JUDGMENT V.M. Sahai and Sabhajeet Yadav, JJ.
1. The plaintiff/respondents filed Original Suit No. 701 of 2006 for mandatory injunction and alongwith the suit an application for interim injunction supported with an affidavit was also filed. The court below on 19.5.2006 while issuing notice to the defendant/appellant granted ex parte interim mandatory injunction. It is this order which has been challenged by the appellant before this Court.
2. We have heard Shri Navln Sinha, learned senior counsel, assisted by Shri A.K. Mehrotra and Shri Nishant Mehrotra for the appellant and Shri R.N. Singh, learned senior counsel, assisted by Shri I.P. Singh for the plaintiff-respondent No. 1. Shri Navin Sinha and Shri R.N. Singh both have stated before us that respondent No. 2 is a proforma respondent and this appeal can be finally decided at the admission stage itself. In view of the statement made by the learned Counsel for the parties we have taken up this appeal for final disposal at the admission stage itself with the consent of learned Counsel for the parties.
3. Learned Counsel for the appellant has urged that while issuing notice to the appellant ex parte interim mandatory injunction could not be granted by the court below without recording reasons as provided by the first proviso to Order XXXIX, Rule 3, C.P.C. He further urged that by way of interim relief the court below had granted final relief which is illegal. The learned Counsel for the respondent on the other hand has urged that in some cases even interim relief can be, granted, which is in the nature of final relief. He has supported the impugned order.
4. Before considering the rival contention of the learned Counsel for the parties, it is necessary to extract the interim mandatory injunction order dated 19.5.2006 passed by the court below, which is as under:
i=koyh vUrj.k }kjk flfoy tt lh0 Mh0 dkuiqj uxj ls izkIr gqbZ] ntZ jftLVj gks] is'k gksdj vkns'k gqvk fd 6&x ij izkFkhZ vf/kok dk rdZ gS fd foi{khx.k }kjk izkFkhZ dh nqdku dh fctyh] ikuh vkfn dh lqfo/kkvksa dks dkV fn;k gSA foi{khx.k }kjk izkFkhZ dks 17&5&06 rd cdk;k /kujkf'k dh uksfVl fnukad 15&5&06 dks nh Fkh vkSj fnukad 17&5&06 dks fctyh o ikuh vkfn dh lqfo/kk foi{khx.k }kjk dkV nh x;h gSA Ik=koyh voyksfdrA izkFkhZ }kjk ekuuh; mPprd U;k;ky; dh uthj nksjkc lh0 MCY;w0 cuke dweh ,l0 MCY;w ,oa vU;] 1991 ,0 vkj0 lh0 1 nkf[ky dh gSA bl uthj esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr] nkf[ky vfHkys[k o kiFk Ik= ds vk/kkj ij bl lrj ij izkFkhZ dk ekeyk izFke n`"V~;k cuuk izrhr gksrk gSA foi{khx.k dks vknsf'kr fd;k tkrk gS fd mHk; Ik{kksa ds e/; mRik >xM+s ls iwoZ fctyh] ikuh tujsVj vkfn dh tks lqfo/kk;sa izkFkhZ dks fey jgh Fkh mudks rRdky miyC/k djok;sA mHk; Ik{kksa ds e/; ;fn dksbZ le>kSrk gksrk rks ml fLFkfr esa ;g vkns'k izHkkoh ugha jgsxkA ;g vkns'k 39] fu;e 3] lh0ih0lh0 ds vuqikyu ds mijkur gh ;g vkns'k izHkkoh gksxkA uksfVl tkjh gksosA Ik=koyh okLrs vkifk fuLrkj.k 6&x fnukad 20&7&07 dks is'k gksA g0 v0 vij flfoy tt] lh0Mh0 d{k la0 3
5. The question that arises for consideration is whether it is mandatory to record reasons while granting interim mandatory injunction? Order XXXIX, Rule 3, C.P.C., reads is 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.
