Supreme Court of India
DINESH SINGH THAKURversusSONAL THAKUR
- Citation
- 2018 INSC 356
- Decided
- 17 April 2018
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- R K AGRAWAL
Holding
An Indian court may grant an anti‑suit injunction only in rare cases where refusing it would defeat the ends of justice, which was not established here, so the injunction was not upheld.
Summary
The husband, a U.S. citizen, filed a petition under Sections 13 and 26 of the Hindu Marriage Act in the Gurgaon Family Court seeking divorce, while the wife filed a divorce petition in a Florida court on grounds not available under Indian law. The husband then sued in the Gurgaon court for a permanent anti‑suit injunction to restrain the wife from pursuing the U.S. proceedings. The trial court initially granted an ex‑parte injunction, which was later vacated; the High Court upheld the vacatur and the husband appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court examined whether an Indian court can grant an anti‑suit injunction against a party amenable to its personal jurisdiction when a foreign court also has concurrent jurisdiction. It held that although Indian courts have the power to issue such injunctions, they must do so sparingly and only when the ends of justice would be defeated without it, which was not demonstrated here. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the injunction remained vacated.
Issues considered
- Whether the Gurgaon Family Court can grant an anti‑suit injunction restraining the wife from pursuing divorce proceedings in a U.S. court.
- Whether Section 41(b) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 bars the grant of an anti‑suit injunction in this circumstance.
- Whether the wife’s amenability to the Indian court’s personal jurisdiction and the existence of concurrent jurisdiction in the U.S. affect the grant of injunction.
Legislation cited
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955s. 13, s. 26, s. 7
- Specific Relief Act, 1963s. 41(a), s. 41(b)
Subjects
anti‑suit injunctionSpecific Relief ActHindu Marriage Actjurisdictionconcurrent jurisdictionequityforeign courtdivorcepersonal jurisdiction
Judgment
[2018] 3 S.C.R. 469 469
DINESH SINGH THAKUR A
v.
SONAL THAKUR
(Civil Appeal No. 3878 of 2018)
APRIL 17, 2018 B
[R. K. AGRAWAL AND R. BANUMATHI, JJ.]
Specific Relief Act, 1963:
s.41 – Injunction – Refusal of – When – Petition u/ss. 13 and
26 of Hindu Marriage Act – By husband – Pending adjudication, C
petition seeking divorce filed by wife in the Court in USA – Suit
filed by husband seeking permanent injuction (anti-suit injunction)
to restrain the wife from pursuing the petition before the Court in
USA – Ex-parte ad interim injunction granted – Therfeafter, on
application by wife, injunction vacated – The order was further
D
confirmed by High Court – On appeal, held: Both the parties are
permanent citizens of USA – Courts in India as well as in USA have
concurrent jurisdiction – Though wife is amenable to jurisdiction
of Family Court in India, there is nothing on record to hold that
other party could suffer grave injustice if injunction is not granted
– Proceedings in the Foreign Court cannot be said to be oppressive E
or vexatious – Injunction – Equity – Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 –
ss. 13 and 26 – Jurisdiction.
Injunction:
Anti-suit injunction – Held: Such injunction is meant to restrain
a party to a suit/proceedings from instituting or prosecuting a case F
in another court outside its jurisdiction, including a Foreign Court
– Principles governing grant of injunction are common to that of
granting anti-suit injunction – Cases of injunction are basically
governed by doctrine of equity – Courts in India have the power to
issue anti-suit injunction – However, before issuing such injunction, G
Courts should be very cautious and careful – It should be granted
sparingly.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
HELD: 1. Anti-Suit Injunctions are meant to restrain a party
to a suit/proceeding from instituting or prosecuting a case in H
469
470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 3 S.C.R.
A another court, including a foreign court. An anti-suit injunction is
a judicial order restraining one party from prosecuting a case in
another court outside its jurisdiction. The principles governing
grant of injunction are common to that of granting anti-suit
injunction. The cases of injunction are basically governed by the
doctrine of equity. [Para 9] [474-E]
B
2. The courts in India have power to issue anti-suit
injunction to a party over whom it has personal jurisdiction, in an
appropriate case. However, before passing the order of anti-suit
injunction, courts should be very cautious and careful, and it should
be granted sparingly and not as a matter of routine as such orders
C involve a court impinging on the jurisdiction of another court,
which is not entertained very easily specially when it restrains
the parties from instituting or continuing a case in a foreign court.
