Showing posts with label absence of pleading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label absence of pleading. Show all posts

Sunday, 19 April 2026

Supreme Court: Ex Parte Suit Cannot Be Dismissed on Ground of No Title in Absence of Pleading Contesting Title

As laid down in Man Kaur (dead) by LRs v.

Hartar Singh Sangha (2010) 10 SCC 512, there must be a valid

contract; that defendant committed breach of

and readiness and willingness of the plaintiff to

perform his part of contract. {Para 30}

31. In present case, all the three essentials are

present. However, the suit was dismissed for

lack of title in favour of the Respondent. No

issues or points for determination were framed

for the same. Appellant at no point was given an

opportunity to lead evidence on the same. In the

absence of any issues, and especially in the

absence of any pleading contesting title of the

Respondent, the Appellant could not be

expected to prove such title in a suit for specific

performance of Agreement to sell. Therefore,

omission to frame issues has caused prejudice

to the Appellant.

32. Hence, the judgment and decree passed by the

trial court does not fulfil the requirements of a

judgment as provided for under the Code of Civil

Procedure, 1908. The judgments and decree of

both the courts below are, therefore, not in

accordance with law and thus, set-aside. 

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2026

PRAMOD SHROFF  Vs MOHAN SINGH CHOPRA 

AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH, J.

Citation: 2026 INSC 378

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