7.4. Learned senior advocate Ms.Shah has relied
upon the judgment of the Apex Court in case of
Adani Exports Ltd. V. Hindustan Organic
Chemicals Ltd. reported in (2000) 3 GLR
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2759, wherein in para 48 it has been observed
as under:-
If these tests are satisfied then it is the duty of the Court to see
whether the damages that the plaintiff is likely to suffer for the action of
the defendants complained of can be compensated in money and if so
whether there is a standard for ascertaining such compensation. If such
compensation can be ascertained, then the interlocutory order of injunction
should normally be refused. However, if the Court is of the view that such
compensation cannot be ascertained then it is the duty of the Court to see
the balance of convenience and inconvenience of the parties. Thus,
plaintiff must also show a clear necessity for affording the protection to his
alleged right which would otherwise be seriously injured/impaired. Again,
a prima facie case implies the probability of the plaintiff obtaining a relief
on the materials placed before the Court. Every piece of evidence
produced by either party has to be taken into consideration in deciding the
existence of a prima facie case to justify issuance of a temporary
injunction. It is a well settled principle of law that in order to make out a
prima facie case, necessary for granting an interlocutory injunction, the
plaintiff need not establish his title. It is enough if he can show that he has
MCA No. 05/2023 Vaseem Saifi Vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Ors. Page No. 14 of 18
a fair question to raise as to the existence of right which he alleged and can
satisfy the Court that the property in dispute should be preserved in its
present actual condition until such question is disposed of. Reliance is
placed upon Adani Exports Ltd. v Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd,
(2000) 3 GLR 2759.
Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat in Adani Export Ltd. Vs.
Hindustan Organic" reported in 2000 (3) GLR page no-2759
case regarding establishing of prima facie case, it has been
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held in para-31 and 32 of its pronouncement that "it is well
settled principles of law that the rule that before the issue of
a temporary injunction, the Court must satisfy itself that the
plaintiff has a prima facie case, does not mean that the Court
should examine the merits of the case closely and come to a
conclusion that the plaintiff has a case in which he is likely to
succeed. This would amount to prejudging the case on its
merits. All that the Court has to see is that on the face of it
the person applying for an injunction has a case which needs
consideration and which is not bound to fail by virtue of some
apparent defects. (Para 31). In order to make out a prima
facie case, necessary for granting an interlocutory injunction,
the plaintiff need not establish his title. It is enough if he can
show that he has a fair question to raise as to the existence of
right which he alleged and can satisfy the Court that the
property in dispute should be preserved in its present actual
condition until such question is disposed of. The Court must
also, before disturbing any man's legal right stripping him off
any of the rights with which law has clothed him, be satisfied
that the probability is in favour of his case ultimately failing
in the final issue of the suit (Para 32). It is also a well settled
principles of law that what the Court has to determine in
granting injunction is whether there is a bona fide contest
between the parties and when there is a fair and substantial
question to be decided as to the rights of the parties in the
suit, it is not necessary for the purpose or is it right that the
Court should further examine the question in dispute or
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anticipate the decision of the question in the suit itself. (Para
32.1)."
29. As discussed earlier, considering the materials produced by both the parties, prima facie, plaintiff has satisfied the Court that offer put by him under tender dated 7/8/1990 was revised and modified by him and revised offer was put by him under letter dated 21/11/1990, before defendant no.1 could accept the earlier offer made under the tender with old rates, and therefore, a binding concluded contract has not come into existence. When there is no concluded contract in between the parties and still the subject is under process of offer and acceptance, then the Bank guarantee which was to be given for the contract cannot be encashed by defendant no.1 only on the ground that a concluded contract has not come into existence. As observed in case of Adani Exports Ltd. (supra) in Para 32, " it is also well settled principle of law that in order to make out a prima facie case, necessary for granting an interlocutory injunction, the plaintiff need not establish his title. It is enough if he can show that he has a fair question to raise as to the existence of right which he alleged and can satisfy the Court that the property in dispute should be preserved in its present actual condition until such question is disposed of. The Court must also, before disturbing any man's legal right stripping him off any of the rights with which law has clothed him, be satisfied that the probability is in favour of his case ultimately failing in the final issue of the suit. It is also observed in this cited case that the Court has to determine in granting injunction is whether there is a bona fide contest between the parties and when there is a fair and substantial question to be decided as to the rights of the parties in the suit, it is not necessary for the purpose nor is it right that the Court should further examine the question in dispute or anticipate the decision of the question in the suit itself.
