Rajendra Kumar Vs. Kalyan (d) by LRs.
EmailAppeal: Civil Appeal No. 1738 of 1990
Petitioner: Rajendra Kumar
Respondent: Kalyan (d) by LRs.
Apeal: Civil Appeal No. 1738 of 1990
Judges: S.B. MAJMUDAR & UMESH C. BANERJEE, JJ.
Date of Judgment: Feb 08, 2000
Appearances:
Mr. J.D. Jain, Senior Advocate, Mr. Anand Singh, Mr. Satyapal Khushal Chand Pasi, Advocates with him for the Appellant.
Mr. V.A. Mohta, Senior Advocate, Mr. Manoj Wad and Ms. J.S. Wad, Advocates with him for the Respondents.
Head Note:
CIVIL LAW
Civil Procedure Code, 1908
Section 11 Exp. VIII – Res judicata – Principles and objectives – Decision by a court of limited jurisdiction – Claim by plaintiff to be adopted son of one ‘R’ wife of one ‘MD’ who was adopted son of ‘ML’ – Adoption claimed in 1967 – ‘MD’ having died in 1919 and ‘ML’, in 1923, leaving his widow ‘K’ who also died in 1951 – One “RG” claiming to be adopted son of ‘ML’ – Dispute on property of ‘ML’ – ‘RG’ living with widows ‘R’ and ‘K’ – Later ‘R’ giving notice that ‘RG’ was not adopted son of ‘ML’ and deed of parti-tion executed – ‘K’ bringing suit in 1929 for setting aside partition – Suit decreed against ‘R’ and appeal by her dismissed in 1932 – Plaintiff claiming that decision was not binding upon him – ‘RG’ also filing suit in 1935 – ‘R’ & ‘K’ both parties – ‘RG’s adoption by ‘ML’ up
Held:
Findings upheld in appeal in 1939 – Present suit in 1974 by plaintiff on claim of adoption by ‘R’. Held that plaintiff was claiming under same title in which adop-tion of ‘RG’ was upheld against R. Hence decisions in previous suits would operate as resjudicata. Case law discussed.
HELD –
The doctrine of res judicata has received a statutory sanc-tion in the Code as a matter of prudence and to give due weightage parties. The doctrine thus is to achieve finality of dispute between the parties being a principle of prudence so as to give efficacy to a finding of the Court rather than permit the parties to go to trial more or less on the same issues over again and thus introducing a possibility of conflict of views. Judi-cial verdict has its special sanctity and cannot be the subject- matter of discussion at any future time involving identical or similar issues. The facts in issue is one where more than one attempt has been made to establish a fact and in every attempt that particular fact stands negated. The doctrine of res judicata or constructive res judicata predominantly is a principle of equity, good conscious and justice. It would neither be equitable nor fair nor in accor-dance with the principles of justice that the issue concluded earlier ought to be permitted to be raised later in a different proceeding.
(Paras 14, 17)
Admittedly, Radhabai was a party to the previous suit on the issue regarding Ramgopal and Mohanlal’s adoption having been decided against Radhabai specifically, it cannot but be said that the plaintiff was litigating under the same title having regard to the provisions of Section 11 read with Explanation VIII, the earlier decision would operate as a res judicata in the present context. The adoption of Ramgopal has, as a matter of fact, declared to be a valid adoption in any event, the same being a finding against the estate, question of further accrual of any right would not arise.
(Paras 26, 27)
Cases Reffered:
1. Gurbachan Singh v. Satpal Singh & Others (AIR 1990 SC 209)
2. Jose Da Costa and Another v. Bascora Sadasiva Sinai Narcornim and Ors. (1976 2 SCC 917)
3. Blyth v. Blyth ((1966) 1 All ER 524)
4. Gulabchand Chhotalal Parikh v. State of Gujarat: (AIR 1965 SC 1153)
5. A.G. v. Vernazza: ((1960) 3 All ER)
6. Wright v. Hale ((1860) 6 H & N 227)
7. Gardner v. Lucas ((1878) 3 Appeal Cases 582)
8. (per Brett L.J. Coverdale v. Charlton 48 L.J.Q.B. 132: Stroud’s Judicial Dictionary 5th Edition. Vol. VI)
JUDGEMENT:
BANERJEE, J.
1. The cardinal issue in this appeal by the grant of special leave against the judgment of Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) pertains to the applicability of the doctrine of Res judicata or Constructive Res judicata envisaged under Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure read with the Explanation including Explana-tion VIII thereto in terms of the provisions of Amendment Act of 1976.
2. In order, however, to appreciate the issues as above, it would be convenient to advert to the contextual facts at this juncture. The facts disclose that the plaintiff/appellant herein instituted a civil litigation being Suit No.13 of 1974 against the denial of claim for possession of the property. The plain-tiff alleged that he was taken in adoption by one Radhabai on 25th April, 1967 who however was married to Mahadeo. Admittedly, Mahadeo died on Ist August, 1919 and the property being the subject-matter of the suit, belonged to one Mohanlal who died in 1923, leaving him, his surviving widow Kisnibai who died in 1951. The plaintiff/appellant’s claim was that his adoptive father Mahadeo, was adopted by Mohanlal as a son to him during his life-time and after the death of Mohanlal, the family com-prised of only two members, namely, Kisnibai who was Mohanlal’s widow and Radhabai who, according to the plaintiff, was Mohan-lal’s predeceased’s son Mahadeo’s widow. The first defendant Ramgopal claimed to be adopted son of Mohanlal, though, according to the plaintiff, there was, in fact, no adoption.
3. The factual score further depicts that the family of Mohanlal had migrated from Jaipur and was governed by the Benaras School of Hindu Law. The plaintiff contended that Ramgopal’s adoption stands vitiated for want of authority from Mohanlal to Kisnibai to adopt a son to him. Ramgopal, however, as the records depict, used to live with Kisnibai and Radhabai, and had an ante-adoption deed executed by Kisnibai on December 9, 1923. The document recited that Ramgopal was to be adopted only in respect of half of the property of Mohanlal and Mahadeo’s line was to be continued by his widow Radhabai taking in adoption a suitable boy at any time beyond Kisnibai’s life-time. A kararnama was also got executed on December 10,1923 with the recitals to the above effect.
4. Factual score depicts that Radhabai on June 29, 1926 gave a public notice declaring that Ramgopal was in fact the son of Ramden alias Kalyanrao and was not the adopted son of Mohanlal and had no interest in the property of Mohanlal. A deed of partition was executed between the parties. Subsequently, a civil suit bearing No. 87 of 1929 was instituted by Kisnibai for setting aside the deed of partition on the ground that Radhabai should not get any right to the property belonging to Ramgopal because Mahadeo was not Mohanlal’s adopted son. Ramgopal’s adoption was also challenged in the suit. Ramgopal, however, asserted that he was adopted by Mohanlal himself in Marwad which however, runs counter to the recital in the deed of adoption. The suit (No. 87 of 1929) was decreed against Radhabai and an appeal taken there from to the Court of the Judicial Commission-er, being appeal No. 19 of 1932 was also dismissed. According to the plaintiff herein, the decision in that suit did not bind the plaintiff since his claim is lodged through Mahadeo and not his heir Radhabai and the observations of the learned Additional Commissioner, that Radhabai was entitled merely to maintenance and not to any interest or share in the property would not bind him. Be it noted, however, that Ramgopal, was joined as a party thereto and it is the plaintiff’s definite case that Radhabai having taken the plaintiff in adoption on April 25, 1967, the plaintiff became entitled to seek possession of the property left by Mohanlal and he therefore brought the present suit for possession of the properties as mentioned in the sched-ule to the plaint.
