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2024 DIGILAW 592 (RAJ)

Tulsiram S/o Shri Roda Ram Jat v. Nawab Ali S/o Marhoom Mushtak Ahmed

2024-04-15

MADAN GOPAL VYAS

body2024
JUDGMENT : MADAN GOPAL VYAS, J. The present appeal has been preferred by the appellant against the order dated 12.03.2024 passed by the learned Additional District Judge, Makrana, District Nagaur (‘the learned Court below’) in Civil Misc. Case No. 20/2024, whereby an ad interim injunction order in favour of the plaintiff-respondent has been passed by the learned Court in a suit for permanent injunction filed by the respondent. 2. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the order impugned as passed by the learned Court below is totally in contravention to the provisions of Order XXXIX Rule 3, Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) (herein after referred to as 'the Rule') and hence deserves to be set aside. Learned counsel submitted that it is the mandate of law that before granting an injunction, the notice of the application is to be given to the opposite party in all cases and it is only where it appears to the Court that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by delay, the Court shall proceed on to grant an injunction without notice to the opposite party. The proviso to Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC specifically lays down that while doing so, the Court shall record the reasons for the same. Learned counsel submitted that no reason whatsoever has been recorded by the learned Court in the present matter before proceeding on to grant the injunction in favour of the plaintiff. Further, even the compliance of other requirements as provided under Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC has also not been made and therefore also, the order impugned deserves to be set aside. Learned counsel further submitted that the learned Court was under an obligation to dispose of the temporary injunction application finally within 30 days from the date on which the ex-parte injunction was granted, but the same having not been done, the defendants-appellants have preferred the present appeal. In support of his submissions, learned counsel relied upon the recent judgment passed by a Coordiante Bench of this Court in the matter of M/s. Jakhar Godara Marbel Mines Vs. M/s. Jakhar Godara Marbel Mines & Ors.; S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No.485/2023, decided on 18.04.2023. 3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the material available on record. 4. In support of his submissions, learned counsel relied upon the recent judgment passed by a Coordiante Bench of this Court in the matter of M/s. Jakhar Godara Marbel Mines Vs. M/s. Jakhar Godara Marbel Mines & Ors.; S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No.485/2023, decided on 18.04.2023. 3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the material available on record. 4. A bare perusal of the material available on record, it appears that the suit in question was filed on 12.03.2024 and on the same date, it was registered and the learned Court, while issuing notice to the defendants, proceeded on to grant an ex parte ad-interim relief in favour of the plaintiff. Vide ad-interim order, the defendants were restrained from creating hurdles in excavating the mine in question. 5. Further, a bare perusal of the order impugned also makes it clear that it is bereft of any reason/opinion of the Court below as to why the object of granting the injunction would be defeated if the ad-interim order would not be passed without notice to the opposite party. Further a perusal of the order makes it clear that the next date fixed in the matter was 13.03.2024 and then, on 24.04.2024 i.e. after more than a period of 30 days whereas the law provides for application itself to be disposed of finally within a period of 30 days from the date on which the ex parte injunction is granted. 6. Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC reads as under : “3. 6. Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC reads as under : “3. Before granting injunction, Court to direct notice to opposite party.—The Court shall in all cases, except where it appears that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by the delay, before granting an injunction, direct notice of the application for the same to be given to the opposite party: Provided that, where it is proposed to grant an injunction without giving notice of the application to the opposite party, the Court shall record the reasons for its opinion that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by delay, and require the applicant— (a) to deliver to the opposite party, or to send to him by registered post, immediately after the order granting the injunction has been made, a copy of the application for injunction together with— (i) a copy of the affidavit filed in support of the application; (ii) a copy of the plaint; and (iii) copies of documents on which the applicant, relies, and (b) to file, on the day on which such injunction is granted or on the day immediately following that day, an affidavit stating that the copies aforesaid have been so delivered or sent.” 7. The provision specifically provides for the application of the same to all cases and that too, as a mandate, as the word used is “shall”. The only exception provided is the situation where the Court finds that the delay, if any, would defeat the sole object of granting the injunction. The provision is appended with a proviso which specifically lays down that even if the Court is to act in exception, it has to record its reasons for the same. 8. The order impugned in question clearly does not speak of any such reason or opinion of the Court. The only reason recorded by the Court is that passing of ad interim order is justified ( U;k;ksfpr ) in circumstances of the case. In the opinion of this Court, the same cannot be termed to be a reason/opinion in compliance of proviso to Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC. The order impugned is clearly in contravention to the mandatory provisions of the Rule. 9. In the opinion of this Court, the same cannot be termed to be a reason/opinion in compliance of proviso to Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC. The order impugned is clearly in contravention to the mandatory provisions of the Rule. 9. Moreover, the order impugned does not seem to be in consonance with the other conditions as provided under the Rule also which provides for a direction to the plaintiff to file an affidavit on the same date/on the very next day with a statement that the copies as required under the provision have been delivered to the opposite party. The Hon’ble Apex Court in Shiv Kumar Chadha and Ors. Vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.; (1993) 3 SCC 161 , while reiterating the mandate of recording reasons before granting an ex-parte interim relief, observed as under : “34. The imperative nature of the proviso has to be judged in the context of Rule 3 of Order 39 of the Code. Before the Proviso aforesaid was introduced, Rule 3 said "the Court shall in all cases, except where it appears that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by the delay, before granting an injunction, direct notice of the application for the same to be given to the opposite party". The proviso was introduced to provide a condition, where Court proposes to grant an injunction without giving notice of the application to the opposite party, being of the opinion that the object of granting injunction itself shall be defeated by delay. The condition so introduced is that the Court "shall record the reasons" why an ex parte order of injunction was being passed in the facts and circumstances of a particular case. In this background, the requirement for recording the reasons for grant of ex parte injunction, cannot be held to be a mere formality. This requirement is consistent with the principle, that a party to a suit, who is being restrained from exercising a right which such party claims to exercise either under a statute or under the common law, must be informed why instead of following the requirement of Rule 3, the procedure prescribed under the proviso has been followed. This requirement is consistent with the principle, that a party to a suit, who is being restrained from exercising a right which such party claims to exercise either under a statute or under the common law, must be informed why instead of following the requirement of Rule 3, the procedure prescribed under the proviso has been followed. The party who invokes the jurisdiction of the Court for grant of an order of restraint against a party, without affording an opportunity to him of being heard, must satisfy the Court about the gravity of the situation and Court has to consider briefly these factors in the ex parte order." The Court further held as under : "If it is held that the compliance of the proviso aforesaid is optional and not obligatory, then the introduction of the proviso by the Parliament shall be a futile exercise and part of Rule 3 will be a surplusage for all practical purpose. Proviso to Rule 3 of Order 39 of the Code, attracts the principle, that if a statute requires a thing to be done in a particular manner, it should be done in that manner or not all.” 10. In view of the above analysis and in view of the ratio as laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Shiv Kumar Chadha (supra) and in view of the specific provisions of Order XXXIX Rule 3, CPC, the present misc. appeal is allowed. The impugned order dated 12.3.2024 passed by the learned Addl. District Judge, Makrana, District in Civil Misc. Case No.20/2024 is quashed and set aside. The Court below is directed to hear and decide the said application itself within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the present order. It is made clear that if any adjournment is sought by the defendant-appellants, the Court would be at liberty to pass appropriate orders on the stay petition. 11. Stay petition also stands disposed of.