IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Asha Menon, J.
Aarogya Pathcare LLP - Appellant
Versus
Wellness Pathcare India Llp & Ors. - Respondents
C.M. (M) No. 382 of 2021
Decided On : 28-05-2021
Article 227 - Locus Standi - Order XXXIX Rule 4 CPC
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India seeking de-sealing of their premises and removal of seized items. The court considered the locus standi of the petitioner as it was not a party before the learned Trial Court.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner failed to demonstrate how it was prejudiced or how its legal rights were jeopardized by the impugned order. It also noted that no perversity or illegality was found in the impugned order.
Issues: Locus standi of the petitioner, prejudice to legal rights, and legality of the impugned order.
Ratio Decidendi: The petitioner must demonstrate how it is prejudiced and what legal rights have been jeopardized by the impugned order. Additionally, the court is required to dispose of the application under Order XXXIX Rule 4 CPC, 1908 moved by the respondents No.3 & 4/defendants.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed along with the pending application.
JUDGMENT
Asha Menon, J. -
CM APPLN. 17332/2021 (Exemption)
1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
2. The application stands disposed of. CM APPLN. 17333/2021 (Exemption from filing affidavit, etc., in support of the applications)
1. The application is allowed subject to the applicant filing duly CM (M) 382/2021 Page 2 of 6 affirmed affidavit(s) alongwith the court fees/deficit court fees, if any, within 72 hours from the date of resumption of the regular functioning of this court.
2. The application is disposed of.
CM (M) 382/2021, CM APPLN.17334/2021 (by the petitioner u/S 151 CPC for interim orders and directions)
1. The present petition has been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, with the following prayers:
"(i) Pass appropriate orders and directions to the respondents and/or to the learned Trial Court i.e. Court of learned District Judge (Commercial Courts), -03, Central District, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi conducting trial of Commercial Civil Suit bearing CS (Comm.) No.242/2020 tiled as "Wellness Pathcare India LLP & Anr. Vs. Wellness Health Lab (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.? to de-seal the petitioner?s room in the premises bearing No.1/4, First Floor, Single Story, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi and to remove the seized items/material/documents/papers, as mentioned in the Supardari Memo (ANNEXURE-P-6) from the said room and to make the same available to the petitioner for his use to store the samples and other. Path-Lab purposes;
(ii) Pass any other order or direction, which this Hon?ble Court may deem fit and proper, under the facts and circumstances of the case, and in the interest of justice."
2. The case of the petitioner, as submitted by Mr. Avadh Kaushik, learned counsel for the petitioner, is that the petitioner's room had been sealed in proceedings between the respondents i.e., respondents No.1 & 2 (plaintiffs) and respondents No.3 & 4 (defendants), where the plaintiffs were seeking a permanent injunction restraining the infringement, passing of and unauthorized use of their trade mark and for rendition of accounts and delivery up etc. against the defendants. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that directions be issued by this Court to either or both of them to remove the goods which are lying in the room forming part of premises of the petitioner bearing No. 1/4, First Floor, Single Storey, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, which be also de-sealed so that the petitioner could use the premises for its purposes, particularly in the present pandemic conditions as it was running a pathology lab from the premises.
3. The first query that arises for consideration is the locus standi of the petitioner to file the present petition, as admittedly it is not a party before the learned Trial Court. While the learned counsel for the petitioner is right in submitting that this is a petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India and not an appeal, the principles governing a challenge to an order by a person not a party before the learned Trial Court would remain the same. A petitioner must fall under the category of an aggrieved person before he can be heard if he is not a party to the suit.
4. A three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court in V.N. Krishna Murthy And Another v. Ravikumar And Others, 2020 9 SCC 501 has observed that merely saying that the appellants therein are prejudicially affected by the decree is not sufficient. It was further held:-
"22. It has to be demonstrated that the decree affects the legal rights of the appellants and would have adverse effect when carried out ..
23. The appellants have thus, failed to demonstrate that they are prejudicially or adversely affected by the decree in question or any of their legal rights stand jeopardised, so as to bring them within the ambit of the expression "person aggrieved" entitling them to maintain appeal against the decree."
5. In other words, a party not before the learned Trial Court has to show clearly and specifically in what manner it is prejudiced and what
AI
The petitioner must demonstrate prejudice and jeopardized legal rights to challenge an order, and the court is required to dispose of related applications.
A party must demonstrate specific legal prejudice to be considered aggrieved and eligible to seek intervention under Article 227; mere speculation of harm is inadequate.
Sealing of business premises under Section 67(4) of the CGST Act must comply with constitutional rights, specifically the fundamental right to conduct business as protected under Article 19(1)(g).
The court emphasized the importance of producing relevant documents for de-sealing premises and set a deadline for both parties, ensuring that sealing would not continue beyond the specified timefram....
A court may grant limited, temporary de-sealing of a premises under official supervision to allow a tenant to retrieve personal belongings, without prejudice to the ongoing legal proceedings before t....
De-sealing of the building on temporary basis shall not confer any right on the owner to run or to continue functioning of the creche and in case applicant fails to get the requisite permission, the ....
The central legal point established in the judgment is the limited scope of Article 227 powers and the inapplicability of certain sections of the CPC and Trade Marks Act, 1999 to the case at hand.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.