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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Reportable CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4805 OF 2014 (Arisin o!t o" SLP (C# No$%&''( o" &))*# Arsa+ S,$ - Anr$ Vs. /ani Prosanna 0!n+! - Ors$ $$$$Respon+ents $. Appellants

JUDGMENT

Pinaki Chandra Gh !"# J. 1. Lea1e rante+$ 2. T2is appeal is +ire3te+ a ainst t2e 4!+ 5ent an+ +e3ree +ate+ Mar32 %(6 &))7 passe+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt o" Cal3!tta in Se3on+ Appeal No$9*) o" %**( b8 :2i32 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt :2ile allo:in t2e se3on+ appeal "ile+ b8 t2e respon+ents 2erein6 set asi+e t2e 3on3!rrent 4!+ 5ents o" t2e Trial Co!rt an+ t2e First Appellate Co!rt$

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$. T2e "a3ts re1eale+ in t2is 3ase are t2at respon+ent Nos$% to ; 2erein "ile+ a s!it in t2e Co!rt o" First M!nsi"6 Distri3t Mal+a6 pra8in 6 inter alia6 "or a per5anent in4!n3tion a ainst t2e +e"en+ants (:2o are appellants 2erein# b8 +e3larin t2e title

o1er &' +e3i5als o" lan+ in R$S$ Plot No$*<=9&< sit!ate+ in Mo!>a Ma2es2 Mati6 P$S$ En re4 /a>ar in Distri3t Mal+a6 ?est /en al$ T2e M!nsi" Co!rt6 Mal+a6 b8 its 4!+ 5ent an+ or+er +ate+ Ma8 %<6 %*7* +is5isse+ t2e sai+ s!it :it2 t2e "in+in t2at t2e plainti""s +i+ not 2a1e an8 ri 2t6 title or interest in t2e s32e+!le propert8$ A rie1e+ b8 t2e +is5issal o" t2eir s!it6 t2e O$C$ Appeal

respon+ents@plainti""s pre"erre+ "irst appeal6 bein

No$ &< o" %*7*6 be"ore t2e Distri3t J!+ e6 Mal+a6 :2erein t2e8 spe3i"i3all8 plea+e+ t2at t2e8 o:ne+ an+ possesse+ t2e s!it lan+ :it2in t2e bo!n+ar8 t2ro! 2 p!r32ase an+ i"ts$

Si5!ltaneo!sl86 "!rt2er 3lai5e+ t2e title to t2e :2ole area b8 a+1erse possession$ On J!l8 %&6%**%6 t2e Assistant Distri3t J!+ e6 Mal+a +is5isse+ t2e First Appeal an+ !p2el+ t2e "in+in s o" t2e Trial Co!rt$ A rie1e+ t2ereb8 t2e respon+ents@

plainti""s pre"erre+ a se3on+ appeal be"ore t2e Cal3!tta Hi 2 Co!rt statin 6 inter alia6 t2at in a +isp!te in a 3on1e8an3e +ee+

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bet:een t2e area an+ +es3ription o" bo!n+ar86 t2e +es3ription o" bo!n+ar8 :o!l+ pre1ail an+ also pointe+ o!t t2at t2e Co!rt belo: 2a+ "aile+ to 3onsi+er t2e A!estion o" a+1erse

possession$ 4. T2e Hi 2 Co!rt b8 its 4!+ 5ent an+ or+er +ate+ Mar32 %(6 &))7 set asi+e t2e 3on3!rrent 4!+ 5ents o" t2e Trial Co!rt an+ t2e First Appellate Co!rt an+ allo:e+ t2e se3on+ appeal "ile+ b8 t2e respon+ents6 2ol+in t2at :2ere t2ere is a +isp!te in a

3on1e8an3e +ee+ bet:een t2e area an+ t2e +es3ription o" t2e bo!n+ar86 t2e +es3ription o" t2e bo!n+ar8 s2all pre1ail$ A rie1e+ b8 t2e sai+ 4!+ 5ent an+ or+er passe+ b8 t2e Hi 2

