SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2003 Supreme(MP) 755

2004(1) JLJ 353
(SUPREME COURT)
V.N. Khare, C.J.I., S.B. Sinha and Dr. A.R. Lakshmanan, JJ.
Dwarka Prasad Agarwal (D) by LRs and another v. B.D. Agarwal
and others
Civil Appeals No. 4782-83 of 1996 and W.P. (C) No. 527 of 1993;
Decided on 7.7.2003.

Advocates:
Sunil Gupta for appellant; Dr. A.M. Singhvi,
P.P. Rao and Shanti Bhushan for respondents.

Headnote:(1) Civil P.C., 1908 -- O. 23 Rr. 1 and 3 -- Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- Registration Act, 1908 -- S. 17 -- Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 -- Ss. 19B, 6, proviso and 8B(ii) -- compromise in writ petition between private parties -- resulting in withdrawal of various title suits -- compromise also ignoring various provisions of different enactments -- is not lawful.

       Prior to the constitution of the Firm, a newspaper known as Dainik Bhaskar was being published by Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and his name was recorded with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (for short "RNI"). The said Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was the karta of a larger HUF consisting of himself and his partners. He had two wives, namely, Kasturidevi and Kishoridevi. Allegedly, the Firm transferred the business of publication of Dainik Bhaskar at Gwalior to a newly incorporated company, M/s. Bhaskar Publication and Allied Industries Pvt. Ltd. of which Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was the lifetime Managing Director and Chairman and therein Bishambhar Dayal Agarwal and his son, Ramesh Chandra Agarwal were shareholders and Directors. [Para 2

       Several suits were filed by the parties at several places viz. Jabalpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Gwalior, etc. Several proceedings were also initiated before different forums with regard to publication of the said newspapers at different places. Some writ petitions were also filed by the parties before the High Court. Some proceedings by way of special leave application were also filed before this Court. [Para 3

       During pendency of the writ proceedings, on 29.6.1992 the petitioner therein, Ramesh Chandra Agarwal, son of Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and Mahesh Prasad Agarwal along with their sons Kailash, Sudhir and Sanjay purported to have entered into a deed of settlement. Dwarka Prasad Agarwal admittedly was a pro forma respondent therein and although his right as partner were directly affected thereby, he was neither a party to the said settlement nor a signatory to the said deed. The said purported agreement was filed on the same day before the Madhya Pradesh High Court by the petitioner therein alleging that he and the contesting respondents had reached a full and final settlement of "the disputes raised in the petition and other connected matters" pending before various Courts and bodies and the writ petition be disposed of in terms of the said purported comprehensive agreement. The said settlement was accepted and the writ petition was disposed of in terms thereof on 29.6.1992 which was also the date of filing of the compromise memo. The said order dated 29.6.1992 is the subject-matter of Civil Appeal No. 4782 of 1996.

       Pursuant to or in furtherance of the said purported compromise, RNI altered the name of the owner of the title Dainik Bhaskar in his Register. [Paras 6 & 7

       Dwarka Prasad Agarwal having come to learn of the said order of RNI dated 3.9.1992 filed an application for review of the order dated 29.6.1992 passed by the High Court which was marked as MCC No. 477 of 1992. The said review petition was dismissed. [Para 8

       Dwarka Prasad Agarwal filed Writ Petition No. 527 of 1993 in this Court questioning the aforementioned order dated 3.9.1992 passed by RNI. [Para 11

       Held: The High Court was also required to address itself, more so while disposing of the review application, as to whether the purported settlement on the grounds raised by the appellants herein, was a lawful one. Without any application of mind, the High Court proceeded to hold that the agreement was lawful. It did not pose unto itself the right question so as to enable itself to arrive at a finding of fact resulting in correct answer thereto and, thus, the same would amount to a Misdirection in law. While doing so, the High Court did not take into consideration the provisions of the Registration Act or the said Act, and in particular, section 19B, the proviso appended to section 6 and section 8B(ii) of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.

