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2000 Supreme(MP) 566

Dipak Misra, J.
Baldev Singh Bhatia
vs
The Commissioner, Nagar Palika
Decided On : 30 June, 2000

Headnote:

Order VII Rule 11 - Refusal to reject the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure - Section 401 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1956; Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act; Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure - [Section 401, Section 319, Section 80, Section 7(iv)(d)] - The court discussed the refusal to reject the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the legal provisions of Section 401 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1956; Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act; and Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court analyzed the requirements for instituting a suit against the Corporation, the valuation of the suit, and the grant of leave to file a suit without serving any notice. The court highlighted the limitations provided under Section 401 and Section 319, and the provisions for grant of leave under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court also emphasized the valuation of the relief and the payment of court fees under Section 7(iv)(d) of the Court Fees Act.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration and permanent injunction against the Municipal Corporation, Raipur. The defendant contended that the suit was not maintainable without proper notice and that the plaintiff had valued the suit differently for jurisdiction and court-fees, which was not permissible under the law.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the suit was filed before the expiration of the notice period as required by Section 401 of the Municipal Corporation Act. The court also held that the plaintiff had rightly valued the suit differently for the purpose of jurisdiction and court-fees. However, the court directed the plaintiff to refile the plaint after following the due procedure of law.

Issues: The issues involved the refusal to reject the plaint, the maintainability of the suit without proper notice, and the valuation of the suit for jurisdiction and court-fees.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the interpretation of Section 401 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1956; Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act; and Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court emphasized the requirements for instituting a suit against the Corporation, the valuation of the suit, and the grant of leave to file a suit without serving any notice.

Final Decision: The civil revision was disposed of with the direction to return the plaint to the plaintiff to refile after following the due procedure of law.

ORDER

Dipak Misra, J.

1. The sole point involved in this revision petition is whether the refusal of prayer to reject the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') by the learned Second Additional District Judge, Raipur in Civil Suit No. 21-A/99 is justified.

2. A brief reference to the factual aspects as stated by the parties would suffice.

3. The non-applicant No. 3, Saddruddin Farista, instituted the aforesaid suit for declaration that the lease hold rights in respect of the suit plot are valid and subsist and the letters dated 2-4-99 and 11-6-99 issued by the Defendant No. 1, Municipal Corporation, Raipur, are without any legal authority and sanction, and further for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from invalidating, interfering with or disturbing the lease hold interest of the plaintiff in respect of the suit plot without due process of law. It is setforth in the plaint that the defendant No. 1 owns the plot No. 11/2 in Block No. 94 admeasuring an area of 1250 sq. ft. situate at Old Bus Stand, G.E. Road, Raipur and this parcel of land was let out to one Rajab AH at the rate of Rs. 50/- per month. After the death of said Rajab Ali the said land was given on lease to the plaintiff at the same rate of rent under an agreement dated 15-6-79. It is also putforth in the plaint that on 16-2-71 the defendant No. 1 had granted permission in writing to the predecessor in title, Rajab Ali, to let out the said plot on a sub lease, and accordingly, Rajab Ali created sub lease in favour of M/s Caltex (India) Limited. After the sub lease was granted in favour of M/s Caltex (India) Limited, the said company had put the defendant No. 2 in possession of the said land to run a petrol pump over there. It is also pleaded that by virtue of the provision as contained in Sections 7 and 9 of the Caltex (Acquisition of Shares of Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd. & of the undertakings in India of Caltex (India) Ltd. Act, 1977 read with Notification issued by Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum & Chemicals, New Delhi, in the year 1977 the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation came into existence and acquired all the rights of the sub-lessee created by Rajab Ali Farista. According to the plaintiff he has not contravened any condition of the lease granted to him and the lessor has regularly been accepting the rent from the plaintiff. It is also putforth that Hindustan Petroleum Corporation is a sub tenant of the plaintiff and there has been recognition as such. It is averred that on 12-4-99 the plaintiff received a registered letter dated 2-4-99 issued by the defendant No. 1, the Municipal Corporation, Raipur, alleging that the plaintiff instead of using the suit plot for his own business has sub-leased to the defendant No. 2 resulting in the breach of the lease dated 15-6-79 granted to him by the defendant No. 1 and the plaintiff was asked to show cause why the lease should not be revoked. The plaintiff sent a written reply on 16-4-99 to the defendant No. 1 by registered post with acknowledgment due wherein he claimed to be the sub-lessee in respect of the suit plot. After making many an averment the plaintiff eventually, made the prayers as have already been indicated earlier. After the suit was admitted, the defendant, Baldev Singh Bhatia, filed an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure contending, inter alia, that the suit against the Municipal Corporation is not maintainable without service of notice as required under Section 401 of the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 and further that the plaintiff has valued the suit differently for jurisdiction and court-fees which is not permissible under Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act and, therefore, the plaint should be rejected.

4. A reply was filed by the plaintiff stating therein that the plaintiff has already served a notice under Section 401 of the Municipal Corporation Act, and therefo

































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