Co!rt6 t2e appellants 2a1e 3o5e !p be"ore t2is Co!rt b8 "ilin t2is appeal$ 5. Learne+ 3o!nsel appearin on be2al" o" t2e appellants

s!b5itte+ t2at t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent passe+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt in se3on+ appeal s!""ers "ro5 patent errors6 bot2 in la: an+ in "a3t$ It :as s!b5itte+ t2at t2e Hi 2 Co!rt +i+ not "ra5e t2e s!bstantial A!estion o" la: at t2e ti5e o" a+5ission o" t2e

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se3on+ appeal b!t "or5!late+ a A!estion onl8 in t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent a"ter t2e ar !5ents 2a+ been 3on3l!+e+$ %. Per 3ontra6 t2e 3ase o" t2e respon+ents is base+ on t2e pre5ise t2at !n+er t2e pro1iso to s!b@Se3tion (<# o" Se3tion %)) o" t2e Co+e o" Ci1il Pro3e+!re6 %*)7 (2ereina"ter re"erre+ to as BCPCC#6 not2in s2all be +ee5e+ to ta,e a:a8 or abri+ e

t2e po:er o" t2e Co!rt to 2ear6 "or reasons to be re3or+e+6 t2e appeal on an8 ot2er s!bstantial A!estion o" la:6 not "or5!late+ b8 it6 i" it is satis"ie+ t2at t2e 3ase in1ol1es s!32 A!estion an+ t2e Hi 2 Co!rt 2as 3orre3tl8 pro3ee+e+ to "ra5e t2e A!estion o" la: set o!t in t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent$ It is "!rt2er s!b5itte+ t2at t2e A!estion o" la: as set o!t b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt in t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent is t2e appropriate an+ s!bstantial A!estion o" la: arisin in t2e "a3ts an+ 3ir3!5stan3es o" t2is 3ase an+

t2at t2e appeal s2o!l+ be +is5isse+ as t2e Se3on+ Appellate Co!rt 2as 5erel8 set ri 2t t2e apparent per1ersit8 in t2e 4!+ 5ents o" t2e lo:er 3o!rts$ It is s!b5itte+ t2at t2e Hi 2

Co!rt 2as 3orre3tl8 +e3i+e+ t2e 5atter on t2e basis o" t2e A!estion o" la: "ra5e+ in t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent b8 2ol+in 6 inter alia6 t2at :2ere t2ere is a +isp!te bet:een t2e area o" t2e

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trans"erre+ lan+ in+i3ate+ in t2e +ee+ an+ t2e bo!n+aries 5entione+ in t2e +ee+6 bo!n+aries 5entione+ in t2e

3on1e8an3e +ee+ s2all pre1ail$ &. In t2e present 3ase6 it appears "ro5 t2e i5p! ne+ 4!+ 5ent t2at no s!bstantial A!estion o" la: :as "or5!late+ at t2e ti5e o" a+5ission o" appeal an+ as s!32 t2e A!estion :as !n+erstoo+ to be re ar+in t2e 3orre3tness o" 4!+ 5ents o" t2e lo:er 3o!rts$ F!rt2er5ore6 i" an8 s!32 lapse in a+2erin to t2e

pro3e+!re eDiste+ at t2e se3on+ appellate sta e6 t2e 3o!nsel "or t2e parties s2o!l+ 2a1e pointe+ o!t t2e sa5e at t2at sta e onl8 b!t t2e8 ne1er +i+ so$ Moreo1er6 it is 3lear t2at t2e Hi 2 Co!rt basi3all8 "ra5e+ t2e s!bstantial A!estion o" la:6 t2o! 2 at a later sta e6 an+ t2en ans:ere+ it$ 8. T2e eneral r!le re ar+in an appeal !n+er Se3tion %)) o" CPC is t2at t2e 4!ris+i3tion o" t2e Hi 2 Co!rt is li5ite+ to t2e s!bstantial A!estion o" la: "ra5e+ at t2e ti5e o" t2e a+5ission o" appeal or at a s!bseA!ent later sta e6 i" t2e Hi 2 Co!rt is satis"ie+ t2at s!32 a A!estion o" la: arises "ro5 t2e "a3ts "o!n+

