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1998 DIGILAW 363 (ORI)

JOSEPH CHERIAN v. CELINE THOMAS

1998-10-27

P.K.MOHANTY

body1998
P. K. MOHANTY, J. ( 1 ) THE defendants in a suit for injunction and account are the petitioners against the order of injunction passed by the trial court restraining them from taking any coercive action and subsequently directing reconnection of electric and water supply to the suit schedule premises. ( 2 ) THE opposite party, as plaintiff filed a suit in the Court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Cuttack for permanent injunction, restraining the defendants-petitioners from evicting her from the quarters she occupied as a teacher and subsequently as a Principal of the stewart School, Cuttack, without due process of law till her entitlements and retirement dues have been cleared and for accounts with regard to her entitlements claiming that during a period 4 years intermittently when she remained in charge as Principal, and as per terms of her appointment, she is entitled to retain the quarter till all her dues are cleared. The defendants-petitioners, on the other hand, refute ail the allegations and claims and according to them, all her dues have already been settled inasmuch as there is no contact or understanding whatsoever that she would occupy the premises meant for a working teacher after her retirement even in spite of notice to vacate. The opposite party has retired on superannuation on 17. 4. 1995 and on her application, she was granted three annual extensions and her last term of extension having expired from 31,5. 1998, she has retired with effect from 31. 5. 1998. ( 3 ) THE plaintiff in the aforesaid suit filed an application under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2. C. P. C. on 15. 10. 1998 and a copy of the petition was served on the learned counsel for the defendants-petitioners, who entered caveat. The defendants filed their objection/show cause on 16. 10. 1995, A petition for ad interim order against the opp. party was filed, but as it appears. copy of the petition was not served on the opposite parties. The learned civil Judge (Sr. Division) First Court, Cuttack while directing the matter to be put up on 17 10:1998 for hearing, directed the opposite parties not to take any coercive step for eviction of the petitioner from the suit premises till the next date. On 17. 10. copy of the petition was not served on the opposite parties. The learned civil Judge (Sr. Division) First Court, Cuttack while directing the matter to be put up on 17 10:1998 for hearing, directed the opposite parties not to take any coercive step for eviction of the petitioner from the suit premises till the next date. On 17. 10. 1998, the petitioner (opposite party in the injunction petition), filed an application for time, which was allowed and the matter was directed to be put up on 20. 10. 1998 for hearing. The interim order dated 16. 10. 1998 was directed to be continued till then. On 20. 10. 1998, both the parties were heard on the Misc. Case, but the orders were reserved for delivery on 7. 10. 1998. The previous order dated 16. 10. 1998 was allowed to be continued till then. On 22. 10. 1998 an advance petition was filed by the plaintiff-opp. party praying for a direction to the opp. parties to restore electricity and water supply. The petition was directed to be put up on 23. 10. 1998. The learned Civil Judge being absent, the matter was put up on 26. 10. 1998 and was adjourned to 27. 10. 1998 for filing of objection. The learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Cuttack by order dated 27. 10. 1998, has directed to restore the electricity and water connection charges to the premises of the petitioner immediately. Hence, the present Civil Revision. ( 4 ) SRI Bijan Ray. learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioners submits that the Revision has been directed against the interim order of injunction dated 16. 10. 1998 and 27. 10. 1998 in the compelling circumstances since the learned Civil Judge reserved the order for more than 20 days and granted ad interim injunction without any cogent reasons whatsoever. It is his submission that the party which seeks an injunction must establish a prima facie case, a strong case for trial for mandatory injunction, the plaintiff being a mere trespasser having not even a semblance of right to continue in possession, far less of pr/ma facie case or a strong case for trial, the orders are illegal and liable to be vacated on that count alone. No interest in the premises has accrued in favour of the plaintiffs and he is nor more than a mere trespasser after expiry of the term of her appointment on 31. 5. 1998. The occupation after retirement is unauthorised and she is liable to vacate the quarter and in such circumstances, no order could have been passed. It is his further submission that the suit being frivolous, the plaint ought to have been rejected on a plain reading thereof, inasmuch as remedy of licencee (trespasser) is only by way of damages, if any, and not by grant of injunction, The premises in question being allotted to the plaintiff on her appointment as a teacher, she was to voluntarily vacate the quarter on her superannuation as there is dearth of space for holding the classes and the plaintiff having occupied three rooms unauthorisedly. whch are class rooms, the classes are being conducted under the tree, Sri Ray submits that the conduct of the plaintiff itself will go to show that she had never claimed to retain the possession till clearance of her dues, but on the ground of completion of the study of her daughter and the time till she migrate to America, as would be evident from the letter dated 25. 