Multiple appeals

Defendant 1 files an appeal against Prel. Decree. Defendant 2 joins as respondent in the same appeal. After 5 years Defendant 2 files another appeal with same grounds as Def 1 and process is being served again on all of the same  respondents as in appeal 1

Questions

.:Will court take suo Motu cognizance and merge these appeals or the parties need to file application in this regard?

Will the court dem the filing of the later appeal as frivolous and penalise the appellant?