Full Order Text
Order 1 · 04 Oct 2023 · CNR MHCC010075172019
Order Details: Notice of Motion Pdf Text: 1 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) IN THE CITY CIVIL COURT FOR GREATER BOMBAY AT MUMBAI DRAFT NOTICE OF MOTION IN LONG CAUSE SUIT No.2837/2019 Abdul Sattar Vazir Shaikh … Plaintiff - Versus - Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay ... Defendant Appearance :- Mrs. S. S. Donde, Advocate for plaintiff. Mr. Om Suryavanshi, Advocate for defendant. CORAM : S. H. SALUNKHE, ADHOC JUDGE CITY CIVIL COURT, COURT ROOM NO.4. DATED : 04/10/2023. O R D E R . This is suit for injunction restraining defendant/B.M.C. or anybody through it from dispossessing the plaintiff from flat No.004, building No.10/A, Bharat CHS, Natwar Parekh Compound, Ghatkokar- Mankhurd Link Road, Govandi, Mumbai without following due process of law and the plaintiff has taken out present Notice of Motion for temporary injunction under Order-XXXIX Rule-1 of The Code of Civil Procedure (in short the C. P. C.) restraining defendant/B.M.C. from dispossessing the plaintiff without following due process of law. 2] It is contended by the plaintiff that he was in possession of structure at Barrister Nath Pai Marg, Zopadpatti, Mumbai-8 and said structure was on a footpath and same is removed by the Corporation as per its policy. Defendant/B.M.C. has issued notice under Section 314 of -- 1 of 8 -- 2 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) the M. M. C. Act. The plaintiff was called upon to produce documents showing that original structure of the plaintiff is prior to 1/1/1995 for deciding eligibility of the plaintiff for permanent alternate accommodation. Accordingly, the plaintiff submitted original documents alongwith reply. It is further stated that defendant/B.M.C. issued letter giving details of date of lottery to be held for allotment of tenements. It is further stated that the Corporation considered documents and held the plaintiff eligible for an alternate accommodation. Then defendant/ B.M.C. allotted suit premises to the plaintiff in lieu of his old structure and issued possession letter. 3] It is further stated that the plaintiff is in legal possession of notice structure as per allotment letter. The plaintiff is paying maintenance to society. The plaintiff is having electricity connection, Aadhaar Card, PAN card, ration card etc. The plaintiff is in lawful possession of notice structure since 2008 however, on the basis of a false complaint the officer of the Corporation with security guards visited suit premises and threatened the plaintiff to dispossess him without following due process of law. Therefore, the plaintiff filed this suit and taken out Notice of Motion. 4] It is further stated that the Corporation has not issued any notice to the plaintiff. He is in legal possession of suit premises. The Corporation ought to have issued notice under Section 105B of the M.M.C. Act however, the Corporation has not followed due process of law. Therefore, the plaintiff is entitled for temporary injunction as prayed. 5] Defendant/B.M.C. opposed Notice of Motion by filing reply. At the outset, it is stated that the plaintiff has not given notice under -- 2 of 8 -- 3 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) Section 527 of the M. M. C. Act, therefore, suit is not maintainable. There is no cause of action to file this suit. It is further stated that the plaintiff is not a project affected person and he is trying to encroach upon property of the Corporation on the basis of fake and fabricated documents. It is further stated that after service of Notice of Motion, the officer of the defendant/B.M.C. checked the record of the B.M.C. and surprised that notice structure has not been allotted to any person and the keys are lying in the office. It is further stated that M/East ward sent letter to Assistant Engineer, Maintenance, F/Sough ward and called remarks whether allotment letter and possession receipt are issued by F- South ward. The Assistant Engineer, Maintenance F/South by letter dated 8/12/2022 informed that allotment letter and possession receipts are not issued by F/South ward. 6] It is further stated that the B.M.C. has not issued NoC for transfer of electricity meter. The plaintiff is not a project affected person. The suit structure has not been allotted to the plaintiff. The plaintiff prepared fake and false documents and filed this suit. Defendant/B.M.C. has not issued allotment letter to the plaintiff. The plaintiff has filed suit on the basis of fake and fabricated documents and this amounts interference in the administration of justice and the plaintiff is liable to be punished under Section 192 of the Indian Penal Code, therefore, defendant prays action under Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. On these grounds, defendant/B.M.C. prays for dismissal of Notice of Motion. 