(1.) Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. With the consent of learned counsel appearing for rival parties, petition is taken up for final hearing and disposal. The Challenge
(2.) By this petition, Petitioners challenge Order dtd. 19/4/2022 passed by the Court of Small Causes at Mumbai rejecting their Application at Exhibit-664 filed by them for preventing Defendant Nos. 7 to 14 from leading evidence in their suit seeking eviction of Defendant Nos.1 to 6. The broad issue involved in the present petition is whether Defendant Nos. 7 to 14, whose interests are not adverse to that of Plaintiffs, can be permitted to lead evidence only because Written Statements are filed by such Defendants. A. Factual Matrix
(3.) A brief factual narration as a prologue to the judgment would be necessary.