2004(1) JLJ 1
(SUPREME COURT)
R.C. Lahoti and Ashok Bhan, JJ.
Surya Dev Rai v. Ramchander Rai
Civil Appeal No. 6110 of 2003; Decided on 7.8.2003.
This appeal raises a question of frequent occurrence before the High Courts as to what is the impact of the amendment in section 115, CPC brought in by Act 46 of 1999 w.e.f. 1.7.2002, on the power and jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain petitions seeking a writ of entertain under Article 226 of the Constitution or invoking the power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution as against similar orders, acts or proceedings of the Courts subordinate to the High Courts, against which earlier the remedy of filing civil revision under section 115, CPC was available to the person aggrieved. Is an aggrieved person completely deprived of the remedy of judicial review, if he has lost at the hands of the original Court and the appellate Court though a case of gross failure of justice having been occasioned, can be made out ? [Para 3
Held: (1) Amendment by Act No. 46 of 1999 with effect from 1.7.2002 in section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure cannot and does not affect in any manner the jurisdiction of the High Court under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.
(2) Interlocutory orders passed by the Courts subordinate to the High Court, against which remedy of revision has been excluded by the CPC Amendment Act No. 46 of 1999, are nevertheless open to challenge in, and continue to be subject to, certiorari and supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court.
(3) Certiorari, under Article 226 of the Constitution, is issued for correcting gross errors of jurisdiction, i.e., when a subordinate Court is found to have acted (1) without jurisdiction -- by assuming jurisdiction where there exists none, or (ii) in excess of its jurisdiction -- by overstepping or crossing the limits of jurisdiction, or (iii) acting in flagrant disregard of law or the rules of procedure or acting in violation of principles of natural justice where there is no procedure specified, and thereby occasioning failure of justice.
(4) Supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is exercised for keeping the subordinate Courts within the bounds of their jurisdiction. When a subordinate Court has assumed a jurisdiction which it does not have or has failed to exercise a jurisdiction which it does have or the jurisdiction, though available, is being exercised by the Court in a manner not permitted by law and failure of justice or grave injustice has occasioned thereby, the High Court may step in to exercise its supervisory jurisdiction.
(5) Be it writ of certiorari or the exercise of supervisory jurisdiction, none is available to correct mere errors of fact or of law unless the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the error is manifest and apparent on the face of the proceedings such as when it is based on clear ignorance or utter disregard of the provisions of law, and (ii) a grave injustice or gross failure of justice has occasioned thereby.
(6) A patent error is an en-or which is self-evident, i.e., which can be perceived or demonstrated without involving into any lengthy or complicated argument or a long-drawn process of reasoning. Where two inferences are reasonably possible and the subordinate court has chosen to take one view the error cannot be called gross or patent.
(7) The power to issue a writ of certiorari and the supervisory jurisdiction are to be exercised sparingly and only in appropriate cases where the judicial conscience of the High Court dictates it to act lest a gross failure of justice or grave injustice should occasion. Care, caution and circumspection need to be exercised, when any of the abovesaid two jurisdictions is sought to be invoked during the pendency of any suit or proceedings in a subordinate Court and the error, though calling for correction, is yet capable of being corrected at the conclusion of the proceedings in an appeal or revision preferred there against and entertaining a petition invoking certiorari or supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court would obstruct the smooth flow and/or early disposal of the suit or proceedings. The High Court may feel inclined to intervene where the error is such, as, if not corrected at that very moment, may become incapable of correction at a later stage and refusal to intervene would result in travesty of justice or where such refusal itself would result in prolonging of the lis.
(8) The High Court in exercise of certiorari or supervisory jurisdiction will not convert itself into a Court of appeal and indulge in re-appreciation or evaluation of evidence or correct errors in drawing inferences or correct errors of mere formal or technical character.
(9) In practice, the parameters for exercising jurisdiction to issue a writ of certiorari and those calling for exercise of supervisory jurisdiction are almost similar and the width of jurisdiction exercised by the High Courts in India, unlike English Courts, has almost obliterated the distinction between the two jurisdictions. While exercising jurisdiction to issue a writ of certiorari, the High Court may annul or set aside the act, order or proceedings of the subordinate Courts but cannot substitute its own decision in place thereof. In exercise of supervisory jurisdiction, the High Court may not only give suitable directions so as to guide the subordinate Court as to the manner in which it would act or proceed thereafter or afresh, the High Court may in appropriate cases itself make an order in super session or substitution of the order of the subordinate Court as the Court should have made in the facts and circumstances of the case. JT 2003 (4) SC 605, 2003(1) BLJ 223 (SC), AIR 1950 SC 222 and AIR 1966 SC 81 relied on. AIR 1991 All. 114 (FB) explained. [Paras 32 to 38
(2) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- writ of certiorari -- is issued from superior Court to an inferior Court or Tribunal commanding latter to send up record of a particular case. Corpus Juris Secundam, Vol. 14 P. 121 relied on. [Para 6
(3) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- certiorari -- definition of Certiorari is used to bring up into the High Court the decision of some inferior Tribunal or authority in order that it may be investigated. If the decision does not pass the test, it is quashed -- that is to say, it is declared completely invalid, so that no one need respect it.