5. Incidentally, the records depict that Ramgopal also initiat-ed a civil action being Suit No. 157A of 1935 wherein one Balmu-kund, Kisnibai and Radhabai were joined as defendants. In the action an issue pertaining to question of Ramgopal’s adoption to Mohanlal was raised and the same was answered in the affirmative whereas Ramgopal’s adoption to Kisnibai was negatived. The records depict that the said finding stands affirmed by the appellate court in Appeal No. 2A of 1939.
6. The learned Trial Judge in Suit No. 87 of 1929 upon considera-tion of the evidence tendered in the suit concluded the following on the factual score:
(i) the first defendant was not proved to be the Kulmukhtyar of Kisnibai in respect of Mohanlal’s property;
(ii) Mohanlal was governed by Benaras School of Hindu law and not the Bombay School of Hindu Law;
(iii) Radhabai was not living as a member of Mohanlal’s joint Hindu family;
(iv) there was no authorisation to Radhabai to adopt a son to Mahadeo and though the factum of plaintiff’s adoption by Radhabai was established, his adoption was not legal and valid;
(v) the partition between Radhabai and Kisnibai was not proved and it was also not proved that the first defendant fraudulently got an adoption deed in his favour from Kisnibai;
(vi) the adoption by Mohanlal of Ramgopal, the first defendant, was held proved.
7. In the present suit, the learned Trial Judge, while rejecting the plea that the suit was barred by time and that the first-defendant acquired title by adverse possession, held that the decision in Civil Suit No. 87 of 1929 and First Appeal No. 19 of 1932, as well as the decision in Civil Suit No. 157 of 1935 and the decision in Civil Appeal No.2-A of 1939, operated as res judicata on the question of the adoption of Ramgopal by Mohanlal, and Mahadeo not being the adopted son of Mohanlal and dismissed the suit for possession.
8. The dismissal order, however, was challenged in first Appeal No.13 of 1974 before the High Court (Nagpur Bench) but same also did not find favour with the appellate court, resultantly the appeal was dismissed and hence the appeal before this Court.
9. The issue pertaining to the doctrine of res judicata thus calls for discussion at this stage. The factual backdrop has already been noticed herein above and as such, we refrain our-selves from dilating thereon in detail but by reason of the specific point for discussion, the relevant issues raised in Suit No.87 of 1929 before the Sub-Judge, Betul, ought to be noticed. The issues relevant in the present context being :
I Whether the Plaintiff No.2 was adopted as a son by Mohanlal?
IIA Was Mahadeo the husband of the defendant, adopted by Mohanlal 20 years ago at Tholai in the Jaipur Estate?
IIB Was Mahadeo an orphan at the time of his adoption?
IIC Was his adoption vaild?
10. The Issue No.1 as above was answered in the affirmative by the Trial Judge and the Issue Nos.IIA, IIB and IIC were answered in the negative. Needless to say that the Plaintiff No.2 in the suit was Ramgopal and the defendant was Radhabai. The findings of the learned Trial Judge in the suit of 1929 leaves no manner of doubt that Ramgopal was found to be the adopted son of Mohan-lal and Mahadeo’s stated adoption was not proved and hence an-swered in the negative. The 1939 appeal arising out of Civil Suit of 1935 though raises more or less similar issues but to avoid prolixity we need not dilate thereon but deal with the issues as raised in the 1968 suit which has been found to be barred by the doctrine of res judicata. The relevant issues of 1968 suit are:
I Does the plaintiff prove that Radhabai was authorised to adopt a son by Mahadeo?
II Does the plaintiff prove that he was adopted by Radhabai and his adoption is valid and legal?
III Does the plaintiff prove adoption of Mahadeo by Mohanlal?
IV Does the Defendant No.1 prove his own adoption by Mohanlal?
V Is the adoption of Defendant No.1 by Mohanlal valid and legal?
VI Is the decision given in Civil Suit No.87 of 1929 binding on the plaintiff?
VII Is the decision given in Civil Suit No.157 of 1935 is binding on the plaintiff?
11. The learned Trial Judge in the present suit, being the sub-ject-matter of the appeal presently, answered the issues as below:
I …….in the affirmative.
II …….The factum of adoption is proved but the adoption is not legal and valid.
III …….in the negative.
IV …….in the affirmative.
V …….in the affirmative.
VI …….in the affirmative.
VII …….in the affirmative.
12. The appellant’s definite assertion is that Mohan Lal adopted Mahadeo in 1910 much before his death in the year 1923. Admit-tedly Mahadeo pre-deceased Mohanlal as he died on 20th August, 1921 and the appellant’s (plaintiff) adoption by Radhabai is said to have taken place on 25th April, 1967. There is in fact a deed of adoption. Exhibit 116 brought before the learned Trial Judge corroborated such a state of affairs. The deed also was regis-tered and by reason of registration and other available evidence on record no exception can be taken to the observations of the learned Trial Judge that there is overwhelming evidence on record to prove the factum of adoption. There is existing evidence on record as regards the adoption ceremony. But the issue herein does not pertain to the validity and legality of the adoption in terms of the registered deed in favour of the plaintiff by Radhabai and it is on this score that strong reliance was placed on Section 8 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and it is on this count the provision of the Act (Section 8) would not have any application since the widow has undoubtedly a right to adopt the child for herself but in the event the child was to be adopted to the husband the statute is otherwise silent and thus the law as it stood prior to the enactment of the legislation as regards the adoption would have to be taken recourse to for proper appreciation. The Shastric law provides an express au-thority by the husband to the widow to adopt a child and in the contextual facts there is not even an iota of evidence in regard thereto as such adoption has been stated to be not legal and valid by both the courts below and we do also feel it inclined to accept the same. The submissions of Mr. Sampath on this score thus stands negatived.
13. The discussion above could have been omitted but by reason of judicial ethics since very strenuous submission has been made by Mr. Sampath in support of the Appeal, as regards the merits of the matter.
14. The doctrine of res judicata has received a statutory sanc-tion in the Code as a matter of prudence and to give due weightage parties. The doctrine thus is to achieve finality of dispute between the parties being a principle of prudence so as to give efficacy to a finding of the Court rather than permit the parties to go to trial more or less on the same issues over again and thus introducing a possibility of conflict of views. Judi-cial verdict has its special sanctity and cannot be the subject- matter of discussion at any future time involving identical or similar issues. The facts in issue is one where more than one attempt has been made to establish a fact and in every attempt that particular fact stands negated.
15. In the present context, the issue is placed before the apex court, and as such therefore, should have to be considered in its proper perspective so that similar issues are not raised before the Court for adjudication on occasions more than one since it has a salutory effect on to the jurisprudential system of the country.