       The High Court also failed and/or neglected to take into consideration the fact that the compromise having been entered into by and between the three out of four partners, could not have been termed as settlement of all disputes and in that view of the matter, no compromise could have been recorded by it. The effect of the order dated 29.6.1992 recording the settlement was brought to the notice of the High Court, still it failed to rectify the Mistake committed by it. The effect of the said order was grave. It was found to be enforceable. It was construed to be an order of the High Court, required to be implemented by the Courts and the statutory authorities. (2001) 6 SCC 688 relied on. [Paras 31 & 32

       (2) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- writ petition under -- appellant was made a pro forma respondent in petition -- compromise petition filed -- advocate of appellant submitting ‘no instructions‘ -- notice to respondent should have been issued or sufficient time ought to have been granted for seeking instructions.

       The question of the learned advocate of Dwarka Prasad Agarwal not raising any objection as regards legality or otherwise of the said agreement dated 29.6.1992 neither directly nor indirectly arose for consideration before the High Court. He also did not make any submission as regards the lawfulness or otherwise of the said compromise. He merely stated that he had no instruction in the matter. In that view of the matter, it was obligatory on the part of the High Court to issue notice to late Dwarka Prasad Agarwal in respect thereof or to allow sufficient time to the learned advocate to obtain proper and adequate instructions. [Para 29

       (3) Constitution of India -- Arts. 226/227 -- writ petition is filed in public law remedy -- a private law dispute or property or title dispute cannot be resolved therein.

       A writ petition is filed in public law remedy. The High Court, while exercising power of judicial review, is concerned with illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety of an order passed by the State or a statutory authority. Remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution of India cannot be invoked for resolution of a private law dispute as contradistinguished from a dispute involving public law character. It is also well settled that a writ remedy is not available for resolution of a property or a title dispute. [Para 28

       (4) Constitution of India -- Arts. 225 and 226 -- Civil P.C, 1908 -- S. 141 and O. 23 R. 3 -- provisions of CPC are not applicable to writ petitions under the Constitution -- even if O. 23 R. 3 CPC is applicable, the High Court cannot be permitted to record compromise in casual manner -- it should see whether it is lawful.

       In terms of section 141 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the provisions thereof are not applicable in a writ proceeding. No provision of the Code of Civil Procedure has been made applicable in terms of the rules framed by the High Court of Judicature at Nagpur dated 25.9.1951 framed under Article 225 of the Constitution of India. In any event, the applicability of the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, if any, would be only with regard to the procedural and machinery provisions contained therein but thereby no new right could be created. Even if the provisions of Order 23 Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure and/or principles analogous thereto are held to be applicable in a writ proceeding, the Court cannot be permitted to record a purported compromise in a casual manner. It was suo motu required to address itself to the issue as to whether the compromise was a lawful one and, thus, had any jurisdiction to entertain the same. [Para 35

       (5) Civil P.C., 1908 -- O. 23 R. 1 -- withdrawal of suit -- civil Court is required to act on its own -- direction of any other Court determining a totally foreign issue cannot be followed. [Para 35

       (6) Civil P.C., 1908 -- O. 23 R. 3 (as amended in 1976) -- Court recording compromise -- has to act more solemnly to decide whether compromise is lawful or otherwise -- it can now be challenged only before the same Court. [Para 36

       (7) Jurisdiction -- Court passing order not having jurisdiction -actions taken in pursuance of such order are also nullities and liable to be set aside.

       It is now well settled that an order passed by a Court without jurisdiction is a nullity. Any order passed or action taken pursuant thereto or in furtherance thereof would also be nul1ities. In the instant case, as the High Court did not have any jurisdiction to record the compromise for the reasons stated hereinbefore and in particular as no writ was required to be issued having regard to the fact that public law remedy could not have been resorted to, the impugned orders must be held to be illegal and without jurisdiction and are liable to be set aside. All orders and actions taken pursuant to or in furtherance thereof must also be declared wholly illegal and without jurisdiction and consequently are liable to be set aside. They are declared as such. [Para 37

       (8) Constitution of India -- Art. 14 -- a party cannot be made to suffer adversely either directly or indirectly by any order not binding upon it -- fair trial is guaranteed under Art. 14.

