Plaint in interpleader-suit
Full Text
In every suit of interpleader the plaint shall, in addition to the other statements necessary for plaints, state—
(a) that the plaintiff claims no interest in the subject-matter in dispute other than for charges or costs;
(b) the claims made by the defendants severally; and
(c) that there is no collusion between the plaintiff and any of the defendants.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes the three mandatory averments in an interpleader plaint under Section 88 CPC: disclaiming any beneficial interest in the property beyond legitimate charges/costs, detailing the adverse competing claims of the defendants, and asserting the absence of collusion.
Key Legal Elements
- Disclaiming Beneficial Interest: Plaintiff must be a disinterested stakeholder or custodian; cannot dispute title or set up independent claim.
- Competing Adverse Claims: Must show genuine rivalry between two or more defendants claiming the same debt, sum of money, or property.
- Absence of Collusion: Specific verified pleading disavowing any secret agreement, indemnity, or partiality towards any claimant.
- Interplay with Section 88 CPC: Section 88 is the substantive founding section, while Order XXXV Rule 1 provides the specific mandatory pleading checklist.
- Real Stakeholder Test: If plaintiff has entered into an indemnity bond with one claimant, interpleader is barred due to collusion.
Practical Note
Foundational Requirements for Interpleader Plaint: 1. Strict Disinterestedness Required: In Asutosh Chandra Ghose v. Haripada Mukherjee (AIR 1934 Cal 43) and National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Dhirendra Nath (AIR 1938 Cal 287), it was established that the plaintiff in an interpleader suit must be in the position of a completely impartial stakeholder. If the plaintiff has taken an indemnity bond from one of the claimants or is acting at the behest of one party, there is legal collusion under clause (c), and the plaint is liable to be rejected. 2. Charges and Costs Permitted: The plaintiff is permitted to claim a lien for his actual out-of-pocket warehouse charges, transportation fees, or court costs under clause (a) without forfeiting his status as an interpleader stakeholder.
हिंदी पाठ
अंतर्वाची वाद (Interpleader suit) के प्रत्येक वादपत्र में, वादपत्रों के लिए आवश्यक अन्य कथनों के अतिरिक्त, निम्नलिखित कथन होंगे—
(क) यह कि वादी विवादग्रस्त विषय-वस्तु में प्रभारों (Charges) या खर्चों (Costs) से भिन्न किसी हित का दावा नहीं करता है;
(ख) प्रतिवादियों द्वारा पृथक-पृथक (Severally) किए गए दावे; और
(ग) यह कि वादी और प्रतिवादियों में से किसी के बीच कोई दुरभिसंधि (Collusion) नहीं है।