16. The 1976 Amendment to the Code and the introduction of Expla-nations VII and VIII clarify the dual objective as noticed above. The objection howsoever technical it may be, ought not to out-weigh the reasonableness of the doctrine. Raghubir Dayal, J. speaking for the majority view in off cited Gulab Chand’s case Gulabchand Chhotalal Parikh v. State of Gujarat: (AIR 1965 SC 1153) in paragraphs 60 and 61 observed:
“As a result of the above discussion, we are of opinion that the provisions of S.11 CPC. are not exhaustive with respect to an earlier decision operating as res judicata between the same parties on the same matter in controversy in a subsequent regular suit and that on the general principle of res judicata, any previous decision on a matter in controversy, decided after full contest or after affording fair opportunity to the parties to prove their case by a Court competent to decide it, will operate as res judicata in a subsequent regular suit. It is not necessary that the court deciding the matter formerly be competent to decide the subsequent suit or that the former proceeding and the subsequent suit have the same subject-matter. The nature of the former proceeding is immaterial.
We do not see any good reason to preclude such decisions on matters in controversy in writ proceedings under Articles 226 or 32 of the Constitution from operating as res judicata in subse-quent regular suits on the same matters in controversy between the same parties and thus to give limited effect to the principle of the finality of decisions after full contest. We, therefore, hold that, on the general principle of res judicata, the decision of the High Court on a writ petition under Article 226 on the merits on a matter after contest will operate as res judicata in a subsequent regular suit between the same parties with respect to the same matter.”
17. The doctrine of res judicata or constructive res judicata predominantly is a principle of equity, good conscious and justice. It would neither be equitable nor fair nor in accor-dance with the principles of justice that the issue concluded earlier ought to be permitted to be raised later in a different proceeding. It is on this context that the Trial Judge stated as below:
“It is clear from the judgment in Civil Suit No.87/29 that Maha-deo’s adoption was the point in dispute. Thus, it is also clear that the question of Mahadeo’s adoption is the contention in both the suits. Again we find that the other questions are also common in that suit and in this suit the question of adoption of present Defendant No.1 by Mohanlal, the question of validity of the adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 and the question of validity of the Kararnama, dated 10th December, 1923 were also directly or substantially in issue in the said suit. This, in that suit the matter in controversy was decided after full contest and after affording fair opportunity to the parties to prove their case. Hence despite the fact that Betul Court was not competent to try the suit before us the questions referred to above which were decided in that suit would operate as res judi-cata, by the general principles of res judicata, in view of the observations of the Supreme Court. In that previous suit we find that it has been decided that Mahadeo was not the adopted son of Mohanlal and secondly, the Defendant No.1 Ramgopal was adopted son of Mohanlal. Thirdly, the question the so-called validity of adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 was decided and it was decided that Kararnama, dated 10th December 1923 and adoption deed were not binding on the Defendant No.1 who was the Plaintiff No.2 in that case. Hence all these questions cannot now be agitated in the suit before us and the decisions on those points would operate as res judicata. The Civil Suit No.157-A/1935 was filed by the Defendant No.1 Ramgopal, as stated above, against Kisnibai and Radhabai and three others, now the question is as to whether the decision in this Suit No.157-A/35 operates as res judicata. In that suit Radhabai was a party. The issues were –
(1) Whether the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1in this suit) was adopt-ed by Mohanlal?
(2) Whether the adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 and the Kararnama, dated 10th December, 1923 were binding on the Plain-tiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit)?
It has been held that the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit) was adopted by Mohanlal. Secondly, the adoption deed dated 9th December, 1923 and the Kararnama, dated 10th December 1923 were held to be not binding on the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit). This decision was confirmed by the High Court in Second Appeal No.466/1940 vide Exh.173 certified copy of the judgment. In my view, the decision on these points would operate as res judicata against the plaintiff. The reasons for my coming to the conclusions are the same which I have discussed while deciding the question of res judicata regarding decision in Civil Suit No.87/1929. I, therefore, hold that the decisions in Civil Suit No.87/29 and Civil Suit No.157-A/1935 are binding on plaintiff and they operate as res judicata. I, therefore, answer Issue Nos. 7,18 and 19 in the positive.”
18. The appellate court also relying upon Explanation VIII to Section 11 of the Code, negated the contention of the plaintiff-appellant herein. The appellate court very rightly observed that the general doctrine of res judicata could not be applied as has been so applied by the learned Trial Judge but Explanation VIII to Section 11 as stated by the appellate court and rightly so makes the objection disappear by reason of its widest possible conotation. The Explanation VIII as inserted by the Amendment Act of 1976 reads as below:
“Explanation VIII – an issue heard and finally decided by a Court of limited jurisdiction, competent to decide such issue, shall operate as res judicata in a subsequent suit, notwithstanding that such Court of limited jurisdiction was not competent to try such subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised.”
19. The expression ‘Court of limited jurisdiction’ ought not to be given a limited or restrictive interpretation and as noticed above but widest possible amplitude ought to be given on to the expression above. The High Court upon reliance on various deci-sions of different High Courts of the country observed:
“We find that merely because in the present case the Courts, which decided the earlier suits could not have entertained the present suits, the finding recorded by them would not cease to operate as res judicata, in view of the introduction of Explana-tion VIII to Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The submission, however, on this point on behalf of the plaintiff was that no retrospective operation could be given to the Explanation VIII inserted by Act 104 of 1976 and the suit which was institut-ed in the year 1968 would have to be decided as if Explanation VIII to Section 11 was not on the statute book. The question, whether retrospective effect should be given to Explanation VIII would depend on the provisions of the 1976 Amending Act. Section 97 of Act 104 of 1976, so far as relevant runs as follows:-
“97(1) any amendment made, or any provision inserted in the Principal Act by a State Legislature or a High Court before the commencement of this Act shall, except in so far as such amend-ment or provision is consistent with the provisions of the Prin-cipal Act as amended by this Act, stand repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding that the provisions of the Act have come into force or the repeal under Sub-section (1) has taken effect, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of Section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897,
(a) the amendment made to clause (2) of Section 2 of the Princi-pal Act by Section 3 of this Act shall not affect any appeal against the determination of any such question as is referred to in Section 47 and every such appeal shall be dealt with as if the said Section 3 had not come into force;
(b) —————to
(zb) —————-
(3) Save as otherwise provided in Sub-section (2), the provi-sions of the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall apply to every suit, proceeding, appeal or application, pending at the commencement, notwithstanding the fact that the right, or cause of action, in pursuance of which such suit, proceeding, appeal or application is instituted or filed, had been acquired or had accrued before such commencement.
Obviously, the effect given to Explanations VII and VIII inserted in Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the amendment, would come within the sweep of Sub-section 2(a) of the Amending Act and it would be regulated by Sub-section (3) of Section 97. As on the date of the commencement of the Amending Act the pres-ent suit was pending in the Court of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Amravati, the amended provisions of Section 11 would apply to it. Sub-section (2) of Section 97 of the Amending Act regulates pending matters with reference to several provisions of the Principal Act, but does not refer to the amendment brought about in Section 11 of the Principal Act, which consequently would come within the sweep of Sub-section (3) of Section 97 of the Amending Act and would, therefore, have retrospective opera-tion, so long as the matter in which the question of application falls to be considered in pending at the time of commencement of the Act.”