[Para 10]474-F-G]
3. Though the respondent-wife is amenable to the
D jurisdiction of Family Court in India, there is nothing on record
to hold that the other party will suffer grave injustice if the
injunction is not granted. There is no dispute to the fact that both
the parties are permanent citizens of USA. Undisputedly, the
Court in USA is also having the concurrent jurisdiction in the
E given case. The appellant-husband himself has been residing in
USA after 2007 and the proceedings for grant of anti-suit injunction
were initiated by him in India through another person by
empowering him through a power of attorney to file and pursue
the disputed litigation on his behalf. Further, there is nothing
brought on record to show how he would suffer grave injustice if
F the injunction restraining the respondent-wife from pursuing the
divorce petition in USA, is not granted. Still further, even if the
injunction is declined, it cannot be said that the ends of justice
will be defeated and injustice will be perpetuated. [Para 18] [477-
G-H; 478-A-B]
G 4. The mere fact that the respondent-wife has filed the case
on the ground which is not available to her under the Act, doesn’t
mean that there are likelihood of her succeeding in getting a
decree for divorce, specifically, in view of the fact that the appellant
has raised this contention before the Court in USA and both the
H parties will produce evidence with regard to the question whether
DINESH SINGH THAKUR v. SONAL THAKUR 471
their marriage is governed by the Act or any other law. Foreign A
court cannot be presumed to be exercising its jurisdiction wrongly
even after the appellant being able to prove that the parties in
the present case, continued to be governed by the law governing
Hindus in India in the matter of dispute between them. The
proceedings in the Foreign Court cannot be said to be oppressive
B
or vexatious. [Paras 19, 20 and 21] [[478-D-F]
Rakesh Kumar vs. Ms. Ashima Kumar AIR 2007 P&H
63; Oil and Natural Gas Commission v. Western
Company of North America (1987) 1 SCC 496 : [1987]
1 SCR 1024; Modi Entertainment Network and Another
v. WSG Cricket PTE Ltd. (2003) 4 SCC 341 : [2003] 1 C
SCR 480; Vivek Rai Gupta v. Niyati Gupta [2008] 1
SCR 1069; Harmeeta Singh v. Rajat Taneja 2003 (67)
DRJ 58; Y. Narasimha Rao & Others v. Y. Venkata
Lakshmi and Another (1991) 3 SCC 451 : [1991] 2
SCR 821 – referred to. D
Case Law Reference
AIR 2007 P&H 63 referred to Para 7
[1987] 1 SCR 1024 referred to Para 12
[2003] 1 SCR 480 referred to Para 13 E
[2008] 1 SCR 1069 referred to Para 15
2003 (67) DRJ 58 referred to Para 16
[1991] 2 SCR 821 referred to Para 17
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3878 F
of 2018.
From the Judgment and Order dated 03.11.2016 of the High Court
of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in C.R. No. 7190 of 2016.
Ms. Indu Malhotra, Sr. Adv., Vikram Mehta, Vikas Mehta, Prashant G
Singh, Ms. Rakhi Mohanty, Tanvir Nayar, Ms. Shweta Duggal, Advs.
for the Appellant.
V. Giri, Sr. Apoorv Kurup, Vivek Nasa, A. C. Boxipatro, Advs.
for the Respondent.
H
472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 3 S.C.R.
A The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
R. K. AGRAWAL, J. 1. Leave granted.
2. The present appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment
and order dated 03.11.2016 passed by the High Court of Punjab &
Haryana at Chandigarh in CR No. 7190 of 2016 whereby learned single
B Judge of the High Court dismissed the revision filed by the appellant-
husband against the order dated 18.10.2016 passed by the District Judge,
Family Court, Gurgaon in Civil Suit No. 15 of 2016 whereby ad-interim
injunction granted against the respondent-wife, vide order dated
26.09.2016 has been vacated.
C Brief facts:-
3. Having regard to the nature and circumstances of the case, we
do not intend to discuss all the facts in detail at this stage. Hence, the
facts are stated in a summarized way only to appreciate the issue involved
in this instant appeal.
