As per case facts, the plaintiff filed appeals against an order rejecting claims for arrears of transit rent and possession of an alternate flat. The plaintiff had entered into agreements ...
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
APPEAL FROM ORDER NO.1140 OF 2022
WITH
INTERIM APPLICATION NO.30319 OF 2022
IN
APPEAL FROM ORDER NO.1140 OF 2022
AND
APPEAL FROM ORDER NO.1163 OF 2022
WITH
INTERIM APPLICATION NO.30518 OF 2022
IN
APPEAL FROM ORDER NO.1163 OF 2022
Mrs. Shantadevi Ramdhani Yadav
Age about 48 years, Occ: Housewife
of Mumbai Indian Inhabitant
residing at Room No.304, Bldg. No.7
Satguru Apartment MHADA Colony
Chandivali Saki Vihar Road,
Sakinaka, Mumbai 400 072
…Appellant/
Applicant/
Org. Plainti�
Versus
M/s. Pashmina Realty Pvt. Ltd.
A Company, incorporated under the
Companies Act, 1956 and having its
o�ce at 3
rd
Floor, Bengal Chemical,
502, Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi,
Mumbai 400 025.
....Defendant/
Org.Defendant
___________________
Mr. S. P. Srivastava for the Appellant/Applicant/Org.Plainti�
Mr. Yash Momaya i/b DSK Legal for the Defendant/Defendant
___________________
CORAM : SHARMILA U. DESHMUKH, J.
RESERVED ON :JUNE 11, 2026
PRONOUNCED ON : JUNE 25, 2026
SQ Pathan 1/23
SHAGUFTA
QUTBUDDIN
PATHAN
Digitally signed
by SHAGUFTA
QUTBUDDIN
PATHAN
Date:
2026.06.25
19:15:08
+0530
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
JUDGMENT :
1. Admit. With consent taken up for �nal disposal forthwith.
2.Both these Appeals �led at the instance of original Plainti�
challenge identical order dated 24
th
February, 2021 passed by the
Trial Court on 24
th
February 2021, rejecting the Appellant’s seeking
arrears of rent for the period from November 2011 to January
2014, and for payment of further rent from February 2014 till the
Defendant provides transit accommodation and hands over
possession of self-contained �at. Common submissions were
advanced and both the Appeals from Order are being disposed of
by this common judgment. For sake of clarity, the parties are
referred to by their status before the trial court.
3.S.C Suit No 918 of 2014 and S.C Suit No 917 of 2014 were
�led for speci�c performance of the Agreements for Permanent
Alternate Accommodation dated 19
th
December 2009, executed by
the Defendant in respect of the structures occupied by the
Plainti�, and for payment of arrears of rent.
4.The Plainti� claims to have been in use, occupation and
possession of two residential premises admeasuring 10’x30’, both
SQ Pathan 2/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
situated at Gulati Compound, Sakinaka, Mumbai 400 072. The
Defendant acquired development right in the subject property and
approached the Plainti� and other family members agreeing to
provide two permanent alternate accommodations to the Plainti�
in lieu of two residential premises in possession of the Plainti�.
Accordingly, two unregistered Permanent Alternate
Accommodation Agreements dated 19
th
December 2009 were
executed by the Defendant with the Plainti�, agreeing to provide
two alternate accommodation admeasuring 350 square feet
carpet area and agreed to pay transit rent of Rs 17,000/ per month.
It was also agreed that the possession of the redeveloped premises
would handed over within 24 months with extended period of 6
months failing which compensation of Rs 1,00,000/ would be paid.
5. The Defendant had issued two cheques amounting to Rs.
3,74,000/- each, being the rent for a period of 22 months, and the
Plainti� had vacated both the rooms and handed over possession
to the Defendant on date of agreement. Despite issuance of
notice to the Defendant seeking payment of further rent, there
was non-compliance. It is further pleaded that the Plainti� had
�led S.C. Suit No. 4580 of 2010 against the Defendant for a
SQ Pathan 3/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
declaration that both the agreements are valid and subsisting and
for injunction. The said suit came to be withdrawn, as no relief of
speci�c performance was sought, and thereafter the present suit
came to be �led.
6.The Plainti� preferred an interim application seeking a
direction to the Defendant to pay arrears of rent from November
2011 to January 2014, and for payment of further rent, and to
hand over possession of the self-contained �at.
