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Supreme Court of India

BRIG. SAWAI BHAWANI SINGHversusM/S. INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY LTD.

Citation
1996 INSC 1328
Decided
18 November 1996
Disposal
Dismissed

Holding

The Court held that the respondents, being under an agreement, may act as custodia legis (receivers) pending the suit, but any rights accrued are subject to the suit's outcome, and therefore dismissed the appeals.

Summary

The respondents, Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., claimed they were in possession of a hotel property under an agreement and sought a perpetual injunction to prevent the appellant, Brig. Sawai Bhabwan Singh, from interfering with their possession. The appellant, asserting exclusive ownership, applied for the appointment of a receiver under Order 40 Rule I of the CPC, while the respondents applied for an ad interim injunction under Order 39 Rule I. The trial court denied the receiver but incorrectly granted an injunction restraining the respondents from running the hotel; the district court set aside that injunction and dismissed the receiver application, a decision affirmed by the Rajasthan High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that, because the respondents were acting under an agreement, they could function as custodia legis (receivers) pending the suit, but any rights they acquire are subject to the final determination of the case. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed without costs.

Issues considered

  • Whether the respondents can be appointed as receivers (custodia legis) pending the determination of the suit for perpetual injunction.
  • Whether an ad interim injunction restraining the respondents from running the hotel business is appropriate pending the suit.
  • Whether the appellant is entitled to a receiver under Order 40 Rule I of the CPC.

Legislation cited

Subjects

perpetual injunctionad interim injunctionappointment of receivercustodia legisproperty possessionCivil ProcedureCode of Civil Procedureproperty dispute

Judgment

A                    BRIG. SA WAI BHA WAN! SINGH
                                   v.
                  MIS. INDIAN HOTELS COMPANY LTD.

                             NOVEMBER 18, 1996

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

         Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:

         Or. 39, R.l and Or, 40 R.1-Suit for perpetual injunction-
C Applications for ad interim injunction and appointment of receiver--
  Respondents claiming, under an agreements to be in possession of suit
  property for running hotel business-Appellant claiming himself exclusive
  owner of property-Suit for perpetual injunction by respondent with
  application for ad interim injunction against appellant-Appellant's
  application for appointment of receiver-Held, since respondents allege to
D have been continuing under an agreement, they would act as a custodia
  legis pending the suit as receiver on behalfofthe Court-Any right accrued
  or clain1ed by then1 lVould be subject to the result in the suit.

         CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 15083-
    84 of 1996.
E
         From the Judgment and Order dated 4.2.94 of the Rajasthan High
    Court in S.B.C.M.A. No. 294 and 311 of 1988.

         Shanti Bhushan, H.N. Salve, B.P. Aggrawal, Prashant Bhushan, Vi nay
F Bhasin, Vineet Kumar, Pradeep Aggrawal and Sushi! K. Jain for the
    appearing parties.

         The following Order of the Court was delivered :

          Leave granted.
G
        These appeals by special leave arise from the order of the High
    Com1 of Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench made on February 4, 1994 in Civil Misc.
    Appeal Nos. 294/88 and 311/88.

H         The admitted position is that pursuant to an agreement, the respondents
                                        732
        SAW Al BHA WAN! SINGH v. INDIAN HOTELS CO. LTD.                  733


are alleged to have come into possession of the suit property for running       A
the business of a hotel. It is the case of the respondents that the appellant
was unlawfully interfering with their possession and running of the business.
On the other hand, it is the case of the appellant that it is his exclusive
property and the respondents have no manner of right to come into
possession. Consequently, the respondents filed the suit for perpetual
injunction restraining the appellant from interfering with their possession     B
and running of the business. Pending suit, both the parties came to file
applications. The appellants filed an application under Order 40, Rule I
CPC for appointment of a Receiver and the respondent filed an application
under Order 39 Rule I for an ad interim injunction. Though the trial
Court had refused to issue the direction for appointment of Receiver, it
had issued an injunction against the respondents restraining them from          C
running the business. But, on appeal, the district Court has set aside the
direction not to run the business and dismissed the application for
appointment of the Receiver which came to be affirmed by the High Court.
The High Court has set aside the appointment of the Receiver qua the
property. Thus, these appeals by special leave.
                                                                                D
      In view of the fact that the respondents are continuing, as alleged, to
be under an agreement, they would obviously act as a custodia legis pending
the suit as Receivers on behalf of the Court. But any rights accrued or
claimed by them will be subject to the result in the suit. The claim for
enhance1nent of the rentals cannot be gone into in this case and it is de
hors the relief in the suit. Under these circumstances, if it is pennissible,   E
appropriate steps may be taken by the appellant in any appropriate
proceedings as per law.

       With these observations, these appeals are dismissed. No costs.
                                                                                F
R.P.                                                    Appeals dismissed.


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