SUKHBIR AND ANR. Vs. JOGENDER AND ANR.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) DEFENDANTS /Petitioners have filed the instant revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution assailing the order dated 18.1.2011 whereby their application under Order 7 Rule 11 Code of Civil Procedure for rejection of plaint has been dismissed.

(2.) THE dispute is between the descendants of common ancestors of one Dhoriya, who had three sons namely Ramji Lal, Hoti Lal and Roop Lal. Defendants/Petitioners are the son and daughter of Roop Lal whereas the Respondents/Plaintiffs are grandsons of the other brother Ramji Lal. The dispute is with regard to the property of Hoti Lal who died issueless and allegedly during his lifetime had suffered a collusive decree dated 12.09.1995 bequeathing his share in the property to his brother Roop Lal, i.e. father of the Petitioners/Defendants. Respondents/Plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration challenging the collusive decree on the ground of fraud and further submitting that the property was ancestral in the hands of Hoti Lal who could not exclude the other members of the family. The Defendants/Petitioners moved an application under Order 7 Rule 11 Code of Civil Procedure inter alia alleging that the suit was barred by limitation , suffers from the vice of concealment since the father of the Plaintiffs namely Sukhi Ram @ Sukhi had in the year 1989 also filed a suit challenging the aforesaid decree which was dismissed in default.

(3.) AFTER hearing the learned Counsel for the Petitioners and perusing the pleadings carefully, I am not inclined to agree with the counsel for the Petitioners since in my opinion the learned trial court has rightly observed that the suit being barred by limitation is a mixed question of facts and law which has to be decided at the stage of trial. It is further observed that the earlier suit was filed by the father of the Plaintiffs and the Plaintiffs being not party to the suit it cannot be said at this stage that the suit suffers from the vice of concealment which of course shall also be decided at the stage of trial.