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1980 CLC 1642

Mst. MOHBAT BI vs QASIM ALI AND others

Citation1980 CLC 1642
CourtHigh Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Case No.Civil Revision No, 11 of 1977
Date1977-04-23
Judge(s)Sardar Muhammad Sharif Khan
ResultRevision accepted

1. ' This is a revision petition against an order dated 20th November 1976 passed by Sub-Judge, Bagh by which Mst. Ashraf Jan, the next friend of the minor-plaintiff Mst. Mohbat Bi was allowed to withdraw the suit. Mst. Ashraf Jan, the next friend and Mst. Mohbat Bi, the minor-plaintiff are the real sisters. The former is married to one Gul Hussain.

2. ' After the death of the father of the girls, the property left by their father was inherited by the mother of the girls, named Ashkar Bi and a sister of the deceased and the daughters themselves.

3. ' It so happened that Mst. Ashraf Jan, the mother of the plaintiff-petitioner entered into a second marriage with one Fateh Alam son of Qasim Ali, the respondent.

4. ' The land inherited by the legal heirs of Sher Mohammad was sold to Qasim Ali respondent by Ashkar Bi, the widow, Mst. Kammi, the sister and Mst. Mohbat Bi, the minor through the mother acting as her guardian. This sale to the extent of the share of Mohbat Bi, minor was challenged by Ms:. Mohbat Bi through Gul Hussain, her next freind. Gul Hussain was replaced by his wife Mst.

5. Ashraf Jan as a next friend of the minor-plaintiff. It was very soon after her becoming the next friend of the plaintiff that an application for permission of withdrawal of the suit was made by Mst.

6. Ashraf Jan which was accepted and she was allowed to make the withdrawal of suit, which was accordingly made and consequently the suit was dismissed by the Court.

7. ' In the matter of withdrawal it was reasoned by the next friend that the plaintiff was unable to bear the expenses of litigation and that the withdrawal would be in the interest of the minor. There was no apparent benefit of the minor in the withdrawal of the suit. Gul Hussain, the first next-friend made a statement before the Court that he wanted to continue the suit just to obtain the land for his wife who is obviously Mst. Ashraf Jan, the second next-friend substituted in his place. It was how be was removed from the prosecution of the case and Mst. Ashraf Jan was allowed to act as a next-friend of the minor. The perusal of the orders made by the Sub-Judge in respect of withdrawal of the suit shows that he was not at all conscientious and judicious of mild while granting permission for withdrawal of the suit and passing an order in dismissing the suit. It is the bounden duty of Court to see that the withdrawal of the suit is effected in the interest of the minor and for that, reasons are to be advanced by the Court in the orders to be made by it in this behalf so that 'visibility of the interest or benefit of the minor should be open there. The first order which was made by the Sub-Judge on the application for leave to withdraw was simplyl4 written in these words : "Permission is accorded." Evidently, there is no reason whatsoever, given for grant of this application. Again, the impugned order is absolutely silent so far as she role of the Court is concerned to give reasons while making an order dismissing the suit. Thus we see that, the learned Sub-Judge had not properly exercised the judicial discretion in granting the leave to withdraw the suit on behalf of the minor. As already indicated, the learned Sub-Judge did not work to the satisfaction o his mind that the withdrawal was for the benefit of the minor. He lacked t give a proper finding in the matter containing the reasons. The learned Counsel for the petitioner who has moved the petition on behalf of the next-friend, Faqir Mohammad by name gives assurance that the next-friend for being related to the minor is prepared to incur all the expenses in the litigation and will not betray the minor in any manner, whatsoever. The trial Court to which the case is going to be remanded for trial shall take a bond from him (next-friend) that he will be personally responsible for the expenses of the plaintiff in connection with the prosecution of the case till it is finally disposed of by, the Court.

8. ' Thus, for the reasons above, this revision petition is accepted, and the impugned order of the trial Court is set aside and the case is remanded to it for its trial and disposal in accordance with law.

9. Faqir Mohammad would be substituted as the next friend of the minor in the original suit to be restored to its original number.

Cited by 3 cases

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