9. 1998 and 30. 9. 1998. There being no prima facie case, nor any balance of convenience or apprehension of irreparable injury the learned civil Judge even without any discussion and satisfaction about the condition precedents to grant of an interim order, the order for not taking any coercive action and the mandatory order for reconnection of the electricity and water connection is without jurisdiction. ( 5 ) SRI Ashok Mukherjee, learned Senior counsel for the plaintiff opp. party, controverting the contentions raised by the learned counsel for the petitioners, on the other hand submits that the plaintiff has remained in possession of the house, which was allowed to her during the tenure of her service and she had right to retain the same til! her dues and entitlements are paid and cleared as per the terms of her appointment. It is his submission that in view of the letter of the management that the plaintiff shall be liable to pay the enhanced rent, she is a tenant and not a licencee after expiry of the term of her appointment. her dues and entitlements are paid and cleared as per the terms of her appointment. It is his submission that in view of the letter of the management that the plaintiff shall be liable to pay the enhanced rent, she is a tenant and not a licencee after expiry of the term of her appointment. The learned counsel has filed some documents along with an affidavit after closure of hearing with an endorsement in the affidavit that the learned counsel for the petitioners refused to receive the same, annexing certain documents. He has referred to the letter dated 28. 10. 1998, wherein apart from indicating the inconvenience caused to the school due to continuance of the plaintiff, it has been indicated that the management has decided to charge rent for rooms at the rate of Rs. 3,000/- per month till vacation thereof. It is his further submission that the suit is tor accounts with regard to the plaintiff's entitlement and in terms of her appointment she having a right to occupy the quarter till all her clues are cleared, she cannot be forced to vacate the quarter till before payment of her dues. ( 6 ) IN view of the rival contention of the learned counsel for the parties the point for consideration is whether. the plaintiff had satisfied the conditions for grant of an order of injunction. Law is well settled that granting or refusing of a temporary injunction is covered by three well established principles; (a) whether the petitioners have made out a primer facie case; (b) whether the balance of convenience is in their favour, and (c) whether the petitioners will suffer irreparable injury if the temporary injunction is not granted. The parties who seek the aid of the Court for injunction must show that the act complained of is in violation of his right and whether there is a fair and substantial question to be decided between the parties, and there is a bona fide contention between the parties. If such conditions are available the relief may be granted. It is then the duty of the Court to consider the materials placed on record in the matter of granting or refusing to grant temporary injunction and considering the documents, such an order can be passed. If such conditions are available the relief may be granted. It is then the duty of the Court to consider the materials placed on record in the matter of granting or refusing to grant temporary injunction and considering the documents, such an order can be passed. Considering a document does not mean the mere reference to the order, but there must be some discussion regarding the documents before coming to a conclusion. ( 7 ) SRI Ray, learned senior Counsel for the petitioners has referred to the case of Darab cawasji Warden v. Coomi Sorab Warden and others' to contend that the Apex Court has settled the law, the circumstances under which the interlocutory mandatory injunctions are to be granted. in paragraph -14 of the aforesaid judgment the Apex Court has observed. ( 8 ) THE relief of interlocuntory mandatory injunctions are thus granted genrally to preserve or restore the status quo at the last non-contested status which pre ceded the pending controversy until the final hearing when full relief may be granted or to compel the undoing of those acts that have been illegally done or the restoration oi that which was wrongfully taken from the party complaining. But since the granting of such an injunction to a party who fails or would fail to establish his right at the trial may cause great injustice or irreparable harm to the party against whom it was granted or alternatively not granting of it to a party who succeeds or would succeed may equally cause great injustice or irreparable harm, Courts have evolved certain guidelines. Generally stated these guidelines are : (1) The plaintiff has a strong case for trial. That is, it shall be of a higher standard than a prima facie case that is normally required for a prohibitory injunction. (2) It is necessary to prevent irreparable or serious injury whch normally cannot be compensated in terms of money. (3) The balance of convenience is in favour of the one seeking such relief. " in the present case. the learned Civil Judge has neither mentioned about the materials nor discussed the respective contentions of the parties in his order dated 16. 