Decree against minor not to be set aside unless prejudice has been caused to his interest
Full Text
(1) No decree passed against a minor shall be set aside merely on the ground that the next friend or guardian for the suit of the minor had an interest in the subject-matter of the suit adverse to that of the minor, but the fact that by reasons of such adverse interest of the next friend or guardian for the suit, prejudice has been caused to the interests of the minor, shall be a ground for setting aside the decree.
(2) Nothing in this rule shall preclude the minor from obtaining any relief available under any law by reason of the misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the next friend or guardian for the suit resulting in prejudice to the interests of the minor.
Plain English Summary
Inserted by Act 104 of 1976 establishing that a decree against a minor will not be set aside on mere technical grounds of adverse interest of the guardian unless substantive prejudice is established, while preserving the minor's right to impeach decrees obtained through guardian misconduct or gross negligence.
Key Legal Elements
- Substantive Prejudice Requirement: Adverse interest alone insufficient; actual factual prejudice must be demonstrated.
- Protection of Vested Third-Party Rights: Prevents collusive setting aside of decrees by family members.
- Remedy for Gross Negligence (Sub-rule 2): Independent suit lies to set aside decrees procured by guardian's collusion, fraud, or gross negligence.
Practical Note
Setting Aside Decrees on Grounds of Guardian Negligence: 1. Proving Prejudice: To set aside a past decree under Rule 3A, the minor upon attaining majority must plead and prove that the guardian failed to raise a decisive statutory defense (such as limitation, lack of title, or ancestral coparcenary rights) which directly prejudiced the minor's estate. 2. Substantive Suit: Move by filing an independent civil suit for declaration that the earlier decree is void and not binding on the minor due to gross negligence and fraud.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) अप्राप्तवय के विरुद्ध पारित कोई भी डिक्री केवल इस आधार पर अपास्त (Set aside) नहीं की जाएगी कि अवयस्क के वाद-मित्र या वाद के वास्ते संरक्षक का वाद की विषय-वस्तु में अवयस्क के हित के प्रतिकूल कोई हित था, किंतु यह तथ्य कि वाद-मित्र या संरक्षक के ऐसे प्रतिकूल हित के कारण अवयस्क के हितों पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव (Prejudice) पड़ा है, डिक्री को अपास्त करने का एक आधार होगा।
(2) इस नियम की कोई भी बात अवयस्क को वाद-मित्र या वाद के वास्ते संरक्षक के ऐसे अवचार (Misconduct) या घोर उपेक्षा (Gross negligence) के कारण, जिसके परिणामस्वरूप अवयस्क के हितों पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव पड़ा है, किसी भी विधि के अधीन उपलब्ध कोई अनुतोष प्राप्त करने से प्रवारित नहीं करेगी।