Court may proceed notwithstanding either party fails to produce evidence, etc.
Full Text
Where any party to a suit to whom time has been granted fails to produce his evidence, or to cause the attendance of his witnesses, or to perform any other act necessary to the further progress of the suit, for which time has been allowed, the Court may, notwithstanding such default,—
(a) if the parties are present, proceed to decide the suit forthwith; or
(b) if the parties are, or any of them is, absent, proceed under rule 2.
Plain English Summary
Empowers the Court, upon default by a party granted time to produce evidence or take procedural steps, to decide the suit forthwith on merits if parties are present, or revert to Rule 2 (Order IX disposal) if any party is absent.
Key Legal Elements
- Prerequisite of Prior Time Granted: Time must have been granted specifically to that party for a defined act.
- Default in Specified Act: Failure to produce evidence, summon witnesses, or take procedural steps.
- Clause (a) - Both Parties Present: Court proceeds to decide the suit forthwith on existing record (on merits).
- Clause (b) - Party Absent: Mandatory reversion to Rule 2 (Order IX dismissal/ex-parte disposal).
Practical Note
Crucial Nuance Between Rule 3(a) and Rule 3(b): 1. Landmark Precedent - Prakash Chander Manchanda v. Janki Manchanda (1986) 4 SCC 699: The Supreme Court established that the Court cannot proceed to decide the suit on merits under Rule 3 against an absent party. If the party who failed to produce evidence is absent, Clause (b) mandates that the court must proceed under Rule 2 (Order IX mode). Deciding on merits in the party's absence is an error of jurisdiction. 2. Litigant Dilemma: If counsel appears and says 'No instructions' and withdraws, the party is deemed absent; hence the court must proceed under Rule 3(b) -> Rule 2 -> Order IX.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां वाद का कोई पक्षकार, जिसे समय दिया गया था, अपना साक्ष्य पेश करने में, या अपने साक्षियों को उपस्थित कराने में, अथवा वाद की अतिरिक्त प्रगति के लिए आवश्यक किसी अन्य कार्य को करने में, जिसके लिए समय दिया गया था, असफल रहता है, वहां न्यायालय ऐसे व्यतिक्रम के होते हुए भी—
(क) यदि पक्षकार उपस्थित हैं, तो वाद का तुरंत विनिश्चय (Decide the suit forthwith) करने के लिए अग्रसर हो सकेगा; अथवा
(ख) यदि पक्षकार या उनमें से कोई अनुपस्थित है, तो नियम 2 के अधीन कार्यवाही करने के लिए अग्रसर हो सकेगा।