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Judgment
The suit was originally sought to be instituted in forma pauperis with five prayers. On refusal of leave to do so, the plaintiff struck off four reliefs from the plaint, paid Court fee on the fifth relief and the suit was registered accordingly. Subsequently when she was in possession of sufficient funds to pay the court-fee in respect of the omitted reliefs also, she applied for amendment fay way of reinstatement of the originally given up reliefs. The Civil Judge has granted the permission. Hence this Revision Petition by the contesting defendants 1 to 3.
Although the reliefs were struck off, the original averments in the plaint were left intact. Hence the opinion of the Civil Judge that the reliefs now sought to be reinstated flowed from or depended upon the averments already in the plaint and that therefore, no surprise or serious prejudice can be postulated, is not open to any serious criticism.
The only substantial question for consideration is whether the striking out of the reliefs in the circumstances mentioned above can be equated to withdrawal of reliefs within the meaning of Rule I of Order 23 without the permission of the Court so as to preclude the plaintiff from suing in respect of them.
It is difficult to accept the contention that such should be regarded as the legal effect of striking out reliefs. It will be seen that the withdrawal referred to In Rule I of Order 23 is a withdrawal subsequent to the institution, of a suit Here, striking out of the reliefs was before payment of the court-fee. Even without striking out the reliefs if a plaint is presented with sufficient court-fee only for one of the reliefs, the highest penalty which would be visited upon the plaintiff Is the rejection of the plaint so far as the prayers not supported by the court-fee are concerned. Such rejection does not preclude the plaintiff from instituting a fresh suit on the same cause of action. Such was the view taken by a Bench of the Patna High Court in Ram Lakshman Janki Ji and Others Vs. Makund Lal Sahu and Others, of the Report.
There is therefore, no reason to disagree with the Civil Judge.
The Revision Petition is dismissed.
Petition dismissed.