The underlying policy is that all inferior Courts and authorities have only limited jurisdiction or powers and must be kept within their legal bounds. This is the concern of the Crown, for the sake of orderly administration of justice, but it is a private complaint which sets the Crown in motion. Administrative Law, 8th Edn. P. 591 by H.W.R. Wade and C.F. Forsyth. [Para 7
(4) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- certiorari n is an original writ in England n which may be issued out by Superior Court to an inferior Court to transmit record of some proceeding to be dealt with there. AIR 1943 PC 164 relied on. [Para 9
(5) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- writ of certiorari -- limits on jurisdiction of High Court.
(1) Certiorari will be issued for correcting errors of jurisdiction;
(2) Certiorari will also be issued when the Court or Tribunal acts illegally in the exercise of its undoubted jurisdiction, as when it decides without giving an opportunity to the parties to be heard, or violates the principles of natural justice;
(3) The Court issuing a writ of certiorari acts in exercise of a supervisory and not appellate jurisdiction. One consequence of this is that the Court will not review findings of fact reached by the inferior Court or Tribunal, even if they be erroneous;
(4) An error in the decision or determination itself may also be amenable to a writ of certiorari if it is a manifest error apparent on the face of the proceedings, e.g., when it is based on clear ignorance or disregard of the provisions of law. In other words, it is a patent error which can be corrected by certiorari but not a mere wrong decision. AIR 1955 SC 233 and AIR 1961 SC 1087 relied on. [Para 10
(6) Constitution of India -- Art 226 -- writ of certiorari -- jurisdiction of High Court is not appellate jurisdiction -- it cannot re-appreciate or evaluate the evidence and substitute its own finding. AIR 1958 SC 398 relied on. [Paras 12 & 13
(7) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- certiorari -- is issued when Court below acted without jurisdiction or in excess of jurisdiction when an error is manifest or a provision has been ignored or disregarded. AIR 1954 SC 440 relied on. [Para 14
(8) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- writs of prohibition, certiorari and mandamus -- call well be issued against inferior Courts and Tribunals -- they are prerogative writs.
Historically, prohibition was a writ whereby the royal Courts of common law prohibited other Courts from entertaining matters railing within the exclusive jurisdiction of the common law Courts; certiorari was issued to bring the record of an inferior Court into the King‘s Bench for review or to remove indictments for trial in that Court; mandamus was directed to inferior Courts and Tribunals, and to public officers and bodies, to order the performance of a public duty. All three were called prerogative writs. ... Certiorari lies to bring decisions of an inferior Court, Tribunal, public authority or any other body of persons before the High Court for review so that the Court may determine whether they should be quashed, or to quash such decisions. The order of prohibition is an order issuing out of the High Court and directed to an inferior Court or Tribunal or public authority which forbids that Court or Tribunal or authority to act in excess of its jurisdiction or contrary to law. Both certiorari and prohibition are employed for the control of inferior Courts, Tribunals and public authorities. AIR 1967 SC 1, (1844) 1 DOW & L 885 and Halsbury‘s Law of England, 4th Edn., Vol. I (1) P. 239 relied on. [Paras 16 & 17
(9) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- High Court cannot issue writ of certiorari to another High Court or to Supreme Court -- High Courts are not constituted as inferior Courts in Constitutional Scheme.(2002) 4 SCC 388 relied on. [Para 18
(10) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- error apparent on record of inferior Court -- can be corrected under certiorari -- error should be self evident. AIR 1960 SC 137 relied on. [Para 20
(11) Constitution of India -- Arts. 227 and 226 -- power of superintendence of High Court is administrative as well as judicial -- may even be exercised suo motu -- powers are wider than the one available under Arts. 226 as such powers are not subject to traditional fetters. [Para 22
(12) Constitution of India -- Arts. 226 and 227 -- difference between the two jurisdiction of High Court -- proceedings under Art. 226 are original proceedings -- proceedings under Article 227 are supervisory -- limitations on supervisory powers.
