JUDGEMENT
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(1.)THIS revision is directed against the order dated 1 -8 -2003, whereby learned trial Court has dismissed the application under Order VI, Rule 17 read with Section 151 of C.P.C. filed by the petitioners, hereinafter referred to as "the defendants"
for amendment of their written statement.
(2.)WITH a view to properly understand and appreciate the controversy involved in this revision, case set up by the parties, out of which this revision has arisen, and on which, learned counsel for the parties were not at variance at the time of hearing, need to be briefly noted. These are : -
That a suit was filed by the respondent, hereinafter referred to as "the plaintiff" on the basis of title qua the land as detailed in the plaint again the defendants for permanent prohibitory injunction restraining them from, in any manner, interfering with his possession and ownership. This suit was filed on 19 -9 -1995. Written statement was filed on 29 -9 -1995. Issues were framed on 7 -4 -2000 by the trial Court. This suit is being contested and resisted by the defendants. They have claimed passage, but from which particular parcel of land and where it exists and whether it is over the land in suit belonging to the plaintiff, there was no averment in the written statement. Another fact that needs to be noted here is, that the defendants have not disputed the title of the plaintiff to the suit land. Plaintiff concluded his evidence. Thereafter, it was listed for the first time for evidence of the defendants on 3 -1 -2003. No steps had admittedly been taken by the defendants by either filing list of witness and/or by depositing the process fee as well as road and diet money of the witnesses intended to be summoned by them.
(3.)LEARNED counsel for the parties were further not at variance that the trial Court from 3 -1 -2003 adjourned the case to 27 -3 -2003. Then it was adjourned to 8 -5 -2003. It was also adjourned to 3 -7 -2003, subject to costs of Rs. 200/ -. This was the last opportunity to the defendants for producing evidence. Again it was adjourned to 1 -9 -2003 as last opportunity. It was also again adjourned to 10 -11 -2003. Again, this was the last opportunity allowed to lead evidence by the defendants, subject to costs of Rs.500/ -.