Holding

Order 15 Rule 5, as enacted by the Uttar Pradesh legislation, is not repugnant to the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 and remains valid, and Section 97(3) confers retrospective effect on the amendment, so the striking‑off orders stand.

Summary

The petitioners, tenants, challenged the validity of Order 15 Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which had been inserted by the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972 and later amended by the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976, on the ground that it was repugnant to the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 and violated Article 14. The Supreme Court examined whether the State amendment occupied the same field as the Central amendment and whether Section 97 of the Central Act rendered the State amendment void or gave it retrospective effect. It held that the Central Act only amended Rule 2 of Order 15 and did not cover Rule 5, so there was no repugnancy and the State amendment remained valid law. The Court also interpreted Section 97(3) as giving the Central amendment retrospective operation, but since Rule 5 was not inconsistent with the Central amendment, it continued to apply to pending proceedings. Consequently, the orders striking off the defence of the tenants under Rule 5 were upheld and the appeals were dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether Order 15 Rule 5 introduced by the Uttar Pradesh Acts is repugnant to the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 and therefore void under Article 254 of the Constitution.
Whether Section 97(1) and (3) of the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 operate retrospectively, requiring the setting aside of orders striking off the defence before the Act’s commencement.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 97(1), s. 97(3)
CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976s. 97(1), s. 97(3)
Provincial Small Causes Court Acts. 4
U.P. Civil Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972
U.P. Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976
U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972s. 20(4)

Subjects

Article 254repugnancyCode of Civil Procedureamendmentretrospective legislationArticle 14discriminationlandlord-tenantOrder 15 Rule 5Civil procedure

Judgment

•

A PT. RISHIKESH AND ANR. ETC.
v.
SMT. SALMA BEGUM ETC. ETC.

MAY 2, 1995

B [K. RAMASWAMY, N. VENKATACHALA AND
S. SAGHIR AHMED, JJ.]

Constitution of India-Article 254-fl.epugnancy-meaning of-State law •
and the Central Law should occupy the same field or operate in col/ison
C course.
Constitution of India-Article 25<}-{)istinction between "making" and
"commencement" of an Act-State law repugnant only when made prior to
11 11
the Central law--"1nade cannot be substitu.ted with ''commencement

D Ct;nstitution of India-Article 254-Amendment to Order 15 Rule 2 of
CPC by the Parliamenf-State Act not amending Order 15 Rule 2 of
CPC-Held there is no repugnancy-U.P. Civil Laws (Reform and Amend-
ment) Act, 1976.

Words and phrases- made" and commencement --Meaning of
11 11 11

E
U.P. Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976-,4mendment
to Order 15 Rule 5 of CPC-Tenants who fails to pay admitted rent after order
of the court form a distinct class-Striking of defence of such tenants has
nexus to the protection of landlords which is the object of the Act-Held : not
F discriminatory-Article 14-Constitution of India. ..,_ -

CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976-Section 97( 1)--0perates
retrospectively to affect even a vested right.

CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976-Nature of-Whether amending,
G repealing or consolidating Act.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908-0rder 15 Rule 5--Constitutional
validity of-Held, it is neither repugnant under Article 254 nor discriminatory
under Article 14-Articles 14 and 254-Constitution of India.

H The legislature of the State of Uttar Pradesh amended Order 15 of
1062
PT. RJSHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM 1063

the Code of Civil Procedure by the U.P. Civil Laws (Amendment) Act 37 A
of 1972 and added Rule 5 to Order 15. The said Rule 5, in order to restore
the equilibrium between the interest of landlord and the tenant, provided
for striking off defence of the tenant on his failure to deposit the admitted
rent on or before the first hearing of the suit for eviction. In September
1976, the Parliament enacted CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 104 of 76 B
which received the assent of the President on 9.9.1976 and was published
in the Central Gazette on the same date. In the meanwhile, the State
Legislature of Uttar Pradesh enacted U.P. Civil Laws (Reforms and
Amendment) Act 57/76 on 13.12.1976 adding three explanations to Sub-
rule (1) to Rule 5 of order 15 which was reserved for consideration of the
President and received the assent of the President on 30.12.1976 and C
brought into force with effect from 1.1.1977. The CPC Central (Amend-
ment) Act, on the other hand became operative with effed from 2.1.1977.

The appellants, who were tenants failed to deposit rent in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 5 of Order 15 of CPC and therefore their
defence was struck off by the court of small causes. Therefore the appel- D
!ants challenged the vfres of Order 15 Rule 5 on the ground that it was
l repugnant to the CPC Central (Amendment) Act and became void by
operation of clause (1) of Article 254 of .the Constitution as by enacting the
Central (Amendment) Act, the Parliament intended that CPC should be
uniform throughout India. The appellants also urged that Rule 5 of Order E
15 violates Article 14 as it prejudices the interest of an honest litigant who
admits arrears of rent.

On reference to the Full Bench of Allahabad High Court, the Full
Bench held that the State Act was not in conflict with the Central Act and
was not void under Article 254 (1) of the Constitution. The High Court F
held that since the U.P. Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976
received the assent of the President on 30.12.1976 whereas the CPC Central
(Amendment) Act, 1976 received the assent on 9.9.1976, the State Act was
later in point of time and therefore, not repugnant to the Central Act.
G
Hence the present appeals by certificate under Article 133.

Dismissing the appeals, this court

HELD : 1.1. The conditions precedent to bring about repugnancy
should be that there must be an amendment made to the Central Act and H
1064 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 3 S.C.R.