Proceedings under Article 226 are in exercise of the original jurisdiction of the High Court while proceedings under Article 227 of the Constitution are not original but only supervisory. Article 227 substantially reproduces the provisions of section 107 of the Government of India Act, 1915 excepting that the power of superintendence has been extended by this Article to Tribunals as well. Though the power is akin to that of an ordinary Court of appeal, yet the power under Article 227 is intended to be used sparingly and only in appropriate cases for the purpose of keeping the subordinate Court and Tribunals within the bounds of their authority and not for correcting mere errors. The power may be exercised in cases occasioning grave injustice or failure of justice such as when (i) the Court or Tribunal has assumed a jurisdiction which it does not have, (ii) has failed to exercise a jurisdiction which it does have, such failure occasioning a failure of justice, and (iii) the jurisdiction though available is being exercised in a manner which. tantamounts to overstepping the limits of jurisdiction. [Para 24
(13) Constitution of India -- Art. 227 -- Criminal P.C, 1973 -- Ss. 397 and 401 (old Ss. 435 and 439) -- second revision barred under the Criminal Procedure Code -- powers of High Court under Art. 227 are not affected. (1979) 3 SCC 118 and (1998) 8 SCC 310 relied on. [Paras 27 & 28.
(14) Constitution of India -- Arts. 32, 226 and 227 -- power of Supreme Court and High Courts under -- is part of basic structure of Constitution -- cannot be whittled down even by amending the Constitution. (1997) 3 SCC 261 relied on. (2003) 6 ILD 468 (Del.) approved. [Para 29
(15) Government of India Act, 1915 -- S. 107 -- power of superintendence -- is still available even if power of revision is taken away -- a conviction unsustainable in law can be set aside by the High Court where right of appeal has been allowed to lapse. AIR 1933 Bom. 1 and AIR 1933 Cal. 132 approved. [Paras 30 & 31
¼1½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && /kkjk 115 ¼lu~ 2002 esa ;Fkkla‘kksf/kr½ && Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 rFkk 227 && flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 115 ds la‘kks/ku ls iqujh{k.k vf/kdkfjrk dk viotZu && vuq- 226 rFkk 227 ds v/khu mPp U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk vioftZr ugha && ekxZn‘kZd fl)kar tkjh fd, x,A bl vihy esa mPp U;k;ky;ksa ds le{k izk;% vkus okyk iz‘u mBk;k x;k gS fd 1-7-2002 ls izHkkoh lu~ 1999 ds vf/kfu;e 46 }kjk flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 115 ds la‘kks/ku dk] lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 226 ds v/khu mRizs"k.k fjV dh bZIlk ds fy, vFkok mPp U;k;ky;ksa ds v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa ds blh izdkj ds vkns‘kksa] dk;ksZa vFkok dk;Zokfg;ksa ds fo#)] ftuds fo#) iwoZ esa O;fFkr O;fDr dks flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 115 ds v/khu flfoy iqujh{k.k Qkby djus dk mipkj miyC/k Fkk] lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 227 ds v/khu v/kh{k.k dh ‘kfDr dk voyac ysus ds fy, ;kfpdk,¡ xzg.k djus dh mPp U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr vkSj vf/kdkfjrk ij D;k izHkko gSA ;fn O;fFkr O;fDr ewy U;k;ky; vkSj vihy U;k;ky; eas gkj x;k gks rc D;k og U;kf;d iqufoZyksdu