Orissa High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Dr A.K. Rath, J., dismissed the petition which challenged the order of the trial court whereby the Court allowed the application of the defendant filed under Order 7 Rule 11(c) CPC and directed the plaintiff to pay ad-valorem court fees.
The facts of the case are as that the plaintiff-petitioner had instituted the suit for declaration of title and declaration that the sale deed executed by him in favor of the defendant as null and void. The litigation started between the parties and the defendant filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11(c) CPC stating that the plaintiff had instituted the suit for declaration that the registered sale deed as void. They contended that the plaintiff was the executant of the sale deed, he sought its cancellation and therefore He should pay ad-valorem court fees. Plaintiff filed an objection to the said application and their counsel, Mr Samir Kumar Mishra and Mr S. Rout contended that the sale deed was a nominal one and no consideration was passed and thus the plaintiff could put his own valuation and pay the court fees.
The Court, relying on the Umakanta Das v. Pradip Kumar Ray, 1986 SCC OnLine Ori 11, dismissed the petition and upheld the order of the trial court, directing the petitioners to pay the ad valorem court fees. [Kumar Soumyakanta Bisoi v. Banita Panda, 2018 SCC OnLine Ori 435, decided on 18-12-2018]