SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
M.R. Shah, Krishna Murari, JJ.
Anupam Ghosh & Anr. – Appellants
Versus
Faiz Mohammed & Ors. – Respondents
Transfer Petition (C) Nos. 2331-2334 of 2021
Decided On : 02-09-2022
Transfer Petitions - Transfer of Proceedings - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section 25
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners sought transfer of multiple proceedings from one court to another, citing unfair trial and local influence as grounds for transfer.
Finding of the Court:
The court deprecated the petitioners' claims of unfair trial and local influence, stating that adverse judicial orders cannot be attributed to influence and that such allegations obstruct the administration of justice. The court also dismissed the ground of a false criminal FIR as a basis for transfer, emphasizing that the proper remedy would be to challenge the FIR through appropriate legal channels.
Issues: Unfair trial, local influence, false criminal FIR, transfer of proceedings
Ratio Decidendi: Adverse judicial orders cannot be attributed to influence, and allegations of local influence obstruct the administration of justice. The proper remedy for challenging a false criminal FIR is through appropriate legal channels.
Final Decision: The Transfer Petitions were dismissed.
ORDER
1. We have heard Shri Sidharth Luthra, learned Senior Advocate, appearing on behalf of the Petitioners and Shri Dushyant Dave, learned Senior Advocate, appearing on behalf of the contesting respondents.
2. The present Transfer Petitions have been filed under Section 25 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 seeking transfer of (i) Execution Petition No. 34 of 2021 titled as "M/s Anondita Healthcare & Anr. vs. Faiz Mohammed & Ors.", (ii) Civil Application No. 15 of 2021 titled as "Swear Health Care Private Limited & Anr. vs. M/s Anondita Healthcare & Ors.", (iii) Civil Application No. 16 of 2021 titled as "Swear Health Care Private Limited & Anr. vs. M/s Anondita Healthcare & Ors." and (iv) Application No. 18 of 2021 titled as "M/s Anondita Healthcare & Anr. vs. Swear Health Care Private Limited & Ors.", all pending before the learned District and Session Judge, Dhaulpur (Rajasthan) to the Court of learned District and Sessions Judge, Noida.
3. One of the grounds on which the proceedings are sought to be transferred is that the petitioners believe that they are not getting a fair trial and the respondents being local bigwigs are able to influence the local Court. We deprecate such a stand and the ground on which the proceedings are sought to be transferred. Merely because some Orders are passed on judicial side (in the present case in the execution proceedings) which may be against the petitioners, it cannot be said that the Court, which passed the order was influenced. If the petitioners are aggrieved by any judicial order, the proper remedy would be to challenge the same before higher forum. But merely because some Orders adverse to them are passed by the Court, it cannot be said that the Orders on judicial side are passed under influence. Nowadays, there is a tendency to make such allegations against the judicial Officers whenever the orders are passed against a litigant and the orders are not liked by the concerned litigant. We deprecate such a practice. If such a practice is continued, it will ultimately demoralize the judicial officer. In fact, such an allegation can be said to be obstructing the administration of justice.
4. The another ground that, when the warrant issued by the learned Executing Court was sought to be executed, a false criminal FIR was filed and therefore, there is an apprehension on the life of the petitioners are concerned and the submission that the FIR is bogus is concerned, at the outset, it is required to be noted that if the petitioners are aggrieved by the FIR, the remedy would have been to approach the quashing of the same. It is reported that the closure report (which is disputed by Mr. Dushyant Dave, learned Senior Advocate, appearing for the respondents) is filed so far as the FIR is concerned. The aforesaid cannot be a ground to transfer the proceedings. No ground is made out to transfer any of the proceedings as sought to be transferred.
5. The Transfer Petitions stand dismissed, accordingly.
AI
Allegations of unfair trial and local influence must be substantiated, and proper legal remedies should be pursued for challenging adverse judicial orders and false criminal FIRs.
Transfer of suit – Mere apprehension of adverse order cannot be a ground for transfer – Eventuality of transfer of suit on account of amendments based solely on merits is different from seeking trans....
A transfer of a case should be granted only on strong reasons, and mere presumption or possible apprehension are not sufficient grounds for transfer.
A transfer of a criminal case is an extraordinary power exercised only upon proof of a real, reasonable apprehension of bias supported by tangible material, as mere claims of familial or professional....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the need to balance the motive and underlying object of seeking transfer, the lack of substantial evidence supporting allegations of bias and preju....
Mere apprehension of bias or prejudice is not sufficient to justify transfer of a case. There must be a reasonable apprehension based on concrete evidence or circumstances.
The court reaffirmed that mere inconvenience is insufficient for transferring a case; bias or denial of justice must be established.
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