ds mipkj ls iw.kZr% oafpr gks tk,xk] Hkys&gh U;k; dh xaHkhj gkfu dk ekeyk fl) gks jgk gks\ ¿ iSjk 3 vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ¼1½ lu~ 1999 ds vf/kfu;e 46 }kjk flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 115 eas 1-7-2002 ls izHkkoh la‘kks/ku ls fdlh Hkh izdkj lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 226 rFkk 227 ds v/khu mPp U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk u izHkkfor gks ldrh gS] u gksrh gSA ¼2½ mPp U;k;ky; ds v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa }kjk ikfjr varoZrhZ vkns‘k] ftuds fo#) iqujh{k.k dk mipkj flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk la‘kks/ku vf/kfu;e 46 lu~ 1999 }kjk viofrZr gks x;k gS] fQj Hkh mPp U;k;ky; dh mRizs"k.k vkSj i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk esa vkf{kIr fd, tk ldrs gSa rFkk mlds v/;/khu gh cus gq, gSA ¼3½ lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 226 ds v/khu mRisz"k.k vf/kdkfjrk dh xaHkhj xyfr;k¡ lgh djus ds fy, tkjh dh tkrh gS] vFkkZr~] tc ik;k tk, fd v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk
¼4½ lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 227 ds v/khu i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa dks mudh v/fkdkfjrk dh lhek ds Hkhrj j[kus ds fy, iz;qDr dh tkrh gSA tc v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk ,slh vf/kdkfjrk /kkj.k dh tk, tks mls izkIr ugha gS vFkok ,slh vf/kdkfjrk iz;qDr ugha dh tk, tks mls izkIr gS vFkok vf/kdkfjrk] ;|fi miyC/k gS rFkkfi U;k;ky; }kjk ,slh jhfr esa iz;qDr dh tk, tks fof/k esa vuqKkr ugha gS rFkk blds dkj.k U;k; ugha gks ik jgk gks ;k ?kksj vU;k; gks jgk gks] rc mPp U;k;ky; }kjk vius v/kh{k.k vf/kdkfjrk iz;qDr djus ds fy, gLr{ksi fd;k tk ldrk gSA
¼5½ mRizsj.k fjV gks vFkok i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk dk iz;ksx] dsoy rF; dh vFkok fof/k dh xyfr;k¡ lq/kkjus ds fy, nksuksa esa dksbZ Hkh miyC/k ugha gksrh tc rd fuEufyf[kr vis{kk,¡ iwjh ugha gks %
(i) xyrh dk;Zokgh dks ns[krs gh izdV vkSj izR;{k gks tSls tc og fof/k ds mica/kksa ls Li"V vufHkKrk ;k ?kksj vogsyuk ij vk/kkfjr gks] rFkk (ii) mlls ?kksj vU;k; gqvk gks vFkok U;k; ugha gks ik;k gksA ¼6½ izR;{k xyrh ,slh xyrh gS tks Lo;a izek.k gks] vFkkZr] yach ;k fDy"V cgl vFkok rdZ.kk dh foyafcr izfØ;k varoZfyr fd, fcuk ftldk cks/k gks lds ;k iznf‘kZr dh tk ldsA tgk¡ nks fu"d"kZ ;qfDr;qDrr% laHko gS rFkk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk n`f"Vdks.k viukuk ialn fd;k x;k gS] ogk¡ xyrh ?kksj vFkok izR;{k ugha dh tk ldrhA
¼7½ mRisz"k.k fjV tkjh djus dh ‘kfDr vFkok i;Zos{k.k dh vf/kdkfjrk dk vYi rFkk dsoy leqi;qDr ekeyksa esa iz;ksx fd;k tkuk gksrk gS tgk¡ mPp U;k;ky; dh U;kf;d var%psruk mls dkjZokbZ djus dh vkKk ns fd dgha ,slk ugha gks fd U;k; ugha gks ik, ;k ?kksj vU;k; gks tk,A v/khuLFk U;k;ky; esa fdlh okn vFkok dk;Zokgh ds yacu ds nkSjku tc mi;qZDr nksuksa esa ls fdlh vf/kdkfjrk dk voyacu bZfIlr gks rc lrdZrk] lko/kkuh vkSj pkSdlh iz;qDr djuk vko‘;d gS rFkk Hkys&gh xyrh dk lq/kkj vko‘;d gks] fQj Hkh og dk;Zokgh ds lekiu ij mlds fo#) izLrqr vihy vFkok iuqjh{k.k esa lq/kkjh tk ldrh gS rFkk mPp U;k;ky; dh mRisz"k.k ;k i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk dk voaycu ysus okyh ;kfpdk xzg.k djus ls okn vFkok dk;Zokgh dk fucka/k izokg vkSj@;k ‘kh?kz fuiVkjk vo#) gksxkA tgk¡ izØe ij lq/kkjh gh ugha tk lds rFkk e/;{ksi djus ls bUdkj djus ls U;k; dk migkl ifj.kr gksxk vFkok tgk¡ Lo;a ,sls bUdkj ls eqdnesa dk yack f[kapuk ifj.kr gksxk] ogk¡ mPp U;k;ky; dk >qdko e/;{ksi djus dh vksj gks ldrk gSA