20. We do feel it expedient to record that the analysis as ef-fected by the High Court stands acceptable and as such we refrain ourselves from dilating on this aspect of the matter any further. It is pertinent to add in this context that some differentiation exists between a procedural statute and statute dealing with substantive rights and in the normal course of events, matters of procedure are presumed to be retrospective unless there is an express ban on to its retrospectivity. In this context, the observations of this Court in the case of Jose Da Costa and Another v. Bascora Sadasiva Sinai Narcornim and Ors. (1976 2 SCC 917) is of some relevance. This Court in paragraph 31 of the Report observed:
“Before ascertaining the effect of the enactments aforesaid passed by the Central Legislature on pending suits or appeals, it would be appropriate to bear in mind two well-established principles. The first is that while provisions of a statute dealing merely with matters of procedure may properly, unless that construction be textually inadmissible, have retrospective effect attributed to them, provisions which touch a right in existence at the passing of the statute are not to be applied retrospectively in the absence of express enactment or necessary intendment (Delhi Cloth and General Mills Co. Ltd. v. Income Tax Commissioner: AIR 1927 PC 242).
The second is that a right of appeal being a substantive right the institution of a suit carries with it the implication that all successive appeals available under the law then in force would be preserved to the parties to the suit throughout the rest of the career of the suit. There are two exceptions to the application of this rule, viz. (1) when by competent enactment such right of appeal is taken away expressly or impliedly with retrospective effect and (2) when the Court to which appeal lay at the commencement of the suit stands abolished (Garikapati Veeraya v. N. Subbiah Choudhary : (AIR 1957 SC 540) and Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. v. Irving : (1905 AC 369)”.
21. Still later this Court in Gurbachan Singh v. Satpal Singh & Others (AIR 1990 SC 209) expressed in the similar vein as re-gards the element of retrospectivity. The English Courts also laid that the rule that an Act of Parliament is not to be given retrospective effect applies only to statutes which affect the vested rights: It does not apply to statutes which alter the form of procedure or the admissibility of evidence, or the effect which the courts give to evidence: If the new Act affects matters of procedure only, then, prima facie, it applies to all actions pending as well as future (see in this context the decisions of the House of Lords in the case of Blyth v. Blyth ((1966) 1 All ER 524): A.G. v. Vernazza: ((1960) 3 All ER). In Halsbury’s Laws of England (4th Edition: Vol.44: para 925 page 574) upon reference to Wright v. Hale ((1860) 6 H & N 227) and Gardner v. Lucas ((1878) 3 Appeal Cases 582) alongwith some later cases including Blyth v. Blyth (supra) it has been stated: “the presumption against retro-spection does not apply to legislation concerned merely with matters of procedure or of evidence; on the contrary, provisions of that nature are to be construed as retrospective unless there is a clear indication that such was not the intention of Parlia-ment”.
22. The law thus seems to be well settled that no person has, in fact, a vested right in procedural aspect – one has only a right of prosecution or defence in the manner as prescribed by the law for the time being and in the event of any change of procedure by an Act of Parliament one cannot possibly have any right to proceed with the pending excepting as altered by the new legisla-tion and as such we need not dilate on the issue any further.
23. Before we proceed with the matter further, incidentally, be it noted that on the factual score, the question whether the Plaintiff-appellant’s adoption by Radhabai was, in fact, estab-lished or not – there is no divergence of views between the appellate court and the trial court: The factum of adoption was established but whereas the trial Court doubted its legality, the appellate court in no uncertain term recorded: “there was no question of any illegality attaching to the adoption on account of absence of authority from the husband to adopt the child”. It is noteworthy at this juncture that by reason of the exposition of law as above and since Mahadeo’s adoption was negated in the earlier suit, question of any further claim on the basis of adoption of Mahadeo would not arise. The appellate court as a matter of fact laid emphasis on the question as to whether the Plaintiff by virtue of being Mahadeo’s adopted son would be entitled to claim rights in the property which belong to Mohanlal and referred to Clause (c) of Proviso to Section 12 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. For convenience sake the third proviso to Section 12 is noted here in below:
“12. Effects of adoption. –
(c) the adopted child shall not divest any person of any estate which vested in him or her before the adoption”.
24. It is on this aspect of the matter the appellate court observed:
“The whole basis for claiming a right in the property left by Mohanlal is that Radhabai is the widow of Mahadeo alleged to be the deceased son of Mohanlal. The argument was that after the death of Mohanlal and in the absence of Ramgopal’s adoption, it would be Radhabai who would take the property belonging to Mohan-lal to the exclusion, or otherwise, of Kisnibai who died in the year 1951, as on the date of the adoption, i.e., 25th April, 1967, Radhabai was the only surviving member of the family of Mohanlal. Succession to Mohanlal opened in the year 1923 when the Hindu Women’s Rights to Property Act, 1937, had not been enacted. The most that could be said in respect of Radhabai would be that Radhabai, by virtue of her being the widow of Mahadeo, would be entitled to take widow’s estate in the property left by Mohanlal, and by virtue of the provisions of Section 14 (1) of the Hindu Succession Act, her estate would be enlarged and she would become a full owner of the property. At the time when the previous suits were finally decided, the position of Radha-bai, in pursuance of these judgments, was that she was not a member of Mohanlal’s family; and there is no dispute that this finding bound Radhabai personally. The position on the date of the plaintiff’s adoption would be, if the submission of Shri Udhoji were to be accepted, in view of Clause (c) of Proviso to Section 12, that the property vested in Radhabai as full owner……….
The position would, therefore, be that during the life time of Radhabai, the plaintiff, even by virtue of his adoption, could not have divested Radhabai if she were to have had become the absolute owner of Mohanlal’s property. He could only claim by succession to Radhabai and not by virtue of his being an adopted son during his life time. In view of this position of law, it is clear that the plaintiff, in order to succeed in the present case, would have to claim under Radhabai and he would not get any rights, by virtue of Section 12 only on the basis that he was Mahadeo’s adopted son, having regard to the date of his adoption which was 25th April, 1967″.
25. It is on the above observation that Mr. Sampath very strongly contended that the plaintiff by a legal fiction takes the inter-est of Mahadeo in 1918 when he is deemed to be born, though, in fact however, he was born in 1951. We however, cannot lend any concurrence to the submission of Mr. Sampath. The plaintiff can only claim by succession to Radhabai and not as a co-parcener on the basis of a legal fiction. We feel it expedient to record that the analysis of the situation by the appellate court that the plaintiff would have to claim under Radhabai but by virtue of Section 12 of the Act of 1956, the plaintiff would not have any right on the basis that he was Mahadeo’s adopted son.
26. Admittedly, Radhabai was a party to the previous suit on the issue regarding Ramgopal and Mohanlal’s adoption having been decided against Radhabai specifically, it cannot but be said that the plaintiff was litigating under the same title.
27. In view of the discussion as above and having regard to the provisions of Section 11 read with Explanation VIII, the earlier decision would operate as a res judicata in the present context. The adoption of Ramgopal has, as a matter of fact, declared to be a valid adoption in any event, the same being a finding against the estate, question of further accrual of any right would not arise. The plaintiff cannot as a matter of fact lodge its claim independently of Radhabai as a co-parcener by reason of being a deemed son of Mahadeo. As noted above the entitlement is only if there be any, through Radhabai and not independently of Radhabai. The legal fiction introduced by Mr. Sampath unfortunately cannot find favour with us, more so by reason of the fact that the adoption of Mahadeo stands negated in the earlier suit.
