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HIMACHAL PRADESH HIGH COURT
Sandeep Sharma, J.
Ramesh Kumar – Petitioner
versus
Smt. Sheetal and Ors. – Respondents
CMPMO No.428 of 2020
Decided on 8.1.2021

Advocates:
Counsel for the Parties:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Rupinder Singh Thakur, Advocate
For the Respondents:Mr. Romesh Verma, Advocate

IMPORTANT POINTS
(1) Injunction – Such three ingredients are not only to exist but must co-exist – Prima facie case is not to be confused with prima facie title, which requires to be established on evidence at trial.
(2) Grant of temporary injunction is not to be claimed by a party as a matter of right nor can be denied by a court arbitrarily.
(3) A co-owner is not entitled to an injunction restraining another co-owner from exceeding his rights in common property absolutely and simply because he is a co-owner unless any act of person in possession of property amounts to ouster prejudicial or adverse to interest of co-owner out of possession.


Headnote:

(A) Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 – Injunction – Existence of three basic ingredients i.e. prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable loss or injury is mandatory for passing an order of injunction under Order XXXIX, rules 1 and 2 CPC – Such three ingredients are not only to exist but must co-exist – Prima facie case is not to be confused with prima facie title, which requires to be established on evidence at trial – Before grant of injunction and considering prayer for discretionary relief, court must be satisfied that party praying for relief has a prima facie case and balance of convenience is also in its favour – While granting injunction, if any, court is also required to ascertain whether refusal to grant injunction would cause irreparable loss to such party. (Paras 7, 8 and 9)

(B) Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 – Injunction – Grant of temporary injunction is not to be claimed by a party as a matter of right nor can be denied by a court arbitrarily – While considering question of injunction, which needs to be decided on each peculiar fact, it is always for court to exercise/deny discretion in view of all facts and circumstances of each case and to find out on which side balance of convenience lies – A co-owner is not entitled to an injunction restraining another co-owner from exceeding his rights in common property absolutely and simply because he is a co-owner unless any act of person in possession of property amounts to ouster prejudicial or adverse to interest of co-owner out of possession – Mere making of construction or improvement in common property does not amount to ouster rather, if by any act of co-owner in possession value or utility of property is diminished, then a co-owner out of possession can certainly seek an injunction to prevent the diminution of value and utility of property – If acts of co-owner in possession are detrimental to interest of other co-owners, a co-owner out of possession can seek an injunction to prevent such act which is detrimental to his interest. (Paras 15, 17 and 23)

Result: Petition dismissed.

JUDGMENT (ORAL)

Sandeep Sharma, J.—Instant petition filed under Art. 227 of the Constitution of India, takes exception to judgment dated 9.10.2020 passed by learned District Judge, Shimla in CMA No. 37/2020 affirming order dated 5.9.2020 passed by learned Civil Judge, Court No. 3, Shimla, District Shimla in CMA No. 303/2020 in Civil Suit No. 47/2020, whereby an application having been filed by the petitioner-plaintiff (hereinafter, ‘plaintiff’) under Order XXXIX, rules 1 and 2 CPC, seeking therein direction to restrain the respondents/defendant (hereinafter, ‘defendants’) from raising any type of construction over land denoted by Khasra No. 176, situate in Mohal Tafera, Post Office Kali Hatti, Hadbast No. 151, Sub Tehsil Dhami, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (hereinafter, ‘suit land’) during the pendency of suit, came to be dismissed.

2. For having bird’s eye view of the matter, certain undisputed facts as emerge from the pleadings adduced on record by respective parties are that the plaintiff filed a suit for permanent prohibitory injunction restraining the defendants from raising construction on suit land, as detailed herein above, and for granting mandatory injunction directing defendant No. 1 to remove construction raised by him during the pendency of the suit, in the court of learned Civil Judge (Junior Division), Shimla, averring therein that he became co-owner to the extent of 843/255709 shares measuring 25-57-09 hectares in land comprised in Khewat Khatauni No. 1/1 to 9, total Khasra 133, measuring 25-57-09 Hectares, situate in Mohal Tafera, Post Office Kali Hatti, Hadbaast No. 151, Sub Tehsil Dhami, District Shimla, by virtue of sale deed dated 1.12.2014. Plaintiff also claimed that at the time of execution of aforesaid deed dated 1.12.2014, he was also delivered possession of Khasra Nos. 176 and 168, whereafter he had raised a Dhara on such land. Plaintiff also averred that since suit land is joint inter se parties, two co-owners namely Mukesh Kumar and Aruna Kumari, filed partition proceedings before competent Authority and during such proceedings, Tatima was issued by revenue agency depicting therein his possession on Khasra No. 176 i.e. suit land. Plaintiff further claimed before learned trial Court that in the aforesaid partition proceedings, respondent No. 3 was being represented by respondent No. 2 on the strength of General Power of Attorney executed by respondent no. 3, as such, he was fully aware of the factum with regard to sale of land to various persons, including him. Plaintiff alleged in the suit that respondent No. 2 being General Power of Attorney of respondent No. 3 got transferred some land by way of gift deed/sale deed in favour of his wife i.e. defendant No. 1, and such, transactions are illegal and sham. Lastly, the plaintiff averred in the suit that on 8.6.2020, he, after having noticed factum with regard to unauthorized construction being carried out by respondent No. 1 on suit land, has filed instant suit for permanent prohibitory injunction, restraining defendant No. 1 from interfering in the suit land. Alongwith aforesaid suit, plaintiff also filed an application under Order XXXIX, rules 1 and 2 CPC, seeking interim injunction to restrain the defendants from raising any construction over the suit land till final disposal of the case.

3. Defendants, in their reply to the application, while admitting factum with regard to purchase of shares in the suit land to the extent of 843/255709, measuring 00-08-43 hectares in the joint land, comprised in Khewat Khatauni No. 1/1 to 9, total measuring 25-59 Hectares, categorically denied that exclusive possession of Khasra Nos. 176 and 168 was delivered to the plaintiff. Defendants claimed before learned trial Court that total area of Khasra No. 176 is 00-88-57 hectares and that of Khasra No. 168 is 00-43-05 hectares, whereas, plaintiff purchased area much lesser than the total area of Khasra Nos. 176 and 168 and as such, there was no occasion to deliver

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