Without mincing any words and without beating about the bush, the Madras High Court has in a learned, laudable, landmark and latest judgment titled Chinnasami and Ors Vs Dhanasekaran in Second Appeal No.213 of 2014 and MP No.1 of 2014 and cited in 2022 LiveLaw (Mad) 165 that was reserved on April 13 and then finally pronounced on April 18, 2022 observed unequivocally that it is high time that the subordinate Courts come into grips with the fundamental principles of CPC and nip in the bud those suits which are not maintainable. The single Judge Bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that there are sufficient provisions in CPC to undertake such an exercise and what is required is the awareness about the availability of such provisions and invoking the same in a pro-active manner. It must be mentioned here that the remarks were made while setting aside a decree passed by the lower Appellate Court with respect to schedule properties, on the ground of lack of territorial jurisdiction.
At the very outset, it is stated in the prayer that, “Second Appeal filed Under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure against the Judgment and Decree dated 13.9.2013 made in A.S.No.58 of 2012 on the file of the Subordinate Judge, Kallakurichi reversing the judgment and decree in OS.No.699 of 2008 dated 27.6.2012 on the file of the I Additional District Munsif, Kallakurichi.”
To start with, the single Judge Bench comprising of Justice N Anand Venkatesh of Madras High Court first and foremost puts forth in para 1 that, “The present second appeal is a textbook case as to how a litigant can manipulate and agitate a suit before a Court by clever drafting creating an illusion as if there is a cause of action for one of the property which falls within the jurisdiction of the Court and whereas the real dispute is with regard to another property which does not fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court and which otherwise could not have been tried by the Court and will be hit by the principle of coram non judice”
It is then stated in para 2 that, “The defendants are the appellants in this Second Appeal.”
To put things in perspective, the Bench then envisages in para 3 that, “The respondent/plaintiff filed a suit on the ground that the 1st schedule of the suit properties are the self-acquired properties of the paternal grandfather of the plaintiff and the 2nd schedule properties are the ancestral properties of the paternal grandfather which fell to his share by virtue of a registered partition deed dated 24-11-1959. The further case of the plaintiff is that the paternal grandfather Raja Gounder executed a registered Will dated 17-8-1986 in favour of the plaintiff regarding the 1st schedule of properties. Similarly, he executed another Will dated 1-11-1990 in favour of the plaintiff regarding the 2nd schedule properties. The said Raja Gounder passed away on 29-3-1991 and the Wills executed by him came into force and thereby, the plaintiff became the absolute owner of the 1st and 2nd schedule properties.”
While dwelling on the actual grievance of the plaintiff, the Bench then enunciates in para 4 that, “The actual grievance as projected in the plaint and the cause of action for filing the suit is extracted hereunder for proper appreciation:
3. The plaintiff having stayed in Krishnapuram village, Kallakurichi, entrusted the 2nd schedule of suit properties with the defendants herein to take care on behalf of the plaintiff. However, the defendants recently colluded together to grab the suit properties from the plaintiff, and the plaintiff learns that the defendants have created sham and nominal documents regarding the suit properties as if they belonged to them. The plaintiff submits that what so ever the documents be, they will not bind the plaintiff. The plaintiff caused a legal notice dated 31.12.2007. to the defendants and the defendants received the notice and caused a vexatious reply dated 14.1.2008 stating false details as if they are the owners of the properties, denying the title of the plaintiff over the suit properties. Hence it is just and essential that the plaintiff’s title ought to be declared and the defendants are to be restrained by means of a permanent injunction regarding the 1st schedule of the suit properties and recovery of possession by means of mandatory injunction regarding the 2nd schedule of the suit properties, or the plaintiff submits that he shall be put to irreparable loss and inconvenience. Hence the suit.”
Needless to say, the Bench then states in para 5 that, “The plaintiff therefore sought for the relief of declaration of title of the plaintiff over both the properties. Insofar as the 1st schedule properties, he sought for a consequential relief of permanent injunction and for the 2nd schedule properties, he sought for the relief of delivery of possession.”
As we see, the Bench then discloses in para 10 that, “The trial Court on considering the facts and circumstances of the case and after appreciating the oral and documentary evidence was pleased to dismiss the suit through judgement and decree dated 27-6-2012 with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. The suit was decreed with respect to the 1st schedule properties. The trial Court framed a specific issue on the territorial jurisdiction of the Court with respect to 2nd schedule properties and gave a finding that there was no cause of action for filing the suit with respect to the 1st schedule properties and that there was no territorial jurisdiction to deal with the suit with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. Having held so, there was no necessity for the trial Court to have gone into the merits of the case. However, the trial Court goes into the merits of the case and gave a specific finding to the effect that the plaintiff does not have a right over the 2nd schedule properties and accordingly, rejects the claim made by the plaintiff.”
