Arun Pathak vs Vijay Sarma on 6 October, 2021
"9. Having considered the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties and
having perused the documents produced, we are satisfied that the impugned
order of the appellate court cannot be sustained either on facts or in law. As
noticed by this Court, in the case of Dorab Cawasji Warden v. Coomi Sorab
Warden [(1990) 2 SCC 117] it has held that an interim mandatory injunction can
be granted only in exceptional cases coming within the exceptions noticed in
the said judgment. In our opinion, the case of the respondent herein does not
come under any one of those exceptions and even on facts it is not such a
case which calls for the issuance of an interim mandatory injunction directing
the possession being handed over to the respondent. As observed by the
learned Single Judge the issue whether the plaintiff is entitled to possession is yet
to be decided in the trial court and granting of any interim order directing
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handing over of possession would only mean decreeing the suit even before
trial. Once the possession of the appellant either directly or through his agent
(caretaker) is admitted then the fact that the appellant is not using the said
property for commercial purpose or not using the same for any beneficial
purpose or the appellant has to pay huge amount by way of damages in the
event of he losing the case or the fact that the litigation between the parties is
a luxury litigation are all facts which are irrelevant for changing the status quo in
regard to possession during the pendency of the suit."