7] Points for determination alongwith findings thereon for the reasons are as under :- -- 3 of 8 -- 4 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) Sr. No. P O I N T S F I N D I N G S 1) Whether plaintiff has made out prima facie case ? . . . No. 2) Whether balance of convenience lies in favour of plaintiff ? . . . No. 3) Whether plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss if temporary injunction is refused ? . . . No. 4) What order ? . . . Notice of Motion is dismissed. - :: R E A S O N S ::- AS TO POINTS No. 1 TO 3 :- 8] Heard learned advocates for the parties. 9] Learned advocate for the plaintiff submitted that the plaintiff was in possession of structure situated at Barrister Nath Pai Marg, Mumbai which was situated on a footpath and the Corporation had issued notice under Section 314 of the M. M. C. Act and called upon the plaintiff to submit documents, for deciding eligibility for alternate accommodation. Accordingly, the plaintiff submitted documents. It is further submitted that the Corporation has arranged lottery for allotment of alternate accommodation and, accordingly, the Corporation allotted suit premises to the plaintiff as a permanent alternate accommodation in lieu of his old structure and also issued -- 4 of 8 -- 5 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) possession receipt. It is further submitted that the plaintiff is in possession of notice structure since 2008. The plaintiff is having maintenance receipt, electricity bill, PAN Card, Aadhhar card, gas connection at the address of suit structure. 10] It is further submitted that the plaintiff is in possession of suit structure since 2008 however, the officer of the Corporation threatened to dispossess the plaintiff without issuing any notice and, therefore, the plaintiff has filed this suit for injunction and taken out Notice of Motion. It is further submitted that a person in possession cannot be dispossessed without following due process of law and in the case on hand, the plaintiff is in lawful possession of suit structure. Therefore, the plaintiff is entitled for temporary injunction as prayed. It is further submitted that the documents relied by the plaintiff cannot be stated to be forged and fabricated at this primary stage and after recording evidence the Court can decide whether documents are genuine or fake or fabricated and till then the plaintiff is entitled for protection. 11] On the other hand, learned advocate for the Corporation submitted that the documents submitted by the plaintiff are fake and fabricated. The defendant/B.M.C. has not allotted notice structure to the plaintiff as a project affected person. The impugned notice at exhibit-A to the plaint and allotment letter exhibit-B to the plaint are false and fabricated and on the basis of false and fabricated documents the plaintiff is claiming right over suit structure. It is further submitted that as per record of the B.M.C. notice structure is not allotted to anybody and same is in possession of the Corporation. It is further submitted that the plaintiff fabricated documents i.e. allotment letter -- 5 of 8 -- 6 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) and possession receipt and filed the suit. Therefore, action be taken against the plaintiff as per the provisions of Section 340 of the Cr. P. C. It is further submitted that the plaintiff has not come to the Court with clean hands and is not entitled for relief of temporary injunction. 12] The plaintiff filed suit for injunction restraining defendant/ B.M.C. and its officers from dispossessing or evicting the plaintiff without following due process of law. It is case of the plaintiff that he is a project affected person and his old structure situated at Dr. Nath Pai Marg, Mumbai – 400 008 has been removed by the Corporation as it was situated on a footpath and in lieu of his old structure the Corporation allotted notice structure to the plaintiff. Defendant/B.M.C. denied that the plaintiff is a project affected person and notice structure has been allotted to him. Thus, the burden lies upon the plaintiff to prove his legal possession over notice structure. 