Karnataka High Court
M/S Fiza Developers And Inter-Trade Pvt ... vs M/S Balaji Produce Company on 2 July, 2010
Author: S.Abdul Nazeer
Bench: S.Abdul Nazeer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALOR-E.._> DATED THIS THE 2"" DAY OF JULY 2010 T' BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRJUSTICE 5. I%L4>i.%.nI/KS1 2tzAz1ai:;it__ ' - MISCELLANI30 US FIRST APPEA L lV0.§2zI9/[email protected]CPC)'§ ' * ~ ' Between: M/S Fiza Developers & Intef'+«Tra:;le~.Pv?t.' Ltc'i--...:j AA . A company registered under the . Companies Act, having its R;::g'istr§recl'-- _ ' Office at No.25/1§_.. gesivflenejq Roads; " l' Bangalore ~» 2.5,. 5:". . I _y V. V Reptd. By its Manjagginlg'Di2§eetf}r_.A ' Mr. B.M.E;t_1f0dl;h."' 7:, 3 * Appellant. (By Sri for M./s Hegde A/S) Andzpf" Company, .. " = Patftnership Firm, 'Hayit'*ig off'icei at 'Yadugiri', A "lK-l0,"3ij_).A§; 80, C.P.Ramaswamy Road, Chgnlla-t~"~ 600 018, 'F21an:§lnz1dt1. ix.) Sri V. Selvaraj, S/0 Vedan, major. Proprietor, M/s Sun Minerals, Kibhanahnlli Cress, Biligere Post, Tiptuif Taluk, Tumkur District. R€Sp(iI1dCl]:fS~. L" l (By Sri Basavaptabhu s. Patil, Sr. Adv. 'f'orl{l ~ Sri Gururzij Joshi, Adv. for R2) i This Miscellaneous First Appelitideis» file-dl'L1~'_'!'dl€i'~{)l'(;l'a';'7J' 43 Ruie [(17) of CPC against the Qrder on_1,_Af.».No__2 in OL'S..NH0.él./Z2008 dated 8.8.2008 on the life of 'the«_Ci\_~*il Judge (s;~..Dn.) and JMFC, CN. Halli, etc. it - 1 _ This ll"Miseellune(;ii:s.V ._lX.ppeaE coming on for Final Hearing this day, the ClC1.1t."l[ll{lie}-ififéfiffid the following: it ll &iDGM £NT directed against the order on i..A.No.2 dated on the file of the Civil Judge (Si'.Dn.) V and Jl\/EilFC, Chiikkéinayzikanahaili. The appellant is the plaintiff and livid'-1:'€S'I')(iIl£l(j31I[ fire the defendants in the suit. For the sake of convenience, the parties are icferrcd to by their respective 1*anV1.<in_g';_ before the trial Court. 2. The piaintifi' filed the £i1')0VC:=__S1lif;._ag£1i11Stiothti"f7iVI"f4.§ defendant for permanent injunction ries-traiiiing.its pamisersguiagents; representatives, contractors, servants,7«henel11nen'* or any} one claiming through or under '~i.{h:"'fI'OI';;] syciliirig,'~.ty1'iftting, suppiying, transporting or issuing pern2iit$'forA w.,tra'n'spo'ftation of iron ore/minerals extracted;1f1"on.1andfor"stocked/1yii'1g" in the schedule mining area to a.ny:..tijird upiartiiesi.' in any Vf..rn.z1nner except to the plaintiff orzits i1einine..e:;~:.__zi1;d 'i"0.r"a..gicCi9ee of mandatory injunction directing theiiiirstgdefendant,V'i'ts_i.'partners, agents, representatives contractors, servants', he'nchi'nen~-"or any one Claiming through or _..nnde1~ jifro supp]y/3511,11iftmir().:i ore/minerals extracted from and/or inLstoekszd/iyingiiéin"the schedule mining area to the piaintifi' by ai'i*:.1ngi_n.g "p_t:t'i3_1i[:IVft)!'_:~{I'ElI]Sp()rl£1{i()n and other permissions issued by the Miiies ttndiifiéology i)epartine.nt as and when required by the plaintiff nor. its2noiii.inees to a minimum quantity of 1,8().()()() metric ton per year adhering to the terms and conditions of' the aigreeiitent dated 20. I ?..?,O04. 3. It is contended by the plaititiff thatit .i business of export of iron t>1'e/m'tne1'a1s. "it has b::e'n'ut'eeeivii;1g Vi severai enquiries for export of iI:(}I.] ore 't"1'om&i'international customers. In order to ensuiethe c;:)ntinuo"u.s_'~su'ppIy of iron ore for export as and when the ove.ifsea§_ used to enter into an agreetnent or other suppliers in order ore available at its disposal.:'--ffhe to the plaintiff that it is the holder of» mivnifig: M.L.No.2208 over an area of 184 %,a3;;i-é.su.tn S$r'.N_os.l2 and :3 of Gollarahalii village and vA',).f"--:};"ft';)1'l1'l€[)i'lElgi viilage in Chikkanayakanahalii Taiuk, T'ti1n'}:.ur VDis'tviriet'.