SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1950 Supreme(Pat) 22

PATNA HIGH COURT
Reuben and B.P.Jamuar JJ.
Province Of Bihar
Versus
Kamakshya Narain Singh
Appeal From Original Order No. 379 of 1949 ;
Decided On : FEBRUARY 01, 1950

The provisions of Section 80 of the Code are mandatory, and must be enforced by the Court, but they may be waived by the authority for whose benefit they are provided.

Headnote:

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - SECTION 80, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - SUIT AGAINST GOVERNMENT - NOTICE - SUFFICIENCY - WAIVER - INJUNCTION - TEMPORARY INJUNCTION RESTRAINING GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING OVER MANAGEMENT OF ESTATE - BALANCE OF CONVENIENCE.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff, the sole proprietor of a considerable property in the district of Hazaribagh known as the Ramgarh Estate, brought a suit to obtain a declaration that certain statutes passed by the Provincial legislature for the abolition of zamindaris and, pending this consummation, directed at taking over the management of the property of the zamindars is ultra vires. The plaintiff sought for the restoration of his private forests and for a permanent injunction restraining the defendant from taking over the management of his estate. The present appeal is directed against an order of the Subordinate Judge granting a temporary injunction in respect of the relief last mentioned.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that there was a fair case to be considered at the trial, and that the injunction granted by the Sub-ordinate Judge was justified. The court also held that the service of notice as required under Section 80, Civil P. C. is mandatory, but that it may be waived by the authority for whose benefit it is provided.

Issues: 1. Whether the notice given under Section 80, Civil P. C. was sufficient? 2. Whether the defendant had waived its right to receive a proper notice under Section 80, Civil P. C.? 3. Whether the balance of convenience was in favor of granting a temporary injunction?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the notice given under Section 80, Civil P. C. was sufficient because it informed the defendant substantially of the ground of the complaint and there was a substantial compliance with Section 80. 2. The court held that the defendant had waived its right to receive a proper notice under Section 80, Civil P. C. because it took action to give effect to the State Management Act, knowing that a notice under Section 80 requires a period of two months. 3. The court held that the balance of convenience was in favor of granting a temporary injunction because there was a danger of irreparable injury to the plaintiff if the injunction was not granted.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal and held that the order of injunction passed by the learned Subordinate Judge ought to continue pending decision in the main suit.

Judgment

Reuben, J.

1. This is an appeal by the defendant, the Province of Bihar against an order of temporary injunction passed by the Subordinate Judge, Hazaribagh, in Title Suit No. 39 of 1949, which was then pending in his Court, restraining the defendant from taking over management of the estate of the plaintiff until the disposal of the suit.

2. The plaintiff-respondent is the sole proprietor of a considerable property in the district of Hazaribagh known as the Ramgarh Ettate. He has brought this suit to obtain a declaration that certain statutes passed by the Provincial legislature for the abolition of zamindaris and, pending this consummation, directed at taking over the management of the property of the zamindars is ultra vires. In particular, three pieces of legislation are referred to. Firstly, there is the Bihar Private Forests Act, 1948 (Bihar Act IX [9] of 1948) under which, it is stated, the Government has taken possession of the private forests of the plaintiff. Secondly, there is the Abolition of Zamindaris Act, 1948 (Bihar Act XVIII [18] of 1948) which has not yet been enforced. Thirdly, there is the Bihar State Management of Estates and Tenures Act, 1949 (Bihar Act XXI [21] of 1949) which came into force on 15th November 1949, and under which it is now proposed that Government will take over the management of the Ramgarh Estate, Among other reliefs, the plaintiff seeks for the restoration of his private forests and for a permanent injunction restraining the defendant from taking over the management of his estate. The present appeal is directed against an order of the Subordinate Judge granting a temporary injunction in respect of the relief last mentioned.

3. A mere glance at the Bihar State Management of Estates and Tenures Act indicates that the proposed taking over the management of the Ramgarh Estate is a very serious inroad on the plaintiffs right of private property. The property will come under the charge of the Manager under the Act, who will be entitled to take into his possession such buildings, papers and other properties appertaining to the estate as are essential in his opinion for proper management. The plaintiff will lose his power of management including even his right to receive arrears of rents and profits payable to him on the date of the commencement of management (vide Sec. 4). Leases of mines and minerals given by the plaintiff will come under the power of review of the Manager, and in certain circumstances it will be open to the Manager to terminate a lease subject to the payment of compensation which may be determined by agreement between the Manager and the holder of the lease (Sections 9 and 12). The Manager will be empowered to determine the secured and unsecured liabilities of the estate and to make arrangements for the satisfaction thereof (Chap. V and VI). The Manager will also represent the proprietor in pending litigation and, apparently, with the previous sanction of the Provincial Government, will be empowered to admit claims against the estate (Sec.32). The power of the proprietor to sue for compensation will be very restricted (Sec.31) and what he will receive out of the income of the estate will depend on what allowance is prescribed by rules under the Act, and how much of the surplus income the Manager, subject only to the control of the Provincial Government, may consider it necessary to retain (Sec.26). In view of these circumstances there can be no doubt that there is danger of irreparable injury, and that the balance of convenience is entirely on the side of the plain-tiff. These points, therefore, have not been urged by the learned Advocate-General who has confined himself to one point, namely, that the suit itself is bad for want of compliance with Section 80, Civil P. C. Section 80, he urges, is an imperative section Bhagchand Dagadusa V/s. Secy. of State, 54 I. A. 338 : (A. I. R. (14) 1927 P. C. 176); Government of the Province of Bombay V/s. Pestonji Ardeshir Wad















Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top