D
(a) The marriage between Dinesh Singh Thakur-the appellant-
husband and Sonal Thakur - respondent-wife was solemnized on
20.02.1995 as per Hindu rites and two children were born out of the said
wedlock. The appellant-husband was working in United States of America
(USA) at the time of marriage and he took the respondent-wife to USA
E on Dependent Visa. Both the parties got the citizenship of USA in May,
2003. They obtained “PIO” status (Person of India Origin) in June 2003
and “OCI” status (Overseas Citizens of India) in July 2006.
(b) The appellant-husband filed a petition being H.M.A. No. 601
of 2016 under Sections 13 and 26 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (in
F short ‘the Act’) against the respondent-wife at the Family Court, Gurgaon
which is pending adjudication before the Court. Subsequently, the
respondent-wife filed a petition being Case No. 2016-008918-FD in the
Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County,
Florida, USA for divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of
marriage and other reliefs. Thereafter, the appellant-husband filed Civil
G
Suit No. 15 of 2016 before the District Judge, Family Court, Gurgaon,
under Section 7 of the Act for permanent injunction and declaration
inter alia to restrain the respondent-wife from pursuing the petition for
divorce before the Court in USA.
H
DINESH SINGH THAKUR v. SONAL THAKUR 473
[R. K. AGRAWAL, J.]
(c) Learned District Judge, vide order dated 26.09.2016, granted A
ex parte ad interim injunction to the appellant-husband. Being aggrieved,
the respondent-wife filed an application for vacation and modification of
the order dated 26.09.2016. Learned District Judge, vide order dated
18.10.2016, vacated the injunction granted vide order dated 26.09.2016.
(d) Aggrieved by the order vacating injunction, the appellant- B
husband preferred CR No. 7190 of 2016 before the High Court. Learned
single Judge of the High Court, vide order dated 03.11.2016 dismissed
the petition filed by the appellant-husband.
(e) Aggrieved by the judgment and order dated 03.11.2016, the
appellant-husband has filed this appeal by way of special leave before C
this Court.
4. Heard Ms. Indu Malhotra, learned senior counsel for the
appellant-husband and Mr. V. Giri, learned senior counsel for the
respondent-wife and perused the record.
Point(s) for consideration:- D
5. The only point for consideration before this Court is whether in
the present facts and circumstances of the case, the appellant-husband
is entitled to the decree of anti-suit injunction against the respondent-
wife?
E
Rival submissions:-
6. Learned senior counsel for the appellant-husband contended
that as the appellant herein had already filed a petition seeking dissolution
of marriage of the parties in which the respondent-wife was served on
04.08.2016 and she had caused appearance on 16.09.2016, the
F
proceedings initiated by the respondent-wife seeking a decree of divorce
in a Foreign Court on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage
which is not a ground for divorce under the Act are liable to be stayed.
Further, the respondent-wife, along with her minor children is residing in
India since 2003 and filing of petition for divorce in the Court at USA,
after receipt of notice in the divorce petition filed by the appellant-husband G
in India, is an abuse of process of law and amounts to multiplicity of
proceedings.
7. Learned senior counsel further contended that the respondent-
wife is admittedly residing at Gurgaon, therefore, the court at Gurgaon
H
474 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 3 S.C.R.
A would be the forum convenient to both the parties. She further contended
that the trial Court has only considered the provisions of Section 41(b) of
the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (in short ‘the SR Act’) and the decision in
the case of Rakesh Kumar vs. Ms. Ashima Kumar – AIR 2007 P&H
63 but did not take into consideration the provisions of Section 41(a) of
the SR Act, relevant in the present context. Learned senior counsel for
B
the appellant-husband finally contended that the High Court was not
right in upholding the order of the court below on vacating the ad-interim
injunction and interference in this regard is sought for by this Court.
8. Learned senior counsel for the respondent-wife while refuting
the claims made by learned senior counsel for the appellant-husband
C submitted that the petition that has been filed before the Court at Florida
is not only for dissolution of marriage of the parties but also for claiming
various other reliefs such as equitable distribution of marital assets, child
support, alimony, partition and other reliefs that are not available under
the Indian Law. Learned senior counsel further submitted that the
D irreparable loss or injury shall be caused to the respondent-wife and to
the children in case the petition pending in the Court at Florida is stayed.