A the previous amendment made by a State Legislature !'r a provision made
by the High Court must occupy the same field and operate in a collision r·
course. [1080-B]

1.2. If the Central Law and the State law or a provision made by the
High Court occupy the same field or operate in collision course, the State
B Act or the provision made by a High Court being inconsistent with or in
other words being incompatible with the Central Act, it becomes void unless
it is re-enacted, reserved for consideration and receives the assent of the
President after the Central Act was made by the Parliament. [1080-C]

C Zaverbhai Amaidas v. State of Bombay, [1955] SCR 799; Ch. Tika
Ramji v. State of U.P., (1956] SCR 393; Deep Chand v. State of Uttar
Pradesh, [1959] Supp. 2 SCR 8; M. Ka1Unanidhi v. Union of India, [1979]
3 SCR 254; Krishna District Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd., Vijayawada
v. N. V. Pumachandra Rao, AIR (1987) SC 1960; Gauri Shankar Gaur v. State
of U.P., [1994) 1 SCC 92 and T. Barai v. Hemy Ah Hoe, [1983] 1 SCR 905,
D relied on.

1.3. Since the U.P. Civil Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972 and the
Explanation to Rule 5 Order 15 of the CPC by the U.P. Civil Laws
(Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976 was not occupied by the Central Act
E in relation to the State of U.P., they remain to be valid law. [1080-B]

2.1. The CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 is an amending Act,
not a repeating and consolidating statute to supplant the CPC. The title
of the Act itself manifests the intention of the Parliament that it is an
"Amending Act" to various provisions of the CPC. [1075-D]
F
2.2. The CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976, being an Amending Act
and not a repealing Act and only Rule2 oforder 15 of the CPC was amended
by the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 and the U.P. Civil Laws
(reforms and Amendment) Act, 1976 made no amendment to Order 15 Rule
2 of the CPC. Rule 5 as was pre-existing and was not dealt with in the CPC
G Central (Amendment) Act. On the other hand, Section 35-B of the CPC
empowers the Court to strike down the defence if costs are not paid as
directed by the court. Equally, Order 6 Rule 16 of the CPC empowers the
court to strike down the pleading on conditions mentioned in the said rule,
Order 11Rule21 of the CPC empowers the court to strike down the defence
H in case the party fails to comply with any order to answer interrogatories for
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM 1065

discovery or inspection of the documents. The CPC, thus, by itself envisages A
striking of the defence in the stated circumstances. Similar provision made
by the State Legislature is also consistent with the policy and principles of
the CPC as amended by t~e CPC Central (Amendment) Act. In other words,
there is no repugnancy in that behalf. [1079-F-H]

Ganpat Gi1i v. find Addi. Dist1ict Judge, [1986] 1 SCR 151, differed B·
from.

3.1. It is true that inconsistency in the operation of the Central and
the State law would generally arise only after the respective Acts com-
menced their operation. The founding fathers were cognizant to the dis- C
tinction between making the law and commencement of the operation of
the Act or Regnlation. Article 245, Clauses (1) and (2) of the Constitution
and in a way Section 97 of the CPC Central (Amendment) Act 1976 are
also alive to the distinction between making the law and commencement
of the law. The Verb 'made' in Art. 254 of the Constitution brings out the D
Constitutional emanation that it is the making of the law by the respective
legislatures, namely, the Parliament and the State Legislature as decisive
factor. Commencement of the Act is distinct from making the law. As soon
as assent is given by the President to the Law passed by the Parliament it
becomes law. Commencement of the Act may be expressed in the Act itself,
namely, from the moment the assent was given by the President and E
published in the Gazette, it becomes operative. [1075-E-H, 1076-A]

3.2. The operation may b_e postponed giving power to the executive
or delegated legislation to bring the Act into force at a particular time
unless otherwise provided. The CPC Central (Amendment) Act 1976 came F
into operation on the date it received the assent o~ the President and
published in the Gazette and immediately on the expiration of the day
preceding its commencement it became operative. Once the President gives
assent it becomes law and becomes effective when it is published in the
Gazette. The making of the law is thus complete unless it is amended in
accordance with the procedure prescribed in Arts. 107 to 109 of the G
Constitution. Equally is the procedure of the State Legislature. Inc.onsis-
tency or ·incompatibility in the law on concurrent subject, by operation of
Art. 254, clauses (1) and (2) of the Constitution does not depend upon the
commencement of the respective Acts made by the Parliament and the
State legislature. Therefore, the emphasis on commencement of the Act H
1066 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 3 S.C.R.

A and inconsistency in the operation thereafter doe not ~ecome relevant
when its vires is required to be decided on the anvil of Art. 254(1) of the ".
Constitution. [1076-B, E·F)

Collins English Dictio11a1y and Black's law Dicrio11a1y 6th edn., refer-
red to.
B
3.3. The legislative business done by the appropriate State Legisla-
ture cannot be reduced to redundance by the executive inaction or choice
by the Central Government by issuing different dates for commencement
of the Central Act. The Constitution, therefore, made a clear distinction
C between making the law and commencement of the law which, therefore,
bears relevance for giving effect to Article 254 of the Constitution. [1077-EJ

3.4. The expression "that provision" in Section 97 (1) of the CPC
Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 must be understood in juxtaposition to
Art. 254 of the Constitution and not in derogation thereof. If the contention
D that the commencement of the provision is a condition precedent to bring
about incosistency is accepted, the word 'made' has to be substituted with
the word "commencement" in Article 254(1) and (2) of the Constitution
which is impermissible and amounts to judicial legislation. [1077-F-G] '
4. The contention that Order 15 Rule 5 of the CPC makes arbitrary
E discrimination between two classes of tenants, namely, one making
bvnafide mistake in not depositing the rent prior to the date of the first
hearing and the other a dishonest tenant who _takes a plea disputing the
rent itself is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, is untenable.
Exercising the discretionary relief and considering the previous conduct
p of the tenant and the mitigating circumstances, if any, the court may, on
given facts, finding that the tenant committed bonafide mistake in deposit-
ing the rent, direct him to deposit the same. Therefore, they are treated as
a class. The dispute of tenancy and right to adjudication thereon also
stands as a class. The tenant in default at a suit in the court of Small
Causes is given right to contest the suit subject to his paying the admitted
G rent. It is a condition precedent. All those tenants are treated as class.
There is no invidious discrimination in that class. All are treated alike.
There exists discrenable dilTerantia between two classes. The only class of
tenants who commit default in payment of admitted rent after an order
has been passed by the court, alone are disabled to contest the snit by
H striking of defence due to recalcitrant attitude in committing fnrther
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K. RAMASWAMY, J. J 1067

