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FIRST HEARING/ FRAMING OF ISSUES[1]
QUESTION BANK
Q.1. What is first hearing? What are the rules regarding the first hearing?
Q.2. What is the framing of issues? Explain its kids.
SHORT NOTES
1) Issue.
2) Disposal of the suit at the first hearing.
SYNOPSIS
- PROCEDURE ON FIRST HEARING OF THE SUIT-
- FRAMING OF ISSUES (O. XIV)-
III. KINDS OF ISSUES-
- MATERIALS FOR FRAMING ISSUES (R. 3)-
- DISPOSAL OF SUIT AT FIRST HEARING (O. XV)-
I. PROCEDURE ON FIRST HEARING OF THE SUIT-
The first step in a civil proceeding is filing the plaint by the plaintiff; the second is filing a written statement by the defendant; and the third is framing issues by the Court. Framing of issues is called the first hearing of the suit. In order to frame issues precisely on the first hearing, the Court proceeds through the following procedure-
(1) The Court may seek an explanation of the parties or their pleader whether he admits or denies such allegations of fact as are made in the plaint or written statement of the opposite party and which are not expressly or by necessary implication admitted or denied by the party against whom they are made (O. X. R. 1). In order to elucidate matter in controversy, the Court shall examine orally, party appearing in the Court (O. X. R. 2). The Court shall then direct parties to opt for any one mode of alternative dispute resolution[2] like arbitration, conciliation, mediation etc (O. X. R 1 A).
(2) Any party to a suit may give notice that he admits the truth or the whole or any part of the case of any other party. Either party may call upon the other party to admit, within seven days from the date of service of notice, any document filed by the party (O. XII. R. 1 & 2) (Provisions as to admissions are explained in detail in earlier topic).
(3) The parties or their pleaders have to produce at the first hearing of the suit all the documentary evidence of every description in their possession or power on which they intend to rely (O. XIII. R. 1) (Provisions as to Production, impounding and Return of documents are explained in details in earlier topic).
II. FRAMING OF ISSUES[3] (O. XIV)-
‘Issue’ means ‘a point in question, an important subject of debate or litigation. The issue arises when a material proposition of fact or law is affirmed by one party and denied by the other (R. 1)[4]. Material propositions are those propositions of law or fact the plaintiff must allege in order to show a right to sue or a defendant must allege in order to constitute his defence (R. 2). Each material proposition affirmed by one party and denied by the other shall form the subject matter of a distinct issue (R. 3). Issues are the points to be proved by evidence, which court fixes when material points of fact or law are affirmed by the plaintiff and denied by the defendant. For example, if there is a suit for maintenance filed by a wife against her husband. In this suit, the wife pleads in her pleading that her marriage with her husband was performed on 20/11/07 and out of that marriage, she has one child, but the husband is not maintaining them. In his written statement, the husband asserts that he is ready to maintain his wife, but the wife is not cohabiting with him. In this matter, the fact of the marriage of the wife with her husband is not denied; even having a child out of wedlock is also not denied by the husband. Therefore, these cannot be points of the issue before the court. Then, the court will frame issues of whether the wife on her own is not cohabiting with her husband. Whether Is she entitled to maintenance? How much maintenance amount is she entitled to? In this matter, the Court will not frame the issue of whether both have married. And whether they have a child. Because these facts are not denied by the husband.
By framing issues, each party becomes fully aware of the exact questions to be tried. By framing issues, the Court facilitates them to produce evidence to prove or disprove points in issues.
III. KINDS OF ISSUES-
Issues are of two kinds (i) issues of fact and (ii) issues of law. There may be mixed issues of law and fact. R. 2 provides that where issues both of law and of fact arise in the same suit, and the Court is of the opinion that the case or any part thereof may be disposed of on an issue of law only, it may try that issue first if the issue relates to (a) the jurisdiction of the Court, or (b) a bar to the suit created by any law for the time being in force. Such an issue is called the primary issue. The Court may postpone the settlement of other issues to decide on preliminary issues.