As it turned out, the Bench then reveals in para 11 that, “Aggrieved by the judgement and decree of the trial Court, the plaintiff filed an appeal in AS No.58 of 2012 before the Sub-Court, Kallakuruchi. The lower Appellate Court allowed the appeal through judgement and decree dated 13-9-2013 and thereby the judgement and decree of the trial Court was set aside with respect to the 2 nd schedule properties and the suit was decreed in favour of the plaintiff in toto.”
Simply put, the Bench then states in para 12 that, “Aggrieved by the judgement and decree of the lower Appellate Court, the defendants have preferred this second appeal.”
Be it noted, the Bench then stipulates in para 13 that, “When the second appeal was admitted, the following substantial questions of law were framed by this Court for consideration:
1. Where the trial Court had categorically found that there was no cause of action for filing the suit with respect to the first item of the suit property since the defendants were not denying the right of the plaintiff, whether the lower appellate Court was right in placing reliance upon Section 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure and entertaining the suit for the second item of the suit property which was outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Court?
2. Where the plaintiff has traced his right to a Will and the same has not been proved in accordance with Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act and Section 68 of the Indian Evidence Act by examining the attesting witness, whether the lower appellate Court was right in acting upon the said Will only on the ground that the defendants did not have a caveatable interest to question the Will?
3. Where the trial Court had categorically found that the plaintiff was not in possession of the suit property for more than 28 years, whether the lower appellate Court was right in decreeing the suit as prayed for only based on Ex.A3 which was the un-registered Will pertaining to the second item of the suit property?
4. Whether the lower appellate Court had assigned cogent reasons while reversing the finding of the trial Court as mandated under Order 41 Rule 31 of the Code of Civil Procedure?”
Suffice it to say, the Bench after hearing the parties, considering the material available on record and so also the findings rendered by both the Courts below then holds in para 16 that, “In the present case, there is absolutely no dispute with regard to the fact that the 2nd schedule properties were outside the territorial jurisdiction of the trial Court. The plaintiff managed to bring the suit within the jurisdiction of the trial Court only by showing the 1st schedule properties. When there was absolutely no dispute on the entitlement of the plaintiff with respect to the 1st schedule properties and the defendants had made it very clear that they never interfered with the possession and enjoyment of the 1st schedule properties, there was actually no cause of action to institute the suit for the 1st schedule properties. Under such circumstances, the present suit must be seen only as a dispute between the parties with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. If the suit is seen from this perspective, there was no territorial jurisdiction for the trial Court to try the suit.”
Damningly, the Bench then points out in para 17 that, “The defendants took a specific plea in their written statement on the maintainability of the suit by citing the territorial jurisdiction. It was framed as the 2nd issue by the trial Court and the trial Court answered the issue on the negative by rendering a finding that the suit is not maintainable with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. After having rendered such a finding, there was no necessity for the trial Court to go into the merits of the case. Such findings rendered by the trial Court which does not have the territorial jurisdiction, on the merits of the case, would be a nullity in the eye of law.”
More damningly, the Bench then notes in para 18 that, “When the matter was taken on appeal, the lower Appellate Court did not even frame points for consideration. Unfortunately, the lower Appellate Court did not even deal with the issue of territorial jurisdiction and straight away went into the merits of the case and rendered its findings.”
Truth be told, the Bench then mentions in para 19 that, “In the course of final hearing, this Court entertained a serious doubt on the maintainability of the suit since the actual cause of action was only for the 2nd schedule properties and the trial Court admittedly did not have the territorial jurisdiction to try the suit with respect to the 2nd schedule properties.”
While dwelling on Section 17 CPC, the Bench then says in para 23 that, “For proper appreciation, Section 17 of CPC., is extracted hereunder:
17. Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different Courts.—Where a suit is to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for wrong to, immovable property situate within the jurisdiction of different Courts the suit may be instituted in any Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction any portion of the property is situated:
Provided that, in respect of the value of the subject-matter of the suit, the entire claim is cognizable by such Court.”
For clarity, the Bench then elaborates in para 24 stating that, “The above Section was intended for the benefit of suitors and to prevent multiplicity of suits. It provides that where a suit is to obtain a relief in respect of property situated in the jurisdiction of different Courts, the suit can be brought in any one of the Courts and such Court can deal with the whole of the property though some portion of it is situated outside its jurisdiction. This Section is applicable whether several properties are situated in different districts or the same property extends over several Districts.”
