AB REHMAN Vs. SYED YOUSUF SHAH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONERS have called in question order dated 26. 12. 2006 passed by the Sub -Judge (CJM) Budgam in a suit titled as Syed Hussain Shah and Ors. v. Abdul Rehman Ganaie and Ors. whereby petitioners - defendants came to be directed to confine to the pleadings and file amended written statement. Brief facts are to be noticed.

(2.) RESPONDENTS /plaintiffs filed a suit for grant of decree of permanent injunction before the trial court on 31.07.1993. Petitioners/defendants appeared and filed written statement. Issues came to be framed. Parties led evidence and file was posted for final arguments on 31.07.2000. From 31.07.2000 the file remained on dockets of the court for addressing further arguments. In the meantime, one legal point was raised by the defendants which came to be thrashed out vide order dated 06.07.2000. Feeling aggrieved, defendants filed revision petition before this court which came to be decided on 10.07.2003. Thereafter, it appears that notice came to be issued to the parties vide order dated 23.07.2003. Parties caused appearance. Learned counsel for the plaintiff filed application for amendment on 24.10.2005 in order to incorporate the relief in the plaint which was resisted by the defendants/petitioners and came to be allowed vide order dated 28.06.2006 and proposed amendment was taken on record. Defendants were directed to file amended written statement vide order dated 01.09.2006. Accordingly, defendants/petitioners filed amended written statement on 07.10.2006. Learned counsel for the respondents/plaintiffs raised objection before the trial court that defendants have filed written statement which is beyond the scope of amendment granted and have traversed beyond the pleadings. The trial count after hearing the parties come to the conclusion that the defendants/petitioners have introduced new facts in their written statement which was beyond the scope of the order permitting the plaintiff to amend the suit and accordingly defendants were directed to file amended written statement while keeping in view the interim orders passed by the trial court. Feeling aggrieved, petitioners/defendants challenged the impugned order.

(3.) HEARD . Considered. The bone of contention in this petition is whether petitioners/defendants can resist the plaint on other grounds which were not raised, projected and pleaded in the written statement filed earlier and amended written statement is beyond the scope of the orders passed by the trial court.