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2022 DIGILAW 59 (GAU)

Bhagawati Prasad Todi S/o Late Golap Chand Todi v. Natwarlal Agarwala S/o Ram Niwas Agarwala

2022-01-21

PARTHIVJYOTI SAIKIA

body2022
ORDER : 1. Heard Mr. K.K. Mahanta, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. J. Roy, learned counsel for the respondent. 2. This is an application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, whereby the order dated 26.04.2019 passed by the learned Civil Judge No. 1, Kamrup (M) in Mis. Appeal No. 31/2015 has been put to challenge. 3. The factual matrix relating to this petition displays a story about the friendship between two persons and how their relationship got soured. Both the friends are doctorate degree holders and they decided to have their houses at the same place. Accordingly, they purchased lands adjacent to each other. Their lands are connected to the main road by a 10 feet wide passage. At one point of the passage, there is the residence of the present petitioner and on the other side of the passage, there is the boundary wall. According to the petitioner, there was a possibility that if vehicles pass through that passage, they would hit the open window panes of his house. Therefore, the petitioner made a small structure just below the windows so that the vehicles passing through that passage would not hit his window panes. In this way, the 10 feet wide passage lost some of its width. Through that passage two vehicles could not travel together and if one vehicle is parked on that passage, it would block the passage for other vehicles. These are the facts which led to deterioration of the relationship between the petitioner and the respondent. Ultimately, the respondent filed a suit, being T.S. No. 137/2015 against the petitioner praying for a decree declaring that the said common passage should be kept open round the clock without any obstruction. 4. Along with the suit, the respondent filed an injunction petition under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In Misc. (j) case No. 221/2015, the learned trial court, after hearing both sides, rejected the prayer of the respondent. Thereafter, the respondent filed an appeal before the court of Civil Judge No. 1, Kamrup (M) and the same was registered as Misc. Appeal No. 31/2015. On 26.04.2019, after hearing both sides, the first appellate court disagreed with the decision of the trial court and granted the prayer of injunction. 5. Thus aggrieved by the aforesaid order, the present petition has been filed. 6. Mr. Appeal No. 31/2015. On 26.04.2019, after hearing both sides, the first appellate court disagreed with the decision of the trial court and granted the prayer of injunction. 5. Thus aggrieved by the aforesaid order, the present petition has been filed. 6. Mr. Mahanta, has submitted that by the impugned order of the first appellate court, the reliefs prayed in the main suit has been granted. Therefore, Mr. Mahanta has submitted, that the impugned order is bad in law. In order to buttress his point, Mr. Mahanta has relied upon decision of the Supreme Court that was rendered in Neon Laboratories Limited vs. Medical Technologies Limited, 2016 (2) SCC 672 . 7. The paragraph No. 5 of the said judgment is quoted as under: This Court does not normally entertain appeals against interlocutory orders. In the case of trademarks, however, keeping in perspective the endemic delay in concluding cases/suits in India because of the exponentially increasing docket explosion, temporary ad interim injunctions are of far-reaching consequences, oftentimes effectively deciding the lis and the disputes themselves. Possibly for this reason “leave” has already been granted in the present appeal. However, it is now well-entrenched in our jurisprudence that the appellate court should not flimsily, whimsically or lightly interfere in the exercise of discretion by a subordinate court unless such exercise is palpably perverse. Perversity can pertain to the understanding of law or the appreciation of pleadings or evidence. We shall restrict ourselves to reference in Wander Ltd. vs. Antox India Pvt. Ltd. 1990 Supp. SCC 727 wherein it has been adumbrated that the appellate court ought not to: “Reassess the material and seek to reach a conclusion different from the one reached by the court below if the one reached by that court was reasonably possible on the material. The appellate court would normally not be justified in interfering with the exercise of discretion under appeal solely on the ground that if it had considered the matter at the trial stage it would have come to a contrary conclusion. If the discretion has been exercised by the trial court reasonably and in a judicial manner the fact that the appellate court would have taken a different view may not justify interference with the trial court’s exercise of discretion.” We shall be careful not to transgress these frontiers. 8. Mr. If the discretion has been exercised by the trial court reasonably and in a judicial manner the fact that the appellate court would have taken a different view may not justify interference with the trial court’s exercise of discretion.” We shall be careful not to transgress these frontiers. 8. Mr. Roy, on the other hand, submits that the fact that both sides have equal right of passage in respect of the common passage is not disputed. 9. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel for both sides. In a connected interlocutory application being I.A. (Civil) No. 1173/2020, this Court has held that under: In so far as the prayer made by the applicant to allow him to park his vehicle in the common passage (Schedule-B to the plaint) without causing any disturbance to the respondent is concerned, this Court is of the view that unless mutually agreeable terms and conditions are evolved by and between the parties permitting the usage of the passage without posing obstruction to each other, any order from the Court on such count during the pendency of the suit, would be uncalled for. Therefore, without making any comment on the aforesaid prayer of the applicant, this I.A. is being disposed of by granting liberty to both the parties to explore the possibilities of an amicable settlement on the question of usage of the disputed passage without causing obstruction to either party, so as to bring into existence a permanent solution to the dispute. 10. There is no doubt that the 10 feet wide passage is a common passage for both sides. That passage came into existence on the basis of an agreement between the parties. Therefore, both sides are not entitled to change the size or nature of the passage. For holding this view, no special knowledge of law is required. 11. Two persons in their sixties are fighting for a passage which they had created by an agreement. They have compelled this High Court to spend valuable judicial time to resolve their flimsy dispute. Probably this is the reason why this Court on an earlier occasion asked the parties to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement on the question of usage of the passage. They have compelled this High Court to spend valuable judicial time to resolve their flimsy dispute. Probably this is the reason why this Court on an earlier occasion asked the parties to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement on the question of usage of the passage. If the allegations of the respondent are accepted in its face value then, this Court shall have to hold that the petitioner has blocked the passage, thereby causing inconvenience to the respondent. The trial court did not believe the allegations for lack of evidence. The first appellant court, on the other hand, disagreed with the decision of the trial court and allowed the prayer of injunction. 12. At this stage, for the aforesaid reasons, this Court is not inclined to make any comment regarding the merit of the appellate court order. Let the trial court record the evidence and decide the suit. But it is directed that till the suit T.S. No. 137/2015 is disposed of, the passage shall be kept free from all obstructions. It is clarified that none of the parties of this case shall park any vehicle in the passage till disposal of the suit. 13. With the aforesaid observation, the appeal is dismissed.