REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4453 OF 2014 (arii!" #$% #& SLP(C'N#.30 #& 2012' JACKY
…. APPELLANT APPELLANT VERSUS
TINY @ ANTONY ANTONY & ORS.
….RESPONDENTS ….RESPONDENTS
J UD ) M E N T
SUDHANSU J*OTI MU+HOPADHA*A, J.
Leave granted.
2.
Th! a""ea# ha! $een "re%erred $ the "#ant%%'a""e##ant
agan!t the ()dg*ent and +rder dated ,-./.,/ "a!!ed $ the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera#a at Erna1)#a* Erna1)#a* n O.P. O.P. 2C3 N+.-4, N+.-4, +% ,/. 5 the *")gned ()dg*ent and +rder6 the 0gh C+)rt 7h#e e8er9!ng t! "+7er )nder Art9#e! ,,: and ,,- +% the C+n!tt)t+n +% Inda6 !et a!de the "#ant and %)rther "r+9eedng! ntated +n the $a!! +% the "#ant n the !)t6 ;)a!hed the +rder "a!!ed $ the <)n!%% C+)r C+)rtt and and *"+ *"+!e !ed d 9+!t 9+!t +% R!., R!.,=6 =6// ///> />'' +n the the a""e a""e## ##an antt %+r %+r "a*ent n %av+)r +% the re!"+ndent'7rt "ett+ner.
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The +n# ;)e!t+n 7h9h ! re;)red t+ $e deter*ned n th!
9a!e ! 7hether the 0gh C+)rt 7h#e e8er9!ng t! "+7er )nder Art9#e! ,,: and ,,- +% the C+n!tt)t+n +% Inda ! 9+*"etent t+ !et a!de the "#ant ?
4.
The 9a!e +% the !t re!"+ndent heren $e%+re the 0gh C+)rt
7a! that the !h+" $earng n+. >/: 7a! #ea!ed t+ the %ather +% the !t re!"+nde re!"+ndent nt n the ear 4:, $ an +ra# +ra# #ea!e #ea!e $ the %ather +% the ,nd re!"+ndent6 re!"+ndent6 na*e#6 na*e#6 A11ara""att A11ara""att J+!e. J+!e. A%ter the death +% the %ather +% the !t re!"+n re!"+nden dent6 t6 the a""e# a""e##an #antt heren heren66 h! $r+ther! $r+ther! and *+ther *+ther 9+ntn)ed 9+ntn)ed a! tenant! tenant! +% the !h+". !h+". The are are r)nnng a $)!ne!! +% Ph+t+!tat6 te#e"h+ne $++th6 %a86 #a*nat+n et9. et9. n the !ad !ad !h !h+" +"..
A%te A% terr the the deat death h +% the the %ath %ather er +% the , nd
re!"+ndent6 h! "r+"ert dev+#ved )"+n h! 9h#dren.
5.
A "artt+n !)t ! !tated t+ $e "endng n the S)$ C+)rt6
Thr!!)r $earng O.S. N+. B4 +% ,/// 7th re!"e9t t+ the "r+"ert +% the %ather +% the , nd re!"+ndent n 7h9h the $)#dng ! the !)$(e9t !)$(e9t *atter. *atter. Agan!t Agan!t the "re#*na "re#*nar r de9ree de9ree n the a$+ve !ad !ad !)t an a""ea# ! !ad t+ $e "endng $e%+re the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera#a Kera#a..
)rthe )rtherr 9a!e 9a!e +% the !t re!"+ndent 7a! that !n9e the
9h# 9h#dr dren en +%
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%+r9e%)## ev9tng the* %r+* the "r+"ert and t 7a! de9reed n ther %av+)r $ de9ree and ()dg*ent dated :./.,//B.
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The 9a!e +% the a""e##ant ! that the !9hed)#e !h+" 7a!
")r9ha!ed $ the a""e##ant vde deed! dated ,:.=.,// and +n :., : .,., .,/ / %r+* %r+* the the 9h#d 9h#dre ren n +%
.