~;'An agreement was entered into between the V -- piztintiff first defendant on 20.12.2004 for saie of iiorefzn.i<_nera'l by which the first defendant agreed to deliver the entire -- qtiamtty of minerai/ore extracted from 'Haif of Biscuit Pit and Handikeia Area' 01' the said miiie exciusiveiy to the piz1intiffVex::_ept' a quantity of £0,000 metric. ten per month of i'ejected__;i(3\w=' ;_. é iron ore/mineiiils, which is to he lifted for M/s G_z1:=.esh':"Miriera1s, the ore raising Contractor to meet his C()Iii.§l'E}C:E-LEE-H'}()b1igi1IiO'I1 't"(:'V};"'--k"1iS'~Z':-7 f ceinent factories. By virtue 0i'.»t'1i-e__ saidi.;i}greein:;n'E;;the fiifsti defendant was required to effect ofpthea E0 the plaintiff at Pit~i\/Ieuth/Pit _ei:A_iy evailzihle ah the required permits f0r,t_he Departments. In pursuance ef paid 21 sum of Rs.Orie Crete: as interest free security to be refunded by the first defendant tn» of expiry of the agreement. The te§mu*e.of theitagireeine-iit was for a period of 5 years from EA.1;1.10()5_renew'a«hie for a further period on mutuai agreed terms. The"firstVVtiet'etici'a:nt" supplied ceiftain quantities of iron me to the . p1aintiE't' initiziiify under various invoices. The first defendzint made .t,su'pp!_y uplto the first week of May, 2006 and all of 21 sudden . suppiy of iron me to the plaintiff even though the first % 2 A defendant is duty bound to supply a minimum qU£'tI]{lty 0_l;."._ l,80,00_,000 metric ton per year to the plaintiff. The first ;__ if . did not comply with its contractual obligation in _l--l"iC»..lTIlEtl,tt31'g:0f effecting supply of iron ore/mineral to theplaintifi".l'7IThere'fore;"'it if has filed the aforesaid suit for the reliel's.__indieate_d"by me:'e'aif«li.er_.. _ 4. The plaintiff filed an appE.ieatiuon:I.A.No..ll 't1n_t_ler"1Qrder 39 Rule 1 and 2 read with Section 1s5"i"'otfeijCpt:r.i-"or ana'd«lnterim order of temporary injunction 1'e3t'railni1ig:'VtheiiVfirstzdel'e11dant, its partners, representatix-'es,"_'contractors; se.r'vai1~ts..hlenchtne11 or any one elaimirsg thr:)tigh".er__vt1nder_i't'-from' selling, lifting, supplying, transporting or ilssuing for transportation of iron ore/ininezjails extract"etl__fro:n and/or stocked/lying in the schedule ¥.r¢ni1ii1ig_.zti'e:ttoanyv third parties in any manner except to the pla3i"11tit"f.__t)r V'itsa"_norni'rrees. In the affidavit filed in support of the Vatpplieatlion, v--the'p"laintil'l' has reiterated the plaint averrnents. it is .,....'f{E}f{l'lCl':--§E'El{Cd' that the first defendant is making hectic efforts to _se_il/'ente1"Ainto agreernents. issue transport perntits and also make 's z arrangements with third parties for the sale of iron ore/minera_l'e._V extractedlstoeked from and/or lying in the schedule miniiig'ar_e.a: 5 ;. ' covered under M.L.N0.2208. The piaintiff investment in setting up of the crushing screenilngrriaeihi-ne'1'iies__ A anficipaiing the supply of iron ore mineral from firse.tid'efendant_i§ and the n0n----supply has resulted and machinery idle. The first de1ierir§ant'i.i§in;_erd'er_'to:"defeat. the very purpose of the agreement an;l.V--~e./atifse to the plaintiff has acted'_jn: thereby attempting to Supply iron transportation to third parties in bi-reach.tile~eojntractiT'Fheref'ore, the first defendant has to be restrainedfrorn doiirigso pending disposal of the sui.t. 5. After ser\{ice..of riotiée, the first defendant has filed :,i:'object_ions' to.'