default in payment of the rent. The nexus is pregnant with legislative A
wisdom to protect the landlord from hardship. The procedure, therefore,
is consistent with the just and fair procedure to mitigate the hardship to
the landlord and to prevent unfair advantage of delaying the disposal of
the suit by the tenant. The procedure, therefore, is neither discriminatory
nor capricious but one which is judicious. (1080-H, 1081·A·Fl
B
S. Section 97 (3) of the CPC Central (Amendment) Act, 1976 would
be applicable to the pending proceedings even though a right has accrued
or proceedings were instituted prior to the CPC Central (Amendment) Act,
1976, Section 97 (3) itself has affected the vested right and given retrospec·
tive operation to the penaing proceedings apart from applicability of the C
law from that date. (1082-D]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appellate No. 1266 of
1979 Etc. Etc.

From the Judgment and Order dated 18.12.78 of the Allahabad High D
Court in C.R.No. 912 of 1977.

"';. Yogeshwar Prasad, R.P. Saxena, Manoj Swarup, Mrs. Lalitha Kohli,
Pramod Swarup, N.R. Choudhary, Rakesh K. Sharma, AK. Srivastva, Tara
Chandra Sharma, Kishan Datta, Ms. Neelam Sharma, Ajay Sharma,
Kamaleshwar Saha~ Mrs. Rachna Gupta, Mrs. Rani Chhabra, Subodh E
Markandeya, Ms. Chitra Markandeya, Ajay Singh, H.P. Sharma, D.K.
Garg, Mohan Bahari Lal, Uma Dutta and E.C. Agrawala for the appearing
parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
F
K. RAMASWAMY, J. Leave granted in SLP NOS. 3554, 5453, 6054,
2815n9, 3182/87, 4150/92, 12520/86 and 5791/95.

These appeals by Certificate under Article 133 arise from the judg·
mcnt of the Full Bench of Allahabad High Court in Smt. Chandra Rani v.
Vikram Singh, [1979] Allahabad Law Journal 401. The respondents laid the G
suits in the Courts of Small Causes for recovery of arrears of rent or for
rent and possession from the appellants. On their committing default in
payment of rent in pending suit, their defence was struck off under Order
15 Rule 5 of CPC as amended by U.P. Civil Laws (Reforms and Amend·
ment) Act, 1976, U.P. Civil Laws (Amendment) Act 37/1972 and U.P. Civil H
1068 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 3 S.C.R.

A Laws (Amendment) President's Act 19/73. They challenged the vires of
Order 15 Rule 5. On reference, the Full Bench held that it is not inconsis- I" -
tent with the CPC Central (Amendment) Act 104/76 (for short, 'the Central
Act') and is not void under Article 254(1) of the Constitution.

·By U.P. Act 37/72, s.4 of the Provincial Small Causes Court Act was
B amended empowering the Court of Small Causes to decree suit for posses-
sion of immovable property and for recovery of arrears of rent or interest
in such property. By U.P. Act 37/72, brought on statute, Rule 5 of Order
15, stating thus:-

"5. Striking off defence on failure to deposit admitted rent, etc. -
c (I) In any suit by a lessor for the eviction of a lessee after the
determination of his lease and for the recovery from him of rent
or compensation for use and occupation, the defendants shall, at
or before the first hearing of the suit, deposit the entire amount
admitted by him to be due together with interest thereon at the
D rate of nine per centum per annum and whether or not he admits
any amount to be due, he shall throughout the continuation of the
suit regularly deposit the monthly amount due within a week from
the date of its accrual, and in the event of any default in making,
the deposit of the entire amount admitted by him to be due or the
E monthly amount due as aforesaid, the court may subject to the
provisions of sub-rule (2), strike off his defence.

Explanation 1. - The expression 'first hearing' means the date
for filing written statement or for hearing mentioned in the sum-
mons or where more than one of such dates are mentioned, the
F last of the dates mentioned.

Explanation 2. - The expression 'entire amount admitted by him
to be due' means the entire gross amount, whether as rent or
compensation for use and occupation, calculated at the admitted
rate of rent for the admitted period of arrears after making no
G other deduction except the taxes, if any, paid to a local authority
in respect of the building on lessor's account and the amount, if
any deposited in any court under Section 30 of the U .P. Urban
Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972.

H Explanation 3. - The expression 'monthly amount due' means
PT. RISHIKESH "· SALMA BEGUM [K RAMASWAMY, J.] 1069

the amount due every month, whether as rent or compensation for A
use and occupation at the admitted rate of rent, after making no
other deductions except the taxes, if any, paid to a local authority
in respect of the building on lessor's account.

(2) Before making an order for striking off defence, the court
may consider any representation made by the defendant in that B·
behalf provided such representation is made within 10 days, of the
first hearing or, of the expiry of the week referred to in sub-section

-·· (1), as the case may be.

(3) The amount deposited under this rule may at any time be C
withdrawn by the plaintiff :

Provided that such withdrawal shall not have the effect of
prejudicing any claim by the plaintiff disputing the correctness of
the amount deposited :
D
Provided further that if the amount deposited includes any
sums claimed by the depositor to be deductible on any account,
the court may require the plaintiff to furnish security for such sum
before he is allowed to withdraw the same."

