Bombay High Court
FATRU ALIKHAN KHADAR ALIKHAN LASHKARI THROUGH LRS JULEKHABI FATRU ALI KHAN AND OTHERSversusISHRAT ALIKHAN KHADAR ALIKHAN LASHKARI THROUGH LRS KHAMRAMUNNISA ISHRAT ALI LASHKARI AND OTHERS
- Disposal
- DISPOSED OFF
Holding
The trial court’s order setting aside the ex‑parte judgment was proper and not perverse, so the writ petition is dismissed.
Summary
The petitioners challenged a judgment dated 31‑08‑2019 in which a Junior Division Civil Judge set aside an ex‑parte decree in a partition suit (Civil Suit No.141/2002). They argued that the decree should not have been vacated because the application under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC was filed 85 days after the decree, exceeding the 30‑day limitation prescribed by Article 123 of the Limitation Act, 1963, and that no condonation under Section 5 was sought. The respondents contended that the defendants had no knowledge of the decree until the application was filed, making the filing timely, and that the trial court correctly applied the law. The High Court examined the trial court’s findings, noted that the suit had proceeded ex‑parte based on a false service report, and concluded that the trial court had not erred in its discretion. Consequently, the Court held that there was no ground to interfere with the trial court’s order and dismissed the writ petition, leaving the civil application disposed.
Issues considered
- Whether the application under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC was filed within the statutory limitation period.
- Whether the lack of a condonation application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, renders the trial court’s order setting aside the ex‑parte decree invalid.
- Whether the trial court’s finding that the defendants had knowledge of the decree at the time of filing the application is correct.
Legislation cited
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s. Order 9 Rule 13
- Limitation Act, 1963 — s. Article 123, Section 5
Subjects
- partition suit
- ex‑parte judgment
- limitation period
- Order 9 Rule 13
- Civil Procedure Code
- Limitation Act 1963
- writ petition
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:21378
Writ Petition No.14152/2019
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO.14152 OF 2019 WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO.9914 OF 2023
Fatru Alikhan s/o Khadar Alikhan
Lashkari, Died through L.Rs.
Julekhabi w/o Fatru Ali Khan & ors. ….Petitioners
VERSUS
Ishrat Alikhan s/o Khadar Alikhan
Lashkari, Died through L.Rs.
Khamramunnisa w/o Ishrat Ali Lashkari & ors. ….Respondents
.......
Mr. Y.M. Khan, Advocate for petitioners
Mr. M.S. Chaudhary, Advocate for R.No.1/3 to 1/10, 2, 4, 5, 9,
11, 12, 16, 20 21/ to 21/3
....…
CORAM : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.
DATE : 30th APRIL, 2026
ORDER:
1. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties.
2. The petitioners are aggrieved by the judgment and order
dated 31/8/2019, passed by learned Jt. Civil Judge, Junior Division,
Writ Petition No.14152/2019
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Ahmedpur, District Latur in Civil Misc. Application No.45/2005,
whereby the learned Trial Court allowed the application for setting
aside the ex-parte judgment and decree passed in Regular Civil Suit
No.141/2002.
3. Mr. Y.M. Khan, learned counsel for the petitioners
submits that, the petitioner No.1 filed Regular Civil Suit
No.141/2002 for partition and separate possession and perpetual
injunction. The suit proceeded ex-pate against original defendants
No.1 to 6, 8 to 10, 12 to 17, 19, 21 and 23 to 27 and proceeded
without written statement against defendants No.7, 11 and 18. The
defendant No.2 admitted the contents of the plaint. Learned Trial
Court framed the issues and after recording evidence and hearing
the arguments, decreed the suit of the petitioner No.1/ original
plaintiff with costs. The respondent No.1 to 6 filed Misc. Civil
Application No.45/2005 for setting aside the ex-parte judgment and
decree, by contending that the suit summons were not properly
served upon them and the plaintiff, in collusion with the bailiff,
secured false report about refusal of summons. There was delay of
85 days in filing the above application. Learned Jt. Civil Judge,
Writ Petition No.14152/2019
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Junior Division, Ahmedpur allowed the said application and set
aside the ex-parte judgment. He further submits that, the order
passed by the Civil Court is contrary to the provisions of Order 9
Rule 13 of the Civil Procedure Code and the learned Trial Court
failed to consider that the respondents/ original defendants had
knowledge about passing of the ex-parte judgment and decree, but
they did not file application and there was delay. He submits that,
as per Article 123 of the Limitation Act, 1963 application under
Order 9 Rule 13 ought to have been filed within a period of 30 days
from the date of decree whereas there is delay of 85 days from the
date of passing judgment and decree. However, the learned Trial
Court failed to consider the same and recorded a finding that from
the date of knowledge there was no delay. He submits that, in
absence of application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963
for condonation of delay, the learned Trial Court allowed the
application and, therefore, the order which is impugned in this
petition is liable to be quashed and set aside.
4. Mr. M.S. Choudhary, learned counsel for the respondents
submits that the order passed by the Trial Court is legal and proper.
Writ Petition No.14152/2019
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He submits that, in fact it is the contention of the petitioner herein
that the petitioner No.1/ original plaintiff has managed the bailiff
and obtained such report, but in fact as they were not served, they
were not having knowledge of the same and, therefore, from the
date of knowledge, the application was filed within limitation and
this was rightly considered by the learned Trial Court and allowed
the application. He, therefore, prayed to dismiss the Writ Petition.
5. Having heard Learned counsel for both the sides and
after going through the reasonings recorded by the learned Trial
Court, it is undisputed fact that the petitioner No.1/ original
plaintiff has filed the suit for partition against 27 defendants
including the respondents herein. Though it was stated that the suit
proceeded ex-parte on the basis of report of the service of summons
on 16/8/2004, it can be revealed from the record that, the learned
Trial Court recorded a finding in paragraph Nos.15, 16 and 17
which needs to be extracted from the order passed by the learned
Trial Court. Therefore, I find that, the learned Trial Court has
rightly allowed the application. Considering the above findings, I
do not find that the learned Trial Court has recorded a perverse
Writ Petition No.14152/2019
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finding. As such, no case is made out for interference in the
impugned order. Hence, the Writ Petition is devoid of merits. The
same is dismissed. No order as to costs. In view of dismissal of the
Writ Petition, Civil Application No.9914/2023 stands disposed of.
(SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.)
fmp/-
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