Ravi Prakash Agarwal & Ors Vs.
Rajesh Prasad Agarwal & Ors [2008] Insc 320 (29 February 2008)
Dr.
Arijit Pasayat & P. Sathasivam
CIVIL
APPEAL NO 1668 2008 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.16312 of 2006) Dr. ARIJIT
PASAYAT, J
1.
Leave granted.
2.
Challenge in this appeal is to the order of a Division Bench of the Allahabad
High Court in First Appeal under Order 41 Rule 1 (r) of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (in short 'CPC')
3.
Backgrounds facts in a nutshell are as follows:
The
appellants as plaintiffs filed a suit (suit No.445 of 1999) for three reliefs:
(i)
The sale deed executed by defendant-respondent no.1 on 22.2.1999 in favour of
defendant- respondent no.3 be declared as void.
(ii) a
permanent injunction be issued restraining the defendants from dispossessing
the plaintiffs from the property in dispute.
(iii)
Another permanent injunction restraining the defendants no.1, 2 and 4 from
letting, selling and disposing of the property.
4. An
application for injunction was also filed. On 4.5.1999 ex-parte order of
injunction was granted. The prayer to modify the same was rejected. On
24.11.2001 a consent order was passed by the Division Bench of the High Court.
The Division Bench directed disposal of the suit within six months and further
directed maintenance of status quo of the suit property till its disposal on
certain conditions. Subsequently, application was filed by respondent no.4 by
making a grievance that her counsel was not heard. It is the stand of the
appellants that her defence was struck off. In any event the order was recalled
on 9.1.2002. High Court dismissed the appeal holding prayer for interim
injunction.
5. It
is stated by learned counsel for the appellants that the order of status quo
continued for nine years and by the impugned order the position has been
changed. The conditions stipulated are really of no consequential relevance, as
in that case during pendency of the case there may be a necessity for impleading
the vendees.
6.
Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand, submitted that the order
is really one of concurrence and, therefore, there was no need to repeat the
reasoning.
7. We
find that the order of status quo continued for considerable length of time. It
would, therefore, be appropriate to direct maintenance of status quo as was
originally granted by order dated 24.11.2001. We make it clear that by giving
this protection it shall not be construed as if we have expressed any opinion
on the merits of the case.
We
request the Trial Court to dispose of the suit as early as practicable
preferably by the end of 2008.
8. The
appeal is accordingly disposed with no order as to costs.
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