13] In order to show that the plaintiff is a project affected person he has produced copy of notice alleged to be issued by B.M.C. under Section 314 of the M. M. C. Act to the plaintiff. It is important to note here that in paragraph No.3 of the plaint it is pleaded that the plaintiff's old structure was situated at Barrister Nath Pai Marg, Zopadpatti, Mumbai – 400 008. However, notice under Section 314 of the M. M. C. Act has been issued at a different address. The said notice has been issued at Zakaria Bunder Road, Sewree, Mumbai – 15. This shows that the address of old structure mentioned in the plaint and the address mentioned in the notice under Section 314 of the M. M. C. Act are totally different. The plaintiff has relied upon allotment letter dated 10/10/2008 allegedly issued by Assistant Commissioner, F/South Ward to show that defendant/B.M.C. has allotted the notice structure to the -- 6 of 8 -- 7 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) plaintiff. Defendant/B.M.C. alongwith reply to Notice of Motion produced on record letter written by Assistant Engineer, F/South ward. In the said letter, it is clearly stated that notice structure has not been allotted to anyone and it is vacant and notice structure has not been allotted by officer of F/South ward. The correspondence with the Assistant Engineer, Maintenance, F/South ward clearly shows that notice structure has not been allotted to anyone and it is a vacant structure. It appears that allotment letter was not issued by concerned officer of F/South ward of the B.M.C. The address in the alleged notice under Section 314 of the M. M. C. Act and the address given by the plaintiff in paragraph No.3 of the plaint are totally different. Thus, the documents provided by the plaintiff appears to be doubtful. This creates doubt about genuineness of allotment letter as well as possession receipt. The plaintiff has not produced copy of Annexure-II, or any other document, showing address of old structure or to show that notice structure has been allotted by B.M.C. to the plaintiff as a project affected person. Therefore, I hold that the plaintiff has failed to establish his lawful possession over suit structure. 14] The plaintiff has filed this suit for perpetual injunction restraining defendant/B.M.C. from dispossessing the plaintiff without following due process of law. However, the plaintiff has failed to establish his lawful possession over suit premises. The plaintiff has not produced on record legitimate documents to show that he is project affected person or entitled for allotment of tenements as project affected person. In the circumstances, the possession of plaintiff, evenif there may be any, can merely be termed as a 'trespasser'. Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Maria Margarida Sequeria Fernandes and Others Versus Erasmo Jack de Sequeria (Dead) through L.Rs. (Civil Appeal -- 7 of 8 -- 8 Draft N/M (LCS No.2837/19) No.2968 Of 2012) held that the due process includes the opportunity to file pleadings and documents and does not include whole trial and such a due process of law is satisfied the moment rights of the parties are adjudicated upon by competent Court. 15] In the case on hand, the plaintiff has failed to establish any lawful possession over suit premises or any legal right over suit premises. Therefore, I hold that the plaintiff has not made out prima facie case for grant of temporary injunction. Balance of convenience does not tilt in his favour. Accordingly, points No.1 to 3 are answered in the negative and in answer to point No.4 following order is passed :- O R D E R 1] Draft Notice of Motion is dismissed. 2] Notice of Motion be registered for statistical purpose. Date : 04/10/2023. ( S. H. SALUNKHE ) Adhoc Judge City Civil Court, Court Room No.4, Gr. Mumbai. “CERTIFIED TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNED ORDER.” 10/10/2023 02:50 p.m. V. V. Kulkarni NAME OF STENOGRAPHERUPLOAD DATE TIME Name of the Judge (With Court Room No.) H. H. Judge Shri. S. H. Salunkhe, Court Room No. 4. Date of Pronouncement of ORDER 04/10/2023 ORDER Typed on 08/10/2023 ORDER signed by P.O. on 09/10/2023 ORDER uploaded on 10/10/2023 -- 8 of 8 --
