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2020 DIGILAW 1106 (BOM)

Vishaya Abdulla v. Mapusa Urban Co-operative Bank Of Goa Ltd

2020-10-01

M.S.SONAK

body2020
JUDGMENT M. S. Sonak , J. - Heard Mr. Amey S. Kakodkar, learned Counsel for the appellant and Mr. J. P. Mulgaonkar, learned Senior Advocate alongwith Ms. Rupa Banaulikar, learned Counsel for the Respondents No.1 to 3. 2. The challenge in this appeal is to the order dated 16.11.2015 made by the learned Civil Judge, Senior Division, 'A' Court, Bicholim, in Special Civil Suit No. 12/2013/A dismissing the appellant's-plaintiff's application for interim reliefs on the ground that the application, may not be maintainable in view of the bar content in Section 34 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (the said Act). However, the impugned order, was in fact, inter alia that the appellant-plaintiff has made out any case for grant of interim relief and that such interim reliefs was partly granted mainly on account of bar jurisdiction under Section 34 of the said Act. 3. As against the findings in the impugned order, that the appellant has made out prima facie case, the respondent Bank has filed cross objections. 4. On hearing the learned Counsel for the parties, it is apparent that the view taken by the learned Civil Judge is quite consistent with the decisions of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Jadgish Singh v/s. Heerlal & Ors., 2014 1 SCC 479 as well as Shree Anandhakumar Mills Limited v/s. Indian Overseas Bank & Ors.,2019 14 SCC 788 insofar as the issue of jurisdiction is concerned. In view of these 2 later decisions, there is really no case made out to interfere with the impugned judgment and order and the appeal from order No.68 of 2015 is, therefore, required to be dismissed. 5. Insofar as the cross-objections are concerned, though technically, they survive, the interest of justice will be satisfied if, the observations made in the impugned judgment and order are not taken into consideration at the stage of final disposal of the suit or before any other forum where the appellant may institute proceedings for seeking substantive or interim reliefs. 6. Accordingly, the impugned order is not interfered with. However, it is clarified that the observations in the impugned order need not influence the trial court itself at the state of final disposal of the suit or any other forum before which the appellant may institute proceedings for seeking substantive or interim reliefs. 6. Accordingly, the impugned order is not interfered with. However, it is clarified that the observations in the impugned order need not influence the trial court itself at the state of final disposal of the suit or any other forum before which the appellant may institute proceedings for seeking substantive or interim reliefs. The proceedings will have to be disposed of on its own merits and in accordance with law. 7. Mr. Kakodkar, learned Counsel for the appellant states that there has been interim relief in operation right from 5th August 2016. He therefore prays that the interim relief may be continued for 6 weeks as the appellant, may have to consider instituting proceedings before the DRT which is situated at Mumbai. He points out that in the case of Shree Anandhakumar Mills Limited (supra) the Hon'ble Apex Court, even after coming to the conclusion that Section 34 of the said Act was indeed attracted, granted protection for about 45 days. 8. Taking into consideration the circumstance that the interim relief is in operation right from August 2016, the same is extended by a period of 6 weeks. However, it is once again clarified that the extension also need not influence the DRT, which will, have to decide the issue of substantive as well as interim relief on its own merits and in accordance with law. The extension is granted taking into consideration the current pandemic situation and the fact that the DRT is situated at Mumbai. 9. Though, the interim order is extended by a period of 6 weeks, such extension is only partial. This means that there shall no longer be a restraint on the learned Trial Judge for hearing and disposing of the application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC moved by and on behalf of the respondents. 10. With the aforesaid clarifications, the appeal from order as well as the cross objections therein are disposed of. 11. There shall be no order as to costs. 12. All concerned to act on the basis of the authenticated copy of this Order.