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2023 Supreme(P&H) 1461

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Alka Sarin, J.
Sunder – Appellant
Versus
Lala Ram through his LRs & Ors. – Respondents
CR No. 8483 of 2016
Decided On : 14-03-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Parties : Mr. Ashok Kaushik, Mr. Arihant Jain

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order XXI Rule 32 - Revision petition challenging order directing removal of encroachment - Previous decree granted permanent injunction but declined mandatory injunction - New application filed for enforcement based on claimed encroachment - Court determined there was insufficient evidence of encroachment, leading to the impugned order's invalidation. (Paras 3, 7)

(B) Legal principles regarding mandatory injunction versus permanent injunction and the necessity of evidence for enforcement were briefly discussed.

Facts of the case:
The respondents sought to enforce a decree for injunction claiming the petitioner's encroachment on a public pathway despite a past ruling declining mandatory injunction and lacking details on the alleged encroachment. The application led to a court order, directing removal based on insufficient evidence.

Findings of Court:
The court found no substantiated proof of encroachment by the petitioner, rendering the impugned order unsustainable. The matter was remanded for fresh examination in adherence to legal standards.

Issues: The key issues were whether sufficient evidence existed to support the claim of encroachment and the validity of enforcing an order following a previously declined mandatory injunction.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that without conclusive evidence of encroachment, the impugned order lacked legal basis and could not stand, emphasizing the need for clear evidence in enforcement of injunctions.

Result: The impugned order set aside and matter remanded.

Table of Content
1. background of suit and encroachment issues. (Para 1 , 2)
2. impugned order directions about encroachment. (Para 3)
3. arguments regarding enforcements of injunctions. (Para 4 , 5)
4. court's analysis on evidence of encroachment. (Para 6 , 7)
5. conclusion and remanding the case. (Para 8)

Judgment

Mrs. Alka Sarin, J.

The present revision petition has been filed challenging the order dated 11.11.2016 whereby the application filed under Order XXI Rule 32 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 has been allowed.

2. The brief facts relevant to the present lis are that respondent Nos.1 and 2 herein filed a suit for permanent injunction and mandatory injunction. Vide judgment and decree dated 28.02.2009, only a decree for permanent injunction was passed and the decree for mandatory injunction was declined. On 12.10.2011 respondent Nos.1 and 2 filed an application under Order XXI Rule 32 CPC for directions to remove the encroachment from the rasta on the suit property. The details when the property was encroached upon are woefully missing from the said application. A reply was filed to the said application. Vide order dated 22.08.2014 the said application was allowed by the Executing Court and it was ordered that the illegal possession from the rasta be removed. The petitioner herein filed CR No.6230 of 2014 and on 16.02.2016 the following order was passed therein :

“Counsel for the respondent states that he will be satisfied with an observation from the Court that the judgment debtor-petitioner will not cause any encroachment to the passage subsequent to the grant of decree. I reiterate what the decree states and restrain the petitioner-defendant from causing any encroachment.

The order already passed is set aside and the revision petition is disposed of with the above observation.”

3. Yet again an application was filed under Order XXI Rule 32 CPC that since there was an encroachment hence the same be directed to be removed. Vide the impugned order dated 11.11.2016 it has been directed that the encroachment be removed and the order dated 22.08.2014 be complied with. In the application it has been averred that on 21.02.2016 Khasra No.537, which is a rasta aam, had been encroached upon and the building material had been collected at the spot. Vide the impugned order dated 11.11.2016 the following directions have been given :

“7. Keeping in view the above discussion, the applications of the applicant are accordingly disposed of. Gram Panchayat is directed to comply the directions given by the Predecessor Court of Sh. Vikas Gupta, the then Learned Additional Civil Judge (Sr. Divn.), Hodal in his judgment dated 22.08.2014. However, Gram Panchayat can take assistance from the concerned SHO after taking prior permission from this Court.”

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the relief of mandatory injunction was earlier declined while decreeing the suit for permanent injunction. Thereafter, in CR No.6230 of 2014 the counsel for the respondents herein had stated that he would be satisfied with an observation that the judgment debtor i.e. petitioner herein will not cause any encroachment to the passage subsequent to the grant of decree. Immediately thereafter, an application was filed for removal of the encroachment, which had been allowed vide the impugned order dated 11.11.2016. Learned counsel for the petitioner would further contend that in CR No.6230 of 2014, on 16.02.2016 the counsel for the respondents had stated that he would be satisfied if the statement is recorded that the judgment debtor i.e. petitioner herein will not cause any encroachment to the passage subsequent to the grant of decree and that without there being any evidence on the record that there has been encroachment the impugned order had been passed.

5. Per contra learned counsel for respondent No.2 has vehemently contended that since there was encroachment hence the order has rightly been passed.

6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties.

7.

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