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2021 Supreme(Raj) 884

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Arun Bhansali, J.
Gaurishankar & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
Arun Nagranjan & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Revision Petition No. 61/2020
Decided on : 27-01-2021

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Nishank Madhan, for the Appellant.

The provisions of the Urban Improvement Act, 1959, cited by the petitioners did not deal with the aspect of seeking injunction against the authorities from granting permission, and Section 97 of the Act, which provides for indemnity of the Trust and its officers, did not bar suits of all nature against the Trust.

Headnote:

CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, 1908 - ORDER VII, RULE 11 - JURISDICTION - SUIT FOR INJUNCTION AGAINST AUTHORITIES FROM GRANTING PERMISSION - URBAN IMPROVEMENT ACT, 1959 - SECTIONS 90, 90-A, 91, 91-A, 97 - INTERPRETATION - APPLICABILITY - REVISION PETITION AGAINST ORDER REJECTING APPLICATION FOR DISMISSAL OF PLAINT - DISMISSAL - LEGALITY.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners filed a revision petition against the trial court's order rejecting their application under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC, to dismiss the plaintiffs' suit for injunction against the authorities from granting permission for construction. The petitioners argued that the plaintiffs had efficacious remedies under the Urban Improvement Act, 1959, and the suit was barred under Section 97 of the Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiffs' suit was not barred under the Urban Improvement Act, 1959, as the provisions cited by the petitioners did not deal with the aspect of seeking injunction against the authorities from granting permission. The court also found that Section 97 of the Act, which provides for indemnity of the Trust and its officers, did not bar suits of all nature against the Trust.

Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiffs' suit was barred under the Urban Improvement Act, 1959? 2. Whether Section 97 of the Act barred the suit?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The provisions of the Urban Improvement Act, 1959, cited by the petitioners did not deal with the aspect of seeking injunction against the authorities from granting permission. 2. Section 97 of the Act, which provides for indemnity of the Trust and its officers, did not bar suits of all nature against the Trust.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition, holding that there was no substance in the petitioners' arguments and that the trial court had rightly rejected their application under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC.

JUDGMENT

1. This revision petition is directed against the order dated 07.08.2020 passed by the trial court, whereby the application filed by the petitioners under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC, has been rejected.

2. The respondents-plaintiffs filed the suit under Order I, Rule 8 CPC, inter alia, making several allegations and claiming the following reliefs:-

3. The petitioners filed the application under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC with the following averments:-

4. The trial court after hearing the parties, came to the conclusion that the trial court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the defendants have failed to point out any provision in law, which would bar the jurisdiction of the civil court and, consequently, rejected the application.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners attempted to make submissions that as the allegations in the plaint pertained to the violation of the permission for construction granted by the Urban Improvement Trust, the plaintiffs had efficacious remedy under various provisions under the Urban Improvement Act, 1959 ('the Act') and, therefore, the suit was not barred.

6. Reliance was placed on provisions of Sections 90, 90-A, 91 and 91-A of the Act to indicate the available remedies. Further reference was made to provisions of Section 97 of the Act to indicate that the jurisdiction of the civil court was barred and it was prayed that the order impugned passed by the trial court be set aside and the plaint be rejected.

7. Reliance was also placed on judgment in Rohit Singh v. Vishambhar Dayal Shukia : 2014(1) DNJ (Raj.) 398; Jaidev Singh Shekhawat v. State of Raj. & Ors.: SBCW No. 10577/2020, decided on 20.10.2020 and Sitaram Sakharam Keluskar v. Dayaram Gulzarilal Deval: 2014(2) CCC 125 (Bombay).

8. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners and have perused the material available on record.

9. A bare perusal of the plaint indicates that it was filed under provisions of Order I, Rule 8 CPC and contains various allegations against the defendants, and the failure on part of the authorities to take action against the defendants No. 1 to 5. In the relief clause as quoted hereinbefore, it was claimed that the defendants No. 1 to 5 be restrained from constructing/opening the commercial premises/hospital and the defendants No. 6 and 7 i.e. UIT and State be directed by way of permanent injunction not to grant permission to the defendant Nos. 1 to 5 for opening the hospital and operate the same. Further prayers were made seeking demolition of various parts of the construction.

10. The application filed by the petitioners under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC as quoted hereinbefore was most cursory and did not contain any basis for seeking dismissal of the plaint at the threshold under provisions of Order VII, Rule 11(d) CPC much less to indicate as to under which provision of law, the plaint/suit was barred.

11. The trial court, as noticed hereinbefore by observing that the petitioners having failed to indicate the provision under which the plaint was barred, rejected the application. The various reliefs, which have been claimed includes a permanent injunction against the respondents No. 6 and 7 from granting the permission. The various provisions pointed out by the counsel for the petitioners i.e. Sections 90, 90-A, 91 and 91-A of the Act, don't deal with the said aspect, wherein a party can seek injunction from the authorities themselves from granting the permission and as such it cannot be said that the plaintiffs had any efficacious remedy as sought to be alleged in the application under Order VII, Rule 11 CPC, though cursory.

12. The submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners based on provisions of Section 97 of the Act to claim that the suit is barred, reads as under:-

    "97. Indemnity of Trust, etc. - No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall be maintainable against the Trust, or any Trustee, or any officer or servant of the Trust, or any person acting under the

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