6. It is well settled that while deciding the issue of injunction the Courts have to consider the cumulative factor i.e., prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable loss but on an interlocutory application for grant of an interim mandatory injunction, the Court has to record a definite finding on prima facie case of a higher standard or specific circumstance for grant of interim mandatory injunction. The Apex Court in Dorab Cawasji Warden v. Coomi Sorab Warden and Ors. has laid down the guidelines in paragraph 16 which is extracted below:
The relief of interlocutory mandatory injunctions are thus granted generally to preserve or restore the status quo of the last non-contested status which preceded the pending controversy until the final hearing when full relief may be granted or to compel the undoing of those acts that have been illegally done of the restoration of that which was wrongfully taken from the party complaining. But since the granting of such an injunction to a party who fails or would fail to establish his right at the trial may cause great injustice or irreparable harm to the party against whom it was granted or alternatively not granting of it to a party who succeeds or would succeed may equally cause great injustice or irreparable harm, Courts have evolved certain guidelines. Generally, stated these guidelines are:
(1) The plaintiff has a strong case for trial. That is, it shall be of a higher standard than a prima facie case that is normally required for a prohibitory injunction.
(2) It is necessary to prevent irreparable or serious injury which normally cannot be compensated in terms of money.
(3) The balance of convenience is in favour of the one seeking such relief.
7. Rule 3 of Order XXXIX in clear terms lays down that before granting injunction the Court should issue notice to opposite party and in exceptional cases where the Court finds that the matter is such that injunction is required to be granted immediately at the time of issue of notice then it has to record the reasons for granting injunction while issuing notice to the opposite party, in view of Dorab's case whereas interim mandatory injunction is to be granted then the Court has to consider and grant interim mandatory injunction only in those cases where all the three guidelines laid down by the Apex Court are in existence.
8. The Apex Court in Metro Marins and Anr. v. Bonus Watch Co. (P) Ltd. and Anr. , has followed the decision in Dorab's case that an interim mandatory injunction can be granted only in exceptional cases coming within the exception laid down in the decision.
9. We have gone through the impugned interim injunction order. We do not find that while granting the ex parte mandatory injunction under Rule 3 of Order XXXIX, C.P.C. any reason has been recorded by the court below to the effect that object of granting injunction would be defeated by delay. Besides, the court below was required to record and mention specific circumstances due to which it was necessary to grant mandatory interim injunction. The proviso to Order XXXIX, Rule 3 is mandatory in nature and its non-compliance is fatal. In our considered opinion, mere mentioning of Dorab's case in the order is not sufficient and cannot be treated to be equal to giving reasons. We hold that the court below was required to give definite findings that prima facie case was of a higher standard and the plaintiff had a strong case for trial, balance of convenience and irreparable loss. In absence of any reason the order of the court below cannot be sustained as it is in teeth of specific provisions of law.
10. The next question is whether ex parte interim injunction could be granted which results in almost granting final relief in the suit? In the plaint the plaintiff has claimed mandatory injunction directing the defendants, agents etc. to immediately restore all the facilities in the common area to the plaintiffs Masix Super Bazar on the third floor and to restrain the defendants not to interfere in using the common area facilities i.e., generator supply, water supply, lift, air conditioning etc. From the impugned order it is clear that before the court below the plaintiff had admitted that his electricity and water connection had been cut on 17.5.2006 by the defendant due to non-payment of dues mentioned in the notice dated 15.5.2006. The court below has Issued mandatory injunction directing electricity, water and generator etc. which was provided to the plaintiff earlier before the dispute be immediately restored. In State of U.P. and Ors. v. Vishveshwar 1995 Supp (3) SCC 590, it was held that granting of final relief in the form of interim relief was wholly unwarranted. In Deoraj v. State of Maharashtra and Ors. , the Apex Court has held that interim relief could be granted which may result in final relief in case where there is exceptionally strong prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable injury, and if interim relief is refused then when the main matter comes up for hearing nothing would remain to be allowed as relief to the plaintiff. However, since we are allowing this appeal on the point that no reasons have been recorded by the court below, in granting interim mandatory injunction, therefore, it is not necessary for us to consider this question.
11. In the result the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The order dated 19.5.2006 passed by Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) is set aside. The matter is remanded back to the court below for expeditious disposal of the injunction application, in accordance with law.
12. The appellant shall be entitled to his costs.