       A party cannot be made to suffer adversely either indirectly or directly by reason of an order passed by any Court of law which is not binding on him. The very basis upon which a judicial process can be resorted to is reasonableness and fairness in a trial. Under our Constitution, as also the international treaties and conventions, the right to get a fair trial is a basic fundamental/ human right. Any procedure which comes in the way of a party in getting a fair trial would be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. (2003) 1 All ER 1106 (PC) relied on. [Para 38

       (9) Constitution of India -- Art. 19 -- fundamental right under -- question of infringement or otherwise -- cannot be decided when facts are disputed before the writ Court. [Para 39

       ¼1½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && vk- 23 fu- 1 rFkk 3 && Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && jftLVªhdj.k vf/kfu;e] 1908 && /kkjk 17 && izsl vkSj iqLrd jftLVªhdj.k vf/kfu;e] 1867 && /kkjk 19[k] 6 iajrqd rFkk 8[k (ii) && izkbosV i{kdkjksa ds e/; fjV ;kfpdk esa le>kSrk && ifj.kker% fofHké gd laca/kh okn okil fy, x, && le>kSrs esa fofHké vf/kfu;fefr;ksa ds vusd mica/kksa dh voKk Hkh dh xbZ && fof/k;qDRk ugha gSA

       QeZ ds xBu ls iwoZ nSfud HkkLdj uked lekpkji= }kjkdkizlkn vxzoky }kjk izdkf‘kr fd;k tk jgk Fkk rFkk mldk uke Hkkjr ds lekpkji=ksa ds jftLVªkj ¼la{ksi esa vkj ,u vkb½ ds dk;kZy; esa vfHkfyf[kr FkkA mDr }kjdkizlkn vxzoky c`gÙkj fganw vfoHkDr dqVqac dk drkZ Fkk] ftlesa og Lo;a vkSj mlds Hkkxhnkj FksA mldh nks ifRu;k¡ Fkha] uker% dLrwjh nsoh vkSj fd‘kksjh nsohA vfHkdfFkr :i ls] QeZ esa Xokfy;j fLFkr nSfud HkkLdj ds izdk‘ku dk dkjckj ,d uo&fuxfer daiuh] esllZ HkkLdj ifCyds‘ku ,aM vykbM baMLVªht izk- fy dks varfjr dj fn;k ftlesa }kjdkizlkn vxzoky vkthou izca/k funs‘kd vkSj v/;{k Fkk rFkk fc‘kaHkjn;ky vxzoky vkSj mldk iq= jes‘kpanz vxzoky mlesa va‘k/kkjd vkSj funs‘kd FksA ¿ iSjk 2À

       i{kdkjksa us tcyiqj] Hkksiky] jk;iqj] Xokfy;j vkfn vusd LFkkuksa ij vusd okn Qkby fd,A fofHké LFkkuksa ij mDr lekpkji=ksa ds izdk‘ku ds ckjsa esa fofHkUu U;k;ky;ksa ds le{k dk;Zokgh Hkh vkjaHk dh xbZ FkhA i{kdkjksa us mPp U;k;ky; ds le{k dqN fjV ;kfpdk,¡ Hkh Qkby dh FkhaA fo‘ks"k btktr vkosnu ds ek/;e ls bl U;k;ky; ds le{k Hkh dqN dk;Zokgh vkjaHk dh xbZ FkhA ¿ iSjk 3À

       fjV dk;Zokgh ds yafcr jgrs 29-6-1992 dks mlesa ;kph jes‘kpanz vxzoky] iq= }kjdkizlkn vxzoky vkSj egs‘k izlkn vxzoky }kjk vius iq=ksa dSyk‘k] lq/khj vkSj lat; lfgr fuiVkjk foys[k fu"ikfnr fd, tkus dk vk‘k; izdV fd;k x;kA Lohd`rr% }kjdkizlkn vxzoky mlesa izksQkekZ izR;FkhZ Fkk vkSj ;|fi Hkkxhnkj ds :i esa mlds vf/kdkj mlls izR;{kr% izHkkfor gksrs Fks] fQj Hkh og u mDr fuiVkjs esa i{kdkj Fkk] u mlus mDr foys[k ij gLrk{kj dh fd, FksA mDr rkRif;Zr djkj mlh fnu e/; izns‘k mPp U;k;ky; ds le{k ;kph }kjk bl vfHkdFku ds lkFk Qkby dj fn;k x;k Fkk fd mlds vkSj fojks/kh izR;fFkZ;ksa ds chp fofHké U;k;ky;ksa vkSj fudk;ksa ds le{k yafcr **;kfpdk rFkk vU; leLr ekeyska esa mBk, x, fooknksa** dk iw.kZ vkSj vafre fuiVkjk gks x;k gS rFkk fjV ;kfpdk dk fuiVkjk mDr rkRif;Zr O;kid djkj ds vuqlkj fd;k tk,A mDr fuiVkjk Lohdkj dj fy;k x;k vkSj mlds vuqlkj 29-6-1992 dks fjV ;kfpdk dk fuiVkjk dj fn;k x;kA le>kSrk Kkiu Qkby djus dk fnukad Hkh ;gh FkkA mDr fnukad 29-6-1992 flfoy vihy Ø- 4782 lu~ 1996 dh fo"k;&oLrq gSA

