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2022 Supreme(Raj) 2551

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Sudesh Bansal, J.
Jai Hind Buildcon & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
Heeralal Sharma & Ors. – Respondents
S.B. Civil Revision Petition No. 134 of 2015
Decided On : 28-03-2022

Advocates appeared:
Ms. Anita Aggarwal Assisted, Mr. Hemang Kumawat, for the Appellant
Mr. V L Mathur, Mr. Brij Kishore Sharma, for the Respondent.

The importance of properly considering objections raised under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC and the mandatory requirements of statutory notice under Section 304 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act.

Headnote:

Order 7 Rule 11 CPC - Civil Suit - Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009 - Section 304 - Specific Relief Act - [SUMMARY OF ACT SECTIONS: Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, Section 304 of Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, Section 41(h) of Specific Relief Act]

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiffs filed a civil suit alleging public nuisance by the defendants due to the construction of a multi-storey building. The defendants raised objections under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, including lack of clear right to sue, undervaluation of the suit, failure to issue a mandatory notice under Section 304 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, and the bar of granting relief under Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the impugned order suffered from jurisdictional error and material irregularity as the objections raised by the defendants were not properly considered. The matter was remanded back to the trial court for fresh consideration of the objections in accordance with the law.

Issues: The issues involved the accrual/disclosure of cause of action, undervaluation of the civil suit, and the requirement of statutory notice before institution of the civil suit.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the averments of the plaint are crucial in deciding an application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC. It also highlighted the need for proper valuation of the suit for seeking specific reliefs and the mandatory requirements of statutory notice under Section 304 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act.

Final Decision: The impugned order was quashed and set aside, and the matter was remanded back to the trial court for fresh consideration of the objections raised by the defendants.

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!)

What is the proper consideration of objections under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC and the mandatory notice requirements under Section 304 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act?

What is the correct approach to valuation and accrual/disclosure of cause of action at the stage of deciding an Order 7 Rule 11 CPC petition?

What is the impact of Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act on interim relief objections raised under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, and can they be examined at that stage?


ORDER

1. This revision petition has been filed assailing the order dated 29.07.2015 passed by Civil Judge, Kishangarh in Civil Suit No.89/2014 whereby and whereunder petitioners' application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC has been dismissed.

2. Heard counsel for both parties and perused the impugned order as well as the plaint.

3. Copy of plaint has been provided to this Court during course of hearing of this revision petition.

4. By perusal of plaint, it reveals that respondents-plaintiffs have filed civil suit alleging creation of public nuisance by defendants by raising a construction of multi storey building. It has been averred that petitioners (defendant Nos.2 & 3) do not have any ownership rights/documents of suit property, however, the defendant No.1- Nagar Parishad (respondent No.5 herein) has accorded permission to raise construction. The plaint has been valued for the purpose of permanent injunction.

5. The following relief in the plaint has been prayed for:-

6. Petitioners (defendant Nos.2 & 3) filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC raising following objections that:-

    '(i) The plaint does not disclose a clear right to sue and cause of action to plaintiffs;

    (ii) Plaintiffs have made a prayer to cancel the sanction for construction given by Nagar Parishad but has not valued the suit for such relief, hence the suit is undervalued;

    (iii) Plaintiffs have asked relief against the Nagar Parishad, Kishangarh without issuing a notice under Section 304 of Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as, 'the Act') which is mandatory for institution of a civil suit against Nagar Parishad;

    (iv) The relief of injunction is barred by virtue of Section 41(h) of Specific Relief Act.'

    7. Plaintiffs have filed reply to the application alleging inter alia that the suit has been valued for the purpose of permanent and mandatory injunction and since the suit was of urgent nature, the exemption of statutory notice under Section 80(2) CPC was sought for which has been granted by trial court vide order dated 16.09.2014. It was averred that plaint as a whole discloses a cause of action for causing public nuisance by private defendants by raising illegal construction of multi storey building.

    8. Learned trial court has dismissed the application vide impugned order dated 29.07.2015 with findings that the question of valuation of suit would be decided after recording evidence; the notice under Section 304 of the Act has been exempted vide order dated 16.09.2014. In the impugned order, there is no findings on the cause of action/right to sue accrued to plaintiffs to bring the present suit.

    9. Learned counsel for respondents has relied upon judgments passed by this Court in case of Moti Lal vs. Representatives of Public in General of Nawa City reported in 2011(2) DNJ (Raj.) 569] and in the case of Govind Narayan vs. Shri Baheti Dharmshala & Ors. [S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.3422/2008].

    10. Having heard counsel for both parties.

    11. It is trite law that at the time of deciding the application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, averments of plaint are germane. It is no more res integra that averments of plaint should be read meaningfully and not barely and casually. On careful and meaningful reading of the averments of plaint as a whole, this Court finds that plaintiffs have not mentioned a clear right to sue accrued to them and further plaint does not disclose a cause of action accrued to plaintiffs to bring the present suit. Plaintiffs have not made any averment regarding their locus standi. Even if plaintiffs' suit is treated as a representative suit, it is not reflected that the provision of Order 1 Rule 8 CPC pressed into service. Further the trial court has not given any finding/observation about the plaintiffs' right to sue the plaint and to the cause of action accrued to plaintiffs to bring this suit. If plaintiffs have brought the present suit in representative capacity, to stop any public nuisance, the trial court has to examine

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