Withdrawal of Withdrawal Application Permissible – SC

Recently, hon’ble Supreme Court in RAJENDRA PRASAD GUPTA V. PRAKASH CHANDRA MISHRA & ORS. {(2011) 2 SCC 705; Civil Appeal No(s). 984 of 2006-Decided on 12-01-2011} has held as follows.

“2. ………….Rules of procedure are handmaids of justice. Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure gives inherent powers to the court to do justice. That provision has to be interpreted to mean that every procedure is permitted to the court for doing justice unless expressly prohibited, and not that every procedure is prohibited unless expressly permitted. There is no express bar in filing an application for withdrawal of the withdrawal application. In Narsingh Das v. Mangal Dubey, ILR 5 All 163 (FB) (1882), Mr. Justice Mahmood, the celebrated Judge of the Allahabad High Court, observed :-

"Courts are not to act upon the principle that every procedure is to be taken as prohibited unless it is expressly provided for by the Code, but on the converse principle that every procedure is to be understood as permissible till it is shown to be prohibited by the law. As a matter of general principle prohibition cannot be presumed."

The above view was followed by a Full Bench of the Allahabad High Court in Raj Narain Saxena Vs. Bhim Sen &others, AIR 1966 Allahabad 84 FB, and we agree with this view.

3. Accordingly, we are of the opinion that the application praying for withdrawal of the withdrawal application was maintainable.” (END)

Note: the views expressed are my personal and a view point only.

Author:

Narendra Sharma, Consultant (Legal)

E-mail: nkdewas@yahoo.co.in