The a""e##ant heren %#ed O.S. N+. ,,: +% ,// $e%+re the
<)n!%% C+)rt6 Thr!!)r agan!t the !t re!"+ndent6 h! *+ther and h! $r+ther! $r+ther! 9#a*ng a$!+#)te a$!+#)te tt#e +ver the "r+"ert. "r+"ert. A99+rdng t+ the !t re!"+ndent6 he 7a! hara!!ed $ the S)$ In!"e9t+r +% P+#9e6 Thr!!)r and agan!t the !a*e he %#ed re"re!entat+n re"re!entat+n $e%+re the hgh hgher er a)th a)th+r +rt te e! ! !n9 !n9e e the the have have n+t n+t ta1e ta1en n an an a9t a9t+n +n66 rt rt Pett+n 2C3 N+. :4, +% ,// 7a! %#ed $ h* $e%+re the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera#a and the !a*e ! "endng 7th+)t an +rder!.
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)rther 9a!e +% the !t re!"+n re!"+nden dentt 7a! 7a! that that the a""e## a""e##ant ant
here heren n ha! ha! %#e %#ed d an a%% a%%da dav vtt n O.S. O.S. N+. N+. , ,B/ B/ +% ,/ ,// / "end "endn ng g $e%+re the <)n!%% C+)rt6 Thr!!)r *a1ng an )nderta1ng that he 7+)# 7+)#d d n+t n+t %+r9 %+r9e% e%)# )## # d!" d!"+! +!!e !e!! !! the the !t re!" re!"+n +nde dent nt %r+* %r+* the the 3
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"r+" "r+"er ert t..
Even Even th+)g th+)gh h ther there e ! an )nde )ndert rta1 a1n ng g gve gven n $ the
a""e a""e## ##an antt here heren n66 the the a""e a""e## ##an antt 9+nt 9+ntn n)e )ed d t+ hara hara!! !! the the !t re!"+ndent. There%+re6 the !t re!"+ndent *+ved $e%+re the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera#a $ %#ng .P. 2C3 N+. ,:B +% ,/ %+r "+#9e "r+te9t+n. In the !ad 9a!e6 nter* +rder 7a! "a!!ed $ the 0gh C+) C+)rt +n ,:. :.. .,/ ,/ dre9 re9t tn ng the the a)th+r th+rt te e! ! t+ "r+t "r+te9 e9tt !t re!"+ndent and h! !$#ng! t+ 9arr +n the $)!ne!! n the !h+" r++* r++*..
Ther Therea ea%t %ter er the 0gh 0gh C+)r C+)rtt d!" d!"+! +!ed ed +% the the .P .P 2C3 2C3 N+. N+.
,:B +% ,/ $ *a1ng the nter* +rder a$!+#)te.
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The !t re!"+ndent 9+ntended that )nder the 9r9)*!tan9e!6
7th an ntent+n t+ ev9t h*6 the a""e##ant heren 9+##)ded 7th the ,nd re!"+ndent %#ed O.S. N+. := +% ,/ $e%+re the <)n!%% C+)rt6 C+)rt6 Thr!! Thr!!)r )r +n :.=.,/ :.=.,/. .
The The <)n! <)n!%% %% C+)rt6 C+)rt6 Thr!!) Thr!!)rr $ an
nter* +rder dated ,-.=.,/ n()n9ted the , nd re!"+ndent %r+* 9+nd 9+nd)9 )9t tng ng an an "r+h "r+h$ $t ted ed $)! $)!ne ne!! !! n the the !h !h+" +" r++* r++* eth ether er dre9t dre9t# # +r thr+)gh thr+)gh !+*e+ !+*e+ne ne e#!e. e#!e.
5 vrt)e vrt)e +% the !ad 9+)rtF 9+)rtF! !
+rder6 rd re!"+ndent heren Thr!!)r <)n9"a# C+r"+rat+n !!)ed n+t9e +n .:.,/ t+ the , nd re!"+ndent dre9tng h* t+ 9#+!e the $)!ne!! n the !h+" r++*. The !t re!"+ndent6 therea%ter6 *+ved $e%+re the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera#a $ %#ng Orgna# Pett+n 2C3 N+. -4, +% ,/ "rang nter a#a t+ 9a## %+r the +rgna# re9+rd! +% the the O.S. O.S. N+. N+. : := = +% ,/ ,/ "end "endn ng g $e%+ $e%+re re the the <)n! <)n!% %%% C+)r C+)rt6 t6 Thr!!)r and t+ ;)a!h the "#ant %#ed $ the a""e##ant n the 9v# 4
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!)t. On n+t9e6 the a""e##ant a""e##ant a""eared a""eared and and %#ed 9+)nter 9+)nter a%%davt a%%davt $e%+re $e%+re the 0gh 0gh C+)rt C+)rt a!!a# a!!a#ng ng the the ver ver *anta *antana na$# $#t t +% the +rgna# "ett+n. On hearng the the "arte!6 the the 0gh C+)rt C+)rt "a!!ed the *")gned ()dg*ent and +rder +n ,-./.,/.