-3.A;No_2. ilitiiiisiieontended that there is absoiutely no la'ps_;_e"oani'iet5.:ii3art andiljt is accordingly performing its obligation 0' under the agrt%cEi1if1et--"1tii.dated 20.12.2004. E 6. Defendant No.2 has filed objections to l.A.No."2.» contending that it is doing extraction, iifttng and {1'211"1Sp()rE2l{i0_t1=(3:f7V iron ore from the suit schedule. mine since 1994. it had t'ilc:d ad'su.i:t~. i" against the plaintit'f in O.S.No. 1338/2006. The plaintiff_h§td,fi§ed a_ suit against him in O.S.No.lc14/2006 on the t'ile"<';1"y_t.1ri-e Civil: "}«!1_dgei' (Jr.Dn.), Chikkanayakanahalli and yet aiiother i'lll1'1a.'}€"l.[7fi:"" it and l.\/.Er.C.Senthil in O.S.No.l46/2iQVOt3, which were.VAc:l_t]l3-bed'; together. In the said case, the trial Court _passed-- a:n"order of injunction in his favour hold;ing~..that_«'he is _no:~:.sessi0n ofuventire I84 acres of land. Thereafter, theVit';ir'stidel'endant'-filed It suit against him and one Mr.ASVen't.h-il_::'t'or"iri_it1ncti()ri in O.S.No.60/2006. The court below onhearing.yt'he..i:pi;irti'es:;'"passed an order dated 31.8.2006 holding that he isuin*possession"ot" the entire schedule property of 1,84 The said oi'de.ry_\(as. challenged by the first defendant in V."M'Fi.A';No.!ti()rty2/i2iO{lV6 and in MFA l\lo.l0()43/2006 before this Court; Both were dismissed on 29. .1. 1.2006 holding that i he is irypossessiti-nrti' the entire suit schedule property of I84 acres and he has "been doing the mining work i..e., extraction of iron ore, o~4'tI_§i's§.riil'F' v lifting and its transportation. The SLP filed by the first del'ei1dant_ against the said order has been dismissed by the Apex Court~._on.t 26.3.2007. The plaintiff has atso filed a suit in collusionw'ith«i..the: first defendant in O.S.No.7/2007 and an application l'i_l.e_dT0~3.r. the said suit under Order 39 Rule 'l and 2 of"CPC was atlowetlwonfl 21.4.2007 and appeals in MFA Nos.5399/21007:_e.fw.?5400/-2007'an'd__ 5404/2007 were filed against the said _oi'dei'.'--_Ali~the cas-'<?::s:.a'risin'g. out of the order dated 21.4.2007 we--re"'~e.plbubbed».togeth'erRand'"an order was passed on 29.1 1.2007 holdinguithat seeitinrjvvdelendant is in possession of the poi'ti0'r1 of the V1'suit,_sehedu1e property excluding -the first defendant. in the said order, it was'hVel'd_t'hat._the.'st'ot:l;_:io'f "about 2.00.000 metric tone of iron ore lying theesuit Vsehed;.ile*prope1'ty as on 2.} .2007 belongs to _,him and hefisannot " seek. assistance of the first defendant for 0 a.rr'anging th'e'tti'ai"n.spoi't permit for the transportation of the same. in ..t:he..plaii1tii"f himself claims to be in possession of the "entire st.-itVA'.1=sehedule property of £84 acres, which was 2 siegtitixiesi the"t1'i21l Court. It is "further contended that once the T0 Courts have hetd that the first defendant is not in possession of suit schedule property to an extent of I00 acres, in the suit;'fiEed;h_\_/i r the first defendant in O.S.No.6()/2006 seeking reiiei' of possession of the suit schedule property. he=_ca11n.ot be 'coi*npe~iiet1't0_ f perform his part of contract which is b'eyor1d hi-it.-1 vr'e'astr12eb'ie '2C()i}EI'()}.:'§ It is further contended that having regatrd to_Veiause~ No.'11 of the agreement, the dispute is at:-bitreitle. 7_He,prit1ys_ 'fQ'radi.smissa1 of the 7. On the ba.sis_of_the§:rivai_'t;::on.t'en.t'r'o.ns 'ot?