¼8½ mRizs"k.k vFkok i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk ds iz;ksx ds nkSjku mPp U;k;ky; vihy U;k;ky; esa laifjofrZr ugha gksxk rFkk lk{; dk iqufoZospu ;k ewY;kadu ugha djsxk vFkok fu"d"kZ fudkyus esa xyfr;k¡ ugha lq/ksjxk vFkok dsoy iz:fid ;k rduhdh Lo:i dh xyfr;k¡ ugha lq/kkjsxkA
¼9½ izpyu esa] mRisz"k.k fjV tkjh djus dh vf/kdkfjrk iz;qDr djus ds fy, rFkk i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk dk iz;ksx vko‘;d djus ds fy, fu/kkZfjr lhek,¡ yxHkx leku gSa rFkk Hkkjr esa mPp U;k;ky;ksa }kjk iz;qDr vf/kdkfjrk ds foLrkj us] baXySM ds U;k;ky;ksa ls fHké] nksuksa vf/kdkfjrkvksa ds chp dh lqfHkérk yxHkx feVk nh gSA mRisz"k.k fjV tkjh djus dh vf/kdkfjrk iz;qDr djrs le; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; ds dk;Z] vkns‘k vFkok dk;Zokgh jn~n vFkok vikLr fd, tk ldrs gS ijarq mlds fofu‘p; ds LFkku ij viuk Lo;a dk fofu‘p; izfrLFkkfir ugha fd;k tk ldrkA i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk ds iz;ksx ds nkSjku mPp U;k;ky; }kjk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dks rRi‘pkr~ ;k u, fljs ls og fdl izdkj dk;Z ;k dk;Zokgh djsxk] bl ckjs esa ekxZn‘kZu djus ds fy, mi;qDr funs‘k gh ugha ns ldrk] vfirq leqfpr ekeyksa esa mPp U;k;ky; }kjk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; ds vkns‘k ds vf/kØe.k vFkok izfrLFkkiu esa Lo;a ,slk vkns‘k fd;k tk ldrk gS tSlk U;k;ky; dks ekeys ds rF;ksa vkSj ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa djuk pkfg, FkkA ts Vh 2003¼4½ ,l lh 605] 2003¼1½ ch ,y ts 223¼mPpre U;k-½] , vkb vkj 1950 ,l lh 222 rFkk , vkb vkj 1966 ,l lh 81 voyafcrA , vkb vkj 1991 byk- 114 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½ Li"Vhd`rA ¿ iSjk 32 ls 38À
¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k fjV && ofj"V U;k;ky; }kjk voj U;k;ky; vFkok vf/kdj.k dks fdlh fof‘k"V ekeys dk vfHkys[k Åij Hkstus dk vkns‘k djrs gq, vojksDr dks tkjh dh tkrh gSA dkiZl T;wfjl lsdaMe] ftYn 14 i`"B 121 voyafcrA
¿ iSjk 6À
¼3½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k && dh ifjHkk"kkA
mRisz"k.k dk mi;ksx fdlh voj vf/kdj.k ;k izkf/kdkjh dk fofu‘p; mPp U;k;ky; esa e¡xkus ds fy, fd;k tkrk gS ftlls mldk vUos"k.k fd;k tk ldsA ;fn fofu‘p; ijh{k.k esa mÙkh.kZ ugha gksrk rc mls vfHk[kafMr dj fn;k tkrk gS && dgus dk rkRi;Z gS fd mls iw.kZr% vfof/kekU; ?kksf"kr dj fn;k tkrk gS ftlls fdlh dks Hkh mldk vknj djus dh vko‘;drk ugha jgsA
vk/kkjHkwr fl)kar ;g gS lHkh voj U;k;ky;ksa ;k izkf/kdkfj;ksa dks dsoy lhfer vf/kdkfjrk ;k ‘kfDr;k¡ izkIr gksrh gSa rFkk mUgsa mudh oS/k lhek esa j[kk tkuk pkfg,A U;k; ds lqO;ofLFkr iz‘kklu ds fy, ;g jkT; dh fpark dk fo"k; gS] ijarq jkT; futh f‘kdk;r ls lfØ; gksrk gSA ,p-MCY;w-vkj-osM rFkk lh-,Q-QksjflFk d`r ,MfefuLVªsfVo yk] v"Ve laLdj.k] i`"B 591A ¿ iSjk 7À
¼4½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k fjV && baXySM esa ewy fjV gS && tks ofj"B U;k;ky; }kjk voj U;k;ky; dks] ofj"B U;k;ky; esa fopkjk/khu mlh dk;Zokgh dk vfHkys[k ikjsf"kr djus ds fy, tkjh dh tk ldrh gSA , vkb vkj 1943 ih lh 164 voyafcrA
¿ iSjk 9À
¼5½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k fjV && mPp U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk dh lhekA
