Abhay Singh Surana v. Indian Rayon & Industries Ltd.

SABY ASACHI MUKHARJI, J. Special leave granted. The F appeal is disposed of by the judgment herein. On or about 7th August, 1963 Jayshree Textiles & Industries Ltd. (hereinafter called 'the Jayshree') was inducted as a tenant in respect of a godown in Calcutta on groundfloor at a monthly rent of Rs.151 per month payable according to the English calendar month G w .e.f. 1.8.1963 exclusive of electric charges. Such induction was by the predecessor in title of the present appellant. The said rent of Rs.151 p.m. was later enhanced from time to time and the last rent was Rs.225 p.m. On or about 21st July, 1975, the High Court at Calcutta, in fa_ Comp_11ny Petition No. 161n6 connected with company apl'lication ' A.S. SURANA v. INDIAN RAYON [MUKHARJI, J.] 207 A No. 70176 filed by the Jayshree, approved the scheme of amalgamation whereby the Jayshree merged in the respondent Company. It is alleged that on or about 4th July, 1985, the appellant for the firsttime came to know that the said godown was in occupation of Indian Rayon Cor­ por;ition Ltd and, hence, a notice to quit was issued. On or about 11th July, 1985, the respondent by its letter intimated the appellantthat Jayshree was amalgamated with the respondent in accordance with the B scheme sanctioned by the High Court at Calcutta on 21st July, 1976. On 29th August, 1985, a notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act, read with Section 13(6) of the W.B. Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 (hereinafter called 'the Act'), to quit, vacate and hand-over vacant possession on the last date of the following month, was issued to Jayshree. Thereafter, on 1st December, 1985 the appel­ lant filed a suit for eviction in the City Civil Court at Calcutta against the Jayshree and the respondent herein. On 25th March, 1986, the respondent filed a Title Suit No. 545/86 under Order 39(1) and (2) of the Civil Procedure Code praying for temporary injunction restraining the appellant from disconnecting electricity in the said premises. It is alleged and was also alleged before the High Court that the defendant No. 2 in the suit in the City Civil Court, took 15 adjourn­ ments to file written statement between March 1986 to May ~987. On or about 6th July, 1987, the appellant filed an application under Clause 13 of the Letters Patent in the fligh Court at Calcutta, praying for E transfer of the two suits on the ground that the respondent had adopted dilatory tactics and had taken several adjournments and, further, that the origina) records relating to amalgamation are avail­ able in the High Court. Rule nisi was issued by the High Court. On 10th October, 1987 the High Court passed the following order: "The Court: By consent of the parties, this application for transfer of the suit under Clause 13 of the Letters Patent is treated as on days' list and is disposed of by the following order: By coment of the parties the title suit being Title Suit No. G 345 of 1986- between Indian Rayon Corporation Ltd. and Abbay Singh Surana pending before the learned Judge's bench in the City Civil Court and the ejectment suit being Ejectment Suit No. 1088 of 1985 between Abbay Singh Surana and Jayshree Textiles & Industries Ltd. and another pending in the City Civil Court are removed and H 208 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [!988] Supp. 2 S.C.R. transferred to this Court and to be entertained and tried by this Court in its extraordinary original civil jurisdiction. Let the records be transferred to this Court by 16th September, 1987. The Registrar, Original Side, shall communicate this order to the Registrar, City Civil Cpurt. If necessary, at the cost of the petitioner a special messenger is to be deputed for the purpose of transfer of the records from the. City Civil Court to this.Court. Let the two suits appear in the list for settlement on 17tlfSeptember, 1987." It appears that the suits appeared before the learned Judge upon mentioning on 15th December, 1987. It was represented that the suits were transferred to the High Court only on the understanding that the suits would be settled. It was further represented that the effort to settle the suits had failed and, hence, the learned Single Judge of the High Court fixed a date for hearing of the two suits. On 17th February, 1988, the respondent filed an application before the learned Trial Judge in Calcutta for recalling the order of transfer dated 10. 10. 1987. On 17th March, 1987, the court passed the following order: "The Court: It appears that on 10th September, 1987, an order was passed directing transfer of the suit to this Court so that the parties could settle the matter in this Court. It has been stated by Mr. Ranjan Dev, Advocate, that there is no possibility of settlement and the suit should be heard. In that view of the matter, let the suit be heard by the appropriate Court. The order dated 10th September, 1987 is hereby recalled. Let there also be' an order in terms of prayer (b) of the petition .. Since the suit is being re-trans­ ferred to the City Civil Court, this Court cannot pass any order as to the prayer made for deposit of rent. Liberty is given to the parties to make an appropriate application before the appropriate Court for such a direction." Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner had filed a special leave peti­ G tion and leave was granted herein. That is how, this appeal is here. In order to appreciate the contentions urged in this case, it is imperative to refer to Clause 13 of the Letters Patent of 1865 of the High Court, which reads as follows: "And we do further ordain, that the ·said High Court of °Judicature at Fort William in Bengal shail have power to A.S. SURANA 1·. INDIAN RAYON [MUKHARJI, J.] 209 remove, and to try and· determine, as a Court of ·extra- A ordinary original jurisdiction, any suit being or following within the jurisdiction of any court, whether within or wiih· out the Bengal Division of the Presidency of Fort William·, subject to its superintendence, when the ·said High Court shaU think proper to do so, either on the agreement of the parties to that effect, or for purposes of justice, the reasons ·B for so doing being recorded on the proceedings of the said High Court.". The aforesaid clause has been the subject-matter of various adjudications and interpretations by the High Court. It enables the High Court to exercise the extraordinary original civil jurisdiction. The Letters Patent contemplates two contingencies for the High Court to exercise extraordinary jurisdiction, namely, on agreement of the parties to that effect, the suits be transferred and, secondly, for the purpose of justice. It further stipulates that the reasons for so doing to be recorded on the proceedings in the High Court. Jn this case, ap­ parently the suits were transferred by agreement of the parties. There is, however, great deal of difference as to what that agreement was. On behalf of the appellant, it is contended that there was simply an agreement to have the two suits transferred to the High Court for quick and expeditious disposal. It was, further, asserted that in view of the long delay in filing the written statements, it was, therefore, advis- able to have the suits disposed of by the High Court. On the other hand, it is seriously contended that the agreement was that the suits would be settled in the High Court. It appears that some such representations had been made to the learned Judge that the suits would be settled. This, however, the appellant disputes. The suits have been transferred. The order of transfer does not record that the suits are being transferred for settlement. As the agreement to F settle the suits has not fructified, the respondent does not want the suits to be tried in the High Court. The appellant states that there was no such agreement that the suits would be settled. There was, undoubtedly, a possibility for the suits being settled and the counsel for the appellant stated that the suits could more easily be settled in the High Court. On the basis that there was some such kind of agree- G ment and it is desirable that the suits should be tried by an appropriate Court having jurisdiction, the High Court has remitted the suits back to the City Civil Court. There is no doubt that the· City Civil Court is the appropriate Court and that there existed the agreement which, as ·.recorded iii the order of the Court, does not indicate that it was on the basis that the suits would be ·settled. There arelfactors indicating that H 210 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1988] Supp. 2 S.C.R. A the purpose of justice would be met if the suits are tned in the High Court. Undoubtedly, the written statement has been long delayed in the suit in 1985 and the same has not yet been filed. The disposal ot the suits by the High Court, would serve the purpose of justice. It would shorten litigation in the sense that there $ would be lesser number of appeals to the higher Court and the possi­ bility of settlement is there in the High Court more than anywhere else·. Suits are likely to be more expeditiously disposed of under the supervision of the High Court Judge than before the learned City Civil Court or the Court subordinate to High Court. Hence, even though initially the agreement to transfer might have been on the basis that the suit< should be settled but the agreement to transfer was <I: note unequivocal. The possibility of settlement might have been the moti­ vation. But the High Court has, undoubtedly, for the purpose of justice rightly power to dispose of the suits and in the facts of this case, in our opinion, having once transferred the suits, it would be just and fair and would also serve the purpose of justice that the suits should ID continue to be disposed of by the High Court. The purpose of justice must be determined by reference to the circumstances of each case and the balance of convenience having regard to those circumstances, is one of the matters for consideration. Counsel for the respondent contended under .Art. 136 of the Constitution that it is not an order which should be interfered with. We are t. unable to agree. It is true that the suits are at a preliminary stage but it is also true that for the purpose of justice the Court, if possible, must oversee the administration of justice by the different Courts and the orders passed therein by the High Courts as well as the City Civil Courts. (; In that view of the matter we think that the purpose of justice would be served by directing expeditious disposal of these suits by the High Court. In the premises the order of the High Court is set aside and let these two suits be heard by the High Court one after the other. The written statement as mentioned hereinbefore, has not been filed. The written statement, if any, by the respondent may be filed within four weeks from today and further directions for expeditious disposal may be obtamed from the learned Judge taking these suits. Let these suits appear before the appropriate Bench in the High Court of Calcutta. The appeal is disposed of as.aforesaid. No order as to costs. H N.P.V. Appeal disposed of.