~the parties, the court beitwéyhzrs frztine'd «thevfoiiotio-i,.n_g--peints for consideration: "('1) Whether the'piiaintiiff°'i:.a's,--~made out a prima. facie case? V (it) Whether the baiance of eo11ver1ie.nc.e lies in fzwour A :h'e--p:t'a:.éit::tr?--.. ..,»-r-weak» 11 (iii) Whether the plaintiff would be put to irrepairabie injury by 1'el'usi11g to grant reiiefs prayed in appheauons? (iv) What 01'de1"?" The court below on consideration of'the1'entii'e materials' record. has dismissed the applications with cost." V 8. I have heard Sri S.K.V.Chalapathy, Senior Counsel appearing for the a1ppel_l:tnt and P1abhuiHSiiPatil, learned Senior Coijrisel Vres];j)o~n_den_t No.l and Sri Gururaj Joshi, learned Counsel for resgoiridenti 9. Sri S._K;--Y. Chala__pa':hy',«.,si1b.m.its that under the agreement V..-"edteredV_"ii;sto:hetweeniit'iie....g)i.aii1tift' and the first defendant dated ii2t1.l2:.2(}0.4A, defendant has agreed to deliver the entire que1:1tityi"of minetrj_ai.'ore extracted from 'Haif of Biscuit Pit and ii*~.. _ Handikoia of the mine in Sy.l\Eos. l2 and 13 of Gollarahalli 3%; .2 12 village and Sy.No.l30 in Chikkttnztyztkanahalli, Tumkur District exclusively to the plaintiff except the quantity of £0,000 metric which is to be fitted for M/s Ganesh Minerals, the ore:t"r'aitsyiVng__" , A' Contractor to meet its contractual obligation. Therefore;-«.the. first defendant was required to effect del.ivery_,of rnineral/oVr"eW.tvo 'the; plaintiff at Pit-Mouth/Pit Head by making ai:VV'aii3::bi'3; fall' 5: 'i permits for transportation. The sale price was " fixietl at per metric ton exclusive of taxes payaliite-1 "The plaintiffrh-as paid a sum of Rs.l crore 50 lakhs to the 1'irsti'd'etfendan_t as interest free security deposit which is required to i'ei'tt:nded by the first defendant th.e-plai'n.tiffi'at the_if't'i-tne-- of expiry of the agreement. The tenure of agre--em'cnt.. for a period of 5 years from __I.l..200p5_{andu.is retifewafble for a further period on mutual agreed i'~terms.n_,The first defendant supplied certain quantities of iron ore to the'p_Eai:1tyil'f week of May, 2006 and all of a sudden, V stoppedhiisuppiy "to; the plaintiff even though the first defendant is if if ' supply a rninirnum. quantity of l,80,00_.000 metric ton per is why the plaintiff' had to file the aforesaid suit for 13 directing the first defendant to perform its obligation under agreement dated 20.12.2004. It is argued that the ore ext1iieted:'~._iV. from the mines by the ore raising contractor is still z1V21il'&b_1e.. plaintiff has paid court fee treating the stiitmasa s_u'i.t t'er_is'pe_cif'ic-7: perforniance of the agreement. He has di'a__wn._ my att_en'ti»on ted' Section 10 of the Specific Reiief Act, 'theiAet.'i submits that the specific per1'o'rna_aneei"oi'i the :t3()f1t1faC{ is einforceabfe as the p1ai.nti1'f is seeking enforeen1ei'1'ti of viifeontract and not seeking enforceine*nti'r2;.f:g.'a neigatiye--.~eoVenan_t;.. contended that the compensation wi0_u1d"'*net""tijevi,iidecguate relief to relieve the plaintiff ofgtlie ._hreac1* ,c;~.'I _c'ontracit'.' __ -- 10. Oniitheifothei' Basavaprabhti S. Patil appearing --,for the<.ifirst*defendan.tpcontends that the agreement entered into i".Ege*tvtgeeng the*.p1a,iiitiff and the first defendant dated 20.12.2004, which fins c0r;ie..int:(5 force from 1.1.2005, was for a period of five ' 'years. period of 5 years has expired on 31.12.2009. A Ti'heref'o.re. the agreement is not enforceable as of now. The said i 5 = i 14 agreement has not been renewed. Even according to the plaint'i{5il',"*.y the first defendant has stopped supply of iron ore in ter1nt:«~~o.l;th_ea'if 0' D a reement in the 1" week of May, 2006 and the §I)l'ellI'3Il.ff""i'l.