¼1½ mRizs"k.k] vf/kdkfjrk dh xyrh lq/kkjus ds fy, tkjh dh tk,xh(
¼2½ mRisz"k.k rc Hkh tkjh dh tk,xh tc U;k;ky; vFkok vf/kdj.k }kjk viuh fuf‘pr vf/kdkfjrk ds iz;ksx esa voS/k dkjZokbZ dh xbZ gks] tSls] tc i{kdkjksa dks lqus tkus dk volj fn, fcuk fofu‘p;u fd;k x;k gks vFkok uSlfxZd U;k; ds fl)karksa dk vfrØe.k fd;k x;k gks(
¼3½ mRisz"k.k fjV tkjh djus okyk U;k;ky; i;Zos{k.k vf/kdkfjrk dk iz;ksx dj dkjZokbZ djrk gS] vihyh vf/kdkfjrk dk ughaA bldk ,d ifj.kke ;g gS fd voj U;k;ky; vFkok vf/kdj.k }kjk fudkys x, rF;kRed fu"d"kZ xyr gks rc Hkh U;k;ky; }kjk mudk iqufoZyksdu ugha fd;k tk,xk(
¼4½ Lo;a fofu‘p; vFkok vo/kkj.kk esa gqbZ xyrh Hkh mRisz"k.k fjV ds v/;/khu gks ldrh gS ;fn og dk;Zokgh dks ns[krs gh izdV] izR;{k xyrh gks] mnkgj.kkFkZ] tc og fof/k ds mica/kksa ls Li"V vufHkKrk vFkok mudh vogsyuk ij vk/kkfjr gksA vU; ‘‘kCnksa esa] og Li"V xyrh gks ftls mRisz"k.k fjV }kjk lq/kkjk tk ldrk gks] ijarq dsoy xyr fofu‘p; ugha gksA , vkb vkj 1955 ,l lh 233 rFkk , vkb vkj 1961 ,l lh 1087 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 10À
¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k fjV && mPp U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk vihyh vf/kdkfjrk ugha gS && mlds }kjk lk{; dk iqufoZospu ;k ewY;kadu ugha fd;k tk ldrk rFkk viuk fu"d"kZ izfrLFkkfir ugha fd;k tk ldrkA , vkb vkj 1958 ,l lh 398 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 12 ,oa 13À
¼7½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mRisz"k.k && tkjh dh tkrh gS tc fupys U;k;ky; }kjk vf/kdkfjrk fcuk vf/kdkfjrk ls ckgj dkjZokbZ dh xbZ gks && tc xyrh izR;{k gS vFkok mica/k dh voKk ;k vogsyuk dh xbZ gksA , vkb vkj 1954 ,l lh 440 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 14À
¼8½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && izfr"ks/k] mRisz"k.k rFkk ijekns‘k fnV && voj U;k;ky;ksa vkSj vf/kdj.kksa ds fo#) Hkyh&Hkk¡fr tkjh dh tk ldrh gS && ;g fo‘ks"kkf/kdkj fjV gSA
,sfrgkfld n`f"V ls] izfr"ks/k fjV ,slh fjV Fkh ftlds }kjk dkeu yk ds jktdh; U;k;ky; vU; U;k;ky;ksa dh vuU; vf/kdkfjrk esa vkus okys fo"k;ksa ij okn xzg.k djus ls izfrf"k) djrs Fks( mRisz"k.k fjV iqufoZyksdu ds fy, vFkok voj U;k;ky; esa fopkj.k ds fy, vH;kjksi.k gVkus ds fy, ml U;k;ky; esa fdaXl cSpa esa vfHkys[k e¡xkus ds fy, voj&Uk;ky;ks vkSj vf/kdj.kksa] rFkk yksd vf/kdkfj;ksa vkSj fudk;ksa dks funsf‘kr dh tkrh FkhA rhuksa fo‘ks"kkf/kdkj fjV dgh tkrh FkhaA-------mRizs"k.k fjV voj U;k;ky;] vf/kdj.k] yksd izkf/kdj.k vFkok O;fDr;ksa ds fdlh Hkh vU; fudk; ds fofu‘p;ksa dks mPp U;k;ky; ds le{k iqufoZyksdukFkZ ykus ds fy, gksrh gS ftlls U;k;ky; }kjk vo/kkfjr fd;k tk lds fd D;k mUgsa vfHk[kafMr fd;k tkuk pkfg, vFkok ,sls fofu‘p; vfHk[kafMr fd, tk,¡A izfr‘ks/k dk vkns‘k mPp ;k izkf/kdj.k dks vksj yf{;r vkns‘k gS ftlesa ml U;k;ky; ;k vf/kdj.k ;k yksd izkf/kdj.k dks viuh vf/kdkfjrk ds ckgj vFkok fof/k ds izfrdwy dk;Z djus dk fu"ks/k fd;k tkrk gSA mRizs"k.k rFkk izfr"ks/k] nksuksa fjV voj U;k;ky;ksa] vf/kdj.kksa rFkk yksd izkf/kdj.kksa ds fu;a=.k gsrq iz;qDr gksrh gSA , vkb vkj 1967 ,l lh 1] ¼1844½ 1 Mh vks MCY;w ,aM ,y 885 rFkk gSYLch d`r yk vkQ baXySM] prqFkZ laLdj.k] ftYn 1 ¼1½ i`"B 239 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 16 ,oa 17À