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b8 t2e Co!rts belo:$ T2e sa5e 2as been note+ b8 t2is Co!rt in Manicka Poosali & Ors. v. Anjalai Ammal & Anr. 1$ '. In li 2t o" t2e :ell a33epte+ prin3iple t2at r!les o" pro3e+!re is a 2an+5ai+en o" 4!sti3e6 t2e o5ission o" t2e Co!rt in "or5!latin t2e Es!bstantial A!estion o" la:F (:2ile a+5ittin 2ear+ as

t2e appeal# +oes not pre3l!+e t2e sa5e "ro5 bein

liti ants s2o!l+ not be penali>e+ "or an o5ission o" t2e Co!rt$ 10. In t2e present 3ase it is tr!e t2at t2e s!bstantial A!estion

o" la: :as "or5!late+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt6 t2o! 2 not at t2e a+5ission sta e b!t at a later sta e be"ore t2e 2earin 6 it +oes not "ollo: t2at 5erel8 be3a!se t2e Bs!bstantial A!estion o" la:C :as "or5!late+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt at a later sta e6 t2e 4!+ 5ent o" t2e Hi 2 Co!rt be3o5es a n!llit86 liable to be set asi+e b8 t2is Co!rt on t2at ro!n+ alone an+ "or t2e sa5e t2e

appellants be"ore !s 5!st also s2o: pre4!+i3e to t2e5 on t2is a33o!nt$ T2is Co!rt in t2e 3ase Kannan & Ors. v. V.S. Pandurangam2 e1en :ent on to 2ol+ as !n+erG

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(&))<# %) SCC (7 (2007) 15 SCC 157

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In our opinion, !is "our s!ould no ak# an ov#r$ #c!nical vi#% o& !# ma #r o d#clar# !a #v#r' judgm#n o& !# (ig! "our in s#cond app#al %ould )# ill#gal and void, m#r#l' )#caus# no su)s an ial *u#s ion o& la% %as &ormula #d )' !# (ig! "our . Suc! an ov#r$ #c!nical vi#% %ould onl' r#sul in r#mi ing !# ma #r o !# (ig! "our &or a &r#s! d#cision, and !#r#a& #r !# ma #r ma' again som# up )#&or# us in app#al. +!# judiciar' is alr#ad' ov#r$)urd#n#d %i ! !#av' arr#ars, and %# s!ould no ak# a vi#% %!ic! %ould add o !# arr#ars.,

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In li 2t o" t2e abo1e6 :e are o" t2e opinion t2at

s!bstantial A!estion o" la: 3an be "or5!late+ at t2e initial sta e an+ in so5e eD3eptional 3ases6 at a later point o" ti5e6 e1en at t2e ti5e o" ar !5ent sta e s!32 s!bstantial A!estion o" la: 3an be "or5!late+ pro1i+e+ t2e opposite part8 s2o!l+ be p!t on noti3e t2ereon an+ s2o!l+ be i1en a "air or proper

opport!nit8 to 5eet o!t t2e point$ F!rt2er5ore6 t2e 4!+ 5ent o" t2e Hi 2 Co!rt s2o!l+ onl8 be set asi+e on t2e ro!n+ o"

non@3o5plian3e :it2 s!b@se3tion (9# o" Se3tion %)) o" CPC6 i" so5e pre4!+i3e 2as been 3a!se+ to t2e appellants be"ore !s b8 not "or5!latin s!32 a s!bstantial A!estion o" la:$ 12. In t2e instant 3ase6 :e 2a1e noti3e+ t2at s!bstantial

A!estion o" la: :as "ra5e+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt be"ore t2e

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2earin a"ter

too, pla3e an+ t2e appellants :ere p!t on noti3e an+ i1in an opport!nit8 to t2e appellants to 5eet t2e

A!estion6 se3on+ appeal :as +e3i+e+ b8 t2e Hi 2 Co!rt$ T2ere"ore6 in o!r opinion no pre4!+i3e 2as been 3a!se+ to t2e appellants$ 1$. In 1ie: o" t2e +is3!ssion in t2e "ore oin para rap2s6 :e

"in+ no 5erit in t2is appeal an+ t2e sa5e is +is5isse+ a33or+in l8$ Ho:e1er6 t2ere s2all be no or+er as to 3osts$ .$$$$$.$$.......$$J$ (C2an+ra5a!li 0r$ Prasa+# Ne: Del2iH ........$J$ April &(6 &)%9$ I2ose# $$$$$$$$$$$ (Pina,i C2an+ra

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