10.
h#e a99+rdng t+ the a""e##ant rt Pett+n )nder Art9#e!
,,: and ,,- +% the C+n!tt)t+n +% Inda 7a! n+t *antana$#e t+ ;)a!h the "#ant +r the !)t "r+9eedng! and>+r the n()n9t+n +rder "a!!ed $ the tra# C+)rt6 "er 9+ntra a99+rdng ng t+ the !t re!"+ndent t 7a! +"en t+ the 0gh C+)rt t+ !!)e !)9h 7rt +n $eng !at!%ed that the +rder +$taned $ the a""e##ant 7a! $ de9et%)# *ean! n +rder t+ har* the !t re!"+ndent.
11. r+* r+* the *")gn ")gned ed +rde +rder6 r6 7e %nd %nd tha that the a""e# ""e##a #an nt 9ha##enged the ver *antana$#t +% the 7rt "ett+n and arg)ed that the 7rt "ett+n 7a! n+t *antana$#e t+ ;)a!h an "#ant +r a 9v 9v## !) !)t t..
The The 0gh 0gh C+)rt C+)rt n+t9 n+t9ed ed the the !tan !tand d ta1e ta1en n $ the !t
re!"+ndent 7h+ "#eaded a! %+##+7!G The a""e##ant ha! %ra)d)#ent# %#ed the !)t t+ hara!! the !t re!"+ndent and t+ en!)re that the $)!ne!! r)n n the !h+" ! 9#+!ed d+7n. The !ad !)t !)t 7a! %#ed $ the a""e##ant a""e##ant a%ter a%ter havng %a#ed n a## ##ega# atte*"t! t+ ev9t the !t re!"+ndent %r+* the !h+" r++* 7h9h 7a! n h! "+!!e!!+n a! a tenant %+r a ver #+ng t*e. The a""e##ant a""e##ant de#$erate# and %ra)d)#ent# %ra)d)#ent# +*tted +*tted t+ have 5
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*"#ead the !t re!"+ndent a! a de%endant t+ the !)t n +rder t+ +$tan an +rder %r+* the 9+)rt !+ that t 9+)#d $e *!)!ed t+ 9a)!e <)n9"a# C+r"+rat+n t+ "a!! an +rder t+ 9#+!e d+7n the !h+".
12. The 0gh C+)rt havng n+t9ed the rva# 9+ntent+n! a99e"ted the "#ea ta1en $ the !t re!"+ndent and +$!erved a! %+##+7!G “ 49. There can be no doubt that though Ex.P2 and P3 ord orders ers are are procu rocurred by 1st respon responden dentt agains againstt 2nd respondent, those are intended to be misused to harass petitioner. It is also clear that those orders are obtained to ensure ensure that petitioner’s petitioner’s shop and the business business run by him or or !ery !ery long long peri period od are clos closed ed do"n. do"n. The The mean means s and st methods adopted by 1 respondent to obtain Ex.P2 and P3 orders are most undesirable undesirable and those cannot be appro!ed appro!ed by any court. 50. It
is unortunate that an argument is raised by learned counsel or 1st respondent that Ex P2 and Ex P3 orders are passed against 2nd respondent and not against petitioner and hence, petitioner has no locus standi etc. # person "ho has obtained an order rom a court, on the basi basis s o plea pleadi ding ng o act acts s "hic "hich h are are als alse e to his his o"n o"n $no" $no"le ledg dge, e, "ith "ithou outt ma$i ma$ing ng the the pers person on "ho "ho is actu actual ally ly targeted targeted a party to the proceedin proceeding g "ith the sole intention to misuse misuse the order order agains againstt him, him, the ormer ormer sh shall all not be hear heard d to say say that the the latt latter er has not locu locus s standi andi to challenge challenge such order, order, only on the ground ground that the order is passed against some other person and not the targeted person. 51. I
the court court is satisied satisied that an order order is obtained obtained by any person by deceitul means to harm another, it can e!en suo suo motu motu undo the the harm. harm. %o the &uest &uestion ion o locus locus standi etc. is not !ery rele!ant in cases o this type. type. #t any rate, no person shall be permitted by the court to ta$e undue ad!antage ad!antage o his o"n dishonesty dishonesty and contend contend that the other other party party "ho is illegall illegally y "ounde "ounded d by him has has no locus standi. standi. 'e has no right right to re&uest re&uest the the court to sho" sho" a red red sign signal al to the the othe otherr "ho "ho rush rushes es to the the cour courtt or or (ustice.)
