In a case where the defendant applied for a consolidation of pleadings, whether such consolidation of pleadings belongs to the court's discretion (see Supreme Court Decision 87Do706 delivered on June 23, 1987, etc.). Therefore, the court below's failure to combine the case with other cases alleged by the defendant cannot be deemed unlawful on the ground that it did not coincide with the case in question with

Therefore, the appeal is dismissed. It is so decided as per Disposition by the assent of all participating Justices on the bench.