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Supreme Court of India

M.S.R. PRASADversusBOMMISETTI SUBBA RAO AND ORS.

Citation
1996 INSC 805
Decided
30 July 1996
Disposal
Dismissed

Holding

The writ appeal against the interlocutory order is maintainable, and the High Court correctly dismissed the writ petition as the appropriate remedy lies in the civil suit.

Summary

The petitioner obtained an injunction from a civil court restraining the respondent from constructing a building that allegedly infringed his easement of air and light. The respondent filed a writ petition under Article 226 against the Municipal Corporation, claiming the construction was authorized, and the High Court Single Judge ordered a commissioner to inspect the work. The respondent obtained a stay of the commissioner’s report under Section 115 of the CPC and appealed the order appointing the commissioner. The Division Bench held that the writ petition was not maintainable, directing the respondent to seek relief by amending the plaint in the civil suit, and dismissed the writ petition. The Supreme Court affirmed that a writ appeal lies against such interlocutory orders and that the High Court was correct in refusing interference, as the civil‑suit remedy had already been exhausted. Consequently, the Special Leave Petition was dismissed and the lower court was directed to dispose of the civil suit within four months.

Issues considered

  • Whether a writ appeal is maintainable against an interlocutory order appointing a commissioner under Section 115 of the CPC.
  • Whether the writ petition under Article 226 is maintainable when the remedy lies in the civil suit.
  • Whether the petitioner can obtain relief based on the commissioner’s report after the civil‑suit remedy has been availed.

Legislation cited

Subjects

injunctioneasementcivil suitwrit petitionArticle 226Section 115 CPCwrit appealinterlocutory orderamendment of plaintmunicipal corporationconstructioncommissioner’s report

Judgment

                              M.S.R. PRASAD                                         A
                                       v.
                 BOMMISETTI SUBBA RAO AND ORS.

                                JULY 30, 1996

            [K. RAMASWAMY AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]                                  B

      Constitution of India, 1950 :

       Article 226-Wiit petition filed to nullify the injunction granted by civil
cowt----Maintai11ability of-Petitioner obtai11ed injunction from civil cowt         C
against respondent restraining him from proceeding with
construction-Respo11dent filed w1it petition against the Municipal Corpora-
tion intpleading the petitioner and contending that his constntction was in
accordance with the pennission accorded by the Co1poration and he may be
pennitted to proceed with the const1uction-On an applicati01~ Single Judge          D
directed appointment of a Conunissionei-Order of Single Judge challenged
by respondent in writ appeal Division Bench held that writ petition was not
ntaintainable and it would be open to respondent to seek an1endn1ent of
plaint in the civil suit and seek approp1iate remedy-Held, remedy available
to the petitioner in the civil suit having already been availed of, High Coult      E
nghtly declined to inte1fere and dismissed the writ petition-Parties have been
directed to approach the civil courl and seek ame11dment of the plaint
accordingly-It would not be open to petitioner to seek relief on the basis of
report of the Commissioner.

     CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Special Leave Petition (C)                      F
No. 13671 of 1996.

     From the Judgment and Order dated 19.6.96 of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court in N.A. No. 58 of 1996.
                                                                                    G
       Rajiv Dhawan, S. Udaya Kumar Sagar and Ashok, Kr. Anand for the
petitioner.

      The folloWing Order of the Court was delivered :

      The petitioner in the first instance invoked the jurisdiction of the civil H
                                      177
    178                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.

A Court and obtained an injunction against the respondent from proceeding
    with the construction said to be in violation of his easement right of air and
    light. The respondent filed a writ petition against the Municipal Corpora-
    tion impleading the petitioner, contending that his construction was in
    accordance with the permission accorded by them and, therefore, he may
B   be permitted to proceed with the construction. Thereafter, an application
    came to be filed for appointment of a Commissioner. The learned Single
    Judge passed an order directing the Principal District Munsiff, Vijayawada
    to appoint a Commissioner and after notice to the parties, the Commis·
    sioner would inspect and submit a report to the High Court whether the
    construction was in accordance with the permission granted by the
c   Municipal Corporation or in violation thereof.

          It is not in dispute that an Advocate Commissioner came to be
    appointed and he submitted the report. It appears that before submitting
    the report, the respondent seems to have filed the Civil Revision Petition
D   under section 115 and obtained stay of Commissioner's submitting the
    report. The Commissioner, in the meantime, completed inspection and
    returned the warrant to the Civil Judge. The respondent filed an appeal
    against the order of the single Judge appointing the Commissioner before
    the Division Bench. The Division Bench in the impugned order pointed
E   out that the writ petition was not maintainable and it would be open to
    the appellant to amend the plaint in the civil suit and seek appropriate
    remedy. Accordingly the impugned order dated June 19, 1996. came to be
    passed in Writ Appeal No. 58/86.

          Shri Rajeev Dhavan, learned Senior counsel for the petitioner, sought
F   to contend that the writ appeal does not lie against the interlocutory order.
    We find no force in the contention. It is well settled position of law in that
                                                                                     •
    High Court, i.e. the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, that writ appeal would
    lie against the interlocutory order. It is then contended that the respondent
    had abused the process of law and obtained the order when the petition
G   sought to avail of the report submitted by the Commissioner, the Division
    Bench without going into the report has directed him to avail the remedy
    in the civil suit. We do not find any force in the contention. In view of the
    fact that the remedy available to the petitioner in the civil suit has already
    been availed of, the High Court has rightly declined to interfere and
H    dismissed the writ petitio.n of the respondent. While disposing of the writ
                   M.S.R. PRASAD v. BOMMISETI1 SUBBARAO                     179


-   appeal, High Court directed the parties to approach the civil Court and of A
    avail the remedy by amending the plaint accordingly. Therefore, it would
    not be open to the petitioner to have plaint amended suitably and seek
    appropriate relief on the basis of the report of the Commissioner.

          The petition is dismissed accordingly. The lower court is directed to
    dispose of the suit as expeditiously as possible within four months from the   B
    dated of receipt of this o.rder.

    R.P.                                                    Petition dismissed.


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