Disclosure of partners’ names
Full Text
(1) Where a suit is instituted by partners in the name of their firm, the plaintiffs or their pleader shall, on demand in writing by or on behalf of any defendant, forthwith declare in writing the names and places of residence of all the persons constituting the firm on whose behalf the suit is instituted.
(2) Where the plaintiffs or their pleader fail to comply with any demand made under sub-rule (1) all proceedings in the suit may, upon an application for that purpose, be stayed upon such terms as the Court may direct.
(3) Where the names of the partners are declared in the manner referred to in sub-rule (1) the suit shall proceed in the same manner, and the same consequences in all respects shall follow, as if they had been named as plaintiffs in the plaint: Provided that all proceedings shall nevertheless continue in the name of the firm, but the name of the partners disclosed in the manner specified in sub-rule (1) shall be entered in the decree.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that a plaintiff firm must immediately declare in writing the names and addresses of all partners upon the defendant's written demand, failing which suit proceedings may be stayed under sub-rule (2), with the disclosed partners' names eventually entered into the final decree.
Key Legal Elements
- Defendant's Right: Entitlement to demand written disclosure of all constituents of the plaintiff firm.
- Sanction for Default (Sub-rule 2): Absolute stay of suit proceedings until compliance.
- Legal Fiction (Sub-rule 3): Disclosed partners treated as co-plaintiffs for liability and discovery.
- Decree Inscription (Proviso): Proceedings continue in firm name, but individual partners' names are incorporated in the decree.
Practical Note
Strategic Defense Demand for Partner Disclosure: 1. Freezing the Plaintiff's Suit: In defending against a partnership firm, serve a formal written notice under Order XXX Rule 2(1) demanding a verified declaration of all partners. If plaintiff's counsel fails to furnish this within 14 days, move an urgent application under Rule 2(2) for stay of proceedings. 2. Checking with Form A (Registrar of Firms): Cross-examine the disclosed list against Form A from the Registrar of Firms; if the names differ, move for dismissal under Section 69(2) of the Partnership Act.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां भागीदारों द्वारा उनकी फर्म के नाम से कोई वाद संस्थित किया जाता है, वहां वादी या उनका प्लीडर किसी प्रतिवादी द्वारा या उसकी ओर से लिखित मांग किए जाने पर, उन सभी व्यक्तियों के नामों और निवास-स्थानों की लिखित रूप में तुरंत घोषणा करेगा जो उस फर्म को गठित करते हैं जिसकी ओर से वाद संस्थित किया गया है।
(2) जहां वादी या उनका प्लीडर उप-नियम (1) के अधीन की गई किसी मांग का अनुपालन करने में असफल रहता है, वहां उस प्रयोजन के लिए आवेदन किए जाने पर, वाद की सभी कार्यवाहियां ऐसी शर्तों पर रोकी जा सकेंगी (Stay of proceedings) जैसा न्यायालय निदेश दे।
(3) जहां भागीदारों के नाम उप-नियम (1) में निर्दिष्ट रीति से घोषित किए जाते हैं, वहां वाद उसी रीति से आगे बढ़ेगा और सभी दृष्टियों से वही परिणाम होंगे मानो उन्हें वादपत्र में वादियों के रूप में नामित किया गया हो: परंतु सभी कार्यवाहियां फिर भी फर्म के नाम से ही चलती रहेंगी, किंतु उप-नियम (1) में विनिर्दिष्ट रीति से प्रकट किए गए भागीदारों के नाम डिक्री में दर्ज किए जाएंगे।