S.D.S. SHIPPING PVT. LTD.versusJAY CONTAINER SERVICES CO. PVT. LTD. AND ORS.

                             S.D.S. SHIPPING PVT. LTD.                                 A
                                           V.

             JAY CONTAINER SERVICES CO. PVT. LTD. AND ORS.

                                     MAY 8, 2003

                [SHIVARAJ V. PATIL AND ARIJIT PASAYAT, JJ.]                            B


            Constitution ofIndia, 1950-Article I 36-/nterim order to deposit certain
     amount by High Court-Interference with-Held: Power under Article I 36 is
     exercised only on showing substantial injustice, and not for mere technical       C
     flaws in a proceedings-On facts there being some faulty conclusions in law
     and direction being an interim order, thus not fit case for interference-
     However to meet ends ofjustice direction issued to deposit Rs 50 lakhs instead
      of Rs. 82 lakhs.

           Respondents are engaged in supply of containers for the ships to D
     carry goods from one place to another. It supplied containers to the
)    appellant from time to time. Parties entered into a lease agreement for
     use of leased containers. Agreement expired but was extended for one
     month. Appellant did not return the containers during the extended period
     and thereafter. Respondent filed suit for recovery which included the claim
     for non-return of the containers and outstanding rental. Respondent took E
     out a motion for Receiver and injunction for the containers not returned.
     Single Judge of High Court rejected the motion, however, granted liberty
     to the respondent to take out the appropriate proceedings for a direction
     to appellant to deposit the arrears of rent. Division Bench upheld the order.
     Respondent took another notice of motion praying that appellant be F
     directed to deposit arrears of rent. Single Judge held that the power of
     the court under Order 12 Rule 6 CPC dealing with decree on admission
     could not be invoked and also that respondent could not invoke the
     inherent jurisdiction under Section 151 CPC. Respondent challenged the
     order. Division Bench upholding the order of Single Judge directed
     appellant to deposit Rs.82 lakhs. Hence the present appeal.                   G
.)
            Respondent no. I contended that the appellant has taken advantage
     of its own wrong doings, it had taken the containers on lease and in terms
     of Clause 6 of the agreement it had to pay rental charges till the containers
     are returned which has admittedly not been done; that there are several
                                         101                                           fl
    102                       SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. I S.C.R.

A   letters where there was express acceptance of the liability; and that this
    is not a case where this Court should exercise powers under Article 136
    of the Constitution.

           Appellants contended that in a summary suit under Order 37 where
    there was dispute regarding the liability, the Division Bench erred in
B   directing to deposit the amount; and while implicitly upholding that Order
    12 Rule 6 was not applicable, it could not have applied Order 39 Rule 10
    of the Code with the help of Section 151 which operates in an entirely
    different background; that the Division Bench committed factual error
    in observing that there was no clear denial to the claim of the respondent
C   and/or that its stand was an evasive one and at times in the nature of an
    afterthought; that the claim as made clearly exaggerated without any
    foundation or basis and neither in law nor equity respondent was entitled
    to any relief; that it is accepted that at the most the respondent may be
    entitled to the arrears of rentals and nothing beyond that; that the question
    of making any payment for the rentals after expiry of the agreement period
D   is also not contemplated in law; that there was no termination of the
    agreement and on the contrary it lost it currency after the extended period
    of one month beyond the initially stipulated bst date; that the scope and          \.
    ambit of Article 136 is too well known and, therefore, where substantial
    question of law relating to jurisdiction of a commercial court is raised,
E   the Court has to see whether the impugned judgment meets the
    requirement of law; and that it is too futile to contend that Article 136
    will not be exercised in a case of this nature where the Division Bench of
    High Court clearly acted contrary to well-settled principle of law.