Discussion
9. Anti-Suit Injunctions are meant to restrain a party to a suit/
proceeding from instituting or prosecuting a case in another court,
E including a foreign court. Simply put, an anti-suit injunction is a judicial
order restraining one party from prosecuting a case in another court
outside its jurisdiction. The principles governing grant of injunction are
common to that of granting anti-suit injunction. The cases of injunction
are basically governed by the doctrine of equity.
F 10. It is a well-settled law that the courts in India have power to
issue anti-suit injunction to a party over whom it has personal jurisdiction,
in an appropriate case. However, before passing the order of anti-suit
injunction, courts should be very cautious and careful, and it should be
granted sparingly and not as a matter of routine as such orders involve a
court impinging on the jurisdiction of another court, which is not entertained
G very easily specially when the it restrains the parties from instituting or
continuing a case in a foreign court.
11. In this backdrop, it is worthwhile to quote Section 41 of the SR
Act which provides for various instances and circumstances under which
injunction cannot be granted.
H
DINESH SINGH THAKUR v. SONAL THAKUR 475
[R. K. AGRAWAL, J.]
“41. Injunction when refused.—An injunction cannot be A
granted—
(a) to restrain any person from prosecuting a judicial proceeding
pending at the institution of the suit in which the injunction is sought,
unless such restraint is necessary to prevent a multiplicity of
proceedings; B
(b) to restrain any person from instituting or prosecuting any
proceeding in a court not subordinate to that from which the
injunction is sought;
(c) to restrain any person from applying to any legislative body;
C
(d) to restrain any person from instituting or prosecuting any
proceeding in a criminal matter;
(e) to prevent the breach of a contract the performance of which
would not be specifically enforced;
(f) to prevent, on the ground of nuisance, an act of which it is not D
reasonably clear that it will be a nuisance;
(g) to prevent a continuing breach in which the plaintiff has
acquiesced;
(h) when equally efficacious relief can certainly be obtained by
E
any other usual mode of proceeding except in case of breach of
trust;
(i) when the conduct of the plaintiff or his agents has been such
as to disentitle him to the assistance of the court;
(j) when the plaintiff has no personal interest in the matter.” F
12. The appellant – husband argued that Section 41(b) is not
applicable to the instant case rather it is applicable only to those cases
where question is regarding the injunction for proceedings in the Indian
court. In support of this argument, learned senior counsel placed reliance
on Oil and Natural Gas Commission vs. Western Company of North G
America (1987) 1 SCC 496, wherein this Court, while interpreting the
provision of Section 41(b) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 has held as
follows:-
“18….This provision, in our opinion, will be attracted only in a
fact-situation where an injunction is sought to restrain a party
H
476 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 3 S.C.R.
A from instituting or prosecuting any action in a court in India which
is either of coordinate jurisdiction or is higher to the court from
which the injunction is sought in the hierarchy of Courts in
India…..”
13. Learned senior counsel for the appellant-husband further placed
B reliance on Modi Entertainment Network and Another vs. WSG Cricket
PTE Ltd. 2003 (4) SCC 341, wherein this Court while dealing with the
matter laid down certain principles required to be taken into consideration
by any court while granting an anti-suit injunction. These principles are
as under:-
C • The defendant, against whom injunction is sought, is amenable
to the personal jurisdiction of the court.
• If the injunction is declined, the ends of justice will be defeated
and injustice will be perpetuated and;
• The principle of comity-respect for the court in which the
D
commencement or continuation of action/proceeding is sought
to be restrained-must be borne in mind.
14. In Modi Entertainment Networks (supra), this Court has
reiterated this position by holding that the courts in India like Court in
England are courts of law and equity. The principles governing the grant
E of anti-suit injunction being essentially an equitable relief; the courts in
India have the powers to issue anti-suit injunction to a party over whom
it has personal jurisdiction in an appropriate case; this is because the
courts of equity exercise jurisdiction in personam; this power has to be
exercised sparingly where such an injunction is sought and if not granted,
F it would amount to the defeat of ends of justice and injustice would be
perpetuated.
