Patna High Court

Dev Kumar Sah @ Dev Kumar PrasadversusVikrma Sah and Ors

Decided: 31 March 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: S B P SINGH

Holding

The court held that ordering the production of century‑old records is futile and cannot be compelled absent an authentic proof of their existence, thus dismissing the application.

Summary

The petitioners, a large group of heirs, filed an application in the Patna High Court seeking to set aside the order dated 31‑10‑2018 of the Munsif, Saran, which had rejected their prayer to call the original records of Rent Suit No. 22/105/1920 from the Chapra collectorate. The petitioners, who are defendants in Title Suit No. 19 of 2008, argued that the original auction purchase record from the 1920 rent suit was essential to prove their title. The court observed that the case was already at the final argument stage and the petitioners had no documentary evidence of the 1920 records. It further noted that under the Civil Court Rules, it is unreasonable to expect the entire record of a suit from 1920 to survive, and ordering its production would be a futile exercise. Consequently, the application was dismissed, with a direction that only an authentic chit proving the existence of such a document could revive the request. The order of the Munsif was upheld and the petition was disposed.

Issues considered

Whether a court may order the production of original records of a suit dated 1920 at the final argument stage of a related title suit.
Whether the rejection of the petitioner's prayer to call such records by the Munsif was illegal.

Subjects

civil procedure
evidence
record of suit
court rules
application to call records
title suit

Judgment

         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
             CIVIL MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION No.73 of 2019
     ======================================================
1.    Dev Kumar Sah @ Dev Kumar Prasad Son of Late Ram Sahay Prasad,
      Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh,
      District- Saran.
2.   Pradeep Sah @ Pradeep Kumar Sah Son of Late Ram Sahay Prasad,
     Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh,
     District- Saran.
3.   Arun Sah @ Arun Kumar Prasad Son of Late Ram Sahay Prasad Resident of
     Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
4.   Prem Sah @ Munna Sah @ Prem Kumar Son of late Ram Sahay Prasad,
     Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh,
     District- Saran.
5.   Most. Sita Kuer Wife of Late Jagat Narayan Sah, Resident of Mauza
     Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
6.   Shiv Kumar Sah @ Shiv Kumar Prasad Son of Late Jagat Narayan Sah,
     Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh,
     District- Saran.
7.   Jitendra Sah @ Jitendra Kumar Son of Late Jagat Narayan Sah, Resident of
     Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
8.   Pramod Sah @ Pramod Kumar Son of Late Jagat Narayan Sah, Resident of
     Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
9.   Santosh Sah @ Santosh Kumar Son of Late Jagat Narayan Sah, Resident of
     Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
10. Pana Devi Widow of Late Saryug Sah @ Saryug Prasad Resident of Mauza
1. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. mashrakh, District- Saran.
10. Sanjay Kumar Son of late Saryug Sah @ Saryug Prasad, Resident of Mauza
2. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
10. Jay Prakash Prasad Son of Late Saryug Sah @ Saryug Prasad, Resident of
3. Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
10. Raju Prasad Son of late Saryug Sah @ Saaryug Prasad, Resident of Mauza
4. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
11. Kanti Kuer Widow of late Harihar Sah @ Harihar Prasad, Resident of
1. Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
11. Amit Sah Son of late Harihar Sah @ harihar Prasad, Resident of Mauza
2. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
11. Ravi Sah Son of Late harihar Sah @ Harihar Prasad, Resident of Mauza
3. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
12. Surendra Sah @ Surendra Prasad Son of Late Sitaram Sah, Resident of
    Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
13. Premchand Sah @ Premchand Prasad Son of Late Sitaram Sah, Resident of
    Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
14. Kanti Devi Widow of Late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad, Resident of
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  1.    Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Sandhya Devi D/o late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad Resident of Mauza
  2. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Beauty Devi D/o late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad Resident of Mauza
  3. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Khushbu Devi D/o Late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad Resident of Mauza
  4. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Nisha Devi D/o Late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad, Resident of Mauza
  5. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Sweeti Devi D/o late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad Resident of Mauza
  6. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  14. Raja Kumar Son of Late Sudama Sah @ Sudama Prasad, Resident of Mauza
  7. Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  15. Krishna Sah @ Krishna Prasad Son of Late Ramashray Sah, Resident of
      Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  16. Laldeo Sah @ Laldeo Prasad Son of Khushi Sah, Resident of Mauza
      Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.

