2002 Supreme(Bom) 530
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Khandeparkar R.M.S., J.
Mahadkar Agency another .... Petitioners.
Versus
Padmakar Achanna Shetty.... Respondent.
Civil Revision Application No. 503 of 2000, decided on 14-6-2002.
Advocates appeared :
C.R. Dalvi with S.M. Gorwadkar, for petitioners.
A.A. Kumbhakoni, for respondent.
Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order XXIII, Rule 1 - Plaintiff s right to withdraw suit - He cannot be compelled to continue with suit if he claims to abandon or withdraws it on his own - He can only be imposed of cost - Court allowed withdrawal simpliciter - No specific need for a speaking order by Court. - Once it is established from the facts and circumstances of the case that the plaintiffs can abandon or withdraw the suit such withdrawal being unconditional, the question of rejection of such request does not arise. Merely the order allowing withdrawal simpliciter does not disclose any reason for passing such order, it cannot be said that the same has been passed either by illegal or improper exercise of jurisdiction, so as to warrant interference in revisional jurisdiction.
2. The petitioners challenge the order dated 21st January, 2000, passed by the trial Court in Civil Suit No. 250/1999, allowing the respondent to withdraw the suit. The challenge is mainly three folds, firstly, that the withdrawal of the suit has been allowed ignoring the advantage gained by the respondent during the pendency of the proceedings in relation to the subject matter of the suit by virtue of the order of the Court; secondly, by ignoring the fact that there was already a finding arrived at by the same Court regarding the possession of suit premises with the petitioners and the same was in favour of the petitioners and the matter regarding adjudication of the said finding was pending at the Appellate Court; and thirdly, on the ground that the impugned order is a non-speaking order.
3. The facts, relevant for the decision are that the premises in question undisputedly belong to M/s. Mahadkar Construction Private Limited. It is the case of the petitioners that they were allowed to run business therein and consequently had established restaurant which was allowed to be conducted by the respondent under the agreement dated 5th October, 1992. Since the respondent failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement regarding payment of compensation, the petitioners terminated the agreement on 8th April, 1999. Pursuant thereto, the respondent filed R.C.S. No. 250/1999 in the Small Causes Court, Pune for injunction and obtained ex parte order of status quo on 12th April, 1999. After hearing the parties, the order of status quo was vacated and the application for temporary injunction filed by the respondent was dismissed by the trial Court on 26th April, 1999, holding that the petitioners were in control of the suit premises. The respondents preferred Civil Misc. Appeal No. 183/1999 against the order of rejection of temporary injunction and also prayed for restoration of possession of the suit premises, as according to the respondent he was dispossessed from the suit premises on 28th April, 1999 taking undue advantage of the order dated 26th April, 1999 whereby the injective relief was refused to the respondent by the trial Court, whereas it is the case of the petitioners that they were already in possession of the suit premises and the said fact stands confirmed by the order of the trial Court passed on 26th April, 1999. It is further case of the petitioners that they delivered the possession of the suit premises to the owners thereof, namely, M/s. Mahadkar Construction Pvt. Ltd. on 29th April, 1999. The Additional District Judge in Civil Misc. Appeal No. 183/1999 allowed Exhibit 4 filed by the respondent for restoration of possession of the suit property by another order dated 10th May, 1999. It is the case of the respondent that pursuant to the said order he took the possession of the suit premises on 17th May, 1999 whereas it is the case of the petitioners that the order of 10th May, 1999 was sought to be executed illegally with the help of police force without obtaining necessary order from the Court for police protection for the purpose of execution of the said order. The petitioners thereafter preferred C.R.A. No. 666/1999 challenging the order dated 10th May, 1999 and this Court set aside the said order and remanded the matter to the lower Appellate Court with the direction to hear afresh the matter bearing in mind the terms of the agreement dated 3rd July, 1988. The District Court by an order dated 12th August, 1999 disposed of the Exhibit 4 by fresh order directing the respondent to deposit the amount of Rs. 13,43,316/- within five weeks and for continuation of order of injunction subject to deposit of the said amount within the specified period. The said order was sought to be challenged by the respondent in C.R.A. No. 998/1999, but without any success as the same was dismissed on 15th October, 1999. T