Consequentially Order L Rule l(b} of CPC was suitable amended by E
President's Act 19/1973 so that Rule 5 of Order 15 would consistently be
applicable to the suits for recovery of possession and arrears of rent or
recovery of rent simplicitor, as the case may be. After the Central Act was
enacted on September 1976 and received the assent of the President on
the same day, i.e. September 9, 1976, it was published in the Central F
Gazette on December 10, 1976, the U.P. State Legislature swung into
action and enacted U .P. Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act 57176
on December 13, 1976 reserved for consideration and received the assent
of the President on December 30, 1976. It was published in the Gazette on
December 31, 1976 brought into force with effect from January 1, 1977. G
The Central Act became operative with effect from February 1, 1977. In
U.P. Act 57/76 by s.7 thereof, three Explanations to Sub-rule (1) to Rule
5 of Order 15 were added as referred to hereinbeforc.

When these appeals came up for final disposal, on July 14, 1987 a
Bench consisting of E.S. Venkataramaiah and K.N. Singh, J~ (as they then H
~

I

1070 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 3 S.C.R.

A were) referred the appeals for consideration by a Bench of three Judges.
Thus these appeals have come up before us. Shri Parag, learned counsel,
after thorough preparation, placing strong reliance on Ganpat Gili v. Ibid
Addi. Dist1frt Judge, [1986] I SCR 151, argued with commitment and
conviction, that the object of the Central Act was that Parliament intended
that CPC should be uniform throughout India. The U.P. Act came into
B force prior to the Central Act was brought into force on February I, 1976.
The State Act or a provision made by a High Court to the order previously
made by consistent with the provisions of the Code as amended by the
Central Act which alone remain valid. All the pre-existing amendments
made by the appropriate State legislature or a High Court stand repealed.
C Order 15 Rule 5 is one such prior amendment made by the State Legisla·
lure which is consistent with the Central Act from the date of its commen·
cement. By operation of clause (1) of Article 254, the State Act became
void. The striking of the defence, therefore, is contrary to law. Shri Manoj
Swarup contended that the State amendment violates Article 14. An honest
D litigant who admits of arrears is made to suffer the onslaught' of Order 15
Rule 5, while dishonest tenant who denies rent is permitted to defend the
suit by adduction of evidence. The striking off valid defence raised by an
honest litigant, for his failure to pay the arrears is made to pay the penalty
of his defence being struck off creating unjust and unfair procedure violat.
ing Article 14.
E
The High Court certified two questions of law for decision by this
Court as under :

"1. Whether Rule 5 inserted in Order XV C.P.C. by the U.P. Civil
Laws (Amendment) Act, 1972 and substituted by new Rule 5 of the U.P.
F Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) act, 1976 is consistent with the
provisions of the Principal Act as amended by the Central Civil Procedure
Code (Amendment) Act, 1976 and stands repealed?

2. Whether Section 97(1) and (3) and of the Central Civil Procedure
G Code (Amendment) Act, 1976 are retrospective and the orders passed
before 1.2.1977 striking off the defence for non· compliance of Rule 5 are
to be set aside?"

It would appear that consequent upon Rent Acts made by the State
legislature to protect unreasonable eviction of the tenants by the landlords
H for rent racket and when tenants taking aid of accrued statutory tenancy,
r
PT. RISH!KESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K. RAMASWAMY. J. J 1071

commit default in the payment of rent and drive the landlords to recover A
the same by filing civil suits, undue delay in disposal of the suits cause
considerable hardship to the landlords. To remedy the situation of occupa-
tion of the building without paying arrears or accumulated arrears of rent,
with a view to restoring the equilibrium between the competing interests
of the tenants and landlords and to relieve the latter from hardship, the B
State legislature stepped in and introduced Rule 5 to Order 15 so as to
enable the landlord to make an application to the Court for direction to
pay the admitted rent and on an order passed in that behalf and on failure
... J to comply therewith, the Court is empowered to strike off the defence of
the tenant so as to enable the landlord to have the suit decreed and to
recover possession and arrears of rent. c
The Central Act was enacted pursuant to the recommendation made
by the Law Commission of India. The Central Act is an Amending Act as
its title itself unmistakably indicates. In Order 15, the Central Act amended
only Rule 2 but Rules 3 and 4 remain unamended. The U.P. Act, added D
Rule 5 to get over the inequilibrium created by recalcitrant tenants, giving
an opportunity to the defaulting tenants to pay the admitted rent pending
suit at the pain of striking down the defence.

The question, therefore, is whether Rule 5 of Order 15 is inconsistent
with the Central Act and thereby became void under Article 254(1) of the E
Constitution? Entry 13 of the Concurrent List of the 7th Schedule to the
Court, namely, Civil Procedure, including all matters included in the Code
of Civil Procedure, empo~ers the Parliament and the legislature of the
State to make or amend the law in that behalf. The Legislature of the State
has power to amend Sections as well as Schedules to the Code while a High F
Court is empowered to amend the orders on the Schedules. The Central
Act being an Amending Act to the Code of the Civil Procedure Act 5/1908
existing at the commencement of the Constitution appropriate amendments
are permissible. Article 254(1) envisages that "if any provision or law made
by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of law made by
Parliament which Parliament is competent to enact, or to any provision of G
an existing law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the
Concurrent List, then, subject to the provisions of clause (2), the law made
by the Parliament whether passed before or after the law made by the
Legislature -0f such State, or, as the case may be, the existing law shall
prevail an•l the law made by the Legislature of the State shall, to the extent H
1072 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995[ 3 S.C.R.

