Allahabad High Court
CHHITAR SINGHversusJ.D.E. AND OTHERS
- Decided
- Bench
- MANJU RANI CHAUHAN
Holding
A writ petition may be dismissed as infructuous when the petitioner fails to appear and does not indicate that the cause of action still exists.
Summary
The petitioner, Chhitar Singh, filed a writ petition in 2001 which remained pending for over two decades. The High Court issued a notice directing that old cases up to 2022 be heard and that non‑appearance could lead to dismissal as infructuous. Neither the petitioner’s counsel appeared nor was the case marked to show that the cause of action still existed. The court observed that the prolonged inactivity indicated loss of interest or that the petition had become infructuous. Consequently, the writ petition was dismissed as infructuous, with liberty to file a recall or restoration application if any cause of action remains.
Issues considered
- Whether a writ petition pending for an extended period can be dismissed as infructuous due to non‑appearance and lack of indication that the cause of action survives
Subjects
- writ petition
- infructuous
- non‑appearance
- case management
- cause of action
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
WRIT - A No. - 33656 of 2001
Chhitar Singh
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
J.D.E. And Others
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Manoj Misra
Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C.
Court No. - 52
HON'BLE MRS. MANJU RANI CHAUHAN, J.
Case is called out. None appears for the parties.
The case is listed in the category of oldest pending cases in the cause list, for
priority hearing.
A notice has been placed on the notice board specifically, mentioning that
"old cases up to the year 2022 shall be taken up in the first round itself. In
case of non-appearance, matter shall be dismissed as infructuous or
otherwise, and in the cases, where the cause of action still survives, the
concerned advocates are expected to mark them accordingly in the cause list.
Failure to do so, may result in its dismissal as infructuous" but, neither the
counsel for the petitioner has appeared nor has the case been marked to
indicate that the cause of action still survives.
Record shows that the matter is pending since the year 2001. It appears that
either the petitioner has lost interest in pursuing the matter or it has become
infructuous.
Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed as infructuous.
Needless to say that the petitioner shall be at liberty to file recall/restoration
application in case any cause of action still survives.
March 18, 2026
Vinod.
(Mrs. Manju Rani Chauhan, J.)
Digitally signed by :-
VINOD KUMAR JAISWAL
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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