Ramasamy v. Puviarasan (Minor) represented by his mother and next friend Rathinam
1994-01-04
K.A.SWAMI, SOMASUNDARAM
body1994
DigiLaw.ai
Judgment :- K.A. Swamy, C.J. This Appeal is preferred against the order dated 11. 1993, passed by the learned single judge in Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No.215 of 1993. 2. The aforesaid appeal was filed against the order dated 11. 1993, passed by the learned Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai, on I.A.No.185 of 1992 filed in A.S.No.62 of 1992. The facts necessary for the purpose of deciding the question as to whether the learned single Judge is justified in setting aside the order dated 11. 1993 passed by the Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai are as follows: The appellant is the defendant in the Original Suit No.42 of 1990 filed in the District Munsif’s Court, Pattukkottai by the respondent-plaintiff for a decla-tion that the plaintiff is the owner of the land bearing Survey No.l93/4B, measuring 46 cents, situate in Karambayam village, Pattukkottai Taluk, Thanjavur District and also for a permanent injunction from interfering with his peaceful possession and enjoyment of the land. The plaintiff claimed that he had obtained sale deed from the son of the defendant, transferring the land in question and from the date of sale he has been put in possession of the same and has been in enjoyment of it. On the contrary, the defendant pleaded that the land in question had not been put to the share of his son; therefore, he had no right to alienate the same. The trial court decided the suit against the plaintiff both on title as well as on possession and dismissed the suit. Aggrieved by the decree of the trial Court, the plaintiff has preferred A.S.No.62 of 1992 in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai. Pending the appeal, the plaintiff-appellant made an application for an order of temporary injunction. The learned Subordinate Judge has rejected it on considering the contentions elaborately. The learned single Judge in the civil miscellaneous appeal has set aside that order. The reason given by the learned single Judge for setting aside the order is found in paragraph 4, which reads thus: “The respondent herein has filed a counter affidavit. This respondent is the son of Chinnathambi Udaiyar who has sold the suit-property to the minor plaintiff. It is not disputed that there was an injunction during pendency of the suit as against the respondent herein. The suit was dismissed by the trial court.
This respondent is the son of Chinnathambi Udaiyar who has sold the suit-property to the minor plaintiff. It is not disputed that there was an injunction during pendency of the suit as against the respondent herein. The suit was dismissed by the trial court. The vendor of the suit property in favour of the appellant herein is none other than his own son. It is a registered sale deed and in view of the order of interim injunction granted by the trial court, I am inclined to continue the same during pendency of the first appeal. In the circumstances, the order of the lower appellate court is set aside and there shall be an order of interim injunction as prayed for in I.A.No.185 of 1992 pending disposal of the appeal A.S.No.62 of 1992...” ‘Thereafter, the learned single Judge has directed the transfer of A.S.No.62 of 1992 to the Principal Subordinate Judge, Thanjavur. Thus, from the order of the learned single Judge, it is clear that the only reason that has prevailed upon the learned single Judge is that the vendor of the suit property is no other than the son of the defendant and there is a sale deed executed by him in favour of the plaintiff and that there was an order of temporary injunction granted during the pendency of the suit and therefore, the order passed by the learned Subordinate Judge refusing to grant an order of temporary injunction pending the appeal is liable to be set aside. It is relevant to notice that though an appeal lies against an order granting or refusing to grant a temporary injunction, but the scope of such an appeal is not as that of a regular appeal. The appellate court is required to see only as to whether the trial court has exercised the discretion judiciously and has taken into consideration the factors, which are relevant to an order of temporary injunction.
