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2022 Supreme(Del) 317

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Yogesh Khanna, J.
Bela Goyal Proprietor of Ispat Sangrah (India) - Appellant
Versus
VIIPL - MIPL JV (Jaipur) & Ors. - Respondents
CS(COMM) 1217 of 2018
Decided On : 03-01-2022

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Rajiv Bajaj and Mr. Karan Prakash, Advocates, for the Appellant; Ms.Geeta Luthra, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Aadarsh Kothrari and Mr. Jatin, Advocates for D1. Mr. Rajive R. Raj, Advocate for Intervener/IDBI Bank Limited, for the Respondent.

The court emphasized the importance of written statements and denial of allegations in determining the acceptance of contentions at an early stage of the case.

Headnote:

JURISDICTION - Territorial Jurisdiction - Section 20 CPC, Union of India v. M/s.Tubes and Malleables Ltd., Makalu Impex Pvt. Ltd. vs. Vivek Nagpal, Bhat Carpets v. AMI India Logistics Pvt. Ltd. & Anr., Patel Roadways Ltd. v. Prasad Trading Co., Hanil Era Textiles Ltd. vs. Puromatic Filters (P) Ltd. - Ss.18 and 19 of Limitation Act, 1963 - Hotel Diplomat vs. Folio Holdings India (P) Ltd.

Fact of the Case:

The defendant sought urgent directions under Section 151 CPC, claiming lack of territorial jurisdiction and limitation in a suit filed by the plaintiff. The defendant argued that the cause of action arose in Jaipur, and the suit was time-barred. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant acknowledged the debt in May 2016 through undated cheques.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the defendant's applications, noting the absence of a written statement and denial of the plaintiff's allegations. The court held that the part of the cause of action arose at Delhi, and the jurisdiction was not excluded by the invoices' mention of Jaipur. The court also accepted the plaintiff's contention regarding the acknowledgment of debt through undated cheques.

Issues: Territorial jurisdiction, limitation, acknowledgment of debt

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the absence of a written statement and denial of allegations required acceptance of the plaintiff's contentions at that stage. The court also held that the part of the cause of action arose at Delhi, and the jurisdiction was not excluded by the invoices' mention of Jaipur. Additionally, the court accepted the plaintiff's contention regarding the acknowledgment of debt through undated cheques.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the defendant's applications and listed the case for disposal of pending applications.

ORDER

Yogesh Khanna, J. - I.A. Nos. 1790-91/2020 & 12937/2021

1. Application being I.A. No.12937/2021 is filed by defendant No.1 under Section 151 CPC seeking urgent directions in this matter is taken up with other two applications.

2. The learned senior counsel for the defendants no.1 to 3 argues this Court has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain this Suit and the Suit is, even otherwise, barred by limitation. It is submitted by the learned senior counsel for the defendants the entire cause of action arose at Jaipur; the goods were supplied at Jaipur; payments were to be made at Jaipur and the invoices raised by the plaintiff also notes the jurisdiction to be of Jaipur.

3. Further, it is alleged the entire supplies of iron was made between the year 2014-2015 and the last of such invoices was of dated 30.03.2015 and the present Suit has been filed on 31.10.2018 i.e., much after the limitation had expired and hence, the suit is liable to be dismissed.

4. It is also submitted, this Court vide an order dated 02.11.2018 had attached an amount of Rs.2.70 crores viz. the amount receivable by defendant No. 1 from defendant No.4 pursuant to an award of Rs. 12.00 crores passed in favour of defendant No. 1. The said amount of Rs.2.70 crores is lying in the FDR with the learned Registrar General of this Court. It is alleged on the basis of this order dated 02.11.2018, 12 other vendors have filed Suit for recoveries and had taken such like attachment under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC. It is alleged by defendant No. 1 the amount deposited by defendant No. 1 with the Registrar General of this Court belong to IDBI Bank, a secured creditor.

5. It is alleged an agreement dated 17.06.2014 was entered into between defendant No 1 and defendant No.4 for construction of 11 towers of different categories of dwelling units located at Air Force Naval Housing Board, Village Boitawala, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The defendant No. 1 vide work order dated 28.08.2014 sub-contracted the construction of the aforesaid project to defendant No.2. The defendant No.2 approached IDBI Bank for issuance of bank guarantee in favour of defendant No.4. The aforesaid bank guarantee was illegally encashed by defendant No.4 against which the defendant No. 1 had invoked arbitration and an arbitration award was passed in favour of defendant No. 1.

6. The IDBI Bank has also filed application under Order 1 Rule 10 CPC (I.A. No.2181/2019) seeking impleadment as a party in this suit and an application under Order 39 Rule 4 CPC (I.A. No.3649/2019) seeking vacation of the order dated 02.11.2018. Both these applications are still pending. The applicant submits the IDBI Bank vide its letter dated 15.12.2020 had offered to settle the loan account of defendant No. 1 as maintained with IDBI Bank. The IDBI Bank had approached the Ld. DRT-II, Delhi where its OA No. 1080/2017 titled "IDBI Bank Limited v. M/s.Maxout Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. & Ors." and vide I.A. No.382/2021 sought remittance/transfer of amount lying deposited with Patiala House Courts in 8 such like matters. Vide order dated 26.02.2021, the Ld. DRT-II, Delhi was pleased to allow the said I.A. and had requested/directed the Ld. Commercial Judge, Patiala House Courts to release the amounts lying deposited with the Courts for utilization of the same in SKBY Scheme of IDBI Bank. This Court refused to interfere in the Writ Petitions filed by those 8 vendors and later they also filed an appeal before the Ld. DRT-II, Delhi, which is pending.

7. Vide order dated 03.05.2021, the Ld. Commercial Judge-03, Patiala House Court had directed release of the amounts deposited in all 4 matters. Similar request is made in the present case.

8. The learned senior counsel for the petitioner referred to undated cheques listed at page No. 36 of the documents filed by the plaintiff to say such cheques were blank cheques and though the plaintiff claims those were handed over to it in May, 2016 but such argument is made only to increase the period of limitation but i

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