- (1.) Heard learned counsel for the parties. Both the learned counsel for the parties submit that the substantial question of law involved in this appeal is as under :- "Whether the first appellate court committed error of law in dismissing the appellant/tenant's two applications filed under Order 6 Rule 17 by orders dated 6.5.2004 and 16.12.2004 and application filed under Order 41 Rule 27 CPC by order dated 7.2.2005." Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the first appellate court committed serious error of law in dismissing the appellant's two applications filed under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC whereby he sought permission to amend the written statement. Amendment of written statement was necessary as it had material bearing on the correct decision of the appeal as well as of the suit. It is also submitted that the first appellate court committed error of law in dismissing the application under Order 41 Rule 27 CPC by order dated 7.2.2005 on the ground that in case, the application is allowed, it will delay the proceedings. It is submitted that such cannot be a ground for denying the legitimate claim and defence of the defendant. It is also submitted that the first appellate court has erred in dismissing the amendment application on the ground that after amendment of CPC, the amendment cannot be allowed at appellate stage.
(2.) Learned counsel for the respondent fairly conceded that the rejection of the applications under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC merely on the ground that the amendment application cannot be considered and allowed by the first appellate court after the amendment of CPC is not correct. It is also submitted that in case, the first appellate court is directed to decide the applications of the appellant on merits, then the respondent has no objection in setting aside the decree because without setting aside the decree passed by the first appellate court, those applications cannot be decided by the first appellate court. In view of the above facts and in view of the settled legal position that the first appellate court could not have rejected the applications filed under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC merely on the ground that the first appellate court had no jurisdiction to consider and decide these applications merely because of the amendment made in the CPC in the year 2002. The first appellate court also committed serious error of law in rejecting the appellant's application under Order 41 Rule 27 CPC on the ground that it will delay the proceedings without considering the merits of the applications and all relevant facts for this purpose. In view of the above, the substantial question of law is decided in favour of the appellant.
(3.) Learned counsel for the also argued that the first appellate court committed error of law in rejecting the prayer of the appellant for non-framing of the issue on the point of comparative hardship which is required under Section 14(2) of the Act of 1950.;