HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT JAMMU
Hasnain Massodi, J.
Mohd. Lateef -Appellant
Versus
Ravinder Singh & Ors. -Resopndent
OWP No. 1346-2012, CMA No. 1884-2012, c-w Contempt (OWP) 149-2013
Decided On : 15-07-2014
Injunction - Possession of State Land - Order 39 CPC - [Order 39 CPC] - The court discussed the prerequisites necessary for the exercise of discretion under Order 39 Civil Procedure Code and found that the respondents had successfully established a prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable loss in their favor. The court upheld the Trial court's order and dismissed the appeal, stating that the findings returned by the courts below were not irrational, arbitrary, or in gross violation of law, and therefore did not warrant intervention under Article 227 Constitution of India.
Fact of the Case:
The respondents filed a civil suit for a permanent injunction decree and an application for an ad-interim injunction, claiming possession of a plot of state land. The Trial Judge granted the application, and the Appellate court upheld the decision. The petitioner then filed a petition under Article 227 Constitution of India seeking to quash the Trial court and Appellate court orders.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the Trial court and Appellate court had considered the case based on settled legal principles and had held the respondents to have successfully established the prerequisites for an injunction. The court dismissed the petition, emphasizing that it could not use jurisdiction under Article 227 as a camouflage for an appeal.
Issues: The main issue was whether the Trial court and Appellate court had erred in granting the injunction in favor of the respondents.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the application of settled legal principles governing the exercise of discretion under Order 39 Civil Procedure Code and the limitations of jurisdiction under Article 227 Constitution of India.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, and the court emphasized that neither party claimed ownership rights over the land, only possessory rights. The petitioner was given the option to approach the Trial court with an application to prevent any change in the nature of the land or create any third-party interest. The court also directed the Trial court to consider whether the case was covered by the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Jagpal Singh & others v. State of Punjab & Ors.
2. The case set up before the learned Trial Judge was that respondents 1 and 2 (plaintiff in suit) were in possession of a plot of land measuring one kanal ten marlas falling under Khasra No.2285 min situated at Village Sunjwani District Jammu and that petitioner and respondents 3 and 7 (defendants in the Suit) without any right or interest in the suit land were interfering in their peaceful possession over the suit land.
3. Learned Trial Judge vide order dated 20th March 2012 allowed application and made interim order passed earlier on 25th August 2009, absolute. Petitioner and respondents 3 to 7, were accordingly directed not to interfere with suit land, till disposal of the suit, Learned Trial Judge, on going through application and record placed on file, held respondents 1&2 to have made out a prima facie case in their favour as they were shown in possession of suit land in revenue records. It was found that suit land was State land and respondents 1 and 2 could only claim possessory rights over it and that they had a right to have their possessory rights protected against third person. Learned Trial Judge opined that balance of convenience tilted in favour of respondents 1 and 2 and that they were likely to be exposed to irreparable loss in the event interim injunction was withheld.
4. Trial court order dated 20th March 2012 came to be questioned by present petitioner in Civil First Miscellaneous Appeal before Principal District & Sessions Judge, Jammu. Petitioner claimed to be in possession of the suit land and to have even got a case FIR No. 185/2009 under section 447, 323, 427, 382 RPC and 4/25 Arms Act, registered against respondents 1 and 2 at Police Station Bahu Fort, when respondent 1 and 2 on 12.08.2009, with their sympathizers, indulged in rioting and trespassed into suit land and committed other offences alleged in the complaint. It was pleaded that as respondents 1 and 2 were not in possession of suit land, they were not entitled to any protection under Order 39 CPC. The court below was said to have not appreciated the matter in right perspective & also not to have looked at the record available on file.
5. Appellate court did not find any merit in the appeal. It, after discussing and dilating on the prerequisites necessary for exercise of discretion under order 39 Civil Procedure Code, found respondents 1 and 2 to have successfully carved out a prima facie case in their favour According to the Appellate court, other two prerequisites i.e. balance of convenience and irreparable loss ware also in favour of respondents 1&2 (plaintiffs). Appellate court found Trial court order in strict accordance with law and not to be faulted on any count and therefore not warranting any interference. The Civil First Miscellaneous Appeal was, accordingly, dismissed vide order dated 22.05.2012.
6. Petitioner, not discouraged by two consecutive failures, has come up with petition on hand under Article 227 Constitution of India, read with Section 104, Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. He, in exercise of supervisory jurisdiction, seeks quashment of Trial court order dated 20/03/2012 and Appellate court dated 22/05/2012. Petitioner reiterates the stand taken before Appellate court. It is pleaded that respondent 1 and 2 are not in possession of suit land; that outcome of investigation in case FIR No. 185/2009 vindicates his stand inasmuch as investigation stands concluded as proved against respondents 1& 2 and charge-sheet laid before learned Civil Judge (JMIC) Jammu. It is pleaded that respondents 1 & 2 with assistance of their friends and sympathizers on 12/8/2009 indulged in rioting, using fire arms and made an attemp
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