2003 Supreme(Ori) 181
High Court Of Orissa
P. K. Tripathy
NANDAKISHORE NAYAK - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF ORISSA - Respondent
C. R. P. 268 Of 2002
Decided On : 02/21/2003
A.R.DAS, D.K.SAHU, D.MOHAPATRA, M.Mohapatra, N.DAS, N.LENKA, R.N.BEHERA, R.N.SAHU, S.SAHOO
The main legal point established in the judgment is that temporary injunction cannot be granted to dispossess a party in possession of the property on the assertion of a valid right, as per Order 39, Rule 1, CPC.
Headnote:
TEMPORARY INJUNCTION - PROPERTY DISPUTE - Section 115, CPC - [Section 115, CPC] - The court discussed the legal provisions related to temporary injunction and emphasized that the applicant must prove the balance of convenience leans in their favor and refusal to grant injunction will result in irreparable loss and injury. The court also highlighted the principle that temporary injunction cannot be granted to dispossess a party in possession of the property on the assertion of a valid right, as per Order 39, Rule 1, CPC.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs filed a Civil Revision Petition challenging the refusal to grant temporary injunction in a property dispute. The courts below ruled out the possibility of possession in favor of the plaintiffs due to lack of proof of loss of possession by the defendants.
Finding of the Court:
The court found no merit in the application for temporary injunction as there was no prima facie proof of plaintiffs' possession of the property. It emphasized that temporary injunction cannot be granted to dispossess a party in possession of the property on the assertion of a valid right.
Issues: The main issue was the refusal to grant temporary injunction in a property dispute based on the lack of prima facie proof of possession by the plaintiffs.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the applicant must prove the balance of convenience leans in their favor and refusal to grant injunction will result in irreparable loss and injury. It also highlighted the principle that temporary injunction cannot be granted to dispossess a party in possession of the property on the assertion of a valid right.
Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was dismissed with costs, and the court found no justification for the plaintiffs to apply for temporary injunction.
P. K. TRIPATHY, J.
( 1 ) LEARNED Counsel for both the parties are present. Petitioners have filed today in the Court the above noted Misc. Case with the prayer to pass appropriate interim order to prevent interference on the rights of the plaintiffs by the defendants. Since the revision is being taken up, on consent of the parties for disposal at the stage of admission, therefore, appropriate orders shall be passed in the Civil Revision Petition and there fore no separate order need be passed on the aforesaid application filed in Court' today.
( 2 ) PLAINTIFFS in Title Suit No. 688/678 of 2001/1999 of the Court of Civil Judge (Jr. Division), Bhubaneswar have filed this Civil revision Petition under Section 115, CPC challenging to legality and correctness of the order passed on 29-6-2002 by the said Civil Judge and the confirming order passed by learned addl. District Judge, Bhubaneswar on 21-11-2002 in F. A. O. No. 74 of 2002 by refusing to grant temporary injunction in favour of the plaintiffs by issuing an order of'restraint directing the defendants not to possess or to carry on any subsequent activities on the suit area measuring Ac 5. 15 decimals from out of ac. 95. 00 in plot No. 291 (according to 1931 settlement ).
( 3 ) IT is the admitted case of the parties that in the Record-of-Right distributed in the year 1988-89 the disputed plot has been recorded in the name of the State Government of Orissa. i. e. , Defendant No. 1 and on 3-4-/ 2000 defendants 1 and 2 have allotted Ac. 19. 00 out of the same in favour of Defendant no. 3. i. e Bhubaneswar Development Authority (in short the 'bda') to carry out the social housing scheme.
( 4 ) THE claim of the plaintiffs is based on a lease said to have been executed by the Ex-proprietor and intermediary i. e. the Ruler of patia Estate and granting a Hata Patta on 7-5-1931. Plaintiffs assert corroboration to that lease by stating that during the Estate Abolition Proceeding in the Ekapadia submitted by the ex-proprietor the aforesaid lease was intimated to the O. E. A. Collector, plaintiffs were not recorded in the Settlement of the year 1973 but a note of possession was endorsed in their favour and thereafter when they initiated action under the O. E. A. Act plaintiffs were advised to approach the Civil Court. With the aforesaid assertion and the contention that the record-of-Right prepared in the name of Defendant No. 1 in the year 1988 is illegal and not sustainable plaintiffs filed the aforesaid suit for declaration of title, confirmation of possession and permanent injunction. In the above noted suit plaintiffs also filed the application under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2, C. P. C. which was registered as Misc. Case No. 577/609 of 2001/1999. As noted above, as per the order passed on 29-6-2002 learned Civil Judge (Jr. Divn ) refused to grant temporary injunction in favour of the plaintiffs on the ground of valid title and possession being prima facie appearing in favour of the defendants. In the above noted appeal, preferred by the plaintiffs, learned Addl. District Judge (FTC No. IV), bhubaneswar also considered the pleadings and contention of the parties and adopted to the conclusion of the learned Civil Judge (Jr. Division) and accordingly dismissed the appeal on 11-11-2002.
( 5 ) IN course of hearing various contentions have been raised by the plaintiffs/petitioners in support of the contention regarding existence of prima facie case on the basis of a good title In favour of the plaintiffs. In that respect, also several decisions were relied on, but it is not necessary to note the same because from the pleadings it appears that the plaintiffs make out a prima facie case.
( 6 ) IT is the settled position of law that in an application for temporary injunction applicant is not to succeed in getting such an equi-table relief merely on proof of prima facie case. On the other hand, alongwith the existence of a prima facie case petitioner has to prove on record that the balance o