General power to amend
Full Text
The Court may at any time, and on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it may think fit, amend any defect or error in any proceeding in a suit; and all necessary amendments shall be made for the purpose of determining the real question or issue raised by or depending on such proceeding.
Plain English Summary
Section 153 confers wide general power upon the court to rectify any defect or error in any civil proceeding at any stage, mandating that all necessary amendments must be allowed to determine the real controversy and substantive questions in dispute between the parties.
Key Legal Elements
- Omnibus Amendment Power: Extends to any defect or error in any proceeding in a civil suit.
- Unrestricted Temporal Jurisdiction: Exercisable 'at any time' during proceedings.
- Mandatory Determination of Real Issue: Amendments must be permitted to determine the real controversy or question raised.
- Conditional Sanction: Subject to such terms as to compensatory costs or conditions as the court deems fit.
Practical Note
General Power of Amendment vs Order VI Rule 17 (Pleadings): 1. Broader Scope than Order VI Rule 17: While Order VI Rule 17 is specifically confined to amending 'pleadings' (plaints and written statements) and is constrained by the post-trial proviso, Section 153 applies to ANY proceeding in a suit (e.g. memorandum of appeal, execution petitions, summons, court minutes, or commissioner warrants). 2. Curative Power: Courts invoke Section 153 to correct misdescriptions of parties, inadvertent omission of parties' parentage/addresses, or technical title defects. 3. Substantive Justice Over Procedure: Procedural errors must not defeat substantive rights; Section 153 codifies the principle that rules of procedure are handmaidens of justice, not mistresses.
हिंदी पाठ
न्यायालय किसी भी समय, और खर्चों के बारे में या अन्यथा ऐसे निबंधनों पर जो वह ठीक समझे, किसी वाद की किसी कार्यवाही में की किसी त्रुटि या भूल का संशोधन कर सकेगा; और वे सभी आवश्यक संशोधन उस वास्तविक प्रश्न या विवादक (Real question or issue) को अवधारित करने के प्रयोजन के लिए किए जाएंगे जो ऐसी कार्यवाही द्वारा उठाया गया है या उस पर निर्भर है।