Nazruddin v. National Insurance Co Ltd.

Delhi High Court · 10 Sep 2018 · 2018:DHC:5822
Sunil Gaur
CM(M) 603/2018
2018:DHC:5822
civil appeal_allowed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court held that a party must be allowed to file a formal application to amend pleadings and the tribunal erred in refusing amendment without permitting such an application.

Full Text
Translation output
CM(M) 603/2018
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Order: September 10, 2018
CM(M) 603/2018 & C.M. 21182/2018
NAZRUDDIN ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. Sunil Kumar, Advocate
VERSUS
NATIONAL INSURANCE CO LTD. ..... Respondent
Through: Mr. Pankaj Seth, Advocate
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL GAUR O R D E R (ORAL)
Impugned order of 15th December, 2017 (Annexure P-1) notes petitioner’s submission that he wants to amend the written statement to incorporate the fact that the driver of the vehicle in question came to meet him and showed his license and thereafter only, he had employed the driver.
Counsel for petitioner submits that permission was sought from the learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (henceforth referred to as the
‘Tribunal”) to file an application for amendment of the written statement already filed by petitioner and without giving an opportunity to file the application, the permission to file the amended reply has been declined by relying upon proviso under Order 6, Rule 17 of CPC.
In the facts and circumstances of this case, I find that the Tribunal
2018:DHC:5822
CM(M) 603/2018 was not justified in declining the oral prayer made by petitioner to file the amended reply/ written statement and an opportunity ought to have been granted to him to file proper application.
Accordingly, impugned order of 15th December, 2017 (Annexure
P-1) is modified to the extent that petitioner is permitted to file an application within a week for amendment of the reply/ written statement.
The Tribunal shall upon receipt of such an application, deal with it in accordance with the law, while keeping in view that any observation in the impugned order in respect of amendment of the written statement/ reply by petitioner, will not be taken into consideration while deciding the said application.
With aforesaid directions, this petition and application are disposed of.
Dasti.
(SUNIL GAUR)
JUDGE
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 r 2018:DHC:5822
JUDGMENT