          Disposing of the appeal, the Court
F
           HELD: The order impugned is an interim order. The direction is
    for deposit and no liberty has been granted to the respondent for
    withdrawal after the deposit. There was no serious dispute relating to the
    claim for arrears of rentals. Admittedly, 92 containers were leased out by
    the respondent to the appellant according to whom some of the containers
G   were not traceable and were lost and that subsequent to the filing of the
    suit, it was contended that all the 92 vessels were lost. Even if it is accepted
    for the sake of arguments that there was some faulty conclusion in law,
    the impugned order being an interim one, instant case is not a fit case for
    interference in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 136 of the
H   Constitution. Power is exercised only for showing substantial injustice, and
  S.D.S. SHIPPING PVT LTD. v. JAYCONTAINERSERVICESCO. PVT LTD. [PASAYAT,J.] ] 03

not for merely technical flaws in a proceedings. But, taking note of the           A
peculiar facts, to meet ends of justice appellant is directed to deposit
Rupees Fifty lacs instead of Rupees Eighty two lacks by end of June, 2003.
                                                  1106-F, G, H; 107-A, Bl

      Shahoodul Haque v. The Registrar, Co-operative societies, Bihar and
Anr., [19751 3 SCC 108; Rashpal Malhotra v. Mrs. Satya Rajput and Anr., B
[19871 4 SCC 391; Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd, Ranchi v. K Singh
and Co., Ranchi, AIR (1977) SC 2031; Baigana v. Deputy Collector of
Consolidation, 1197813 SCR 509 and Taherakhatoon (D) by lrs. v. Salambin
Mohammad, [19991 2 SCC 635, referred to.

      CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 4064 of2003.                  C
     From the Judgment and Order dated 27.9.2002 of the Mumbai High
Court in A. No. I 070 of 2000.

     R.F. Nariman, Gopal Jain, Ms. Ramni Taneja, Anil Shrivastav for the           D
Appellant.

     K.K. Venugopal, V.K. Ramabhadran, E.R. Kumar, Rohit Alex, P.H.
Parekh and Rajiv Nanda for the Respondents.

      The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
                                                                                   E
      ARIJIT PASAYA T J. Leave granted.

      Shorn of unnecessary details, the factual background giving rise to the
present appeal is as follows:-

       Respondent no. I as plaintiff filed a suit in the ordinary original civil   F
jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court, inter a/ia, with the following prayers:

             "(a) That the Defendant No. I be ordered to pay the Plaintiffs a
             sum of Rs.1,61,13,173.24 (Rupees one crore sixty one lakhs
             thirteen thousand one hundred and seventy three and twenty four
             paise) details of which are given in the enclosure at Annexure        G
             'A' to this plaint and the Defendant No. I be directed to pay
             interest @ 21 % till the date of actual payment.

            "(a-1) That Defendant No. I be ordered and decreed to pay a sum
            of US$ 4140 per month alongwith interest@ 18% per annum
                                                                                   H
    104                       SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. I S.C.R.

A               from due date till payment/realization with effect from I st
                November, 1997 towards lease rent until all the 92 containers are
                returned.
                In the alternative and without prejudice:
                "(a-2) If this Honourable Court holds that the Plaintiffs are not
B               entitled to claim lease rent beyond the termination of the lease
                agreement, in that event Defendant No. I be ordered and decreed
                to pay a sum of US $ 4 I40 per month with interest @ 18% per
                annum as liquidated damages to the Plaintiffs."