IV. MATERIALS FOR FRAMING ISSUES (R. 3)-
The court may frame issues from all or any of the following materials-
(a) Allegation made on oath by the parties or by any persons present on their behalf or statements made by the leaders appearing for the parties.
(b) Allegation made in the pleadings or in answers to interrogatories, and
(c) Documents produced by the parties.
It is the court’s duty to frame issues. The Court may examine witnesses or inspect documents before framing issues, amending them, framing additional issues, or striking out issues that may appear to be wrongly framed (Rr. 4 and 5).
However, if the defendant makes no defence, the Court does not need to frame issues (R. 1 sub-rule 5).
V. DISPOSAL OF SUIT AT FIRST HEARING (O. XV)-
The Court at once may pronounce judgment on the first hearing of the suit in the following cases-
(1) Where the parties are not at issue on any question of law or fact (R. 1),
(2) Where there are two or more defendants, and any one of them is not at issue with the plaintiff on any question of law or of fact (R. 2).
(3) Where after framing of issues, if the Court is satisfied that no further argument or evidence is required. (R. 3).
(4) Where the summons has been issued for the final disposal of the suit and either party fails without sufficient cause to produce the evidence on which he relies ((R.4).
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[1] पहिली सुनावणी/वादमुद्दे निष्चित करणे, [मुद्दों की पहली सुनवाई /मुद्दों की निश्चिती]
[2] वैकल्पिक वाद निवारण, [विवाद का वैकल्पिक समाधान,]
[3] वादमुद्दे निष्चित करणे, [विवादों का निर्धारण करने के लिए,]
[4] परिस्थिती अथवा कायदेविशयक महत्वाच्या विधानाचे एका पक्षकाराने कथन केले आणि दुस-याने ते नाकारले की वादमुद्दा उपथित होतो. अषा वादमुद्दयावरच न्यायालय सुनावणी घेउन निर्णय देत असते. उद. एका भावाने दुस-या विरूध्द वाटपासाठी दावा केलयास व दुस-याने पुर्विच वाटप झालेले आहे व त्यातील काही मुळकती हया वडीलार्जीत व काही त्याच्या स्वकमाईच्या असल्याचे नमुद केलयस तसेच मिळकतीत इतरसुध्दा सहहीस्सेदार असल्याचे नमुद केलयस न्यायालय पुढील प्रमाणे वादाचे मुद्दे काढेल 1. पुर्वि सदर भावांचेत सर्व मिळकतींचे बाटप झालेले आहे काय? 2. संपुर्ण मिळकतींपैकी वाटपायोग्य मिळकती कोणत्या? 3. सर्व वारसांना सदर दाव्यात पक्षकार म्हणुन सामाउन घेतले आहे काय? 4. वाटपात प्रत्येकाला कीती हीस्सा येईल?. न्यायालय वरील मुद्दयवर पुरावा घेउन निकाल देईल.
[विवाद तब उत्पन्न होता है जब परिस्थिति या कानूनी महत्व का बयान एक पक्ष द्वारा किया जाता है और दूसरे द्वारा उसे इनकार किया जाता है। अदालत ऐसे मुद्दो पर खुद सुनवाई करती है और फैसला देती है। उदाहरण- अगर एक भाई दूसरे के खिलाफ विभाजन के लिए मुकदमा करता है और दूसरा पहले ही विभाजन हो चुका है और इसमें से कुछ मिळकते उसकी खुद कमाई है और इसमें अन्य सह-हिस्सेदार भी हैं ऐसा कथन करता है/, तो अदालत विवाद के बिंदुओं को निम्नानुसार तय करेगी 1. क्या सभी संपत्ति उपरोक्त भाइयों के बीच पहले ही विभाजित की गई हैं? 2. कुल संपत्ति में से कौन सी वितरण योग्य संपत्ति है? 3. क्या उक्त वाद में पक्षकार के रूप में सभी वारिस शामिल हैं? 4. आवंटन में प्रत्येक को कितना हिस्सा मिलेगा? कोर्ट उपरोक्त मुद्दो पर सबूत लेगा और फैसला सुनाएगा।]