7.The Defendant resisted the application by setting up a case
of composite arrangement entered into with the Plainti� and her
husband, under which the Defendant had paid a sum of
Rs.50,00,000/- by way of ten agreements dated 19
th
December
2009 and 6
th
February 2010 for Rs.5,00,000/- each to the Plainti�
and her family members in lieu of four structures, two of which
stood in the name of the Plainti� and the other two in the name of
the Plainti�'s husband. The Plainti� has failed to comply with her
obligation to hand over vacant possession of the suit premises on
execution of the agreement dated 19
th
December 2009, and
subsequently the structures were demolished by the Mumbai
Municipal Corporation. In the earlier Suit No. 4580 of 2010, where a
SQ Pathan 4/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
similar relief for payment of rent was sought, ad-interim relief was
refused by an order dated 25
th
October 2012. It was pleaded that
there were several agreements entered into between the
Defendant and the Plainti� and her husband, recording a
composite arrangement in respect of four structures, pursuant to
which a sum of Rs.50,00,000/- was paid to the Plainti� and her
husband as monetary compensation in respect of the four
structures and an additional amount of Rs.7,48,000/- was paid
towards rent and despite receiving the said payments, the Plainti�
did not vacate the suit structures.
8.The Plainti�'s son, Ravi Yadav, and daughter, Manju Yadav,
had �led two suits, being Suit (Lodging) Nos. 1256 of 2011 and
1257 of 2011, claiming that there were only four structures
belonging to the Yadav family. In the proceedings �led by the
Plainti�’s children, no ad-interim relief was granted. Neither the
Plainti� nor her family members have handed over possession of
the suit premises to the Defendant and were, therefore, in breach
of their obligations and not entitled to any relief. Insofar as the
remaining two structures are concerned, the Plainti�'s husband
had not vacated or handed over possession of the remaining two
SQ Pathan 5/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
structures. The Defendant has �led Suit No. 4697 of 2013 in this
Court seeking a declaration that the composite arrangement
contained in the Agreements for Permanent Alternate
Accommodation, ten agreements providing for payment of an
aggregate amount of compensation of Rs.50,00,000/-, and the
agreement providing for payment of an amount of Rs.7,48,000/-
towards rent in respect of the two residential structures standing
on the same property in the name of the Plainti�, and which were
subsequently demolished, now stands frustrated, and a direction
for payment of sum of Rs.25,00,000/- along with interest and a
sum of Rs.3,74,000/- along with interest from the date of execution
of the rental agreements/letter dated 8
th
February 2010.
9.In rejoinder, it is denied that there was a composite
arrangement between the Defendant and the Plainti�, under
which the Defendant had paid a sum of Rs.50,00,000/- by way of
ten agreements dated 19
th
December 2009 and 6
th
February 2010
for Rs.5,00,000/- each. It is stated that the Defendant, by
misguiding the Plainti�, had taken the signatures of all the family
members and had paid only Rs.5,00,000/- for each structure. The
possession of the suit premises was handed over after execution of
SQ Pathan 6/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
the agreement and the Defendant had demolished the same
immediately thereafter. The structures belonging to the children
of the Plainti� were separate structures and the respective suits
had been �led to protect their premises, but the Defendant, with
the assistance of the Municipal Corporation, got those structures
demolished. The Plainti�'s structures were demolished by the
Defendant immediately after execution of the agreement dated
19
th
December 2009. The structures which were demolished by the
Corporation were not the structures of the Plainti�, as alleged by
the Defendant.
10.There is a further a�davit dated 11
th
November 2019 �led
by the Plainti�, claiming that the Defendant had paid a sum of
Rs.50,00,000/- as compensation to acquire other huts, for which
separate agreements, a�davits, and Powers of Attorney were
executed and ten such agreements were executed. It is contended
that a writing dated 8
th
February 2010 was executed between the
Plainti� and the Defendant by which the Defendant paid
Rs.3,74,000/- each for the two structures, and that the said writing
as well as �ve agreements dated 19
th
December 2009 were sought
to be produced. An additional a�davit came to be �led by the
SQ Pathan 7/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
Defendant in response to the a�davit dated 11
th
November 2019,
opposing the production of the documents on the ground that
there was no reference to the same in the suit or in the motion. It is
contended that the Plainti� had categorically denied the existence
of writing dated 8
th
February 2010 by advocate's letter dated 1
st
October 2013, which is annexed to the plaint and cannot rely on
the writing dated 8
th
February 2010. There is a further a�davit of
December 2019 �led by the Plainti� reiterating the earlier stand
taken and contending that the Plainti� is relying upon the writing
dated 8
th
February 2010 in respect of payment of rent and not the
agreement dated 8
th
February 2010.
11.The Trial Court, noted that the agreement tendered by the
Defendant with its reply is di�erent from the agreement on which
the suit is based. It accepted that the case of Plainti� that each
agreement is di�erent is prima facie convincing. It also noted that
the documents �led by the Defendant shows that the demolition
by the Corporation was of the structures of Ravi Yadav and Manju
Yadav. Noting that substantial amounts have been paid by the
Defendant to the Plainti�, may be pertaining to other agreements,
for further amounts, the Plainti� would have to establish that she
SQ Pathan 8/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
delivered possession to the Defendant. It opined that there is no
details when the possession was handed over. It held that as breach
is alleged by the Defendant, no �ndings can be given that the
claim for rent is justi�able and accordingly dismissed the
application.