       mDr rkRif;Zr le>kSrs ds vuqlj.k esa vFkok mls vxzlj djus ds fy, vkj ,u vkb us vius jftLVj esa nSfud HkkLdj ‘kh"kZd ds Lokeh dk uke ifjofrZr dj fn;kA ¿ iSjk 6 ,oa 7À

       vkj ,u vkb ds mDr vkns‘k fnukad 3-9-1992 ds ckjs esa Kkr gksus ij }kjdkizlkn vxzoky us mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns‘k fnukad 29-6-1992 ds iqufoZyksdu ds fy, vkosnu Qkby fd;k tks izdh.kZ flfoy okn Ø- 477 lu~ 1992 ds :i esa vafdr fd;k x;kA mDr iqufoZyksdu ;kfpdk [kkfjt dj nh xbZA ¿ iSjk 8À

       }kjdkizlkn vxzoky us vkj ,u vkb }kjk ikfjr iwoksZDr vkns‘k fnukad 3-9-1992 iz‘uxr djrs gq, bl U;k;ky; esa fjV ;kfpdk esa fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 527 lu~ 1993 Qkby dhA

        ¿ iSjk 11À

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % mPp U;k;ky; ls bl iz‘u ij Hkh fopkj fd;k tkuk visf{kr Fkk] fo‘ks"kr% iqufoZyksdu vkosnu dk fuiVkjk djrs le;] fd D;k izLrqr vihykfFkZ;ksa }kjk izLrqr vk/kkjksa ij rkRif;Zr fuiVkjk fof/kiw.kZ Fkk \ mPp U;k;ky; us euksfu;ksx fd, fcuk ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr dj fn;k fd djkj fof/kiw.kZ FkkA mlus vius le{k lgh iz‘u ugha j[kk ftlls og rF;kRed fu"d"kZ ij igq¡p dj mldk lgh mÙkj ns lds vkSj bl izdkj og fof/k dh n`f"V esa vifuns‘k ds leku gksxkA ,slk djrs le; mPp U;k;ky; us jftLVªhdj.k vf/kfu;e ;k mDr vf/kfu;e ds mica/kksa ij] fof‘k"V :i ls izsl vkSj iqLrd jftLVªhdj.k vf/kfu;e] 1867 dh /kkjk 19[k] /kkjk 6 dk ijarqd vkSj /kkjk 8[k

(ii) ij /;ku ugha fn;kA

       mPp U;k;ky; bl rF; ij /;ku nsus esa vlQy vkSj@vFkok mis{kkoku jgk fd pkj esa ls rhu Hkkxhnkjksa }kjk vkSj muds chp le>kSrk gksus ds dkj.k lHkh fooknksa dk fuiVkjk gksuk dgha tk ldrk Fkk rFkk bl n`f"V ls] mlds }kjk le>kSrs vfHkfyf[kr ugha fd;k tk ldrk FkkA le>kSrs ls vfHkfyf[kr djus okys vkns‘k fnukad 29-6-1992 dk izHkko mPp U;k;ky; dh tkudkjh esa yk;k x;k Fkk fQj Hkh og viuh xyrh lq/kkjus esa foQy jgkA mDr vkns‘k dk ifj.kke xaHkhj FkkA mlds izorZuh; gksus dk fu"d"kZ fudkyk x;k FkkA og mPp U;k;ky; dk vkns‘k le>k x;k Fkk ftldk U;k;ky;ksa vkSj dkuwuh izkf/kdkfj;ksa }kjk dk;kZUo;u fd;k tkuk visf{kr FkkA ¼2001½ 6 ,l lh lh 688 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 31 ,oa 32À

       ¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 && fjV ;kfpdk && vihykFkhZ ;kfpdk esa izksQkekZ izR;FkhZ cuk;k x;k Fkk && le>kSrk ;kfpdk Qkby dh xbZ && vihykFkhZ d vf/koDrk }kjk *vuqns‘k ugha* dk fuosnu && izR;FkhZ dks lwpuk tkjh dh tkuk pkfg, Fkh vFkok vuqns‘k izkIr djus ds fy, i;kZIr le; fn;k tkuk pkfg, FkkA

       }kjdkizlkn vxzoky ds fo}ku vf/koDrk }kjk djkj fnukad 29-6-1992 dh oS/krk ;k voS/krk ds ckjs esa vkifRrÙk ugha fd, tkus dk iz‘u mPp U;k;ky; ds le{k u izR;{kr% mBk] u ijks{kr% ghA mlus mDr le>kSrs dh oS/krk ;k voS/krk ds ckjs esa Hkh dksbZ fuosnu ugha fd;kA mlus dsoy bruk dgk fd mls bl ekeys esa dksbZ vuqns‘k ugha feyk gSA bl n`f"V ls] bl ckjs esa fnoaxr }kjdkizlkn vxzoky dks lwpuk tkjh dh tkuk vFkok fo}ku vf/kodrk dks mfpr ,oa i;kZIr vuqns‘k izkIr djus ds fy, i;kZIr le; nsuk mPp U;k;ky; ds fy, vkc)dj FkkA

        ¿ iSjk 29À

       ¼3½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226@227 && fjV ;kfpdk yksd fof/k mipkj esa Qkby dh tkrh gS && izkbosV fof/k ds fookn vFkok laifÙk ;k gd ds fookn dk fujkdj.k mlesa ugha fd;k tk ldrkA

       fjV ;kfpdk yksd fof/k mipkj esa Qkby dh tkrh gSA U;kf;d iqufoZyksdu dh ‘kfDRk dk iz;ksx djrs le; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk jkT; ;k fdlh dkuwuh izkf/kdkjh }kjk ikfjr vkns‘k dh voS/krk] ;qfDrghurk vkSj mlds izfØ;kRed vukSfpR; ij fopkj fd;k tkuk gksrk gSA Hkkjr ds lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 226 ds v/khu mipkj dk vkJ; yksd fof/k Lo:i ds fookn ls lqfHké izkbosV fof/k ds fookn ds fujkdj.k ds fy, ugha fy;k tk ldrkA ;g Hkh lqLFkkfir gS fd laifÙk ;k gd fookn ds fujkdj.k ds fy, fjV mipkj miyC/k ugha gksrkA ¿ iSjk 28À

       ¼4½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 225 rFkk 226 && flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && /kkjk 141 rFkk vk- 23 fu- 3 && flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk ds mica/k lafo/kku ds v/khu fjV ;kfpdkvksa dks ykxw ugha && lafgrk dk vk- 23 fu- 3 ykxw gks rc Hkh mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ykijokgh jhfr ls le>kSrk vfHkfyf[kr fd;k tkuk vuqKkr ugha fd;k tk ldrk && mls ns[kuk pkfg, fd D;k og fof/kiw.kZ gSA

       flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 141 ds vuqlkj fjV dk;Zokgh esa mlds mica/k ykxw ugha gksrsA flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk dk dksbZ Hkh mica/k Hkkjr ds lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 225 ds v/khu ukxiqj fLFkr mPp U;k;ky; }kjk 25-9-1951 dks fojfpr fu;eksa ds vuqlkj ykxw ugha fd;k x;k gSA fdlh Hkh n‘kk esa] flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk ds mica/kksa dk ykxw gksuk] ;fn gks] mlesa varfoZ"V izfØ;kRed vkSj ra=kRed mica/kksa ds ckjs esa ykxw gksaxs fdarq muds }kjk u;k vf/kdkj l`ftr ugh fd;k tk ldrkA ;fn flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk ds vkns‘k 23 fu;e 3 ds mica/k vkSj@vFkok muds ln`‘k fl)kar fjV dk;Zokgh esa ykxw vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd, tk,¡ rc Hkh U;k;ky; }kjk rkRif;Zr le>kSrk ykijokg jhfr ls vfHkfyf[kr fd;k tkuk vuqKkr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA mPp U;k;ky; ls visf{kr Fkk fd og Loiszj.kk ls bl fook|d ij fopkj djs fd D;k le>kSrk fof/kiw.kZ Fkk rFkk mls] bl izdkj] le>kSrk xzg.k djus dh dksbZ Hkh vf/kdkfjrk FkhA

