SOHAN MAHTO Vs. MUNDRIKA DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India is directed against the order dated 21.2.2007 passed by 1st Additional Munsify Giridih in Title Suit No. 180 of 1997 by which he has allowed the application filed by the plaintiff -respondent for examination of documents by handwriting expert.

(2.) THE plaintiff -respondent filed the aforementioned suit for declaration of right, title and interest over the suit and further for setting aside the sale deed dated 8.12.1977 alleged to have been executed by Bukhlal Mahto and the plaintiff Mundrika Devi in favour of the original defendant and, further for confirmation of possession. During pendency of the suit, the plaintiff filed application for comparison of the thumb impression of plaintiff Mundrika Devi appearing in the sale deed dated 8.12.1977 with the thumb impression of late Bukhlal Mahto in the said sale deed and also with the admitted thumb impression on the gift deed dated 22.6.1987. The said application was opposed by the defendants -petitioners on the ground, inter alia, that the evidence of both parties were closed and even the arguments of the defendants have been closed. The Court below held that no doubt at the fag end of the trial when arguments of the defendants have been closed and the plaintiffs arguments have been advanced, the plaintiff cannot be allowed to reopen the case but the best evidence cannot be shut off.

(3.) AS noticed above, the plaintiff challenged the sale deed dated 8.12.1977 after about 20 years of its alleged execution by Bukhlal Mahto and the plaintiff. At the same time, she sought declaration of title of the suit property on the basis of gift deed dated 22.6.1987 alleged to have been executed by Bukhlal Mahto. The defendants, on the other hand, challenged the genuineness of the gift deed dated 22.6.1987. Both parties led evidence and closed their case. Even the argument of the defendants was closed. It was at this stage such application was filed. In my view, therefore, the Court below has committed serious error of law in allowing the petition for sending the thumb impression for examination by expert.