Allahabad High Court
MUNNI SINGH AND 2 OTHERSversusRAMSWAROOP SHUKLA
- Decided
- Bench
- ROHIT RANJAN AGARWAL
Holding
The High Court held that, except in exceptional circumstances, it cannot issue a direction under Article 227 to a subordinate civil court to expedite a suit, and must leave such discretion to the lower court.
Summary
The petitioners sought a direction under Article 227 for the Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Fatehpur to decide an original suit (No. 599 of 2014) on a permanent injunction within a short, court‑specified time. The Court referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in High Court Bar Association v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2024), which cautioned constitutional courts against imposing time‑bound schedules on lower courts except in exceptional cases. It also relied on the Division Bench judgment in Ali Shad Usmani v. Ali Isteba (2015), which declined to order expedited hearing of a civil suit. Applying these precedents, the Court declined to direct the subordinate court to expedite the suit, emphasizing that such discretion lies with the trial judge. The petitioners were advised to file an application for expeditious disposal before the lower court, and the writ petition was disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether a High Court can, under Article 227, direct a subordinate civil court to decide a suit within a specified short time‑frame.
- Whether such a direction is permissible in light of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on time‑bound disposal of cases.
Legislation cited
- Constitution of India — s. Article 226, Article 227
Subjects
- Article 227
- writ petition
- expedited hearing
- civil suit
- high court direction
- judicial discretion
- time‑bound schedule
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
MATTERS UNDER ARTICLE 227 No. - 13381 of 2026
Munni Singh And 2 Others
.....Petitioner(s)
Versus
Ramswaroop Shukla
.....Respondent(s)
Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Vijay Babu
Counsel for Respondent(s) :
Court No. - 9
HON'BLE ROHIT RANJAN AGARWAL, J.
1. This writ petition has been filed with the following prayer:-
"(i). issue a direction, directing to the Additional Civil Judge (Junior
Division), Court No. 4, Fatehpur, to decide the Original Suit No. 599 of
2014 (Ramswaroop Shukla Vs. Munni Singh and others) for permanent
injunction, pending before Civil Judge (J.D.), Court No.4, Fatehpur,
within short span of time as fixed by this Hon'ble Court."
2. Recently, the Constitution Bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court in High
Court Bar Association, Allahabad vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and
others (2024) 6 SCC 267 has held that Constitution Courts should refrain
from fixing a time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending
before any other courts. The Court further held that issue of prioritising
the disposal of cases should be best left to the decision of the courts
concerned where the cases are pending. Relevant para 47.3 of the said
judgment is extracted hereasunder :-
"Constitutional courts, in the ordinary course, should refrain from fixing a
time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending before any other
courts. Constitutional courts may issue directions for the time-bound
disposal of cases only in exceptional circumstances. The issue of
prioritising the disposal of cases should be best left to the decision of the
courts concerned where the cases are pending;"
3. The Division Bench of this Court in Ali Shad Usmani vs. Ali Isteba,
A227 No. 13381 of 2026
2
2015 (2) ADJ 250 (DB) has held that no direction can be issued to the
sub-ordinate courts for deciding the suit within stipulated period. Relevant
portion of the judgment is extracted hereasunder:-
"We are not inclined to issue a direction for the expeditious hearing of a
Civil Suit which is pending before the Civil Judge (Junior Division),
District-Azamgarh. It would be most inappropriate to Court to entertain a
writ petition under Article 226 and/or under Article 227 of the
Constitution simply for the purpose of expediting the hearing of a suit.
Such orders, if granted, place a class of litigants, who move the court in a
separate and preferential category whereas other cases which may be of
similar or greater antiquity and urgency are left to be decided in the
normal channel. Hence, any such direction may be issued with the greatest
care and circumspection by the High Court otherwise the Civil Courts will
be overburdened only with requests for expeditious disposal of suits,
which have been expedited by the High Court. Most of the litigants cannot
afford the expense of moving the High court and would not, therefore, be
in a position to have the benefit of such an order.
Ultimately, it must be left to the judicious exercise of discretion of the
concerned Court to determine whether a ground for urgency has been
made out. We emphasize that there may be other cases such as involving
senior citizens, those who are differently abled or people suffering from a
particular disablilty socio-economic or otherwise which may prime cause
of urgent disposal. It is for the learned Trial Judge in each case to apply
his or her mind and decide whether the hearing of the suit to be expedited.
For these reasons, we are not inclined to entertain the petition. The
petition is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to cost."
4. In view of above, this Court declines to direct the court below to
expedite the proceedings pending before it.
5. The petitioner may, however, move an application for expeditious
disposal of Suit No. 599 of 2014 before the court concerned who will
decide the same on the basis of pendency of cases before it and also
keeping in mind the dictum of Hon’ble Apex Court.
A227 No. 13381 of 2026
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6. With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition stands disposed of.
7. Registrar (Compliance) to communicate this order to court concerned,
within 48 hours.
(Rohit Ranjan Agarwal,J.)
September 24, 2026
(V. S. SINGH)
Digitally signed by :-
VIDYA SAGAR SINGH
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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