A of repugnancy, be void". Clause (2) of Article 254 is an exception to cl"use
(1) which adumbrates th_al where a law made by the Legislature of a State
with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the concurrent list
contains any provision repugnant to the provision of an earlier la\v made
by Parliament or an existing law with respect lo that matter, then, the law
so made by the Legislawre of such State shall, if it has been reserved for
B the consideration of the President and has received his assent, prevail i11
the State, provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from
enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a
law adding or, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the
l.'
Legislature of the State. (Emphasis supplied).
c
In Zaverbhai Amaidas v. State of Bombay, [1955) SCR 799 al 809, a
Constitution Bench of this Court considered whether s. 7 of the Essential
Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946 as amended in 1948 and 1949
repealed by implication, the Bombay Act (XXXVJ of 1947) being incon-
sistent with Article 245(1) of the Constitution. At page 809, the Constitu-
D tion Bench held that "Whether an Act of Parliament prevails against a law
of the State, no question of repeal arises but the principle on which the
rule implied repeal rests, namely, that if the subject-matter of the later
legislation is identical with that of the earlier, so that they cannot both stand
together, then the earlier is repealed by the later enactment, will equally
E applicable to a question under article 254(2) whether the further legislation
by Parliament is in respect of the same matter as that of the State law." It
was held that Bombay Act cannot prevail against the Central Act.

This Court in Ch. Tika Ramji v. State of U.P., [1956) SCR 393,
F another Constitution Bench was to consider whether the U.P. Sugarcane " -
Act, 1953 was inconsistent with the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Having adverted to the three principles laid by Nicholas in his Australian
Constitution, 2nd Ed. p.303 approved them as those applicable to test
inconsistency or repugnancy, namely \1) there may be inconsistency in the
actual terms between competing statutes, (2) though t!iere may be no direct
G conflict, a State law may be inoperative because the Commonwealth law or
the award of the Commonwealth Court, is intended to be complete exhaus-
tive code, and (3) even in the absence of intention, a conflict may arise )..
when both State and Commonwealth seek to exercise their powers for the
same subject matter. It was, therefore, held that there was no conflict
H between the State Act and the Central Act and both do co-exist.
[
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 1073

In Deep Chand v. State of Uttar Pradesh, [1959] Supp. 2 SCR 8 at 43. A
Subba Rao, J. speaking for majority held that the repugnancy between two
statutes may thus be ascertained on the basis of the following three prin-
ciples :

"(1) Whether there is direct conflict between the two provisions;
B
(2) Whether Parliament intended to lay down an exhaustive code in
respect of the subject matter replacing the Act of the State Legislature ;
and

(3) Whether the law made by Parliament and the law made by the C
State Legislature occupy the same field."

Examining the provisions of the U.P. Transport Service Development Act
9/1955 and the Motor Transport (Amendment) Act, 1956, held that the
State Law did not, on the passing of the Central Act, become wholly void
under Article 254(1) of the Constitution and continued to be valid .and D
subsisting law supporting the scheme already framed under the U.P. Act.

Entire case law was reviewed by yet another Constitution Bench in
M. Karunanidhi v. Union of India, [t979] 3 SCR 254, and held that the
Tamil Nadu Public Men (Criminal Misconduct) Act, 1973 was not repug-
nant to the Code of Criminal Procedure or the Prevention of Corruption E
Act or Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1952. In that behalf, this Court
emphasised that in deciding the question of repugnancy, it must be shown
that the two enactments contain inconsistent and irreconcilable provisions
so that they cannot stand together or operate in the same field. There could
be no repeal by implication unless the inconsistency appears on the face F
of the two statutes. Both statutes, if operate in the same field without
coming in collision with each other there would be no repugnancy. If the
statute occupying the same field seeks to create distinct and separate
offences, no question of repugnancy arises and both stafute continue to
operate in the same field. In Krishna Dist. Cooperative Marketing Society G
Ltd., Vijayawada, v. N. V. Purnachandra Rao, AIR (1987) SC 1960, following
the Maxwell's Interpretation of Statutes, held that when the latter Act is
capable and reasonably applicable without extending it to the subjects
specially dealt with by the earlier legislation, it cannot be held that earlier
special legislation indirectly repealed, altered or derogated merely by force
of such general words without any indication of a particular intention to H
1074 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] 3 S.C.R.

A do so. Mere general rule is not enough even though by its term, it is stated
widely that it would, taken by itself, cover special cases of that kind referred
to earlier.

In Gawi Shankar Gaur v. State of UP., (1994] 1 SCC 92, the question
was whether the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act 68/84 repealed the
B !J.P. Avas and Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965, one of us (K. Ramaswamy,
J.) considered the case law whether Central Act would be applicable by
reference or by incorporation and held that certain provisions of the
Central Act were by incorporation and not by referen~e. On incom-
patibility under Article 254 of the Constitution, considored the cases start-
C ing from Zaverbhai's upto T. Barai v. Henry Ah Hoe, (1983] 1 SCR 905,
held that the State law was not repugnant to the Central Act and both
would operate consistently and they did not occupy the same field. State
law was not fully inconsistent with the Central Act. Equally, it is not
absolutely irreconcilable. Both the State and the Central Acts do co-exist
D in relation to the procedure prescribed under the respective Acts. Both the
Acts co-exist independently without, in any way, colliding with each other.
Therefore, s.55 of the Adhiniyam and the Schedule did not become vo;d,
•
Clause (2) of Article 254 is an exception to Clause (1). If law made
by the State Legislature is reserved for consideration and received assent
E of the President though the State law is inconsistent with the Central Act,
the law made by the Legislature of the State prevails over the Central Law
and operates in that State as valid law. If the Parliament amends the law,
after the amendment made by the State Legislature has received the assent
of the President, the earlier amendment made by the State legislature, if
F found inconsistent with the Central amended Law, both Central law and
the State Law cannot co-exist without colliding with each other. Repugnan-
cy thereby arises and to the extent of the repugnancy the State Law
becomes void under Article 254(1) unless the State Legislature again
makes law reserved for the consideration of the President and received the
assent of the President. Full Bench of the High Court held that since U .P.
G Act 57/76 received the assent of the President on December 30, 1976, while
the Central Act was assented on September 9, 1976, the U.P. Act made by
the State Legislature, later in point of time it is a valid law.

