Before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE PRABHA SRIDEVAN
Enercon (India) Ltd., Mumbai, having office at Golsite House, Plot No. 31, Shah Industrial
Estate, Veera Desai Road, Antheri West, Mumbai
Versus
J.T. Micheal Anjalo and others
C.R.P. No. 236 of 2004 and VCMP No. 14 of 2005 and CMP No. 1061 of 2004
Decided on : 11-02-2005
Specific Relief Act - Suit Maintainability - Section 41(h), Order 39, Rules 1 & 2 - [Kasthuri and 4 others v. Baskaran and another, 2004 (1) L.W. 803; Sadashiv Chander Bhyamgare v. Eknath Pandharinath Nangude, 2004 (4) CTC 465; K.S.Balasubraniauiam v. S.Munuswamy, 2000 (2) CTC 417; Rajendra Kumar v. Mahendra Kumar Mittal and others , AIR 1992 All. 35; Jasmer Singh and others v. Kanwaljit Singh and another, AIR 1991 P & H 194] - The court discussed the suit's maintainability under Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act and the applicability of interim injunction under Order 39, Rules 1 & 2. Key legal provisions were interpreted to determine the rights of the agreement holder and the bar on seeking interim injunction. The court's decision was influenced by the interpretation of these provisions and the precedents cited.
Fact of the Case:
The respondents filed a suit for an interim injunction related to a sale agreement and wind energy generator. The petitioner sought to strike off the suit, arguing it was an abuse of process of law and not maintainable.
Finding of the Court:
The court dismissed the revision, stating that the suit's maintainability and the bar of Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act should be raised as objections in accordance with the law.
Issues: Maintainability of the suit, applicability of Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act, and the right to seek interim injunction under Order 39, Rules 1 & 2.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that unless the circumstances warrant and the abuse of process of law is evident, Article 227 cannot be invoked for striking off a case from the file.
Final Decision: The CRP was dismissed, and the petitioner was allowed to raise objections regarding the maintainability of the suit and the bar of Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act.
1. This revision has been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution India for striking off the suit in O.S.No.288 of 2004 from the file of the District Munsif, Valliyur, on the ground that the suit is not maintainable.
2. The respondents 1 & 2 filed the above suit for an interim injunction, restraining the third respondent from alienating the suit property till the sale agreement is subsisting and restraining the petitioner from commissioning the wind energy electrical generator. Pending suit, respondents 1 and 2 prayed for an interim injunction, restraining the petitioner from commissioning the Wind Mill mentioned above. The Court below gave an interim injunction only with regard to operation of the wind generator. Against this the petitioner herein has filed this revision without filing an appeal which is there remedy against an order passed in an application under Order 39, Rules 1 & 2 and 151 of the Civil Procedure Code.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that though there is an appeal remedy, the petitioner have not availed of it because the suit itself is an abuse of process of law and must be struck off from the file. According to the learned counsel, the basis on which the respondents 1 & 2 have filed the suit is the agreement referred to above and even in the; agreement it is clear that possession was not handed over to the respondents 1 and 2. The pleadings also indicate that the third respondent with whom respondents 1 and 2 entered into an agreement were put in possession of the property. The learned, counsel for the petitioner submitted that an agreement holder had no right to seek interim injunction and he was; barred under Section 41(h) of ha Specific Relief Act and therefore, suit must be struck off from the file. He further submitted that if at all the respondents 1 and 2 had a remedy, it was to file a suit for specific performance.
4. The learned counsel for the respondents 1 and 2 submitted that there is an another suit pending, in which, an interim injunction has been obtained restraining the third respondent from alienating the property and for this reason, the respondents 1 and 2 could not file a suit for specific performance. Further it is submitted that under the agreement, six months’ time was given and therefore that was another reason why they could not file the, suit for specific performance. The learned counsel admitted t hat respondents 1 and 2 were not in possession. He submitted further that if interim injunction is not granted, the respondents 1 and 2 would suffer irreparable loss and hardship and would be left with no other remedy.
5. The learned counsel for the respondents relied on the following judgments Kasthuri and 4 others v. Baskaran and another, 2004 (1) L.W. 803, where this Court refused to set aside an order refusing to reject the plaint on an application filed under Order 7, Rule 11, CPC. That case arose in some what similar circumstances. There also the agreement holder has filed the suit for permanent injunction. It was contended by the defendants that in view of the bar contained in Section 41(h) of the Specific Relief Act, the plaint must be rejected. The revision further was dismissed on the ground that the question whether Section 41(h) would apply cannot be decided at that stage.
6. The learned counsel for the respondent also relied on Sadashiv Chander Bhyamgare v. Eknath Pandharinath Nangude, 2004 (4) CTC 465, where the Full Bench of the Bombay High Court held that a suit for permanent injunction by an agreement holder who is in possession of the property is not barred by Section 41(h).
7. Both the above cited decisions will not help the respondents, since in both the cases, the agreement holder was put in possession pursuant to the agreement. In fact, in the Full Bench judgment of the Bombay High Court it has been held. that even though the plaintiffs plea for specific performance may be barred by Law of Limitation, they are ent
4. Rajendra Kumar v. Mahendra Kumar Mittal and others
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