£{1Si the suit on I i.2.2008 ie. after 20 months 'l'ro1n ttred_at'e_ ol'4Astt):ppageii it _ of supply of iron ore. Since. the period uniderthe cori--traet #112133: expired, the appeal has become inlT1*uetiaiotia.' Etis that when the contract' for non~peri{fo't7.mar.i_ee in money is adequate relief ;Vv1..ti'ti'(l)(a) of the Act and it is of the Act it cannot be attention to Section I0(b) of the iwi--ii;:h_:iistatieaflthatspecific performance of any contract may in the diseretiyon 'of, Court be enforced when the __act agret§:d'Vto.be do"1ie._iVs such that compensation in money for its A'~.no.n.;pgr£"ot'tnane.e'i'would not afford adequate relief. But, in the pres~ent--._cz1se,tii't'_»t_he~;plVaintiff' establishes that the first defendant has ,illegally" faiied to"iperl'orm its obligation in the contract, the plaintiff 'to*.sj_eekcompensation, which is an adequate relief. He further -jsuhiniitsiitirat having regard to Section 41 of the Act, plaintiff is not i 7 15 entitled for grant of the reliefs sought for in the suit. However, not entitled for grant of an interim order of injunction. ll. Sri Gururaj ioshi. learned Counsel submits filed by the plaintiff is not maintainablethe arbitrable as per clause ll of the agreemerit tiated 20.}'.tl..?i,..2CU4§i*i . When the suit itself is not i)1.E1ii1[E1'li1EllC)'iii'€;',' "question ~t)fii'grant of an interim order does not arisvei_"'i'.E sub:1nitte.di"~that one the important considerations for grant "of: an*.,'int'_evrini order is maintainability of theiisniit'. It further"cont.entl,e.ti that the suit is also had for supiprresvsioniioil' tnateriai The plaintiff has not come to theACVourt with' ejleztn"..l_ian.:ts. He has not disclosed the previous A.1it.ig2itionis filed fby.'the.'i first defendant in respect. of the I-i:Vp.ro'pert"y" tguiestiiopn wherein' the plaintiff was also a party. On this ground_r-alisLi,ith.c is liable to be dismissed. It is argued that the second det'enfdat1t has been doing the extraction. lilting and " If'":rahspo1'tation "of iron ore from the suit schedule mine since 1994. i a suit in 0.S.No. 138/2006 against the plaintiff and the §. 16 plaintiff' had filed a suit aigziinst the second defendant in O.S.No.l44/2006 on the file of the Civil Judge (_J1'.Dn.};i.._» Chikkainayakanahalli. There was one more suit between the ~ defendant and Mr.C.Senthil in O.S.N0.l.46/2006 and eases, applications filed under Order 39 RL;lemVl.i":1'r.«rl of were clubbed together, heard and an order oi'i'in_ju'netion passed;~F. V' in favour of the second defendant hold'ii1g*that heis in. of the entire 184 acres of land."There:i'fte'r;' defend"an't"fiied a suit against the second defendant the_iiV'pfl'§iivnti_ff and one Mr.Senthil for injunet'i'onL:VZin said case, the court below':_pas_sedflnn'eitder Ol1_>3iv.;.8.2G06 holding that the second defendant is in=..possession"ol' ,the-- entire schedule property of 1.84 acres. "rn§s'ai{: order"'wiis ehnllenged by the first defendant in MFA VisicisgioQ42/fiefiezaiitgi IOO43/2006 before this Court and both the on 29.11.2006 holding that the second dei'endant isfiin 'possession of the entire suit sc.hedule Property of I84 acres. SLP filed against the said judgrnent of this Court i_i_l&1t_1_siiweendisniissed by the Apex Court on 26.3.2007. The plaintiff 37 has not challenged the order in O.S.No.6{)/2006 dated 24.6.2v()(}l5:.ll"a.. The suit has been filed by the 1)lai111ifl' in collusion witl1_j;'lie«firs1:: defendant. The second defendant had again filed.