establish that this is not so. It is as such necessary to examine the various decisions on this point.

(3.) ALTHOUGH we feel that this controversy stands resolved by the aforesaid pronouncement of the Supreme Court, but inasmuch as there are three decisions of this Court in which the view has been taken that the third parties can also be made parties to a suit under Section 92, C. P. C., we propose to advert to these cases as also the views of such other High Courts as have been placed before us. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, we propose to refer to the decision of the Calcutta High Court in the case of Gobinda Chandra v. Abdul Majid, (AIR 1944 Cal 163) wherein all the earlier views of various High Courts have been noticed. B. K. Mukherjea, J. as he then was, speaking for the Court after reviewing all the decisions of that Court and of the Madras High Court and Rangoon High Court and noticing the views of this Court held on page 175 as under :-