Shri P.P. Tripathi contented that the repugnancy arises not with the
H making the law as envisaged in Clause (1) of Article 254 but when Act was
[
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K RAMASWAMY, J.] 1075

brought into operation since State Act came into force with effect from A
January 1, 1977 while the Central Act became operative from February 1,
1977, the U.P. Act is an earlier enactment to the Central Act. The Parlia-
ment evinced intention to bring about an exhaustive amendment to the
CPC and is applicable to all States. The State amendments, being incon-
sistent with the Central Act, became void. We find no force in the conten-
tion.
B

Section 97(1), with a marginal note "repeal and savings" , envisages
that any amendment made or any provision incorporated in the Principal
Act by a state legislature or a High Court before the commencement of
the Central Act shall, except in so far as amendment or provision is C
consistent with the provisions of the Principal Act as amended by the
Central Act, stands repealed. The emphasis as rightly stressed by Sri Parag
is "any amendment to CPC made by the state legislature or a provision by
the High Court" before the "commencement" of this Act stood repealed. It
is to be noted here that the Central Act is an amending Act, not a repealing D
and consolidating statute to supplant the Principal Act, namely, Act 5 of ·
1908. Since CPC is a concurrent subject, the Parliament and the Legislature
of a State or a High Court in respect of orders in the Schedule are
competent to enact or amend CPC respectively. In fact several local
amendments made to CPC before the commencement of the. Central Act
do exist. Pursuant to the recommendation made by the Law. Commission E
of India to shorten the litigation, the Parliament made the Central Act to
streamline the procedure. It is true that inconsistency in the operation of
the Central and the State Law would generally arise only after the respec-
tive Acts commenced their operation. Section 3(13) of the General Clauses
Act defines "commencement" to mean the day on which the Act or Regula- F
tion comes into force. The founding fathers were cognizant to the distinc-
tion between making the law and commencement of the operation of the
Act or Regulation. Article 254, clauses (1) and (2) and in a way s.97 of the
Central Act are also alive to the distinction between making the law and
commencement of the law. Jn Collins English Dictionary at p.889 "make"
is defined to mean, to "cause to exist11 , 11 to bring about 11 or 11 to produce". G
Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Edn. at p.955 making is defined to cause to
exist... .. to do in form of law; to perform with due formalities; to execute
in legal form; .... The verb 'made' in Art. 254 brings out the constitutional
emanation that it is the making of the law by the respective constituent
legislatures, namely, the Parliament and the State Legislature as decisive H
1076 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 3 S.C.R.

A factor. Commencement of the Act is distinct from making the Jaw. As soon
as assent is given by the President to the law passed by the Parliament it
becomes law. Commencement of the Act may be expressed in the Act
itself, namely, from the moment the assent was given by the President and
published in the Gazette, it becomes operative. The operation may be
B postponed giving power to the executive or delegated legislation to bring
the Act into force at a particular time unless otherwise provided. The
Central Act came into operation on the date it received the assent of the
president aild shall be published in the Gazette and immediately on the
expiration of the day preceding its commencement it became operative.
Therefore, from the mid-night on the day on which the Central Act was
C published in the Gazette of India, it became the law. Admittedly, the
Central Act was assented to by the President on September 9, 1976 and
was published in the Gazette of India on September 10, 1976. This would
be clear when we see the legislative procedure envisaged in Arts. 107 to
109 and assent of the President under Art. 111 which says that when a Bill
D has been passed by the House of the People, it shall be presented to the
President and the President shall either give his assent to the Bill or
withhold his assent therefrom. The proviso is not material for the purpose
of this case. Once the President gives assent it becomes law and becomes •
effective when it is published in the Gazette. The making of the law is thus
complete unless it is amended in accordance with the procedure prescribed
E in Arts. 107 to 109 of the Constitution. Equally is the procedure of the State
Legislature. Inconsistency or incompatibility in the law on concurrent
subject, by operation of Art. 254, clauses (1) and (2) does not depend upon
the commencement of the respective Acts made by the Parliament and the
State legislature. Therefore, the emphasis on commencement of the Act
F and inconsistency in the operation thereafter does not become relevant
when its voidness is required to be decided on the anvil of Art. 254(1).
Moreover the legislative business of making law entailing with valuable
public time and enormous expenditure would not be made to depend on
the volition of the executive to notify the commencement of the Act. In
compatibility or repugnancy would be apparent when the effect of the
G operation is visualised by comparative study.

It is true that CPC, the principal Act No. 5 of 1908 as amended by
the Central Act and the pre-existing State amendment or a provision made
by a High Court was intended to be consistent so that the procedure would
H uniformly be efficacious and expeditious in adjudicating the substantive
[
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K RAMASWAMY, J.] 1077

civil rights of the parties. It, thereby manifested its intention that tl1ere A
should be amendment to the Principal Act by the Central Act to a
particular Section or a Rule or sub-rule or a provision in an Order in the
Schedule. If the Principal Act, as so amended, and the pre-existing State
amendment or a provision made by the High Court is found to be incon-
sistent with the amendment brought under the Central Act, then to the B
extent of inconsistent pre-existing amendments made by State Legislature
or a provision made by the High Court becomes void by operation of clause
(1) of Art. 256. By operation of sub-s. (1) of s.97 of the Central Act, it
stands repealed unless State Act is passed, reserved for consideration and
received the assent of the President under clause (2) of Article 254. Section
1(2) of the Central Act visualises that the Central Government may bring C
into operation different provisions in the Central Act at different dates by
a notification published in a Gazette. As a matter of fact, three different
notifications were published in the official gazette bringing diverse
provisions of the Amendment Act into operation form three different
dates. All the provisions except amended ss.28, 34 and 148A were brought D
into force on February 1, 1977. Sections 28 and 148A were brought into
force with effect from February 1, 1977 and s.34 was brought into force
with effect from July 1, 1977. The legislative business done by the ap-
propriate State Legislature cannot be reduced to redundance by the execu-
tive inaction or choice by the Central Government by issuing different dates
for the commencement of different provisions of the Central Act. The E
Constitution, therefore, made a clear deffiarcation between making the law
and commencement of the lciw which, therefore, bears relevance for giving
effect to Article 254.

