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Judgment
Rule made returnable forthwith. The learned Additional Government Advocate, waives service on behalf of the respondent. Heard finally by
consent of parties.
The petitioner/original defendant is challenging the order dated 16.04.2018, passed by the learned Trial Court, by which, the joint application filed by
the parties for adjournment, has been rejected and the evidence of the petitioner has been closed.
It appears that on the earlier date i.e. on 05.03.2018 also, the petitioner had sought adjournment, on the ground that DW-1, on account of his illness,
could not attend the Court. On 16.04.2018, a joint application was filed by the parties, for adjournment, stating that DW-1 could not attend the
Court. The learned Trial Court dismissed the application inter alia on the ground that the suit is of the year 2010 and is under a direction of speedy
disposal and therefore, no long date can be given in the matter. Thus, in the view of the learned Trial Court, there was no sufficient cause for
granting time.
I have heard the learned Counsel for the parties and perused record. Once the parties jointly requested for adjournment, normally, it could have
been granted. I would hasten to add that the Court is not always obliged to grant time on a joint request. However, in the present case, the
respondentState which is the plaintiff and the petitioner had sought time, on the ground that they require adjournment in the matter. Shri Godinho,
the learned Counsel for the petitioner pointed out that on earlier, three to four occasions, the witness was present.Â
Considering the overall circumstances, I find that an opportunity needs to be granted to the petitioner, subject to costs. Shri Godinho, the learned
Counsel for the petitioner states that DW-1 shall remain present before the Trial Court on the next date or any other date, to which, the learned Trial
Court shall adjourn the suit. The learned Additional Government Advocate for the respondent states that the witness, if present, shall be cross
examined. The statements are accepted.Â
In the result, the following order is passed:
 (a) The petition is allowed.
(b) The impugned order is set aside, subject to the petitioner paying costs of Rs.5,000/- to the District Legal Services Authority, North Goa, Panaji.
(c) The petitioner shall keep DW-1 present positively on the next date or any other date, to which, the suit is adjourned.
(d) Parties to appear before the learned Ad-hoc District Judge-I, FTC, Panaji on 02.07.2018 at 10:00 a.m.
(e) Rule is made absolute in the aforesaid terms.