          Appellant is defendant no. I in the suit.
c
         According to the plaintiff it is a private limited company engaged
  amongst others in the business of supply of containers for the ships to carry
  goods from one place to another. It supplied containers to the present appellant
  from time to time. There was a lease agreement entered into between the
D parties for use of leased containers. The agreement expired on 30th March,
  I996; but was further extended by one month. Even during the extended
  period and thereafter the containers were not returned by the defendant no. I.
  It entered into correspondence with defendant no. I calling up it to return the
  containers and to pay the lease charges. Cheques issued by the said defendant
  bounced on presentation. The defendant no. I by Jetter dated 26th April, I996
E addressed to the attorneys of the plaintiff informed that efforts were on to
  look for a suitable vessel to bring those containers from Port Louis to Bombay.
  But the containers were not returned. Prior to the said letter dated 26th April,
  I 996 by two communications dated I 0th January, 1996, it had been
  communicated that out of the total lot of 92, 35 containers could not be
F returned. It was stated that those containers were lost leaving a balance of 57
  containers. The containers were given on lease basis and since there was no
  dispute about non-return, demands were made for payment. There was also
  no dispute regarding lease rental. Ultimately, when the plaintiff found that
  the containers were not returned and also the lease charges were not paid, the
  suit No.4794 of 1997 was filed seeking a sum of Rs.1,61,13,173.14. This
G included the claim for non-return of the containers and the claim for
  outstanding rental. After the suit was filed, plaintiff took out a motion, being
  Notice of Motion No. 378 of 1998 for Receiver and injunction for the
  containers which were not returned. The learned Single Judge by order dated
   J Ith August, 1999, took the view that there was no case for appointing a
H Receiver for the properties by way of security for the amounts which may be
     S.D.S. SHIPPING PVT LTD. v. JAYCONTAINERSERVICESCO. PVT. LTD. [PASAYAT,J.]   J 05

    due. He also held that no irreparable Joss will be caused if interim relief was      A
    not granted. While rejecting this motion, however, liberty was granted to the
    plaintiff to take out the appropriate proceedings for a direction to defendant
    no. I to deposit the arrears of rent, if any, due. Order of the learned Single
    Judge was upheld by the Division Bench. While disposing of the appeal,
    however, it was observed by it that the view expressed by learned Single             B
    Judge were of prima facie nature and were intended to dispose of the motion.
    It was further observed that ifthe plaintiff moves an ap'.'lication for attachment
    before judgment, observations made in the order of learned Single Judge as
    well as the Division Bench will not prejudice the ap1ilication.

           Thereafter another notice of motion was taken where it was prayed that C
    defendant no.I be directed to deposit the amount of Rs. 81,77,632.50, being
    the amount towards arrears of rental and also for a direction that per month
    an amount of Rs. I, 78,020 be deposited from time to time. Learned Single
    Judge took the view that the power of the Court under Order 12 Rule 6 of
    Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (in short 'the Code') dealing with decree on
    admission could not be invoked in the matter. It was held that Section 151 D
    of the Code was not available to the plaintiff to invoke the inherent jurisdiction
    on the facts of the case.

         The orders were challenged by the plaintiff before the Division Bench
    which by the impugned order directed defendant no. I to deposit an amount
    ofRs.81,77,632.50 (rounded of to Rs. 82,00,000) within 12 weeks period. It           E
    was further directed that the amount was to be deposited in a nationalized
    bank for a period of 37 months and the deposit was to be renewed at a time
    by 13 months until the suit was decided. This order is under challenge.

           Mr. R.F. Nariman, learned senior counsel for the appellants submitted F
    that the Division Bench manifestly erred in directing deposit by overlooking
    the factual and legal background involved. In a commercial suit where there
    was dispute regarding the liability such directions could not have been given.
    Even in respect of a summary suit under Order 37 there was no scope for
    giving the type of direction as done. The Division Bench while implicitly
    upholding the view of learned Single Judge that Order 12 Rule 6 was not G
f   applicable could not have applied the logic of Order 39 Rule JO of the Code
    which operates in an entirely different background. It was pointed out that
    the Division Bench committed factual error in observing that there was no
    clear denial to the claim of the plaintiff and/or that its stand was an evasive
    one and at times in the nature of an afterthought. Having ruled out application H
    106                        SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. I S.C.R.

A of Order 12 Rule 6, it was not open to the Division Bench to bring in
    operation of Order 39 Rule I0, of the Code with the help of Section 151. It
    was also submitted that the claim as made clearly exaggerated, without any
    foundation or basis and neither in law nor equity plaintiff was entitled to any
    relief.

B          It was, however, accepted that at the most the plaintiff may be entitled      •
    to the arrears of rentals and nothing beyond that. The question of making any
    payment for the rentals after expiry of the agreement period is also not
    contemplated in law. There was no termination of the agreement and on the
    contrary it lost it currency after the extended period of one month beyond the
C   initially stipulated last date.

