IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
D. K. Seth, J.
RAM KUMAR AGARWAL - Appellant
Versus
DISTRICT JUDGE, MAINPURI - Respondents
C. M. W. P. 36443 Of 1999
Decided On : 08/30/1999
MOTOR VEHICLES ACT, 1988 - SECTION 94 - JURISDICTION OF CIVIL COURTS - BARRED - GRANT OF PERMIT - QUESTION RELATING TO - OWNERSHIP OF BUS AND INJUNCTION RESTRAINING INTERFERENCE WITH POSSESSION - SUIT FOR - MAINTAINABLE - CIVIL COURT HAS JURISDICTION.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of ownership of a bus and injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the possession of the bus and the permit. The defendant raised an objection that the suit was barred under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mainpuri, held that the suit was barred and returned the plaint. The plaintiff appealed to the District Judge, Mainpuri, who allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the Civil Judge.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the order of the Civil Judge was not an order under Order VII, Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure and was, therefore, not appealable under Order XLIII, Rule 1(a). However, the High Court also held that the order was perverse and misconceived and that the civil court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The High Court treated the appeal as a revision and upheld the order of the District Judge.
Issues: Whether the suit was barred under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Ratio Decidendi: Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 bars the jurisdiction of civil courts in respect of questions relating to the grant of a permit and injunctions in respect of actions taken or to be taken by the duly constituted authorities under the Act with regard to the grant of a permit. However, the suit in the present case was not related to any question of grant of permit, but rather to the ownership of a bus and injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with the possession of the bus and the permit. Therefore, the suit was not barred under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the civil court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Final Decision: The High Court dismissed the writ petition and upheld the order of the District Judge.
( 1 ) THE opposite party No. 3 filed a suit for declaration that he is the owner of the disputed bus and for Injunction restraining the defendant-petitioner from interfering with the possession of the plaintiff in respect of the bus and the permit. The said suit was registered as Suit No. 1 of 1999 in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mainpurt. In the said suit, an application was filed by the defendant-petitioner raising an objection as to the maintainability of the suit on account of its bar under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 by means of application No. 27c. Admittedly no written statement was filed by the dependent-petitioner. The said application 27c was disposed of by the learned Civil Judge, Senior Division. Mainpuri, by an order dated 27th april, 1999 holding that the suit is barred under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act and is outside the jurisdiction of the civil court and, therefore, the plaint be returned. Against this order misc. Civil Appeal No. 24 of 1999 has since been filed by the plaintiff. The learned District judge, Mainpuri. by an order dated 18th May, 1999 allowed the said Appeal and set aside the order passed by the learned Civil Judge, Senior Division, Mainpuri, holding that the suit for declaration of title to the disputed bus and for injunction to restrain the defendant-petitioner from interfering with her possession over the disputed bus is triable by the civil court.
( 2 ) IT is this order dated 18th May, 1999 which has been assailed by Mr. H. M. Srivastava learned counsel for the petitioner. Mr. Srivastava contends that the order passed by the learned Civil judge was not an order under Order VII, Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure and as such, it cannot be appealable under Order XLIII, Rule 1 (a) of the Code of Civil Procedure. According to him, the said order does not specify the test laid down in Order VII, Rule 10 whereas from the text of the order, it appears to be an order under Order VII, Rule 11 (d) which is not appealable under Order XLIII and, therefore, this Misc. Appeal is not maintainable. According to him, an order passed under Order VII, Rule 11 (d) is a decree within the meaning of the definition of decree contained under Section 2 (2) and as such, a regular appeal will lie. On that ground also the Misc. Appeal could not be maintainable. He further contends that even on merits, the order of the learned District Judge cannot be sustained since the jurisdiction of the civil court is barred under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act and as such the suit cannot be maintained before the civil court.
( 3 ) I have heard Mr. H. M. Srivastava, learned counsel for the petitioner at length.
( 4 ) BY an order dated 22nd April, 1999 the learned civil Judge, Senior Division, Mainpuri had held that the civil court has no jurisdiction and that the jurisdiction of the civil court was barred by Section 94 of the Motor Vehicles Act and, therefore, the plaint was directed to be returned. But the said order does not specify that the plaint is to be presented before the Court in which the suit should have been instituted. Order VII, Rule 10 prescribes that a plaint may be returned for being presented to the Court in which the suit should have been instituted. Since the plaint was not returned by the said order for being presented to the Court in which the suit should have been instituted, the said order cannot be treated to be an order under Order VII, Rule 10 as rightly contended by Mr. Srivastava. At the same time, the plaint having not been rejected, the order returning the plaint cannot be treated to be an order within the meaning of Rule 11. Though there was no order rejecting the plaint itself, Mr. Singh had sought to contend, that If the order is not an order within the meaning of Rule 10 even if it is an order for return of plaint, virtually the same is a rejection of the plaint. But the learned Court having not rejected the plaint, by implication, it c
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