10. (3) The balance of convenience is in favour of the one seeking such relief. " in the present case. the learned Civil Judge has neither mentioned about the materials nor discussed the respective contentions of the parties in his order dated 16. 10. 1998 while directing the defendants-petitioners not to take any coercive action in the matter, inasmuch as on the prayer of the plaintiff, restraining the defendants by order of injunction, the learned civil Judge could have either allowed the prayer or rejected the same, but instead a vague order not to take any coercive action has been passed. ( 9 ) THE plaintiff-opp. party undisputedly has superannuated from the service under the defendants-petitioners on 16. 4. 1995. Three annual extensions granted on her request have expired on 31. 5. 1998. The quarter/rooms in question were allotted to her on rent-free basis during the subsistence of her service, necessarily for efficient discharge of her duties to teach the school children. No document or any letter has been produced before the trial court or in the present Revision to indicate that as per the terms of the contract of her appointment the plaintiff was to remain in occupation even after her retirement/superannuation/ term is over till her claims are cleared. The specific case of the plaintiff as per the plaint averments In paragraph-5 is that "the understanding was that" such difference of salary and other allowance payable to the plaintiff would be computed before her superannuation and the entire amount would be paid to her in lump sum on superannuation. In paragraph-8, it is stated "that the Institution is bound to clear all the dues of the plaintiff before she is called upon to vacate the accommodation provided to her as a condition of her employment". In paragraph-13 of the plaint it is averred that "the plaintiff's occupation of the official quarter is interlinked with her lawful entitlement. Her licence to occupy the official quarter cannot be revoked till her all dues are paid which is a condition of her service". Not a scrap of paper has ever been filed before the trial court nor in this Court to show that such was the condition of her service. Interestingly, the leraned Civil Judge while granting the order dated 16. 10. Not a scrap of paper has ever been filed before the trial court nor in this Court to show that such was the condition of her service. Interestingly, the leraned Civil Judge while granting the order dated 16. 10. 1998, not to take any coercive action has neither discussed about die materials or even claim and contentions of the parties, but while posting the matter to 27. 10. 1998 for hearing, he has passed the interim order without giving any reason therefor. Law is well settled that before passing any interlocutory order, the court must apply its mind to the facts and circumstances of the case and the materials placed before it for consideration and in all fairness, the court has to consider and pass a reasoned order as to why the order of injunction should be granted. On a reading of the order dated 16-10. 1998, I do not find any cogent reason whatsoever for grant of such an order. Similarly, the order dated 27. 10. 1998. while issuing a mandatory order of injunction, the learned Civil Judge has not kept in view the requirements and pre-conditions for issue of an ad interim order of injunction mandatory in nature. The plaintiff having not placed any materials to show that she was allowed to retain the quarter even after her term of extended appointment was over inasmuch as the management having issued notice dated 1. 7. 1998, two months after the demission of the office by the plaintiff on 1. 7. 1998 allowing further time of two months and her prayer for retention of the quarter on the plea that she intends to migrate to America in April, 1999 and as such, she may be allowed to continue to occupy the quarter having been rejected on 24. 8. 1998 and in view of the notice plated 25. 9. 1998 requiring the plaintiff to vacate the quarter in question, the possession of the plaintiff becomes unauthorised and his possession is of a trespasser. The Apex Court in D. H. Manier and Ors. v. Woman Laxman Kudav held that a person continuing his possession of the premises after termination, withdrawal and revocation of licence continues to occupy as a trespasser or as a person who has no semblance of any right to continue in occupation of the premises and such person, by no strech of imagination can be termed as a licencee. v. Woman Laxman Kudav held that a person continuing his possession of the premises after termination, withdrawal and revocation of licence continues to occupy as a trespasser or as a person who has no semblance of any right to continue in occupation of the premises and such person, by no strech of imagination can be termed as a licencee. In Goura Mohan Gin and another v. Union of India and Ors. a Division Bench of this Court, while interpreting a case under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised occupants') Act, 1971- have found that after the retirement from service and after occupying during the grace period, the occupation is unauthorised and the occupant can be termed as an unauthorised occupant. In that view of the matter, the plaintiff-opp. party's possession of the quarter being unauthorised and no agreement or contract of service in favour of her occupation having been brought on record, she has no right whatsoever to continue in possession thereof. Needless to say mat an employee who was allotted with an accommodation for rendering efficient service on his/ her