28. Mr. Mohta appearing for the respondents, however, relying on the earlier judgment and the findings as regards the affirmation of Ramgopal’s adoption and negation of Mahadeo’s adoption and the factum of the plaintiff having been litigated under the same title as Radhabai and since Radhabai was a party to the previous suit, very strongly contended that question of any doubt being raised as regards the applicability of the doctrine of res judi-cata or constructive res judicata does not and cannot arise. Mr. Mohta contended that vesting in any event cannot take place in favour of an unborn person and vesting must be viz-a-viz a living person and the legal fiction pertaining to vesting to an unborn person would not arise. We do find some contentious substance in the contextual facts, since vesting shall have to be a ‘vesting’ certain. “To ‘vest’, generally means to give a property in”. (per Brett L.J. Coverdale v. Charlton 48 L.J.Q.B. 132: Stroud’s Judicial Dictionary 5th Edition. Vol.VI). Vesting in favour of the unborn person and in the contextual facts on the basis of a subsequent adoption after about 50 years without any authorisa-tion cannot however but be termed to be a contingent event: To ‘vest’, cannot be termed to be an executory devise. Be it noted however, that ‘vested’ does not necessarily mean ‘vest in pos-session’ but ‘vest in interest’ as well.
29. In the facts of the matter under consideration the issue pertaining to vesting however does not call for any opinion, more so by reason of the specific finding as regards the negation of Mahadeo’s interest as well as the assertion of Ramgopal’s adop-tion in the affirmative and as such the issue also loses its significance and we also express no opinion in regard thereto, save what is noted herein before.
30. On the wake of the aforesaid we are unable to record our concurrence with the submission of Mr. Sampath that the doctrine of res judicata has no manner of application, on the contrary we record our views that the second suit is barred by the doctrine and we see no merit in the appeal as such. The Appeal is there-fore dismissed, there shall however be no order as to costs.
1. The cardinal issue in this appeal by the grant of special leave against the judgment of Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) pertains to the applicability of the doctrine of Res judicata or Constructive Res judicata envisaged under Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure read with the Explanation including Explana-tion VIII thereto in terms of the provisions of Amendment Act of 1976.
2. In order, however, to appreciate the issues as above, it would be convenient to advert to the contextual facts at this juncture. The facts disclose that the plaintiff/appellant herein instituted a civil litigation being Suit No.13 of 1974 against the denial of claim for possession of the property. The plain-tiff alleged that he was taken in adoption by one Radhabai on 25th April, 1967 who however was married to Mahadeo. Admittedly, Mahadeo died on Ist August, 1919 and the property being the subject-matter of the suit, belonged to one Mohanlal who died in 1923, leaving him, his surviving widow Kisnibai who died in 1951. The plaintiff/appellant’s claim was that his adoptive father Mahadeo, was adopted by Mohanlal as a son to him during his life-time and after the death of Mohanlal, the family com-prised of only two members, namely, Kisnibai who was Mohanlal’s widow and Radhabai who, according to the plaintiff, was Mohan-lal’s predeceased’s son Mahadeo’s widow. The first defendant Ramgopal claimed to be adopted son of Mohanlal, though, according to the plaintiff, there was, in fact, no adoption.
3. The factual score further depicts that the family of Mohanlal had migrated from Jaipur and was governed by the Benaras School of Hindu Law. The plaintiff contended that Ramgopal’s adoption stands vitiated for want of authority from Mohanlal to Kisnibai to adopt a son to him. Ramgopal, however, as the records depict, used to live with Kisnibai and Radhabai, and had an ante-adoption deed executed by Kisnibai on December 9, 1923. The document recited that Ramgopal was to be adopted only in respect of half of the property of Mohanlal and Mahadeo’s line was to be continued by his widow Radhabai taking in adoption a suitable boy at any time beyond Kisnibai’s life-time. A kararnama was also got executed on December 10,1923 with the recitals to the above effect.
4. Factual score depicts that Radhabai on June 29, 1926 gave a public notice declaring that Ramgopal was in fact the son of Ramden alias Kalyanrao and was not the adopted son of Mohanlal and had no interest in the property of Mohanlal. A deed of partition was executed between the parties. Subsequently, a civil suit bearing No. 87 of 1929 was instituted by Kisnibai for setting aside the deed of partition on the ground that Radhabai should not get any right to the property belonging to Ramgopal because Mahadeo was not Mohanlal’s adopted son. Ramgopal’s adoption was also challenged in the suit. Ramgopal, however, asserted that he was adopted by Mohanlal himself in Marwad which however, runs counter to the recital in the deed of adoption. The suit (No. 87 of 1929) was decreed against Radhabai and an appeal taken there from to the Court of the Judicial Commission-er, being appeal No. 19 of 1932 was also dismissed. According to the plaintiff herein, the decision in that suit did not bind the plaintiff since his claim is lodged through Mahadeo and not his heir Radhabai and the observations of the learned Additional Commissioner, that Radhabai was entitled merely to maintenance and not to any interest or share in the property would not bind him. Be it noted, however, that Ramgopal, was joined as a party thereto and it is the plaintiff’s definite case that Radhabai having taken the plaintiff in adoption on April 25, 1967, the plaintiff became entitled to seek possession of the property left by Mohanlal and he therefore brought the present suit for possession of the properties as mentioned in the sched-ule to the plaint.
5. Incidentally, the records depict that Ramgopal also initiat-ed a civil action being Suit No. 157A of 1935 wherein one Balmu-kund, Kisnibai and Radhabai were joined as defendants. In the action an issue pertaining to question of Ramgopal’s adoption to Mohanlal was raised and the same was answered in the affirmative whereas Ramgopal’s adoption to Kisnibai was negatived. The records depict that the said finding stands affirmed by the appellate court in Appeal No. 2A of 1939.
6. The learned Trial Judge in Suit No. 87 of 1929 upon considera-tion of the evidence tendered in the suit concluded the following on the factual score:
(i) the first defendant was not proved to be the Kulmukhtyar of Kisnibai in respect of Mohanlal’s property;
(ii) Mohanlal was governed by Benaras School of Hindu law and not the Bombay School of Hindu Law;
(iii) Radhabai was not living as a member of Mohanlal’s joint Hindu family;
(iv) there was no authorisation to Radhabai to adopt a son to Mahadeo and though the factum of plaintiff’s adoption by Radhabai was established, his adoption was not legal and valid;
(v) the partition between Radhabai and Kisnibai was not proved and it was also not proved that the first defendant fraudulently got an adoption deed in his favour from Kisnibai;
(vi) the adoption by Mohanlal of Ramgopal, the first defendant, was held proved.
7. In the present suit, the learned Trial Judge, while rejecting the plea that the suit was barred by time and that the first-defendant acquired title by adverse possession, held that the decision in Civil Suit No. 87 of 1929 and First Appeal No. 19 of 1932, as well as the decision in Civil Suit No. 157 of 1935 and the decision in Civil Appeal No.2-A of 1939, operated as res judicata on the question of the adoption of Ramgopal by Mohanlal, and Mahadeo not being the adopted son of Mohanlal and dismissed the suit for possession.