           Responding to the above submissions, Mr. K.K. Venugopal, learned
    senior counsel for the plaintiff(respondent no.I) submitted that here is a case
    where the party has taken advantage of its own wrong doings. Undisputedly
    it had taken the containers on lease. Clause 6 of the agreement clearly stipulates
D   that rental charges were to be paid till the containers are returned. This has
    admittedly not been done. There are several letters where there was express
    acceptance of the liability. Finally it was submitted that this is not a case
    where this Court should exercise powers under Article 136 of the Constitution
    of India, 1950 ( in short 'the Constitution').

E         By way of reply to the submissions made by Mr. Venugopal, Mr.
    Nariman submitted that the scope and ambit of Article 136 is too well known
    and, therefore, where substantial question of law relating to jurisdiction of a
    commercial court is raised, the Court has to see whether the impug Jed
    judgment meets the requirement of law. According to him, it is too futile to
F   contend that Article 136 will not be exercised in a case of this nature where
    the Division Bench of the High Court clearly acted contrary to well settled
    principle of law.

         Few facts of relevance need to be noted in view of the rival stands.
  Undisputedly, the order impugned is an interim order. The direction is for
G deposit and no liberty has been granted to the plaintiff for withdrawal after
  the deposit. As noted supra, there was no serious dispute relating to the claim
  for arrears ofrentals. Admittedly, 92 containers were leased out by the plaintiff
  to the defendant no. I according to whom some of the containers were not
  traceable and were lost. We may add here that subsequent to the filing of the
  suit, it was contended that all the 92 vessels were lost.
H
      S.D.S. SHIPPING PVT. LTD."· JAY CONTAINER SERVICES CO. PVT. LTD. [PASAYAT,J.] ) 07

           In view of the factual scenario unfolded above, it does not appear to be A
    a case where interference under Article 136 of the Constitution is called for.
    That power is exercised only on showing substantial injustice, and not for
    merely technical flaws in a proceeding, (See Shahoodul Haque v. The
    Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bihar and Anr., [ 1975] 3 SCC 108. The
    position was illuminatingly stated in Rashpal Malhotra v. Mrs. Satya Rajput B
    and Anr., [1987] 4 SCC 391. This Court in Heavy Engineering Corporation
    Ltd v. K Singh and Co., Ranchi, AIR (1977) SC 203 \ e::pressed the opinion
    that although the powers of this Court were wide under Article 136, it could
    not be urged that because leave had been granted the c11urt must always in
    every case deal with the merits, even though it was satisfied that the ends of
    justice did not justify its interference in a given case. It is not as if, in an C
    appeal with leave under Article 136, this Court was bound to decide the
    question if on facts at the later hearing the Court felt that the ends of justice
    did not make it necessary to decide the point. Similarly in Baigana v. Deputy
    Collector of Consolidation, [ 1978] 3 SCR 509 it was held that this Court was
    more than a court of appeal. It exercises power only when there is supreme D
    need. It is not the fifth court of appeal, but the final Court of the nation.
    Therefore, even if legal flaws might be electronically detected, it may not
    interfere save manifest injustice or substantial question of public importance.

          In Taherakhatoon (D) By Lrs. v. Salambin Mohammad, [1999] 2 SCC
    635 it was noted that even in cases where leave has been granted, the Court            E
    might after declaring the correct legal position decline to interfere saying that
    it would not exercise discretion to decide the case on merits and that it would
    decide on the basis of the equitable considerations in the facts and
    circumstances of the case and mould the final order.

          Even if it is accepted for the sake of arguments that there was some             F
    faulty conclusion in law, the impugned order being an interim one, we do not
    consider this to be fit case for interference in exercise of jurisdiction under
    Article 136. But, taking note of the peculiar facts, ends of justice would be
    best served if the appellant is directed to deposit Rupees Fifty lacs instead of
    Rupees Eighty two lacs by end of June, 2003.                                           G
          The appeal is accordingly disposed of leaving the parties to bear their
;
    respective costs.

    N.J.                                                       Appeal disposed of .