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13.
In ve7 +% !)9h +$!ervat+n!6 the 0gh C+)rt a##+7ed the 7rt
"ett+n and ;)a!hed the "#ant and +ther +rder!.
14. The *antana$#t +% 7rt "ett+n n a *atter +% #and#+rd' tenant tenant d!")t d!")te e 7a! 7a! 9+n!d 9+n!dere ered d $ th! C+)rt C+)rt n Sai!i Sa
S%% a! a!#%r 6. Ra7!ra Sa!8ar Pa%i, (2010' / SCC 32. In the !ad 9a!e6 th! C+)rt n+t9ed the !9+"e +% nter%eren9e $ the 0gh C+)rt n 9v# *atter!>"rvate d!")te! )nder Art9#e ,,: ,, : +% the the C+n! C+n!t tt) t)t t+n +n +% Ind Inda a and and he#d he#d that that the the 0gh 0gh C+)r C+)rtt 9+** 9+**t tte ted d an err+ err+rr n ente entert rta an nng ng 7rt 7rt "et "ett t+n +n n a d!" d!")t )te e $et7een #and#+rd and tenant and 7here the +n# re!"+ndent ! a "rvate #and#+rd.
15.
Nat)re and !9+"e +% "+7er )nder Art9#e ,,- +% the
C+n!tt)t+n +% Inda 7a! 9+n!dered $ th! C+)rt n Jai Si!" a!
#% #% r r 6. M$!i M$!i9i 9i:a :a C#r: C#r:#r #ra% a%i# i#! ! #& D Dii a! a! a!#% a!#% r, r, (2010' SCC 3/5. In the !ad 9a!e6 th! C+)rt he#dG *e ha!e anxiously anxiously considere considered d the submissio submissions ns o the learned counsel. +eore "e consider the actual and legal issu issues es in!o in!ol! l!ed ed herei erein, n, "e may noti notice ce cer certain tain "ell ell recognised recognised principles principles go!erning go!erning the exercise exercise o (urisdicti (urisdiction on by the 'igh -ourt -ourt under under #rticle #rticle 22 o the -onst -onstitu itutio tion n o India. /ndoubtedly the 'igh -ourt, under this article, article, has the (urisdiction to ensure that all subordinate courts as "ell as statut statutor ory y or &uasi &uasi(ud (udici icial al tribun tribunals als,, exerci exercise se the po"ers po"ers !ested in them, "ithin the bounds o their authority. The 'igh -ourt has the po"er and the (urisdiction (urisdiction to ensure that they act in accordance "ith the "ellestablished principles o la". The 'igh -ourt is !ested "ith the po"ers o superi superinte ntende ndence nce and0or and0or (udici (udicial al re!isi re!ision, on, e!en e!en in matte matters rs "her "here e no re!i re!isi sion on or appe appeal al lies lies to the the 'igh 'igh -our -ourt. t. The The (urisdiction under this article is, in some "ays, "ider than the po"er and (urisdiction ion under #rticle 22 o the -onstitution o India. It is, ho"e!er, "ell to remember the “15.