8. The dismissal order, however, was challenged in first Appeal No.13 of 1974 before the High Court (Nagpur Bench) but same also did not find favour with the appellate court, resultantly the appeal was dismissed and hence the appeal before this Court.
9. The issue pertaining to the doctrine of res judicata thus calls for discussion at this stage. The factual backdrop has already been noticed herein above and as such, we refrain our-selves from dilating thereon in detail but by reason of the specific point for discussion, the relevant issues raised in Suit No.87 of 1929 before the Sub-Judge, Betul, ought to be noticed. The issues relevant in the present context being :
I Whether the Plaintiff No.2 was adopted as a son by Mohanlal?
IIA Was Mahadeo the husband of the defendant, adopted by Mohanlal 20 years ago at Tholai in the Jaipur Estate?
IIB Was Mahadeo an orphan at the time of his adoption?
IIC Was his adoption vaild?
10. The Issue No.1 as above was answered in the affirmative by the Trial Judge and the Issue Nos.IIA, IIB and IIC were answered in the negative. Needless to say that the Plaintiff No.2 in the suit was Ramgopal and the defendant was Radhabai. The findings of the learned Trial Judge in the suit of 1929 leaves no manner of doubt that Ramgopal was found to be the adopted son of Mohan-lal and Mahadeo’s stated adoption was not proved and hence an-swered in the negative. The 1939 appeal arising out of Civil Suit of 1935 though raises more or less similar issues but to avoid prolixity we need not dilate thereon but deal with the issues as raised in the 1968 suit which has been found to be barred by the doctrine of res judicata. The relevant issues of 1968 suit are:
I Does the plaintiff prove that Radhabai was authorised to adopt a son by Mahadeo?
II Does the plaintiff prove that he was adopted by Radhabai and his adoption is valid and legal?
III Does the plaintiff prove adoption of Mahadeo by Mohanlal?
IV Does the Defendant No.1 prove his own adoption by Mohanlal?
V Is the adoption of Defendant No.1 by Mohanlal valid and legal?
VI Is the decision given in Civil Suit No.87 of 1929 binding on the plaintiff?
VII Is the decision given in Civil Suit No.157 of 1935 is binding on the plaintiff?
11. The learned Trial Judge in the present suit, being the sub-ject-matter of the appeal presently, answered the issues as below:
I …….in the affirmative.
II …….The factum of adoption is proved but the adoption is not legal and valid.
III …….in the negative.
IV …….in the affirmative.
V …….in the affirmative.
VI …….in the affirmative.
VII …….in the affirmative.
12. The appellant’s definite assertion is that Mohan Lal adopted Mahadeo in 1910 much before his death in the year 1923. Admit-tedly Mahadeo pre-deceased Mohanlal as he died on 20th August, 1921 and the appellant’s (plaintiff) adoption by Radhabai is said to have taken place on 25th April, 1967. There is in fact a deed of adoption. Exhibit 116 brought before the learned Trial Judge corroborated such a state of affairs. The deed also was regis-tered and by reason of registration and other available evidence on record no exception can be taken to the observations of the learned Trial Judge that there is overwhelming evidence on record to prove the factum of adoption. There is existing evidence on record as regards the adoption ceremony. But the issue herein does not pertain to the validity and legality of the adoption in terms of the registered deed in favour of the plaintiff by Radhabai and it is on this score that strong reliance was placed on Section 8 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and it is on this count the provision of the Act (Section 8) would not have any application since the widow has undoubtedly a right to adopt the child for herself but in the event the child was to be adopted to the husband the statute is otherwise silent and thus the law as it stood prior to the enactment of the legislation as regards the adoption would have to be taken recourse to for proper appreciation. The Shastric law provides an express au-thority by the husband to the widow to adopt a child and in the contextual facts there is not even an iota of evidence in regard thereto as such adoption has been stated to be not legal and valid by both the courts below and we do also feel it inclined to accept the same. The submissions of Mr. Sampath on this score thus stands negatived.
13. The discussion above could have been omitted but by reason of judicial ethics since very strenuous submission has been made by Mr. Sampath in support of the Appeal, as regards the merits of the matter.
14. The doctrine of res judicata has received a statutory sanc-tion in the Code as a matter of prudence and to give due weightage parties. The doctrine thus is to achieve finality of dispute between the parties being a principle of prudence so as to give efficacy to a finding of the Court rather than permit the parties to go to trial more or less on the same issues over again and thus introducing a possibility of conflict of views. Judi-cial verdict has its special sanctity and cannot be the subject- matter of discussion at any future time involving identical or similar issues. The facts in issue is one where more than one attempt has been made to establish a fact and in every attempt that particular fact stands negated.
15. In the present context, the issue is placed before the apex court, and as such therefore, should have to be considered in its proper perspective so that similar issues are not raised before the Court for adjudication on occasions more than one since it has a salutory effect on to the jurisprudential system of the country.
16. The 1976 Amendment to the Code and the introduction of Expla-nations VII and VIII clarify the dual objective as noticed above. The objection howsoever technical it may be, ought not to out-weigh the reasonableness of the doctrine. Raghubir Dayal, J. speaking for the majority view in off cited Gulab Chand’s case Gulabchand Chhotalal Parikh v. State of Gujarat: (AIR 1965 SC 1153) in paragraphs 60 and 61 observed:
“As a result of the above discussion, we are of opinion that the provisions of S.11 CPC. are not exhaustive with respect to an earlier decision operating as res judicata between the same parties on the same matter in controversy in a subsequent regular suit and that on the general principle of res judicata, any previous decision on a matter in controversy, decided after full contest or after affording fair opportunity to the parties to prove their case by a Court competent to decide it, will operate as res judicata in a subsequent regular suit. It is not necessary that the court deciding the matter formerly be competent to decide the subsequent suit or that the former proceeding and the subsequent suit have the same subject-matter. The nature of the former proceeding is immaterial.
We do not see any good reason to preclude such decisions on matters in controversy in writ proceedings under Articles 226 or 32 of the Constitution from operating as res judicata in subse-quent regular suits on the same matters in controversy between the same parties and thus to give limited effect to the principle of the finality of decisions after full contest. We, therefore, hold that, on the general principle of res judicata, the decision of the High Court on a writ petition under Article 226 on the merits on a matter after contest will operate as res judicata in a subsequent regular suit between the same parties with respect to the same matter.”
