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2015 Supreme(Mad) 3392

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. DURAISWAMY, J.
Arulmighu Sri Avinashilingeswarar Temple rep. by its Executive Officer – Petitioners
Vs.
Kadambadi Innothy Vagai Kongu Chettiar – Respondents
C.R.P.(NPD) No.4738 of 2015 and M.P.Nos.1 & 2 of 2015
Decided On : 21.12.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For Petitioner: Mrs. Hema Sampath, Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Gunalan
For respondent: Mr.Isaac Mohanlal
For HR & CE Department : Mr.K.V.Dhanapalan, AGP

The court emphasized the need for proper application of mind in granting interim orders and directed the respondent to seek permission from the HR & CE Department for pooja performance.

Headnote:

Stay Order - Civil Revision Petition - Code of Civil Procedure - Order 41 Rule 5 - HR & CE Act Section 63 B

Fact of the Case:

The respondent filed a suit for declaration of property ownership and injunction. The trial court dismissed the suit, and the respondent appealed, seeking a stay on the trial court's decision. The appellate court granted an interim stay and injunction, which the petitioner challenged.

Finding of the Court:

The court found the respondent's application for stay and injunction to be devoid of merits and not maintainable. It set aside the appellate court's order and directed the respondent to apply to the HR & CE Department for permission to perform poojas.

Issues: Validity of the appellate court's grant of interim stay and injunction, authority to decide on pooja performance

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appellate court did not apply its mind while granting the interim stay and injunction, and the respondent's application was not maintainable. It directed the respondent to seek permission from the HR & CE Department for pooja performance.

Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was allowed, and the appellate court's orders were set aside. The respondent was directed to apply to the HR & CE Department for permission to perform poojas.

ORDER :


Heard Mrs.Hema Sampath, Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr.Isaac Mohanlal, learned counsel appearing for the respondent and Mr. K.V.Dhanapalan, learned Additional Government Pleader, appearing for the HR & CE Department

2. Challenging the fair and final order passed in I.A.No.1926 of 2009 in A.S.No.28 of 2009 on the file of Additional Sub Court, Tiruppur, the 5th defendant in O.S.No.311 of 2005 on the file of the District Munsif Court, Avinashi, has filed the above Civil Revision Petition.

3. The respondent/plaintiff filed the suit in O.S.No.311 of 2005 for declaration that the suit property absolutely belongs to the respondent/plaintiff Sabai and for a consequential injunction directing the defendants 1 to 4 to issue patta in favour of the respondent/plaintiff. The suit was contested by the defendants and after trial, the Trial Court dismissed the suit.

4. Aggrieved over the dismissal of the suit in O.S.No.311 of 2005, the respondent/plaintiff preferred an appeal in A.S.No.28 of 2009 on the file of Additional Sub Court, Tiruppur.

5. The appeal was filed in the year 2009. Along with the appeal, the respondent/plaintiff filed an application in I.A.No.1926 of 2009 under Order 41 Rule 5 of Code of Civil Procedure to stay the operation of the Judgment and decree passed in O.S.No.311 of 2005 till the disposal of the appeal. Though the application was filed in the year 2009, the Lower Appellate Court has not passed any order in the said application. Instead, the application was adjourned periodically till 30.11.2015. On 30.11.2015, the Lower Appellate Court heard the arguments on the side of the respondents and posted the matter to 01.12.2015 for the appellant's arguments. On 01.12.2015, the Lower Appellate Court heard the appellant's side arguments and posted the matter to 05.12.2015 for orders. On 05.12.2015, the Lower Appellate Court allowed the application not only by granting interim stay but also granted interim injunction restraining the revision petitioner from interfering with the poojas to be performed in the temple by the revision petitioner.

6. When the suit filed by the respondent/plaintiff was dismissed by the Trial Court on merits and when there is no executable decree passed as against the respondent/plaintiff, there is absolutely no necessity for granting a stay in the first appeal. The application filed by the respondent/plaintiff itself is devoid of merits and should have been dismissed by the Lower Appellate Court. But, the Lower Appellate Court, even without reading the prayer sought for in the application, went on to grant an interim injunction in the said application. On a reading of the order passed by the Lower Appellate Court, it is very clear that the Lower Appellate Court has not applied its mind while granting interim stay and interim injunction in the application filed by the respondent/plaintiff, which itself is not maintainable.

7. Mr.Isacc Mohanlal, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/plaintiff submitted that the respondent/plaintiff has been performing poojas for the last 109 years and therefore, they should be permitted to perform the poojas in the temple this year also.

8. Mr.K.V.Dhanapalan, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the HR & CE Department submitted that the performance of Poojas should be decided by the HR & CE Department alone.

9. Mrs.Hema Sampath, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the revision petitioner submitted that the order passed by the Lower Appellate Court should be set aside and that the relief sought for by the learned counsel appearing for the respondent/plaintiff before this Court can be decided only in the first appeal.

10. Mr.Isacc Mohanlal, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/plaintiff submitted that the temple festival is scheduled to be conducted on 25.12.2015.

11. As already stated, I am of the considered view that the fair and final order passed by the Additional Sub Court, Tirupppur are liable to be set aside for the









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