Most forthrightly, the Bench then lays down in para 26 that, “The sine qua non to take advantage of Section 17 of CPC., is that there must be a cause of action for the plaintiff with respect to all the properties which forms part of the suit. If Section 17 is not interpreted in this manner, a suitor can easily hoodwink the Court by just citing one property which falls within the jurisdiction of the Court and agitate the actual cause of action with respect to other properties which falls outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Court. Let us take a hypothetical case where there is a dispute regarding properties at Chengalpattu District. A suitor just to suit his convenience can file a suit in the City Civil Court at Chennai, by showing one property belonging to him falling within the territorial jurisdiction of the City Civil Court, Chennai and add all the other properties at Chengalpattu and file a suit at Chennai. If this is allowed, it will defeat the very purpose of Section 17 of CPC. That is the reason why this Court started this judgement by stating that clever drafting of a counsel should not lead to a situation where the suit is tried by a Court which actually does not have the territorial jurisdiction to deal with the properties for which alone there is a cause of action and the parties are actually agitating only with respect to those properties.”
Adding more to it, the Bench then propounds in para 27 that, “In the present case, there was no cause of action for the plaintiff to file the suit with respect to the 1st schedule properties since the defendants never questioned the right, title and possession of the 1st schedule properties. If this suit had been filed only for the 1st schedule properties, the plaint would have been rejected under Order 7 Rule 11(a) of CPC., since the plaint does not disclose a cause of action. The consequence of the same is that the present suit must be taken only as a suit filed for a cause of action with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. There was really a dispute between the parties regarding the 2nd schedule properties. If this suit is looked from that perspective, the trial Court lacked jurisdiction to try the suit since it did not have the territorial jurisdiction with respect to the 2nd schedule properties. Section 17 of CPC., does not really come to the rescue of the plaintiff.”
Most remarkably, the Bench then without mincing any words holds in para 28 that, “This crucial factor has been lost sight of by the lower Appellate Court. It is quite unfortunate that the lower Appellate Court without dealing with this preliminary issue, has proceeded to deal with the merits of the case. Even the trial Court was wrong in dealing with the merits of the case with respect to the 2nd schedule properties after finding that it had no territorial jurisdiction. Such finding will be considered as a nullity in the eye of law. There was absolutely no requirement for the trial Court to have decreed the suit for the 1st schedule properties since there was no cause of action to maintain the suit for these properties. The suit should have been simply dismissed by holding that the Court before which the suit has been filed is coram non judice The first substantial question of law is answered accordingly.”
Most damningly, the Bench then did not mince words to hold in para 29 that, “The lower Appellate Court proceeded to deal with the appeal even without framing the points for consideration which is mandatory under Order 41 Rule 31 of CPC. The lower Appellate Court also did not deal with the issue of coram non judice and on that ground alone the judgement and decree of the lower Appellate Court is liable to be set aside. The fourth substantial question of law is answered accordingly.”
Most significantly, the Bench then holds in para 30 that, “This Court has held that the trial Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to try the suit and hence the decree passed by the lower Appellate Court with respect to 2nd schedule properties must be held to be a nullity. The judgement and decree of the trial Court even with respect to the 1st schedule properties is liable to be interfered by this Court since there was no cause of action for the plaintiff to file the suit with respect to the 1st schedule properties. As a result, the entire suit is liable to be dismissed.”
As a word of advice to the lower courts, the Bench then holds in para 31 that, “The suit was instituted in the year 2008 and the dispute is pending for nearly 14 years. If only the Courts below had been careful enough while dealing with the preliminary issue and had dismissed the suit then and there, on the ground of maintainability, there would have been no requirement to waste the time in litigation on merits for the last 14 years. It is high time that the subordinate Courts come into grips with the fundamental principles of CPC., and nip in the bud those suits which are not maintainable. There are sufficient provisions in CPC., to undertake such an exercise and what is required is the awareness about the availability of such provisions and invoking the same in a pro-active manner.”
Interestingly enough, the Bench then specifies in para 32 that, “There is no requirement for this Court to answer the second and third substantial questions of law since it deals with the merits of the case. This Court has already held that the suit is hit by the principle of coram non judice and hence it will not be appropriate to deal with the merits of the case.”
As a corollary, the Bench then holds in para 33 that, “In view of the above discussion, the judgement and decree of the lower Appellate Court made in AS No.58 of 2012, dated 13-9-2013 is hereby set aside. The decree granted by the trial Court with respect to the 1 st schedule properties in OS No.699 of 2008 through judgement and decree dated 27-6-2012 is also set aside. Accordingly, the suit filed in OS No. 699 of 2008 is dismissed on the ground of maintainability and by applying the principle of coram non judice.”
Finally, the Bench then concludes by holding in para 34 that, “In the result, the Second Appeal is allowed. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.”
In sum, the lower courts must definitely abide by what the Madras High Court has held so very commendably in this leading case so clearly, cogently and convincingly. Of course, the lower courts must be very particular to see that they fundamentally stick to the fundamental principles of CPC as laid down and as the Madras High Court has directed so very rightly also. There can be just no denying or disputing it!
Sanjeev Sirohi