18. He, therefore,
submitted that in such a situation where respective claims would be
considered on the basis of evidence at the trial and prima facie the
trial court having examined the material has granted the injunction,
the same may not be disturbed. He submitted that the approach,
normally, is to maintain the status-quo to avoid further litigation.
In support of his submissions, he has referred to and relied upon the
judgments of the Hon ble Apex Court reported in AIR 2005 SC 104.
He has also referred to and relied upon the judgment in the case of
Ibrahim Shah Mohamad and ors. v. Noor Ahmed Noor Mohamed and ors.,
reported in 1983(2) GLR 961, and the judgment in the case of Adani
Exports Ltd. v. Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd., reported in
2000(3) GLR 2759. Learned Sr. Counsel Shri Soparkar, therefore,
submitted that the present Appeal from Orders may not be entertained.
Thus, plaintiff must also show a clear necessity for affording the
protection to his alleged right which would otherwise be seriously
injured/impaired. Again, a prima facie case implies the probability of the
plaintiff obtaining a relief on the materials placed before the Court. It is a
well settled principle of law that in order to make out a prima facie case,
necessary for granting an interlocutory injunction, the plaintiff need not
establish his title. Reliance is placed upon Adani Exports Ltd. v Hindustan
Organic Chemicals Ltd, (2000) 3 GLR 2759.
8.2 Mr.Patel further submits that the plaintiffs have
established a prima facie case, balance of convenience is in
their favour, and the panchnama, which was carried out in
Civil proceedings initiated before the learned City Civil
Court Ahmedabad in Civil Suit No. 896 of 2006 for the same
disputed suit property, wherein it is completely mentioned
in the report that the plaintiffs and their family are residing
in the hut situated in disputed suit property, and it is
sufficient to prove that the plaintiffs are having the settled
possession over the disputed suit property since more than
12 years and the original defendant is having complete
knowledge about the same. Mr.Patel further submits that
the plaintiffs have stated the description of the constructed
hut over the disputed suit property with all particular things
in their plaint to prove their possession over the disputed
suit property and accordingly a Court Commissioner was
appointed and the Court Commission report was filed in the
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present suit and if the Court Commissioner's report is
perused along with the plaint, then it becomes clear that the
original plaintiffs and their family members are the having
the settled possession over the suit land. Mr.Patel further
submits that the plaintiffs have produced documents and
evidence on record to prove their case and while considering
the documents and evidence, the learned trial Court has
rightly come to the conclusion that the plaintiffs are
successful in establishing that they have a prima facie case
and the balance of convenience is in their favour.
8.3 Mr.Patel further submits that the issues raised by
the original plaintiffs in the plaint and injunction
application are clearly fair triable issues and if there are fair
triable issues and a bonofide contest between parties, and
to prove the prima facie case, the plaintiffs need not to
establish their right or title over the disputed suit property
at this stage, but they should have a fair questions to be
tried, and for satisfaction regarding prima facie case, it is
not necessary for the court to examine merits of the case to
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ascertain, if the plaintiffs show fair questions, which can be
raised in trial, and the learned trial court has rightly
considered such settled proposition of law in its order.
Therefore, the order passed by the learned trial court is
correct and legal. Mr.Patel has further submitted that as per
the settled law which flow from various decisions of this
Court in the case of Jyantibhai M. Patel Vs. Dilipbhai B.
Patel reported in 2007 (1) GLR 79 and Adani Exports
LTD Vs. Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited reported
in 2000(3) GLR 2760 to prove the prima facie case, the
plaintiff need not establish his right or title at this stage, but
he should have a fair question to be tried and for
satisfaction regarding prima facie case, it is not necessary
for the court to examine merits of the case to ascertain if the
plaintiffs show fair questions.