----.z1:*:;ulit--.::in. O.S.No.7/2007 and in the said suit, an orderon jjihee»appli--eaLio~n__ under Order 39 Rule I. and 2 of CF? C£'t'll1.'_3rl'(.) be 21.4.2007 against which the second cllle4i'e.i_x1_('1;!nVt filed in MFA No.540-<1/2007 so also saidvlisuit. All the cases arising out of_L_he xx}./lve_l1lfe.::elilibvhledtiicéetlier, heard and disposed of on second defendant is in possession 91:3'. properzy excluding the area occupied 'l'irst"d_el'en_danF.. In she said order, it was held that szoel; of abou; ljakh"n1ae'ui?ie' ton iron ore lying in the suit schedule propei'ly_< on l2._l[E_9"97.._.Eielongs to the second defendant. _The plai.r1_1iffl"}:.e1s filed--thel suit: in question without disclosing these 'inavteitisal"faeasli prays for dismissal of the appeal. 5 18 12. I have eare.£'uEiy eo:15icie1'ed the arguments made by 1'I'1:;3 learned Counsel at the Bar and perused the materials p1aL'ed..'on._:' 5 record. 13. As has been stated above, t'he:oIAain't'iff filec-:1' against the first defendant in O.Sy.No.4/vf'2{)0:E%'--._ for mentioned in paragraph (2) of this judgn1en'1. The s"ee_on'd oiefendzznt got himseif impleaded in the 'ft1e« suit isnbaéed on an agreement dated 20.12.2004 em-e1-:%;c1"'1mo_--~«1;A'y7f1;;.ma the first defendant. The ag1'e'e:1;;es1: .12 1*e1~ee'1i.1'eo};{.i'1.12.2005 1111 31_.12.2009.[11 1e 't1=.e_..s9ee.1:r1e.;ea§e ewe plaintiff that the fi1':~'.t defendant had311ppt1ed..1fi_1}ie:a'1;*11'e1;« ore till the first week of May, 2006 only 'and the4"sa.jt. we 1>11eeg1;1 1 1.2.2008 i.e. after a iong lapse :'v:_o:t't';20. 1ee1{me'11eeie_;11e stoppage of supply of iron ore. The st1'it---isgin dti1e"'«n.ata1'e_r>f' a specific performance of an agreement ' dated '220.._i 2.2t}{}4n...'~e'The plaintiff." has not assigned any reason for the W delay in..approachi.1:g the Court. Be that it may. 1. e 19 E4. A perusal of clause 11 of the agreement 2().i2.2(}(}4 entered into between the piaiiitifi' and firsr tie=i'ent1'an__t_i'if indicates that the dispute is arbitrabie. The said clause "ii. The parties agree that any differences arising out or in intert;reta.tiion agreement wili be referred for"'de--terrnii1.ati0n Arbitrai Tribunal under the prii{}ts;t_x;5'its_Vot' ihrbivtratjioniiti and Reconciliation Act," ~i.996 .'t7\[/'.i'1.'(Ji.sA'c'i':'t3i3Vt3'\I'.'~':._i'()l1 wili"'be" final. The seat of the '4'A'rt:'i-tra1._Vffribtiiial be at Chennai. The Arbitration"'Tvriijunai_tie_terniine' the issue at the ea1"iiest airgiiiot .1:atet?tt"1"an é'ix_Vrnoit--'.--hs. Both the partiea on arbitrator and in case t'hejz'._do sole arbitrator being appoiiitetitby _consen:,_ party shall. nominate an artiiitratoi' and"'i.n_V_Vt:ase of difference of opinion among txtfe arbéitratortiiiiitihey are at liberty to choose an i .Lari--jitt'at0t' whose decision shalt be final * and bindiing on the parties." Thus, it when the agreernent provides for an alternative isuit fiieci by the giiaintifi' on the basis 01' the said i 3 '1 2 "-5% 20 agreement is prima facie not niaintainable. it is well estabiisl1ed"'»s that maintainability of the suit should aiso be taken into while considering grant of an interim order. l5. Section 9 of the Arbitration andfoneijiliegtiion J (for short 'Arbitration Act'), statesthat a p'ai'ty-- rnaypvbeforel' or": during arbitrai proceedings or at any tilntellai't_e1f the-mja1<.i'ng the arbitrarl award but before it iserijforced in with Section 36, apply to a Court for interim.Viprotectiojn i:f'~vact~ifon--l"of' the other party is either in brieztciiiif the jternis ot'_lith_e"alg1ee»ment or rniiitates against equity, f'ai.'i'Cplay 'Em? justice. Therefore, a question may arise as"to"wheth_e1' the "flied by the plaintiff before the Civil }t'.