Duty of Court in suits against the Government or a public officer to assist in arriving at a settlement
Full Text
(1) In every suit or proceeding to which the Government, or a public officer acting in his official capacity, is a party, it shall be the duty of the Court to make, in the first instance, every endeavour, where it is possible to do so consistently with the nature and circumstances of the case, to assist the parties in arriving at a settlement in respect of the subject-matter of the suit.
(2) If, in any such suit or proceeding, at any stage, it appears to the court that there is a reasonable possibility of a settlement between the parties, the Court may adjourn the proceeding for such period as it thinks fit, to enable attempts to be made to effect such a settlement.
(3) The power conferred under sub-rule (2) is in addition to any other power of the Court to adjourn proceedings.
Plain English Summary
Imposes an active statutory duty upon courts in government litigation to facilitate amicable settlement and ADR mechanisms, empowering the court to adjourn proceedings to enable negotiations.
Key Legal Elements
- Statutory Duty of Court: Court must actively promote conciliation and amicable resolution.
- Timing: Mandated 'in the first instance' and available at any subsequent stage.
- Adjournment for Settlement: Court may adjourn proceedings specifically to enable departmental settlement.
- Harmonious Reading with Section 89: Links with Lok Adalat and mediation under Section 89 CPC.
Practical Note
Using Rule 5B to Force Departmental Resolution: Government officials often hesitate to settle disputes out of fear of vigilance inquiry. Counsel can invoke Rule 5B to request the trial judge to convene an in-chamber settlement conference or refer the dispute to a High-Powered Committee / Lok Adalat, providing officials with judicial protection to agree to a fair compromise.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) ऐसे प्रत्येक वाद या कार्यवाही में जिसमें सरकार, या अपनी पदीय हैसियत में कार्य करने वाला कोई लोक अधिकारी पक्षकार है, न्यायालय का यह कर्तव्य होगा कि वह प्रथम दृष्टया, जहां मामले की प्रकृति और परिस्थितियों से सुसंगत रूप में ऐसा करना संभव हो, वाद की विषय-वस्तु के संबंध में किसी समझौते पर पहुंचने में पक्षकारों की सहायता करने का हर संभव प्रयास करे।
(2) यदि ऐसे किसी वाद या कार्यवाही में, किसी भी प्रक्रम पर, न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत होता है कि पक्षकारों के बीच समझौते की युक्तियुक्त संभावना है, तो न्यायालय ऐसे समझौते को कराने के प्रयास किए जाने को समर्थ बनाने के लिए कार्यवाही को ऐसी अवधि के लिए स्थगित कर सकेगा जैसी वह ठीक समझे।
(3) उप-नियम (2) के अधीन प्रदत्त शक्ति कार्यवाहियों को स्थगित करने की न्यायालय की किसी अन्य शक्ति के अतिरिक्त है।