47/1997 Civil Revision Shabbir Khan & Ors. (Appellant) V/S Haji Abdul Latif Khan (Respondent)
Sindh High Court
Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Nazar Akbar
Order Date: 29-MAR-16
(a) Civil Procedure Code (V of 1908)--- ----Ss. 151, 96, 10 & 11 & O. XLI, R. 27---Appeal---Inherent powers under S.151, C.P.C. exercised by the Appellate Court---Scope---Respondent moved an application under S.151, C.P.C. claiming res judicata against the suit---Appellate Court remanded the case while exercising powers under S.151, C.P.C.---Validity---Respondent raised a factual issue before the Appellate Court through application under S.151, C.P.C. which was not raised before the Trial Court---Powers of civil court under S.151, C.P.C. had certain restrictions in application of the same could not be equated with the powers of a court of original civil jurisdiction---Provisions of Civil Procedure Code which empowered courts of original civil jurisdiction while dealing with civil suits like provisions of Ss.10 & 11, C.P.C. were not available to the appellate court while exercising authority in terms of S.96, C.P.C.---Appellate Court had not given reference to the findings of the Trial Court while deciding the appeal and had exercised the powers of a court of original civil jurisdiction which were not vested in it---Exercise of power under S.151, C.P.C. by the Appellate Court was improper and uncalled for---Trial Court had not discussed the issue of res judicata in its judgment---Issue which was not taken up and decided by the Trial Court was not supposed to be examined by the Appellate Court---Issue of res judicata ought to have been raised first before the Trial Court for its decision and not at the appellate stage for the first time--Question of res judicata was a question of fact and parties had to first allege it and then prove it through evidence---Appellate Court was not supposed to examine a new/fresh defence (plea of res judicata) at appellate stage---If appeal was time barred then Appellate Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the same and remand the suit---Appellate Court had exercised the jurisdiction not vested in it---Impugned judgment and decree were set aside and appeal was remanded for decision afresh---Appellate Court was directed to first examine the question of limitation for filing the appeal before proceeding further in the matter---Revision was disposed of in circumstances. (b) Civil Procedure Code (V of 1908)--- ----S. 11---Res judicata---Power of appellate Court---Scope---Question of res judicata was a question of fact and parties had to first allege it and then prove it through evidence---Appellate Court was not supposed to examine a new/fresh defence (plea of res judicata) at appellate stage. (c) Civil Procedure Code (V of 1908)--- ----S. 151---Inherent power---Scope---Civil court was not supposed to resort to the inherent powers in presence of a specific provision available in C.P.C. to deal with a particular situation. (d) Civil Procedure Code (V of 1908)--- ----S. 115---Revisional jurisdiction of High Court---Scope---High Court had suo motu power to examine the correctness, legality and propriety of an order passed by the subordinate court at any time and if subordinate court had improperly exercised its jurisdiction and/ or exercised jurisdiction not vested in it then High Court could set aside the said order.Full judgment text for this case is not yet available on Pakistan Law Reports. Check the official Sindh High Court case law portal for the complete order.
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