In this view the expression "that provision" in s.97(1) of the Amend- F
ment Act must be understood in juxtaposition to Art.254 of the Constitu-
tion and not in derogation thereof. If the contention of the counsel that the
commencement of the provision is a condition precedent to bring about
inconsistency by statutory interpretation, the word 11rnade11 be substituted
with the word "commencement" in Article 254 (1) and (2) of the Constitu-
tion which is impermissible by interpretative process and amounts to G
judicial legislation.
J
The contention of the learned counsel proceeded on the assertion
that the Central Act is a consolidation Act intended to repeal Act 5/1908
and re-enact Act 104/76 to be a complete code is misconceived. The title H

'·'
1078 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) 3 S.C.R.

A of the Act itself manifests the intention of the Parliam~nt that it is an
"Amending Act" to various provisions of the CPC by only 96 Sections to
the main Code. It is also true that s.97(1) of the Central Act says that any
amendment, made, or any provision inserted to the principal Act by a State
legislature or a High Court before the commencement of the Central Act
shall, except in so far as amendment or provision is consistent with the
B provisions of the principal Act as amended by the Central Act, stood
repealed. The contention advanced by the learned counsel for the appel-
lants is that all pre-existing amendments stood obliterated unless fresh
amendment, by· the State Legislature or a High Court, is made after
February 1, 1977 reserved for consideration and received the assent of the
C President. In support thereof they placed reliance on the ratio iit Ga11pat
Giri's case. It may be mentioned at once that Justice Venkataramaiah (as
he then was) who rendered the judgment in Ga11pat Gi1i's case, on behalf
of a Bench of two judges, himself referred the cases for consideration by
. a three Judge Bench. In that case, some observations made would lend
D support to the contention of the appellant. It was observed tlms:

"(i) The object of Section 97 of the Amending Act appears to be
that on and after February 1, 1977 throughout India wherever the
Code was in force there should be same procedural law in opera-
tion in all the civil courts subject to course to any future local
E amendment that may be made either by the State Legislature or
by the High Court, as the case may be in accordance with law.
Until such amendment is made the Code as amended by the
Amending Act along should govern the procedure in civil courts
which are governed by the Code. We are emphasising this in view
of the decision of the Allahabad High Court which is now under
F
appeal before us."

(ii) "Section 97(1) of the Amending Act takes note of the several
local amendments made by a State Legislature and by a High Court
before the commencement of the Amending Act and states that
G any such amendment shall except insofar as such amendment or
provision is consistent with the provisions of the Code as amended
by the Amending Act stands repealed. It means that any local
amendment of the Code which is inconsistent with the Code as
amended by the Amending Act would cease to be operatives on
H the commencement of the Amending Act, i.e. on February 1, 1977."
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K. RAMASWAMY. J.] 1079

(iii) "The repealing provision in section 97(1) is not confined in its A
operation to provisions of the Code including the Orders and Rules
in the First Schedule which are actually amended by the Amending
Act 11 •

B
The ratio therein must be understood in the light of the facts therein. Rule
72 of Order 21 CPC was amended by the State legislature, equally the
Central Act repealed the existing rule and re-enacted the rule so as to be
self-operative and complete code consistent with the development of the
law. Therefore, the Bench held that State amendment since was not con-
sistent with the Central Act, the State amendment was declared repugnant C
to the Central Act. Therefore, it became void unless it was re-enacted by
the State Legislature, reserved for consideration and received the assent of
the President. The ratio on the facts in that case is unexceptionable but
observations which we have noted above, gave rise to a construclion
advanced by the counsel. The wide construction put up by the Bench with D
due respect does not appeal to be sound. It is seen that Order 15 of the
Central Act, as it stood before to the Amendment Act, consists of only
Rules 1 to 4. Since the special need arose in Uttar Pradesh to maintain
equilibrium between the rights of the tenants of their fixity of tenures
subject to compliance with the provisions of the Rent Act and of the
landlord to receive rent from the tenant, even pendirig proceedings, E
enacted Rule 5 and received the assent of the President and became a
statute. Three Explanations were made by U.P. Act 57n6 to remove
ambiguities and doubts. As stated earlier, the Central Act being an Amend-
ing Act and not a repealing Act and only Rule 2 of Order 15 was amended
by the Central Act and the State Act made no amendment to Order 15 F
Rule 2. Rule 5 as was pre-existing was not dealt with in the Central Act.
On the other hand, Section 35-B of the Code empowers the Court to strike
down the defence if costs are not paid as directed by the Court. Equally,
Order 6 Rule 16 empowers the Court to strike down the pleading on
conditions mentioned in the said Rule. Order 11 Rule 21 empowers the
Court to strike down the defence in case the party fails to comply with any G
order to answer interrogatories for discovery or inspection of the docu-
ments. The Code, thus, by itself en>isages striking of the defence in the
stated circumstances. Similar provision made by the State Legislature is
also consistent with the policy and principles of the Act 5 of 1908 as
amended by the Central Act. In other words, there is no repugnancy in H
1080 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995J 3 S.C.R.

A that behalf.