15. In Vivek Rai Gupta vs. Niyati Gupta, Civil Appeal No. 1123
of 2006, decided on February 10, 2016, this Court has held as under:-
“If the execution proceedings are filed by the respondent-wife
G for executing the aforesaid decree dated 18.09.2012 passed by
the Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga Country, Ohio, USA
against any other movable/immovable property in India it would
be open to the appellant-husband to resist the said execution
petition on any grounds available to him in law taking the position
H that such a decree is not executable.”
DINESH SINGH THAKUR v. SONAL THAKUR 477
[R. K. AGRAWAL, J.]
16. Further, in Harmeeta Singh vs. Rajat Taneja 2003 (67) DRJ A
58, the Delhi High Court considering the fact that the parties have lived
together for a very short time in the United States of America had granted
anti suit injunction.
17. Y. Narasimha Rao & Others vs. Y. Venkata Lakshmi and
Another (1991) 3 SCC 451, this Court has held as under:- B
“20. From the aforesaid discussion the following rule can be
deduced for recognising a foreign matrimonial judgment in this
country. The jurisdiction assumed by the foreign court as well as
the grounds on which the relief is granted must be in accordance
with the matrimonial law under which the parties are married. C
The exceptions to this rule may be as follows: (i) where the
matrimonial action is filed in the forum where the respondent is
domiciled or habitually and permanently resides and the relief is
granted on a ground available in the matrimonial law under which
the parties are married; (ii) where the respondent voluntarily and
effectively submits to the jurisdiction of the forum as discussed D
above and contests the claim which is based on a ground available
under the matrimonial law under which the parties are married;
(iii) where the respondent consents to the grant of the relief
although the jurisdiction of the forum is not in accordance with
the provisions of the matrimonial law of the parties.” E
18. Further, during the course of hearing, various documents such
as pan card, Aadhar card of the respondent-wife, lease deed which was
executed by her in 2015 etc., which are also placed on record, are
sufficient to show that respondent-wife is ordinarily living in India. Further,
as it appears from the proceedings recorded before the US court that F
the respondent herself has admitted that the Family Court Gurgaon has
jurisdiction in the given case. The evidence placed on record is sufficient
enough to show that the respondent is amenable to the personal jurisdiction
of Gurugram Family Court. Though the respondent-wife is amenable to
the jurisdiction of Family Court, Gurgaon, there is nothing on record to
hold that the other party will suffer grave injustice if the injunction is not G
granted. There is no dispute to the fact that both the parties are permanent
citizens of U.S. Undisputedly, the Circuit Court, Florida, USA is also
having the concurrent jurisdiction in the given case. The contention that
the appellant-husband will suffer grave injustice if the proceedings are
H
478 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 3 S.C.R.
A allowed to be continued in the Circuit Court, Florida USA doesn’t stand
to the ground as the appellant himself has been residing there after 2007
and the proceedings for grant of anti-suit injunction were initiated by him
in India through another person by empowering him through a power of
attorney to file and pursue the disputed litigation on his behalf. Further,
there is nothing brought on record to show how the appellant-husband
B
would suffer grave injustice if the injunction restraining the respondent-
wife from pursuing the divorce petition in Florida, is not granted. Still
further, even if the injunction is declined, it cannot be said that the ends
of justice will be defeated and injustice will be perpetuated.
19. The contention that the respondent-wife has filed the petition
C for divorce in the court at USA on the ground of irretrievable breakdown
of marriage which is not the ground provided for divorce under the Act
requires consideration. The mere fact that the respondent-wife has filed
the case on the ground which is not available to her under the Act,
doesn’t means that there are likelihood of her being succeeding in getting
D a decree for divorce. Specifically, in view of the fact that the appellant
has raised this contention before the Circuit Court, Florida and both the
parties will produce evidence with regard to the question whether their
marriage is governed by the Act or any other law.
20. Foreign court cannot be presumed to be exercising its
E jurisdiction wrongly even after the appellant being able to prove that the
parties in the present case are continued to be governed by the law
governing Hindus in India in the matter of dispute between them.
21. In view of above discussion and after having regard to the
nature of case and other peculiar facts, we do not deem it appropriate to
F interfere with the decision rendered by the High Court. We are of the
opinion that the proceedings in the Foreign Court cannot be said to be
oppressive or vexatious. The appeal is accordingly dismissed with no
order as to costs.
G Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeal dismissed.
H
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