Procedure in case of death of one of several plaintiffs or of sole plaintiff
Full Text
(1) Where one of two or more plaintiffs dies and the right to sue does not survive to the surviving plaintiff or plaintiffs alone, or a sole plaintiff or sole surviving plaintiff dies and the right to the sue survives, the Court, on an application made in that behalf, shall cause the legal representative of the deceased plaintiff to be made a party and shall proceed with the suit.
(2) Where within the time limited by law no application is made under sub-rule (1), the suit shall abate so far as the deceased plaintiff is concerned, and, on the application of the defendant, the Court may award to him the costs which he may have incurred in defending the suit, to be recovered from the estate of the deceased plaintiff.
Plain English Summary
Governs the substitution of legal representatives upon the death of a sole plaintiff or co-plaintiff, mandating an application within the statutory 90-day limitation period under Article 120, failing which the suit automatically abates.
Key Legal Elements
- Trigger Event: Death of sole plaintiff or co-plaintiff where right devolves on outside legal heirs.
- Application Requirement: Formal petition under Order XXII Rule 3 supported by affidavit and death certificate.
- 90-Day Strict Limitation Period: Governed by Article 120 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
- Automatic Abatement (Sub-rule 2): Occurs by operation of law; no separate court order needed to declare abatement.
- Estate Liable for Defendant's Costs: Defendant can recover defense costs from deceased's estate.
Practical Note
Limitation & Abatement Mechanics: 1. Automatic Abatement: In Perumon Bhagvathy Devaswom v. Bhargavi Amma (2008) 8 SCC 321 & Mithailal Dalsangar Singh v. Kiran Devi (2003) 10 SCC 691, the Supreme Court clarified that abatement takes place automatically on the 91st day by operation of law. No judicial order is required to effectuate it. 2. Remedy After 90 Days: If 90 days have expired, the plaintiff's heirs cannot file a simple Rule 3 application. They must file a composite tripartite application: (i) Under Rule 9 to set aside abatement; (ii) Under Section 5 Limitation Act for condonation of delay; and (iii) Under Rule 3 for substitution.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां दो या अधिक वादियों में से किसी एक की मृत्यु हो जाती है और वाद लाने का अधिकार अकेले जीवित वादी या वादियों को नहीं बचता है, अथवा एकमात्र वादी या एकमात्र जीवित वादी की मृत्यु हो जाती है और वाद लाने का अधिकार बचा रहता है, वहां न्यायालय इस निमित्त किए गए आवेदन पर मृत वादी के विधिक प्रतिनिधि (Legal Representative) को पक्षकार बनाएगा और वाद में आगे बढ़ेगा।
(2) जहां विधि द्वारा परिसीमित समय (90 दिन) के भीतर उप-नियम (1) के अधीन कोई आवेदन नहीं किया जाता है, वहां वाद मृत वादी के संबंध में उपशमित (Suit shall abate) हो जाएगा, और प्रतिवादी के आवेदन पर न्यायालय उसे वे खर्चे दिलवा सकेगा जो उसने वाद की प्रतिरक्षा में उपगत किए हों, जो मृत वादी की संपदा से वसूल किए जाएंगे।