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"ell$no"n adage that greater the po"er, greater the care and caution in exercise thereo. thereo. The 'igh -ourt is, thereore, thereore, expe expect cted ed to exer exerci cise se su such ch "ide "ide po"e po"ers rs "ith "ith grea greatt care care,, cautio caution n and circum circumspe specti ction. on. The exerci exercise se o (urisd (urisdict iction ion must be "ithin the "ellrecognised constraints. constraints. It can not be exercised li$e a “bull in a china shop), shop), to correct all errors errors o (udgment o a court, or tribunal, acting "ithin the limits o its (urisdiction. This correctional correctional (urisdiction can be exercised in cases "here orders ha!e been passed passed in gra!e dereliction o duty or in lagrant abuse o undamental undamental principles o la" or (ustice.)
1-. The ;)e!t+n 7hether the +ne +r +ther +rder "r+9)red $ the a""e## a""e##ant ant agan! agan!tt the , nd re!"+n re!"+nden dentt 7a! 7a! 7th 7th the ntent ntent+n +n t+ hara hara!! !! the the !t re!" re!"+n +nde dent nt ! a ;)e! ;)e!t t+n +n +% %a9t %a9t 7h9 7h9h h 9an 9an $e dete deter* r*n ned ed +n the the $a! $a!! ! +% evde evden9 n9e. e.
Ther There e ! n+ !) !)9h 9h !!)e !!)e
%ra*ed n+r an evden9e $r+)ght +n re9+rd t+ !)gge!t E8. P, and P the +rder! +$taned $ the a""e##ant agan!t the , nd re!"+ndent 7th ntent+n t+ *!)!e the !a*e and hara!! the !t re!"+ndent. I% the !t re!"+ndent 7a! aggreved agan!t the +rder! 9+ntaned n E8.P, and P 7h9h 7ere "a!!ed $ the 9+)rt! n +ne +r +ther !)t agan!t a thrd "art 2, nd re!"+ndent3 and t+ 7h9h !t re!"+ndent 7a! n+t a "art6 he 7a! n+t re*ed#e!! and 9+)#d have 9ha##enged the !a*e $e%+re an a""r+"rate %+r)*.
1.
A "ett+n )nder Art9#e ,,: +r Art9#e ,,- +% C+n!tt)t+n +%
Inda Inda 9an nethe netherr $e enter enterta taned ned t+ de9de de9de the #and#+ #and#+rd' rd'ten tenan antt d!") d! ")te te n+r n+r t ! *an *anta tan na$ a$#e #e aga agan! n!tt a "rv "rvat ate e nd ndv vd) d)a# a# t+ deter*ne an nten!e d!")te n9#)dng the ;)e!t+n 7hether +ne "art hara!!ng hara!!ng the the +ther "art. The 0gh C+)rt )nder )nder Art9#e ,,,,8
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ha! the ()r!d9t+n t+ en!)re that a## !)$+rdnate 9+)rt! a! 7e## a! !tat)t+r +r ;)a!'()d9a# tr$)na#!6 e8er9!e the "+7er! ve!ted n the* 7thn the $+)nd! +% ther a)th+rt $)t t 7a! n+t the 9a!e +% the !t re!"+ndent that the +rder "a!!ed $ the <)n!%% C+)rt 7a! 7th 7th+ +)t an an ()r ()r!d !d9t 9t+n +n +r 7a! !+ e8er e8er9 9! !ed e89e e89eed edn ng g t! t! ()r!d9t+n. I% a !)t ! n+t *antana$#e t 7a! 7e## 7thn the ()r!d9t+n +% the 0gh C+)rt t+ de9de the !a*e n a""r+"rate "r+9eedng! $)t n n+ 9a!e "+7er )nder Art9#e! ,,: and ,,- +% C+n!tt)t+n +% Inda 9an $e e8er9!ed t+ ;)e!t+n a "#ant.
1/. +r +r the the rea! rea!+n +n! ! a%+r a%+re! e!a ad6 d6 7e !et !et a!d a!de e the the *") *")gn gned ed ()dg*ent and +rder dated ,-./.,/ "a!!ed $ the 0gh C+)rt +% Kera Kera#a #a at Erna Erna1) 1)#a #a* * n O.P. O.P.2C 2C33 N+. N+.-4 -4, , +% ,/ ,/ and and a##+ a##+7 7 the the a""ea#.
;;;..;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;..J. (SUDHANSU J*OTI MU+HOPADHA*A'
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.J. (S.A. BOBDE' NE< DELHI= APRIL , 2014.
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