OSA/54/2026 of Mohan Breweris and Distilleries Limited Vs Empee Distilleries Ltd

OSA No. 54 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27-04-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE P. VELMURUGAN AND THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKA V ADI OSA No. 54 of 2026 AND CMP No. 6361 of 2026 Mohan Breweris and Distilleries Limited Rep.by its Senior Deputy General Manager-Accounts G.Samuthiram No.7, Selva Street Madurai Meenakshi Nagar Valasaravakkam, Chennai-600 087 Appellant Vs M/s Empee Distilleries Ltd., Rep. by its Managing Director Having registered office at No.72, Greams Road, Thousand Lights Chennai-600 006 Respondent Memorandum of Grounds of Original Side Appeal under Order XXXVI Rule 9 of the Original Side Rules, against the order dated 22.01.2026 passed by the learned Judge in C.S.No.28 of 2017. For Appellant: Mr.G.Krishna Kumar For Respondent: No appearance JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was made by P.Velmurugan J.) The appellant, who is the plaintiff in C.S.No.28 of 2017, has filed thi s https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis OSA No. 54 of 2026 appeal aggrieved by the order dated 22.01.2026 passed by the learned single Judge scrapping the evidence of PW2 on the ground that he did not present himself for cross examination. 2. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant/plaintiff would submit that though the suit was filed in the year 2017 praying f or a judgment and decree to direct the respondent/defendant to pay a sum of Rs.4,38,34,396.10 to the appellant/plaintiff, the matter is getting prolonged on account of the interlocutory applications being heard and disposed of. The learned counsel would further submit that though the respondent filed an application to reject the plaint, the same ultimately came t o be rejected. After much struggle, the matter came up before the learned Master for recording of evidence, where PW1 was examined. Thereafter, PW2 entered int o the box on several occasions before the learned Master and one way or the other, it was adjourned like when the plaintiff’s counsel was present along with t he witness, the respondent’s counsel did not come for cross examination. Therefore, t he matter came to the Court. However, the learned single Judge has misunderstood as if PW2 was not present and the appellant was not ready and there fore, the impugned order was passed. 3. Though the respondent has been served and his name is printed in the cause list, there is no appearance either in person or through counsel. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis OSA No. 54 of 2026 4. On perusal of the records including the docket orders, it is seen tha t though the plaintiff’s witness was present on several occasions, only the counsel for the other side did not choose to cross examine. Once the witness re mained present, it is the duty of the counsel to subject the said witness to cross examination and only due to extraordinary circumstances or some personal inconvenience, adjournment can be sought for. Whereas a reading of the docket orders would show that on several occasions, the plaintiff’s witness was present, but the respondent’s counsel was adamant not to cross examine the said witness, which attitude shows that one way or the other, the respondent wanted to protract the proceedings. However, the learned single Judge failed to c onsider the issue i.e., the appearance of the witness on the side of the plaintiff on several occasions. On this score, the impugned order is set aside and the matte r is remitted back to the learned single Judge, who shall issue a directi on to the parties as well as their counsel to expedite the proceedings before the learned Master. With this observation, this original side appeal stands allowed. Consequently, the connected CMP is closed. No order as to costs. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis OSA No. 54 of 2026 (P.VELMURUGAN J.) (K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKA V ADI J.) 27-04-2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No ss P.VELMURUGAN J. AND K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKA V ADI J. ss OSA No. 54 of 2026 27-04-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis