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2014 Supreme(Mad) 4558

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
T. Mathivanan, J.
Gemini Communications Limited – Petitioners
Vs.
Merrill Lynch International – Respondents
Civil Revision Petition (PD) No. 4058 of 2013 and M.P. No. 1 of 2013
Decided On: 11.02.2014

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: J. Sivanandaraaj
For the Respondents: M.S. Krishnan, Senior Counsel for A.K. Law Chambers

Headnote:    (a). Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 9 and Order 7, Rule 11 - Companies Act, 1956 Section 10 Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955, Section 25(d) – There was a dispute regarding the breach of contract between Plaintiff and Defendant in which the courts interference was limited – The ground of dispute was the conversion of the equity shares in defendant company without the knowledge of plaintiff’s company – The dispute does not comes under the Companies Act but under the law of contract – The relevant provision was Rule 11 Order 7 of CPC – The suit filed by plaintiff was not barred under any law and also he submitted the grounds to file the same – Finally defendant’s appeal was rejected.

    (b). Matter of Jurisdiction – It was held that by considering the doctrine of pith and substance the plaintiff has a right to choose the place of court and the court also decide the place according to the application.

   (c). Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 9 – Issue of Barring the Jurisdiction – The court about the relief claimed de hors cannot be right anyway considering the question of factual averments in the plaint – According to law the jurisdiction of the court depends upon the matter in the plaint – The material facts are considerable regarding this issue.

     (d). Companies Act, 1956 Section 10 Jurisdiction – The only company court has a jurisdiction over the matter which is arisen under the Company Act 1956 – The provision for the same is lays down in section 10 of the Act.

      (e). Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 9 Companies Act, 1956 Section 10 – The jurisdiction of the civil court regarding the Companies Act cannot be taken away if the issue is not falling within the scope of Company Act and the relief is available in some other laws - It was held under section 9, CPC.

      (f). Specific Relief Act, 1963 Section 34 – If anyone has a right to get a legal character in relation with any right then he can file a suit against any person who is not accepting the same - The court shall pass a decree in favor of that person if he is legally having the right of being a legal character – The rights of the plaintiff were violated because of a resolution of the company of defendant so he has a right to order by court to consider the above resolution invalid.

     (g). Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 6 Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955, Section 25(d) – Issue related to Jurisdiction – The trial court held that it is required then the Plaintiff shall pay some additional fee of court and the court shall determine the accurate fee and scrutinize the valuation of suit.

ORDER :

T. Mathivanan, J.

1. This Memorandum of Civil Revision has been directed against the fair and decretal order dated 19.8.2013 and made in the interlocutory application in I.A. No. 3866 of 2013 in O.S. No. 7452 of 2012 on the file of the learned XVII Assistant Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai. The revision petitioner herein is the defendant in the suit in O.S. No. 7452 of 2012, whereas the respondent is the plaintiff.

2. For easy reference and for the sake of convenience, the respondent herein may hereinafter be referred to as the plaintiff and the revision petitioner be referred to as the defendant wherever the context so require.

3. The plaintiff has filed the above suit in O.S. No. 7452 of 2012 as against the defendant, seeking the following reliefs:--

a. To pass a judgment and decree, declaring the Resolution dated 1.11.2012 passed by the Board of Directors of the revision petitioner/defendant, authorizing conversion of foreign currency convertible bonds held by the respondent/plaintiff and allotment of 1,97,46,885/- equity shares at face value of Rs. 1/- each in favour of the respondent/plaintiff as null and void, being contrary to the agreement between the parties as well as in law; and

b. To issue a permanent injunction against the revision petitioner/defendant from acting in pursuance of the Resolution passed on 1.11.2012.

4. The defendant instead of filing his written statement had taken out an application in I.A. No. 3866 of 2013 under Order 7 Rule 11 of C.P.C. to reject the plaint on the ground that the civil court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the suit of this nature as the suit is barred by the provisions of Section 10 of the Companies Act, 1956.

5. This petition was vehemently contested by the plaintiff by filing their counter affidavit and after hearing both sides, the trial Court had dismissed that application on 19.8.2013 on the ground that since the contractual rights of the plaintiff were affected, the civil court is having jurisdiction under Section 9 of C.P.C. to determine the issue which is purely civil in nature.

6. Having been aggrieved by the impugned order, dated 19.8.2013, the defendant has approached this Court with this revision.

7. Heard M/s. J. Sivanandaraaj, learned counsel appearing for the revision petitioner and Mr. M.S. Krishnan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for M/s. A.K. Law Chambers, who is on record for the respondent/plaintiff.

8. The plaintiff is a financial services company registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales at United Kingdom.

9. The defendant is also a company registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956, engaged in the business of providing infrastructure implementation services, infrastructure managed services, infrastructure outsourcing services and infrastructure consultancy services and LAN, WAN and telecom solutions.

10. In pursuant to the subscription agreement, dated 29.6.2007 entered into between the plaintiff and the defendant, the foreign currency convertible bonds to the tune of E 15,000,000 (Euros Fifteen Million only) were issued to the plaintiff. The said foreign currency convertible bonds (hereinafter be referred to as FCCBs) were convertible into ordinary equity shares at face value of Rs. 10 (Rupees Ten only) each as on 17.7.2007 at the option of the plaintiff.

11. The FCCB's are constituted by the Trust Deed, dated 16.7.2007 executed between the defendant and the Bank of New York, London Branch, who was appointed by the defendant as their trustee and approved by the plaintiff.

12. The Schedule 1 to the Trust Deed sets out the terms and conditions of the FCCBs, which sets out the procedure for conversion of FCCB into the shares at the option of the plaintiff.

13. As per the terms and conditions of the Trust Deed, the FCCBs were matured on 18.7.2012 and in terms of Clause 6.1.1 of the Terms and Conditions, the conversion right had to be exercised by the plaintiff by 18.7.2012. However, in case of default in repayment by the defenda






























































































































































































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