Ram Rati vs Mange Ram (D) Thr Lrs. & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the procedural implications of consolidating two civil suits under Order 18 Rule 7 CPC and Section 51 CPC. The Court held that the consolidation order allows for evidence from one suit to be read in another, but it does not preclude the right of a party to cross-examine witnesses whose evidence was recorded prior to consolidation. The Court directed that the plaintiff in Civil Suit No. 43 of 2009 should be granted an opportunity to cross-examine PW-1, thereby ensuring fair trial rights are upheld.