        ¿ iSjk 35À

       ¼5½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vk- 23 fu- 1 && okn okil fy;k tkuk && flfoy U;k;ky; ls Lo;a dkjZokbZ dh tkuk visf{kr gS && iw.kZr% fotkrh; fook|d vo/kkfjr djus okys fdlh vU; U;k;ky; ds funs‘k dk vuqlj.k ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¿ iSjk 35À

       ¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vk- 23 fu- 3 ¼1976 esa ;Fkk la‘kksf/kr½ && le>kSrk vfHkfyf[kr djus okyk U;k;ky; && le>kSrk fof/kiw.kZ gS ;k ugha] ;g fofuf‘pr djus ds fy, vf/kd xaHkhjrk ls dk;Z djuk gksrk gS && vc ml ij vk{ksi dsoy mlh U;k;ky; ds le{k fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¿ iSjk 36À

       ¼7½ vf/kdkfjrk && vkns‘k ikfjr djus okys U;k;ky; dks vf/kdkfjrk ugha && ,sls vkns‘k ds vuqlj.k esa fd, x, dk;Z Hkh vd`rrk gS vkSj vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

       vc ;g lqLFkkfir gS fd vf/kdkfjrkjfgr U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns‘k vd`rrk gksrk gSA mlds vuqlj.k esa ;k mls vxzlj djus ds fy, ikfjr vkns‘k vFkok dh xbZ dkjZokbZ Hkh vd`rrk gksaxsA izLrqr ekeys esa] D;ksafd ,efLeuiw.kZ dfFkr dkj.kksa ls mPPk U;k;ky; ds ikl le>kSrk vfHkfyf[kr djus ds fy, vf/kdkfjr ugha Fkh vkSj fo‘ks"kdj D;ksfd bl rF; dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, fd yksd fof/k mipkj dk vkJ; ugha fy;k tk ldrk Fkk] fjV tkjh fd;k tkuk visf{kr ugha Fkk] vkf{kIr vkns‘k voS/k ,oa vf/kdkfjrkjfgr vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd, tkuk vko‘;d gS vkSj og vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA mlds vuqlj.k esa ;k mls vxzlj djus ds fy, ikfjr lHkh vkns‘kksa vkSj dh xbZ dkjZokfg;k¡ Hkh iw.kZr% voS/k ,oa vf/kdkfjrkjfgr ?kksf"kr dh tkuk pkfg, rFkk ifj.kkeLo:i os vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA mUgsa ,slk ?kksf"kr fd;k tkrk gSA

        ¿ iSjk 37À

       ¼8½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 14 && fdlh i{kdkj dks mls vkns‘k }kjk tks mls ij vkc)dj ugha gS] izR;{kr% vFkok ijks{k :i ls izfrdwyr% izHkkfor ugha fd;k tk ldrk && vuq- 14 ds v/khu _tq fopkj.k izR;kHkwr gSA

       fdlh U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fdlh vkns‘k fd dkj.k fdlh i{kdkj dks izR;{kr% ;g ijks{kr% izfrdwyr% izHkkfor gksus ugha fn;k tk ldrk tks mls ij vkc)dj ugha gSA og vk/kkj gh fopkj.k esa ;qfDr;qDr vkSj _tqrk dk gS ftl ij U;kf;d izfØ;k dk vkJ; fy;k tk ldrk gSA gekjs lafo/kku ds v/khu] ,oa varjkZ"Vªh; laf/k;ksa vkSj dUosU‘kuksa ds v/khu Hkh] _tq fopkj.k ikus dk vf/kdkj cqfu;knh ewy@ekuo vf/kdkj gSA _tq fopkj.k ikus es i{kdkj ds ekxZ esa ck/kk cuus okyh fdlh Hkh izfØ;k ls Hkkjr ds lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 14 dk vfrØe.k gksxkA ¼2003½ 1 vky bZ vkj 1106¼ ih lh½ voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 38À