                                                                ... ... Petitioner/s
                                      Versus
  1.1. Most Sona Devi Widow of Late Vikrama Sah, Resident of Mauja -
       Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.2. Niranjan Kumar Son of Late Vikrama Sah Resident of Mauja - Dumarsan,
       P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.3. Usha Devi Wife of Gaurishankar Verma and Daughter of Late Vikrama Sah,
       Resident of Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh,
       District- Saran.
  1.4. Asha Devi Wife of Ashok Sah and D/o Late Vikrama Sah, Resident of
       Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.5. Manju Devi Wife of Shri Bhagwan Sah and D/o Late Vikrama Sah, Resident
       of Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District-
       Saran.
  1.6. Rita Devi Wife of Dhiraj Kumar and D/o Late Vikrama Sah, Resident of
       Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.7. Ranjit Kumar Son of Late Vikrama Sah, Resident of Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O.
       Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.8. Kunti Devi Wife of Niraj Kumar and D/o Late Vikrama Sah, Resident of
       Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.9. Most. Rina Devi Widow of Late Hartendra Prasad and Daughter - in - Law
       of Late Vikrama Sah Resident of Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra,
       P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
  1.1 Shweta Kumari D/o Late Harendra Prasad and grand daughter of Late
  0. Vikrama Sah, Resident of Mauja - Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangra, P.S.
      Mashrakh, District- Saran.
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            2.    Prabhu Sah Son of Late Paras Sah, Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                  Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            3.    Baliram Sah Son of late Paras Sah Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                  Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            4.    Shriram Sah Son of late Paras Sah, Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                  Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            5.    Kalawati Devi Wife of Shri Kamal Sah, D/o Late Paras Sah, Resident of
                  Village Katalpur, P.S. baikunthpur, Dr. Katalpur, District- Gopalganj.
            6.    Nand Kumar Sah Son of late Ram Sahay Prasad, Resident of Mauza
                  Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            7.1. Manju Devi Widow of Late Anil Sah Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                 Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            7.2. Aman Kumar Son of late Anil Sah, Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                 Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            7.3. Mini Kumari D/o Late Anil Sah, Resident of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O.
                 Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            8.    Vinod Sah Son of late Ram Sahay Prasad, Resident of Mauza Dumarsan,
                  P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District- Saran.
            9.    Indu Devi Wife of Rameshwar Sah, D/o Late Ram Sahay Prasad, Resident
                  of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District-
                  Saran.
            10. Bindu Devi Wife of Om Prakash Sah, D/o Late Ram Sahay Prasad, Resident
                of Mauza Dumarsan, P.O. Dumarsan Bangara, P.S. Mashrakh, District-
                Saran.

                                                            ... ... Respondent/s
                  ======================================================
                  Appearance :
                  For the Petitioner/s     :        Mr.Jitendra Kishore Verma
                  For the Respondent/s     :        Mr.Jainendra Kumar
                  ======================================================
                  CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. B. PD. SINGH
                                        ORAL ORDER

12   31-03-2026                  Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of both the

                    parties.

                                 2. The instant application has been filed on behalf of

                    petitioner for setting aside the order dated 31.10.2018 passed by

                    learned Munsif, Saran in Title Suit No. 19 of 2008 whereby and

                    whereunder the learned Court below has illegally rejected the
Patna High Court C.Misc. No.73 of 2019(12) dt.31-03-2026
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          prayer of petitioner for calling of original records of Rent Suit

          No. 22/105/1920 from Chapra collectoriate office on the ground

          of belated stage of the suit.

                       3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Title

          Suit No. 19 of 2008 is going on in which he is defendant and he

          claims his title in the said suit on the basis of auction purchase

          with respect to suit property. He further submits that original

          record of auction purchase pertaining to Rent Suit No.

          22/105/1920 be called for so that he can prove his case with

          respect to suit property.

                       4. From perusal of impugned order dated 31.10.2018,

          it appears that this case is at the stage of final argument after

          concluding the evidence of both the parties. Petitioner/defendant

          is not in a position to show any document/photo copy/certified

          copy of the aforesaid Rent Suit No. 22/105/1920.

                       5. As per Civil Court Rules, the entire record of the

          year 1920 cannot be expected to be survived in the Civil Court.

          So, calling for aforesaid record will amount to futile exercise

          because nothing can be obtained from the aforesaid record.

          However, if petitioner produces any authentic chit of paper with

          respect to availability of document in that case, he can file the

          same before pronouncement of judgment and in that event, Trial
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                    Court may take exercise to call for those documents in

                    accordance with law.

                                 6. With the aforesaid observation, the instant

                    application stands disposed of.



                                                (S. B. Pd. Singh, J)
Ankit Kumar/-

U

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