The condition precedent to bring about repugnancy should be that
there must be an amendment made to the Principal Act under the Central
Act and the previous amendment made by a State legislature or a provision
made by a High Court must occupy the same field and operate in a
B collision course. Since the State Act as incorporated by Act 37/72 and the
Explanations to Rule 5 by the Act 57/76, Rule 5 was not occupied by the
Central Act in relation to the State of U.P., they remain to be a valid law.
We may clarify at once that if the Central Law and the State Law or a
provision made by the High Court occupy the same field and operate in
C collision course, the State Act or the provision made in the Order by a
High Court being inconsistent with or in other words being incompatible
with the Central Act, it becomes void unless it is re-enacted, reserved for
consideration and receives the assent of the President after the Central Act
was made by the Parliament i.e. September lU, 1970.

D
It is true that inconsistency or incompatibility of the operation of the
Central Act and the State Act would also arise after the respective Acts
are brought into force and such State Act must be prior in point of time
to the Central Act. We have already found that the point of time is with
reference to making the law as envisaged in Article 254 and not when the
E Central Act had come into force. Accordingly we hold that there is no
inconsistency in the operation of Rule 5 of Order 15 since the same is not
occupied by the Central Act or Act 5 of 1908 and that, therefore, it did
not become void.

F The contention that s.20(4) of the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation
of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, provides procedure for payment
of the arrears "on the first date of hearing of the suit" and if the tenant
deposited the arrears, the Court has been given power to relieve the tenant
against the liability for eviction on that ground and Order 15 Rule 5
provides discriminatory procedure offending Article 14 needs no close
G scrutiny. The two procedures are distinct and separate. The former gives
opportunity to a tenant to make amends to his conduct of default and to
availed the benefit of avoiding decree for eviction under the Rent Control
Act. The jurisdiction of the Small Causes Court in that behalf was expressly
taken out. The further contention that Order 15 Rule 5 makes arbitrary
H discrimination between two classes of tenants, namely, one making a bona
PT. RISHIKESH v. SALMA BEGUM [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 1081

fide mistake in not depositing the rent prior to the date of the first hearing A
and the other a dishonest tenant who takes a plea disputing the rent itself
and permitted the latter to contest the suit by an adjudication aud the
former is negated by striking down the defence which violates Article 14
also is untenable. As stated earlier the bonafide mistake on the part of the
tenant in depositing the rent was given benefit of the discretionary relief B
may be granted by the Court considering from the previous conduct of the
tenant and the mitigating circumstances, if any. Therefore, they are treated
as a class. The dispute of tenancy and right to adjudication thereon also
stands as a class. The tenant in default at a suit in the court of Small Causes
is given right to contest the suit subject to his paying the admitted rent. It
is a condition precedent. All those tenants are treated as a class. There is C
no invidious discrimination in that class. All are treated alike. There exists
discernible differantia between two classes. The only class of tenants who
commit default in payment of admitted rent after an order has been passed
by the court, alone are disabled to contest the suit by striking of defence
due to his recalcitrant attitude in committing further default in payment of D
the rent. The nexus in pregnant with legislative wisdom to protect the
landlord from hardship. Order 15 Rule 5 gives a right to the plaintiff to
make an application to this Court. The Court after considering the respec-
tive contentions and circumstances would pass an order directing the
tenant to continue to pay the admitted rent as a condition to contest the
suit. On his committing default, the defence will be struck off. The clas- E
sification is based on intelligible differantia. The procedure, therefore, is
consistent with the just and fair procedure to mitigate the hardship to the
landlord and to prevent unfair advantage of delaying the disposal of the
suit by the tenant. The procedure, therefore, is neither discriminatory nor
arbitrary nor capricious but one which is judicious. F

The next question is whether the Central Act is retrospective in
operation? The majority of the Full Bench held that it is retrospective and
one Judge held it to be prospective and, therefore, U.P. (Amendment) Act
would not be applied to the pending proceedings. Section 97 (3) itself has
taken care of the situation and envisaged thus: G

"97(3) Save as otherwise provided in sub-Section (2), the provisions
of the principal Act, as amended in this Act, shall apply to every
suit, proceeding, appeal or application pending at the commence-
ment of this Act or instituted or filed after such commencement, H
1082 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] 3 S.C.R.

A notwithstanding the fact that the right, or cause of action, in
pursuance of which such suit, proceeding appeal or application is
instituted or filed, had been acquired or had accrued before such
commencement.''

Note This reference relates to amendments made to rules in Order
B 39.

Hcwever, a plain reading clearly indicates the legislative intention that the
provision of the principal Act as amended in the Central Act shall apply
to every suit, proceeding, appeal or application pending at the commence-
C ment of the Amendment Act or filed thereafter, notwithstanding the fact
that the right or cause of action in pursuance of which such suit, proceed-
ing, appeal or application is instituted or filed had been acquired or had
accrued before such commencement. Thereby it would be applicable to the
pending proceedings even though a right had accrued or proceedings were
instituted prior to the Centrai Act and the State Act have come into force.
D
Accordingly, we hold that s.97(3) itself has affected the vested right
and given retrospective operation to the pending proceedings, apart from
applicability of the law from that date. It may be of interest to notice that
after the judgment in Ganpat Giri's case, the matter was again refereed to
another Full Bench to reconsider the affect of the ratio in Chandra Rani's
E
case, the subject matter of the appeals. The Full Bench in Premier Motors
v. Jaswant, AIR (1989) All. Page 1, considered the affect of the Ganpat
Giri's ratio and held that the ratio in Chandra Rani's case was not
weakened. The ratio of the Full Bench was held to be still good law.

F In the above perspective, we are of the view that Order 5 Rule 15 is
still a valid law, retrospectively operates and applies to the pending
proceedings instituted prior to the State Act 57/76 and the Central Act
have come into force.

The appeals are accordingly dismissed but in the circumstances
G without costs.

B.K.M. Appeal dismissed.