       ¼9½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 19 && ewy vf/kdkj && vfrya?ku vFkok vU;Fkk dk iz‘u && fjV U;k;ky; ds le{k rF; fookfnr gksa rc fofu‘p;u ugha fd;k tk ldrkA

        ¿ iSjk 39À

JUDGMENT

Sinha, J. -- 1. Whether settlement of a private dispute between the parties to a writ proceeding is permissible in law, is the prime question involved in these batch of appeals which arise out of judgments and orders passed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in MP No. 802 of 1992 and MCC No. 477 of 1992 and the connected writ petition.

2. The factual matrix involved in these matters may be noticed in brief:

A partnership firm known as M/s Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and Brothers (the Firm) was constituted with Dwarka Prasad Agarwal (since deceased), Bishambhar Dayal Agarwal (since deceased), Mahesh Prasad Agarwal -- all sons of Keshav Dev Agarwal and Ramesh Chandra Agarwal, son of Dwarka Prasad Agarwal in the year 1972 as partners thereof. Each partner contributed towards the capital of the Firm in shares to the extent of 25%, 30%, 30% and 15% respectively. Prior to the constitution of the Firm, a newspaper known as Dainik Bhaskar was being published by Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and his name was recorded with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (for short' 'RNI"). The said Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was the karta of a larger HUF consisting of himself and his partners. He had two wives, namely, Kasturidevi and Kishoridevi. Allegedly, the Firm transferred the business of publication of Dainik Bhaskar at Gwalior to a newly incorporated company, M/s. Bhaskar Publication and Allied Industries Pvt. Ltd. of which Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was the lifetime Managing Director and Chairman and therein Bishambhar Dayal Agarwal and his son, Ramesh Chandra Agarwal were shareholders and Directors. A printing press of which Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was the owner is said to have been transferred to the said Company for the purpose of printing of the aforementioned newspaper. According to the appellants, in the annual reports of RNI, the name of the said Firm was shown as the owner of the said newspaper. It is not disputed that in the year 1982, Dwarka Prasad Agarwal suffered from a paralytic attack and was unable to attend to pusiness actively.

3. It is alleged that Ramesh Chandra Agarwal filed a declaration on or about 13.10.1984 along with an authority letter dated 10.1.1983 from Dwarka Prasad Agarwal in respect of publication of Dainik Bhaskar at Indore for admitting him to be the owner of the newspaper and the Company as a lessee. Certain documents were allegedly created on 13.3.1985 by Ramesh Chandra Agarwal for the said purpose; one of them, being an agreement of sale alleged to have been entered by and between the Firm and a company called M/s Writers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd., the genuineness or otherwise of which was the subject-matter of a suit, being Suit No. 57-A of 1988. Another document also came to be executed on the same day, the genuineness whereof was also disputed, is an alleged deed of partition/family settlement of HUF; in terms whereof the Firm's assets, several other properties, fixed deposits, money and business including those situated at Bombay, Delhi, Raipur, Indore, were divided between Dwarka Prasad Agarwal, Bishambhar Dayal Agarwal, Mahesh Prasad Agarwal and Ramesh Chandra Agarwa1. According to the appellant, Dwarka Prasad Agarwal never signed the said deed of partition/family settlement nor was it acted upon and in fact was questioned as forged and non-existent by Bishambhar Dayal Agarwal in a proceeding before the District Magistrate, Jabalpur and the same was also the subject-matter of Suit No. 57-A of 1988 pending in the Court of District Judge, Bhopal. Several other suits were filed by the parties at several places viz. Jabalpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Gwalior etc. Several proceedings were also initiated before different forums with regard to publication of the said newspapers at different places. Some writ petitions were also filed by the parties before the High Court. Some proceedings by way of special leave application were also filed before this Court.

4. It may not be necessary to delve deep into the effect and purport of the sai
















































































































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon telegram-icon
whatsapp-icon Back to top