retirement has to vacate the same for the convenience and smooth functioning of the employer's institution. The institution in question is a school and the possession is in respect of some rooms inside the premises of the school and according to the learned counsel for the petitioners, because of dearth of and non-availability of the rooms, some classes are being held under the tree. Be that as it may, the sole contention of the learned counsel for the plaintiff-opp. party being that the occupation is in terms of condition of her sew ice, wherein it has been stipulated that she will be entitled to retain the quarter till all her dues are paid and no document or correspondence having been placed on record to show that any such terms were incorporated in the condition of her service, she has no semblance of right to continue occupying the rooms in question. Thus, i do not find a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiff-opp. party much less to say about a debatable or arguable point for consideration in the trial as to her right to continue in the quarter, inasmuch as the main claim of the plaintiff for accounts in respect of her entitlements, cannot be linked with her occupation. Thus, i do not find a prima facie case in favour of the plaintiff-opp. party much less to say about a debatable or arguable point for consideration in the trial as to her right to continue in the quarter, inasmuch as the main claim of the plaintiff for accounts in respect of her entitlements, cannot be linked with her occupation. That apart, in a petition for injunction the court has to consider the prayer keeping in view the provision of Order 39, Rule 1. C. P. C. An ad interim order can be passed to prevent injury to the plaintiff in relation to any property in dispute in the suit. Thus, the order must be in respect of property in dispute. The subject matter of dispute in the suit is not the premises but her entitlements. 9. The next point for consideration is, as to whether the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the plaintiff to ask for the retention of the quarters. The campus admittedly meant for a working teacher and the plaintiff was allowed such occupation to discharge her duties efficiently and conveniently as a teacher. Undisputedly, she has ceased to be a teacher/ principal, as the case may be, since 31. 5. 1998, she has no right to continue in possession until her claims in the suit are settled. It may be reiterated that the suit is for computing her entitlements as a teacher-in-charge of Principal and for some time as Principal, which has been quantified at Rs 5,00,000/- the matter has to be decided in the suit and her entitlements are to be determined on the basis of materials available on record. The amounts are to be computed and she may be entitled to the amount with interest as claimed, but that would not clothe her with the right to continue in occupation of the quarter in question. The suit may continue for quite sometime. Since remedy of a licence if at all or trespasser can also be quantified in terms of damages, no irreparable injury can said to be caused even one does not continue to occupy the premises, inasmuch as reasonable time has been afforded to her to vacate the same. ( 10 ) IT is contended by Sri Mukharji. Since remedy of a licence if at all or trespasser can also be quantified in terms of damages, no irreparable injury can said to be caused even one does not continue to occupy the premises, inasmuch as reasonable time has been afforded to her to vacate the same. ( 10 ) IT is contended by Sri Mukharji. the learned Senior Advocate, that the petitioners having violated the order of injunction in disconnecting the water and electricity supply, the plaintiff has filed a petition before the trial judge under Order 39, Rule 2-A. C. P. C. inasmuch as during the subsistence of the interim order, not to take any coercive steps the petitioners having disconnected the lines, it was in the interest of justice, the mandatory injunction called for. Sri Ray, the learned Senior advocate on the other hand submits that no order Has been violated by the petitioners inasmuch as in absence of a prima facie case. However, the violation if any of the order for which the suit is pending before the trial court has to be dealt with in its proper prospective, on which I am not required to delve into. Suffice it to say that the Court before passing any order for ad interim order mandatory in nature has also to be satisfied that the condition precedent to pass such order existed on consideration and with reasons. Having held that there is no prima facie case in favour of passing the impugned order, the contentions are to be rejected, ( 11 ) IN that view of the matter, the order of ad interim injunction not to take any coercive action dated 16. 10. 1998 and the subsequent mandatory injunction directing re-connection of the electricity and water supply, cannot be sustained in law and has to be vacated. However, it is clear that the allegation of the plaintiff-opp. party with regard to violation of the order of ad interim injunction during the subsistence of the interim order and the claim of the defendants-petitioners that it has not been violated is to be considered on its own merit by the trial court on which I express no opinion whatsoever nor the observations made herein shall influence the learned trial court while considering the matter or in respect of the main suit. The Civil Revision is thus allowed and the impugned orders are set aside. Revision Petition allowed.