The appellate court is required to see only as to whether the trial court has exercised the discretion judiciously and has taken into consideration the factors, which are relevant to an order of temporary injunction. Mere fact that an appellate court would come to a different conclusion on appreciation of the contentions that the one arrived at by the trial court, is not a ground for interfering with the order passed by the trial court granting or refusing to grant an order of temporary injunction, consequently, whenever an appeal is filed against an order granting or refusing to grant an order of injunction, in deciding the appeal the appellate court also shall have to bear in mind the findings recorded by the trial court and the reasons given, and consider whether the discretion is properly and judicially exercised whether the order is unreasonable and palpably unjust and erroneous and ignores material facts and circumstances and thereby there is miscarriage of justice. In the case of an application filed for temporary injunction in the appeal preferred against the judgment and decree passed in the suit, the findings recorded by the trial court while decreeing or dismissing the suit will have a great value in consideration such an interlocutory application. Until the appeal is decided, those findings will prevail. Unless it is shown that the findings, on the very face of them are bad, unreasonable, palpably erroneous normally pending disposal of the appeal, such findings do form a basis for considering the application. Of course, in exceptional cases, where it is shown that there is going to be irreparable loss or failure of justice, it is open to the appellate court to consider the question of issuing an order of temporary injunction, on being satisfied that the findings are perverse or unreasonable and are arrived at ignoring material evidence. 3. Learned single Judge has not adverted to any of these aspects. When the trial court has recorded a finding that the son of the defendant bad no authority to alienate, pending disposal of the appeal, there was no reason whatsoever to take a different view. Therefore, we find it difficult to accept as correct and affirm the order passed by the learned single Judge. 4.
When the trial court has recorded a finding that the son of the defendant bad no authority to alienate, pending disposal of the appeal, there was no reason whatsoever to take a different view. Therefore, we find it difficult to accept as correct and affirm the order passed by the learned single Judge. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent submitted that there was an order of temporary injunction during the pendency of the suit, therefore, as the findings recorded by the trial court are open to challenge in the appeal, it is just and necessary to maintain the status quo. Hence, the learned single judge is justified in setting aside the order of the learned first appellate judge and consequently granting an order of temporary injunction. It may be relevant to notice that the learned first appellate judge has also borne in mind this aspect of the matter and has acted upon the findings recorded by the trial court in considering the prayer for granting or refusing to grant an order of temporary injunction. In doing so, the learned first appellate judge cannot be held to have acted either illegally or arbitrarily or unreasonably. Therefore, we are of the view that there is no justification to interfere with the order of the first appellate judge. 5. It is next contended that as the first appellate judge has expressed opinion on several points arising in the appeal, while considering the interim prayer, no purpose is served by permitting him to decide the appeal. Therefore, the learned single Judge is justified in directing the appeal to be withdrawn from his file and to be transferred to the Principal Subordinate Judge, Thanjavur. We are of the view that merely because a judge expresses certain opinion while considering the interim prayer, he cannot be disqualified from hearing and deciding the appeal. Any opinion expressed on the interim prayer is intended only for that purpose. It cannot be construed as final and conclusive. It is always open to decide the appeal without reference to such observations or findings recorded at the interlocutory stage.
Any opinion expressed on the interim prayer is intended only for that purpose. It cannot be construed as final and conclusive. It is always open to decide the appeal without reference to such observations or findings recorded at the interlocutory stage. If it is accepted as valid principle or rule that a Judge while deciding the interlocutory matter if expresses any opinion on the issues arising in the matter, he cannot be permitted to finally hear and decide the appeal, it would lead to anomalous situation and it would be disastrous to the very system the order passed by the learned single judge directing the withdrawal of the appeal from the subordinate Judge and transferring the same to the Principal Subordinate Judge, Thanjavur, also cannot be sustained in law. 6. For the reasons stated above, this letters patent appeal is allowed, the order dated 11. 1993 setting aside the order dated 11. 1993 passed on I.A.No.185 of 1992 by the learned Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai, in A.S.No.62 of 1992 is set aside. The order dated 11. 1993 passed on I.A.No.185 of 1992 is restored. The judgment dated 11. 1993, directing the withdrawal of the appeal A.S.No.62 of 1992 from the file of the Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai and transferring the same to the file of the Principal Subordinate Judge, Thanjavur is set aside. 7. We also further make it clear that any observations or the findings recorded by the learned Subordinate Judge, Pattukkottai, while deciding IA.No.185 of 1992 shall not be taken into consideration while deciding the appeal A.S.No.62 of 1992, which shall be decided on the basis of the evidence on record and the contentions urged by both sides. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there will be no order as to costs.