THE HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA

CRP. No. 26 of 2016

Shri. Phon Syih, Resident of Thangskai village, P.O. Lumshnong, East Jaintia Hills District.

… Petitioner

-Versus-

Shri Simon Shangshai, Resident of Lad Sutnga Skhiah East, East Jaintia Hills District.

… Respondent

BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.SEN

JUDGMENT AND ORDER (ORAL)

Heard Mr. H.S.Thangkhiew, learned Sr. Counsel, assisted by Mr. Philemon Nongbri, learned counsel for and on behalf of the petitioner.

2. Petitioner's case in a nutshell is that:

"This is an application under order 6 of the High Court of Meghalaya (Jurisdiction Over District Council Courts) Order, 2014 read with Article 227 of the Constitution of India against the impugned order dated 16.06.2016 passed by the Judge District Council Court, Jowai in Misc. Civil Appeal No.1 of 2015. The brief fact of the instant case is that the petitioner had instituted a suit against the respondent before the Presiding Officer, Subordinate District Council Court, Jowai for declaration of right, title and interest and permanent injunction, being Title Suit No.23 of 2014 and also a Miscellaneous Application analogous to Order XXXIX Rule 1 & 2 read with Section 151 C.P.C, being Misc. Case No. 25 of 2014 for ad-interim injunction restraining the respondent, his agents, workers from entering into the suit land and further restraining the respondent from claiming the suit land and from disturbing the peaceful possession of the petitioner over the suit land.

The learned trial court vide order dated 24.10.2014 was pleased to grant ad interim injunction restraining the respondent, their agents or any other person acting on their behalf or under instruction from disturbing interfering or entering or claiming the suit land until further orders from this court. Upon service of notice, the respondent entered appearance and filed his show cause and written statement. In the meantime, the respondent filed three applications, firstly an application under Section 20 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 read with Rules 11 and 18 of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Justice) Rules, 1953 objecting to the jurisdiction of the Ld. Trial Court to try the Title Suit. Second application cum Show Cause to the miscellaneous application was file under Order 39 Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for setting aside the order dated 24.10.2014 passed in Misc. Case No. 25 of 2014. Third application was filed under Order VII, Rule 11 (a) and (d) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for rejection of plaint. Upon being served with copies of the application, the petitioner filed his show cause replies to the same.

That on 01.04.2015, the Ld. Trial Court was pleased to hear the Misc. Case No. 25 of 2014 for ad-interim injunction along with the application under Order 39 Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for setting aside the order dated 24.10.2014 passed in Misc. Case No. 25 of 2014. That upon hearing both parties, the Ld. Trial Court was pleased to dispose of the two miscellaneous application vide order dated 05.05.2015 with the directions

"............XXXXXXXX..........

In respect with the issue raised by the learned counsel in opp parties in connection with question of jurisdiction, res judicata, registration Act these issue is too early to decide at this stage of which these issues can be decided after framing of issues in this regard. Hence status quo is to be maintain now by both parties to the suit which means that both parties not to enter, work, or doing anything in the suit land until the trial of the main suit is completed. Send a copy of this order to Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District to ensure the compliance of this order by both parties. This misc application is not stand finally disposed off."

That being aggrieved by the order dated 5.05.2015, the respondent then preferred an appeal before the Learned Judge, District Council Court, Jowai and the same was registered as Misc. Civil Appeal No.1 of 2015. The learned Judge District Council Court, Jowai upon hearing the parties, vide order dated 16.06.2016 was pleased to dispose of the appeal with a direction the trial court below to dispose the applications of the respondent herein after hearing both the parties and to pass necessary / appropriate order thereto. Meanwhile both the parties are still directed to maintain the status quo.

The petitioner being aggrieved by the order dated 16.06.2016 passed by the Learned Judge, District Council Court, Jowai in Misc. Civil Appeal No.1 of 2015, hence preferred this instant Civil Revision Petition."

3. After hearing the submission advanced by the learned counsel for the petitioner, I am of the view that the petition can be disposed of at this motion stage with further direction. Let the District Council Court decide the question or issue involved in the jurisdiction at the earliest as raised by the respondent.

4. In the meantime, both the parties are directed to maintain the status quo as on today and not to alter or change the description of the suit premises in any manner. With this direction, the instant petition is allowed and stands disposed of.

JUDGE

S.Rynjah