£ig€_ (Jr:D.n.t)*.and'"'.Jl\T/lFC at Chikkaiiayakanalli was rnlaintaiiiizible' Section the Arbitration Act defines a 'Court' rne.=uas.t'the Pri'nci.pa'rC§i*vil Court of original jurisdiction in a District, V and inc'1ucle§:v'tl;e High Court in exercise of its ordinary original civil g;u.risdiction;having jurisdiction to decide the questions forming the -znatter of the arbitration if the same had been the subject 3 Eta is not mai;-jltainable. " 21 matter of 3 suit, but does not include any Civil Court of a inferior to such Principal Civil Court, or any Court o1f""Sniall__:' Causes. Section 14 of the Karnataka Civii Courts Act.idefi'nes"the._ jurisdiction of the District Courts. it statesfithatnthlejj. f shail be deemed to be the Principai,__Civt.l"._C'ourt t:_t"l"ltoitiC,:ginal'T; jurisdiction within the local limits P. ANAND GAJAPA THI RAJD';:,g.1_'f'JD DAJU (DEAD) AND OTHERS [(2009) Court has held that it is ohliigatoiythforgl'-the;_ titiuft ::tt57"tet*et5l the parties to arbitration in terrirlts to the competent Court withiitvv'the_vnielaiCii;32(2) of the Act. Prima facie, 1' am of the viett) thatvthe 'ts.;,tVit~ti't [liélidufi of a Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.), ._ l'6_._'7Fh'ereji_s aisovllmerit in the argument of the learned Senior Counsel "appe'aring"'i'oi' the first respondent that since the time under
has expired during the pendency of the appeal, the relief'-sought for in the suit cannot be granted. As noticed above, £3.
22 the period in the agt'ee1nent has come to an end on 3l.i2.2()()9a1id_ it has not been renewed. Tl1€i't3f0I'C-. question of 5 ;_. perforrnance of the contract at this belated stage does.t1ot._ateise.. Section l0 of the Specific Relief Act p1'o=vide:s..yfojr 'the: .e';ts.es'vvit1__ which specific performance of contract' i-s'_en'lorceiaE3l.et Provision is sub-section (b) of Section as otherwise provided in this ithei.isipe.t;flil:iétpgrforrnartce of any contract may, in thedisc1'eti.o1.1:.o:i7. the xCifot1'i'it','§.f,.eyiti:o1'Ced when the act agreed to money for its [E011-p6I'fOI'1T]aI'lC6i\E{t)E}i:i.ti.i:'V'llt){. Section 14(c) of the Specific7i_Rel_ieticontract cannot be enforceabie which is in its paitutre d'etei':n'inaEslei.i'Section 43 (h) of the Specific Relief Actilays downthat aninjunetion cannot be granted when 'equaliy _elr'f'icac.ipous"relief can be obtained by any other usual mode of pii'oceie_dii1g'eXttept.i:in"'ct1se of breach of trttst. l'7...__ Apaz"t.ViTi¢oim the above, it is evident from the order in " 5iiiCt4S';Noa7/2tjtt:t7itatcd 2.1 .4.2()t.)7, that the court below has held that z 3 23 stock of about 2 iakh metric ton iron ore lying on the suit schedtiieiig property as on 2.E.2007, which belongs to the second (j(")'!;@ff1Ei§i§"t§..._:. 5 ;_. 4' Even in O.S.No.60/2006, the court below has heid tii;ii.ii{§:'}i:i;:'cé$ijci._ 00 defendant is in possession of the entire suit schedtjile'--_prope«rtyi.o!7_ f I84 acres. The said order has been at'1'i-r;_ne.d biythis Court jas__21Eso by the Apex Court, The piaintiff iiasiiiiiiotvidisciosed. litigation fiied by the defen(1antis:}1gg1ni_i:iii'?i.n_respectiot' the subject matter of the suit and from time to time, goiij; 'fried by the 2%:
defendant. It is not come to Court with ctean h.ands.. s'uppI'esised materials facts.