17. The doctrine of res judicata or constructive res judicata predominantly is a principle of equity, good conscious and justice. It would neither be equitable nor fair nor in accor-dance with the principles of justice that the issue concluded earlier ought to be permitted to be raised later in a different proceeding. It is on this context that the Trial Judge stated as below:
“It is clear from the judgment in Civil Suit No.87/29 that Maha-deo’s adoption was the point in dispute. Thus, it is also clear that the question of Mahadeo’s adoption is the contention in both the suits. Again we find that the other questions are also common in that suit and in this suit the question of adoption of present Defendant No.1 by Mohanlal, the question of validity of the adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 and the question of validity of the Kararnama, dated 10th December, 1923 were also directly or substantially in issue in the said suit. This, in that suit the matter in controversy was decided after full contest and after affording fair opportunity to the parties to prove their case. Hence despite the fact that Betul Court was not competent to try the suit before us the questions referred to above which were decided in that suit would operate as res judi-cata, by the general principles of res judicata, in view of the observations of the Supreme Court. In that previous suit we find that it has been decided that Mahadeo was not the adopted son of Mohanlal and secondly, the Defendant No.1 Ramgopal was adopted son of Mohanlal. Thirdly, the question the so-called validity of adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 was decided and it was decided that Kararnama, dated 10th December 1923 and adoption deed were not binding on the Defendant No.1 who was the Plaintiff No.2 in that case. Hence all these questions cannot now be agitated in the suit before us and the decisions on those points would operate as res judicata. The Civil Suit No.157-A/1935 was filed by the Defendant No.1 Ramgopal, as stated above, against Kisnibai and Radhabai and three others, now the question is as to whether the decision in this Suit No.157-A/35 operates as res judicata. In that suit Radhabai was a party. The issues were –
(1) Whether the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1in this suit) was adopt-ed by Mohanlal?
(2) Whether the adoption deed, dated 9th December, 1923 and the Kararnama, dated 10th December, 1923 were binding on the Plain-tiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit)?
It has been held that the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit) was adopted by Mohanlal. Secondly, the adoption deed dated 9th December, 1923 and the Kararnama, dated 10th December 1923 were held to be not binding on the Plaintiff (Defendant No.1 in this suit). This decision was confirmed by the High Court in Second Appeal No.466/1940 vide Exh.173 certified copy of the judgment. In my view, the decision on these points would operate as res judicata against the plaintiff. The reasons for my coming to the conclusions are the same which I have discussed while deciding the question of res judicata regarding decision in Civil Suit No.87/1929. I, therefore, hold that the decisions in Civil Suit No.87/29 and Civil Suit No.157-A/1935 are binding on plaintiff and they operate as res judicata. I, therefore, answer Issue Nos. 7,18 and 19 in the positive.”
18. The appellate court also relying upon Explanation VIII to Section 11 of the Code, negated the contention of the plaintiff-appellant herein. The appellate court very rightly observed that the general doctrine of res judicata could not be applied as has been so applied by the learned Trial Judge but Explanation VIII to Section 11 as stated by the appellate court and rightly so makes the objection disappear by reason of its widest possible conotation. The Explanation VIII as inserted by the Amendment Act of 1976 reads as below:
“Explanation VIII – an issue heard and finally decided by a Court of limited jurisdiction, competent to decide such issue, shall operate as res judicata in a subsequent suit, notwithstanding that such Court of limited jurisdiction was not competent to try such subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised.”
19. The expression ‘Court of limited jurisdiction’ ought not to be given a limited or restrictive interpretation and as noticed above but widest possible amplitude ought to be given on to the expression above. The High Court upon reliance on various deci-sions of different High Courts of the country observed:
“We find that merely because in the present case the Courts, which decided the earlier suits could not have entertained the present suits, the finding recorded by them would not cease to operate as res judicata, in view of the introduction of Explana-tion VIII to Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The submission, however, on this point on behalf of the plaintiff was that no retrospective operation could be given to the Explanation VIII inserted by Act 104 of 1976 and the suit which was institut-ed in the year 1968 would have to be decided as if Explanation VIII to Section 11 was not on the statute book. The question, whether retrospective effect should be given to Explanation VIII would depend on the provisions of the 1976 Amending Act. Section 97 of Act 104 of 1976, so far as relevant runs as follows:-
“97(1) any amendment made, or any provision inserted in the Principal Act by a State Legislature or a High Court before the commencement of this Act shall, except in so far as such amend-ment or provision is consistent with the provisions of the Prin-cipal Act as amended by this Act, stand repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding that the provisions of the Act have come into force or the repeal under Sub-section (1) has taken effect, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of Section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897,
(a) the amendment made to clause (2) of Section 2 of the Princi-pal Act by Section 3 of this Act shall not affect any appeal against the determination of any such question as is referred to in Section 47 and every such appeal shall be dealt with as if the said Section 3 had not come into force;
(b) —————to
(zb) —————-
(3) Save as otherwise provided in Sub-section (2), the provi-sions of the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall apply to every suit, proceeding, appeal or application, pending at the commencement, notwithstanding the fact that the right, or cause of action, in pursuance of which such suit, proceeding, appeal or application is instituted or filed, had been acquired or had accrued before such commencement.
Obviously, the effect given to Explanations VII and VIII inserted in Section 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the amendment, would come within the sweep of Sub-section 2(a) of the Amending Act and it would be regulated by Sub-section (3) of Section 97. As on the date of the commencement of the Amending Act the pres-ent suit was pending in the Court of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Amravati, the amended provisions of Section 11 would apply to it. Sub-section (2) of Section 97 of the Amending Act regulates pending matters with reference to several provisions of the Principal Act, but does not refer to the amendment brought about in Section 11 of the Principal Act, which consequently would come within the sweep of Sub-section (3) of Section 97 of the Amending Act and would, therefore, have retrospective opera-tion, so long as the matter in which the question of application falls to be considered in pending at the time of commencement of the Act.”
20. We do feel it expedient to record that the analysis as ef-fected by the High Court stands acceptable and as such we refrain ourselves from dilating on this aspect of the matter any further. It is pertinent to add in this context that some differentiation exists between a procedural statute and statute dealing with substantive rights and in the normal course of events, matters of procedure are presumed to be retrospective unless there is an express ban on to its retrospectivity. In this context, the observations of this Court in the case of Jose Da Costa and Another v. Bascora Sadasiva Sinai Narcornim and Ors. (1976 2 SCC 917) is of some relevance. This Court in paragraph 31 of the Report observed:
“Before ascertaining the effect of the enactments aforesaid passed by the Central Legislature on pending suits or appeals, it would be appropriate to bear in mind two well-established principles. The first is that while provisions of a statute dealing merely with matters of procedure may properly, unless that construction be textually inadmissible, have retrospective effect attributed to them, provisions which touch a right in existence at the passing of the statute are not to be applied retrospectively in the absence of express enactment or necessary intendment (Delhi Cloth and General Mills Co. Ltd. v. Income Tax Commissioner: AIR 1927 PC 242).
The second is that a right of appeal being a substantive right the institution of a suit carries with it the implication that all successive appeals available under the law then in force would be preserved to the parties to the suit throughout the rest of the career of the suit. There are two exceptions to the application of this rule, viz. (1) when by competent enactment such right of appeal is taken away expressly or impliedly with retrospective effect and (2) when the Court to which appeal lay at the commencement of the suit stands abolished (Garikapati Veeraya v. N. Subbiah Choudhary : (AIR 1957 SC 540) and Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. v. Irving : (1905 AC 369)”.