¼9½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && mPp U;k;ky; }kjk fdlh vU; mPp U;k;ky; dks vFkok mPpre U;k;ky; dks mRisz"k.k fjV tkjh ugha dh tk ldrh && lkafo/kkfud ;kstuk esa mPp U;k;ky; ds :i es xfBr ugha gSA ¼2002½4 ,l lh lh 388 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 18À
¼10½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && voj U;k;ky; ds vfHkys[k dks ns[krs gh izdV xyrh && mRizs"k.k ds v/khu ‘kq) dh tk ldrh gS && xyrh Lo;a&izekf.kr gksuk pkfg,A , vkb vkj 1960 ,l lh 317 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 20À
¼11½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 227 rFkk 226 && mPp U;k;ky; dh v/kh{k.k dh ‘kfDr iz‘kklfud ds lkFk&lkFk U;kf;d Hkh gS && Loiszj.kk ls Hkh iz;qDr gh tk ldrh gS && ‘kfDr vuq- 226 ds v/khu miyC/k ‘kfDr ls vf/kd foLr`r gS D;ksafd ;g ‘kfDr ikjaifjd ca/kuksa ds v/;/khu ugha gSA ¿ iSjk 22À
¼12½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 rFkk 227 && mPp U;k;ky;ksa dh nksuksa vf/kdkfjrkvksa esa varj && vuq- 226 ds v/khu dk;Zokgh ewy dk;Zokgh gS && vuq- 227 ds v/khu dk;Zokgh i;Zos{kh gS && i;Zos{kh ‘kfDr dk lhekdauA
vuqPNsn 226 ds v/khu dk;Zokgh mPp U;k;ky; dh ewy vf/kdkfjrk ds iz;ksx esa gksrh gS tcfd lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 227 ds v/khu dk;Zokgh ewy ugah gksrh vfirq dsoy i;Zos{kh gksrh gSA vuqPNsn 227 ds lkjoku~ :i ls Hkkjr ljdkj vf/kfu;e] 1915 dh /kkjk 107 ds mica/kksa dh iqujko`fÙk dh xbZ gS] flok; blds fd bl vuqPNsn }kjk i;Zos{k.k dh ‘kfDr vf/kdj.kksa rd foLr`r dj nh xbZ gSA ;|fi ;g ‘kfDr lk/kkj.k vihy U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr ds ln`‘k gS] rFkkfi vuqPNsn 227 ds v/khu ‘kfDr dk vYi rFkk dsoy leqfpr ekeyksa esa] v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa vkSj vf/kdj.kksa dks muds izkf/kdkj dh lhek ds Hkhrj j[kus ds iz;kstukFkZ iz;qDr fd;k tkuk vk‘kf;r gS] dsoy xyfr;k¡ lq/kkjus ds fy, ughaA ‘kfDr dk iz;ksx ?kksj vU;k; dkfjr djus okys vFkok ,sls ekeyksa esa fd;k tk ldrk gS ftuesa U;k; ugha gks ik;k gS] tSls tc U;k;ky; vFkok vf/kdj.k }kjk og vf/kdkfjrk /kkj.k dh xbZ gks tks ml izkIr ugha gS] ml vf/kdkfjrk dk iz;ksx ugha fd;k x;k gks tks ml izkIr gS] ,slh foQyrk ls U;k; ugha gks ik;k gks] rFkk ;|fi vf/kdkfjrk miyC/k gS rFkkfi mldk iz;ksx bl izdkj gks jgk gks og vf/kdkfjrk dh lhek dk vfrØe.k djus ds leku gksA ¿ iSjk 24À
¼13½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 227 && naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 397 rFkk 401 ¼iqjkuh /kkjk 435 rFkk 439½ && naM izfØ;k lafgrk ds v/khu f}rh; iqujh{k.k oftZr && vuq- 227 ds v/khu mPp U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr izHkkfor ughaA ¼1979½ 3 ,l lh lh 118 rFkk ¼1998½ 8 ,l lh lh 310 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 27 ,oa 28À
¼14½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 rFkk 227 && mPpre U;k;ky; rFkk mPp U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr && lafo/kku dh vk/kkjHkwr lajpuk dk Hkkx gS && lafo/kku ds la‘kks/ku }kjk Hkh de ugha dh tk ldrhA ¼1997½ 3 ,l lh lh 261 voyafcrA ¼2003½ 6 vkb ,y Mh 468 ¼fnYyh½ vuqeksfnrA ¿ iSjk 29À
¼15½ Hkkjr ljdkj vf/kfu;e] 1915 && /kkjk 107 && v/kh{k.k dh ‘kfDr & rc Hkh miyC/k gksrh gS tc iqujh{k.k dh ‘kfDr okil ys yh xbZ gks && fof/k dh n`f"V ls dk;e j[ks tkus ds v;ksX; nks"kflf) mPp U;k;ky; }kjk vikLr dh tk ldrh gS tgk¡ vihy dk vf/kdkj lekIr gksus fn;k x;k gksA , vkb vkj 1933 cacbZ 1 rFkk , vkb vkj 1933 dy- 132 vuqeksfnrA
¿ iSjk 30 ,oa 31
Lahoti, J. -- 1. Leave granted.