18. "As has been"~notice'd_above, the agreement entered into between the plaintiff and'-rthe~~-1*' defendant dated 20.4.2004 has cohae with et't'eet----«fi"om i.E2.2005 for a period of five.
years:' Titer peif.i'c;:i"e.fFiye years has expired during the pendency of 0 it " u,th'is e3].i2.20()9. The question therefore may also .f;«.,_.;1r'ise as to "wh:ethei" the agieeinent is enforceable as of now. In 3 3 s32 '23:' 7.4% 24 other words, whether the subsequent events can be taken noteo!.T._ The apex court in the SHIPPING CORPORATION 0Ivf_;1;rv'.:i1_A_.jf LTD. VS. MA CHADO BROTHERS AND OTHERS.-~----xtiIi€,,2't?t)4.A 3 SC 2093, has held that by the subseqt1ent.A_events. Iifu'--i'lie._o'i?i§i_'1tétl._i_ii=g; ii proceeding has become infructuou i.I:'i.:s'-._t}iE:1'i11ii§f1iV_iiit3 to the subsequent events, which iflifiudes ottx litigation. In PERCEPT VS.
ZAHEER KHAN ANDAN025E11iR'f.-.'it€filQ6l'2ii it has been held that :1 enforced after the expiry of in MUNICIPAL COUNCIL,:'iiVVUD,/tiIiftJR KUMAR -- AIR 2008 SC 2507, the Apex that in a suit filed by the Liccnseetfo restrain theliciensor from increasing the rent of the suit Vsliop,wil_'the:' per_iot1._ of the licence expires, the suit cannot be cot1t'itiu'etl.. .z1£'t)re'st{id aspect should also he kept in mind while he-_:mside1fi"ng gi'ziiit"o'l' interim order. The agreement has not been H C' .i9enewer.l_by iituitual consent of the parties. If that is so, the question (_i)l7_gi':tnt'i'ng of the interim order does not arise.
-.V;,,_;
25 E9. The decisions relied on by the learned Senior C'(iuu_ise_I__"
for the petitioner in U.P.STATE 13LECTRIC1:ryi,l_i;oA2§D,._ 3 LUCKNOW vs. RAM BARAI PRASAI) 6; ;4..rRL:_" 'V, I985 ALLAHABAD 265 has no application"tolthe i*act's;;6ij iiné; case. In the said case. it has been 1. propertylyvliiclillifs not in existence on the day of in due course of time becomes in respect of such 21 title in such property they is held by the seller in the c.apacity ;g'{;<;::.:;§: e; 2T-.:<.:.uit-- for compensation would not be an ztdequaterelief in i'e's{pect""o6f the order of contract in such at _vsituation..{l "16.. VI.lA'}Q§ltl'MIl\l'ERAI.S PVT. LTD. VS. BIKASH AIR 1996 CALCUTTA 67, it has been held thzit under the«lc_o1it1*iiCt; the defendant is obliged to sell. ex--pit mouth such ina!1ga.i1ese"'land iron ore which wouid be raised by the lV'idelfe1:<3n_nt. "The COI'lt1'€1C1' is one of sale and delivery of the ._n)21tE:-.t'ials,i the operation of the mines remaining entirely in the 3 5, flag ._ g » 26 control of the defendant. Therefore no stlpervision of the court; l'1':;. necessary in the matter of operation of the mines. In the"prje;:.:.e_t'1t;' case, the period specified in the agreement has c()t11e.an.;'e.nd during the pendency of the appeal. ltfbiis also plaintiff' has supp1'essed material £'act's,_ Looll<'i.r_ag"z1t t'rc>m'*lanyl angle, plaintiff is not entitled for an interilnn.._llorde1'. Conéeqtlenttiy, the appeal fails and it is accordingléi hereby clarified that the Trial Court shall disApo§ev.oIt'vthc:tbstilt»Vontjig.l---merits and in accordance with law 9§'vti'thot1t*--'be§ng' influen'ce'tl~--%_:ty the observations made in the cou€§e'iof';»'this or'def;'~Nollcolstslg V BMM/--