21. Still later this Court in Gurbachan Singh v. Satpal Singh & Others (AIR 1990 SC 209) expressed in the similar vein as re-gards the element of retrospectivity. The English Courts also laid that the rule that an Act of Parliament is not to be given retrospective effect applies only to statutes which affect the vested rights: It does not apply to statutes which alter the form of procedure or the admissibility of evidence, or the effect which the courts give to evidence: If the new Act affects matters of procedure only, then, prima facie, it applies to all actions pending as well as future (see in this context the decisions of the House of Lords in the case of Blyth v. Blyth ((1966) 1 All ER 524): A.G. v. Vernazza: ((1960) 3 All ER). In Halsbury’s Laws of England (4th Edition: Vol.44: para 925 page 574) upon reference to Wright v. Hale ((1860) 6 H & N 227) and Gardner v. Lucas ((1878) 3 Appeal Cases 582) alongwith some later cases including Blyth v. Blyth (supra) it has been stated: “the presumption against retro-spection does not apply to legislation concerned merely with matters of procedure or of evidence; on the contrary, provisions of that nature are to be construed as retrospective unless there is a clear indication that such was not the intention of Parlia-ment”.
22. The law thus seems to be well settled that no person has, in fact, a vested right in procedural aspect – one has only a right of prosecution or defence in the manner as prescribed by the law for the time being and in the event of any change of procedure by an Act of Parliament one cannot possibly have any right to proceed with the pending excepting as altered by the new legisla-tion and as such we need not dilate on the issue any further.
23. Before we proceed with the matter further, incidentally, be it noted that on the factual score, the question whether the Plaintiff-appellant’s adoption by Radhabai was, in fact, estab-lished or not – there is no divergence of views between the appellate court and the trial court: The factum of adoption was established but whereas the trial Court doubted its legality, the appellate court in no uncertain term recorded: “there was no question of any illegality attaching to the adoption on account of absence of authority from the husband to adopt the child”. It is noteworthy at this juncture that by reason of the exposition of law as above and since Mahadeo’s adoption was negated in the earlier suit, question of any further claim on the basis of adoption of Mahadeo would not arise. The appellate court as a matter of fact laid emphasis on the question as to whether the Plaintiff by virtue of being Mahadeo’s adopted son would be entitled to claim rights in the property which belong to Mohanlal and referred to Clause (c) of Proviso to Section 12 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. For convenience sake the third proviso to Section 12 is noted here in below:
“12. Effects of adoption. –
(c) the adopted child shall not divest any person of any estate which vested in him or her before the adoption”.
24. It is on this aspect of the matter the appellate court observed:
“The whole basis for claiming a right in the property left by Mohanlal is that Radhabai is the widow of Mahadeo alleged to be the deceased son of Mohanlal. The argument was that after the death of Mohanlal and in the absence of Ramgopal’s adoption, it would be Radhabai who would take the property belonging to Mohan-lal to the exclusion, or otherwise, of Kisnibai who died in the year 1951, as on the date of the adoption, i.e., 25th April, 1967, Radhabai was the only surviving member of the family of Mohanlal. Succession to Mohanlal opened in the year 1923 when the Hindu Women’s Rights to Property Act, 1937, had not been enacted. The most that could be said in respect of Radhabai would be that Radhabai, by virtue of her being the widow of Mahadeo, would be entitled to take widow’s estate in the property left by Mohanlal, and by virtue of the provisions of Section 14 (1) of the Hindu Succession Act, her estate would be enlarged and she would become a full owner of the property. At the time when the previous suits were finally decided, the position of Radha-bai, in pursuance of these judgments, was that she was not a member of Mohanlal’s family; and there is no dispute that this finding bound Radhabai personally. The position on the date of the plaintiff’s adoption would be, if the submission of Shri Udhoji were to be accepted, in view of Clause (c) of Proviso to Section 12, that the property vested in Radhabai as full owner……….
The position would, therefore, be that during the life time of Radhabai, the plaintiff, even by virtue of his adoption, could not have divested Radhabai if she were to have had become the absolute owner of Mohanlal’s property. He could only claim by succession to Radhabai and not by virtue of his being an adopted son during his life time. In view of this position of law, it is clear that the plaintiff, in order to succeed in the present case, would have to claim under Radhabai and he would not get any rights, by virtue of Section 12 only on the basis that he was Mahadeo’s adopted son, having regard to the date of his adoption which was 25th April, 1967″.
25. It is on the above observation that Mr. Sampath very strongly contended that the plaintiff by a legal fiction takes the inter-est of Mahadeo in 1918 when he is deemed to be born, though, in fact however, he was born in 1951. We however, cannot lend any concurrence to the submission of Mr. Sampath. The plaintiff can only claim by succession to Radhabai and not as a co-parcener on the basis of a legal fiction. We feel it expedient to record that the analysis of the situation by the appellate court that the plaintiff would have to claim under Radhabai but by virtue of Section 12 of the Act of 1956, the plaintiff would not have any right on the basis that he was Mahadeo’s adopted son.
26. Admittedly, Radhabai was a party to the previous suit on the issue regarding Ramgopal and Mohanlal’s adoption having been decided against Radhabai specifically, it cannot but be said that the plaintiff was litigating under the same title.
27. In view of the discussion as above and having regard to the provisions of Section 11 read with Explanation VIII, the earlier decision would operate as a res judicata in the present context. The adoption of Ramgopal has, as a matter of fact, declared to be a valid adoption in any event, the same being a finding against the estate, question of further accrual of any right would not arise. The plaintiff cannot as a matter of fact lodge its claim independently of Radhabai as a co-parcener by reason of being a deemed son of Mahadeo. As noted above the entitlement is only if there be any, through Radhabai and not independently of Radhabai. The legal fiction introduced by Mr. Sampath unfortunately cannot find favour with us, more so by reason of the fact that the adoption of Mahadeo stands negated in the earlier suit.
28. Mr. Mohta appearing for the respondents, however, relying on the earlier judgment and the findings as regards the affirmation of Ramgopal’s adoption and negation of Mahadeo’s adoption and the factum of the plaintiff having been litigated under the same title as Radhabai and since Radhabai was a party to the previous suit, very strongly contended that question of any doubt being raised as regards the applicability of the doctrine of res judi-cata or constructive res judicata does not and cannot arise. Mr. Mohta contended that vesting in any event cannot take place in favour of an unborn person and vesting must be viz-a-viz a living person and the legal fiction pertaining to vesting to an unborn person would not arise. We do find some contentious substance in the contextual facts, since vesting shall have to be a ‘vesting’ certain. “To ‘vest’, generally means to give a property in”. (per Brett L.J. Coverdale v. Charlton 48 L.J.Q.B. 132: Stroud’s Judicial Dictionary 5th Edition. Vol.VI). Vesting in favour of the unborn person and in the contextual facts on the basis of a subsequent adoption after about 50 years without any authorisa-tion cannot however but be termed to be a contingent event: To ‘vest’, cannot be termed to be an executory devise. Be it noted however, that ‘vested’ does not necessarily mean ‘vest in pos-session’ but ‘vest in interest’ as well.
29. In the facts of the matter under consideration the issue pertaining to vesting however does not call for any opinion, more so by reason of the specific finding as regards the negation of Mahadeo’s interest as well as the assertion of Ramgopal’s adop-tion in the affirmative and as such the issue also loses its significance and we also express no opinion in regard thereto, save what is noted herein before.
30. On the wake of the aforesaid we are unable to record our concurrence with the submission of Mr. Sampath that the doctrine of res judicata has no manner of application, on the contrary we record our views that the second suit is barred by the doctrine and we see no merit in the appeal as such. The Appeal is there-fore dismissed, there shall however be no order as to costs.