2. The appellant filed a suit, for issuance of permanent preventive injunction based on his title and possession over the suit property which is a piece of agricultural land, in the Court of Civil Judge. He also sought for relief by way of ad interim injunction under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, CPC. The prayer was rejected by the trial Court as also by the appellant Court. Feeling aggrieved thereby, the appellant filed a petition (CMWP No. 20038 of 2002) in the High Court labelling it as one under Article 226 of the Constitution. The High Court has summarily dismissed the petition forming an opinion that the petition was not maintainable as the appellant was seeking interim injunction against private respondents. Reference is made in the impugned order to a Full Bench decision of the Allahabad High Court in Ganga Saran v. Civil Judge, Hapur [1991 All LR 159 = AIR 1991 All. 114 (FB)]. Earlier, the remedy of final civil revision under section 115, CPC could have been availed of by the appellant herein but that remedy is not available to the appellant because of the amendment made in section US, CPC by Amendment Act 46 of 1999 w.e.f. 1.7.2002.
3. This appeal raises a question of frequent occurrence before the High Courts as to what is the impact of the amendment in section US, CPC brought in by Act 46 of 1999 w.e.f. 1.7.2002, on the power and jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain petitions seeking a writ of certiorari under Article 226 of the Constitution or invoking the power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution as against similar orders, acts or proceedings of the Courts subordinate to the High Courts, against which earlier the remedy of filing civil revision under section 115, CPC was available to the person aggrieved. Is an aggrieved person completely deprived of the remedy of judicial review, if he has lost at the hands of the original Court and the appellate Court, though a case of gross failure of justice having been occasioned, can be made out?
4. Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as amended, does not now permit a revision petition being filed against an order disposing of an appeal against the order of the trial Court whether confirming, reversing or modifying the order of injunction granted by the trial Court. The reason is that the order of the High Court passed either way would not have the effect of finally disposing of the suit or other proceedings. The exercise of revisional jurisdiction in such a case is taken away by the proviso inserted under sub-section (1) of section 115 CPC. The amendment is based on the Malimath Committee's recommendations. The Committee was of the opinion that the expression employed in section 115 CPC, which enables interference in revision on the ground that the order if allowed to stand would occasion a failure of justice or cause irreparable injury to the party against whom it was made, left open wide scope for the exercise of the revisional power with all types of interlocutory orders and this was substantially contributing towards delay in the disposal of cases. The Committee did not favour denuding the High Court of the power of revision but strongly felt that the power should be suitably curtailed. The effect of the erstwhile clause (b) of the proviso, being deleted and a new proviso having been inserted, is that the revisional jurisdiction, in respect of an interlocutory order passed in a trial or other proceedings, is substantially curtailed. A revisional jurisdiction cannot be exercised unless the requirement of the proviso is satisfied.
5. As a prelude to search for answer to the question posed, it becomes necessary to recollect and restate a few well-established principles relating to the constitutional jurisdiction conferred on the High Court under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution in the backdrop of the amended section 115 CPC.
Writ of certiorari
6. According to Corpus Juris Secundum (Vol. 14, page 121)
1. Ganga Saran v. Civil Judge, Hapur = [1991 All LR 159
1. Hari Vishnu Kamath v. Ahmad lshaque = AIR 1955 SC 233
2. Custodian of Evacuee Property v. Khan Saheb Abdul Shukoor = AIR 1961 SC 1087
3. Nagendra Nath Bora v. Commr. of Hills Division and Appeals = AIR 1958 SC 398
4. T.C. Basappa v. T. Nagappa = AIR 1954 SC 440
5. Rupa Ashok Hurra v. Ashok Hurra = (2002) 4 SCC 388
6. Satyanarayan Laxminarayan Hegde v. Mallikarjun Bhavanappa Tirumale = AIR 1960 SC 137
8. Chandrasekhar Singh v. Siya Ram Singh = (1979) 3 SCC 118
9. L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India = (1997) 3 SCC 261
13. Shiv Shakti Coop. Housing Society v. Swaraj Developers = 2003(1) BLJ 223
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