12.Mr. Srivastava, learned counsel appearing for the Plainti�
points out the agreement for alternate accommodation of 19
th
December 2009 in respect of two structures. He would further
point out the writing dated 8
th
February 2010, executed by the
Defendant itself recording that vacant possession of the existing
structures was handed over and that a sum of Rs.3,74,000/-
towards 22 months' rent in advance was paid, which is also
endorsed by the Plainti�. He would further submit that the Trial
Court has ignored the documentary evidence produced on record,
which showed the date on which possession was handed over. He
would further submit that, in the additional a�davit of the
Plainti� dated 11
th
November 2019, there is a speci�c reference to
the writing dated 8
th
February 2010, which has not been considered
by the Trial Court. He submits that, as the Plainti� had handed over
possession of the structures as contemplated under the
SQ Pathan 9/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
agreement, there is no breach and the Defendant is liable to pay
the arrears of the rent.
13.Per contra, Mr. Momaya, learned counsel appearing for the
Defendant, submitted that the Plainti� is a part of the Yadav
family comprising Ramdhani-her husband, two sons, Ravi and
Ashish, and daughter Manju, who collectively occupied four
unauthorised structures on portion of the subject land. s He
submits that the pleadings in the suits �led by Ravi and Manju
acknowledge that there were only four structures with the Yadav
family. He would further submit that an oral composite
understanding was entered into between the Yadav family and the
Defendant, under which the Yadav family agreed to surrender and
hand over the original four structures to the Defendant for
monetary payment of Rs.50,00,000/- paid under ten separate
writings dated 19
th
December 2009 and 6
th
February 2010 of Rs.
5,00,000/ each, two permanent alternate accommodation
agreements dated 19
th
December 2009 entered into with the
Plainti� herein and two permanent alternate accommodation
agreements of 19
th
December 2009 entered into with the husband
of the Plainti�. He submits that under the composite agreement,
SQ Pathan 10/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
the Yadav family was to hand over peaceful possession of all the
four structures, as recorded in these ten writings, but Ravi Yadav
and Manju Yadav �led multiple proceedings claiming to be in
possession.
14.He submits that the Defendant has paid a sum of
Rs.50,00,000/- to the Yadav family and also paid a sum of
Rs.7,48,000/- as transit rent for all the four original structures to
the Plainti�, at the request of the Yadav family. He would further
submit that the Plainti� has mentioned di�erent dates in di�erent
proceedings for handing over possession. He would submit that the
writing dated 8
th
February 2010, under which the Plainti� claims to
have handed over possession, is not referred to in the plaint and
was sought to be produced only after the arguments on the Notice
of Motion were concluded. He would further point out that, though
the Plainti� herein claims that the sum of Rs.7,48,000/- was
payable towards two units of the Plainti� herein, the husband of
the Plainti� had addressed a notice dated 10
th
October 2012
acknowledging receipt of rent previously received by him, which
constitutes an admission that the sum of Rs.7,48,000/- was paid to
the Plainti� as a composite payment towards all four units.
SQ Pathan 11/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
15.He submits that, in breach of the agreement, the Yadav
family has failed to hand over possession of the original four
structures and has instituted series of litigations. He submits that
two structures came to be demolished by the Mumbai Municipal
Corporation, in furtherance of its statutory duties and that, till
date, the husband of the Plainti� has not handed over the
remaining two structures. He would submit that the Defendant has
�led Suit No. 4697 of 2013 seeking a declaration that the
agreements stand frustrated and seeking refund of the amounts,
which is pending. He would further point out that the Plainti�
seeks reliefs which are in the nature of �nal reliefs at the
interlocutory stage. He submits that the Plainti� has suppressed
the fact that, in Suit No. 4580 of 2010, the Plainti� claimed to be in
possession even as of October 2012. He submits that the discretion
exercised by the Trial Court is neither arbitrary nor perverse and
does not warrant any interference. In support of his submissions,
he relies upon the following decisions:
i. State of U.P. & Ors. vs. Ram Sukhi Devi
1
ii. Metro Marins & Anr. vs. Bonus Watch Co.(P) Ltd. &
Ors.
2
1 (2005) 9 SCC 733
2 (2004) 7 SCC 478
SQ Pathan 12/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
iii. Wander Ltd. & Anr. vs. Antox India P. Ltd.
3
iv. Vasudev Nene & Ors. vs. Dattatraya Raghunath
Jog
4
16.Mr. Srivastava, denies any composite agreement and would
point out the annexure to the Defendant's a�davit in reply, which
refers to ten agreements as tenant compensation agreements,
four agreements as alternate accommodation agreements, and
two agreements as rent agreements. He would submit that these
were independent agreements and that the Plainti� had handed
over possession of all the structures on 8
th
February 2010, as
evidenced by the writing. He submits that the demolition of the
structures by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation was in respect of
the huts occupied by the children of the Plainti� and had no nexus
with the agreements entered into between the Plainti� and the
Defendant. He would further point out that, in the suit of 2012, the
Plainti� had inadvertently stated that she was in occupation and
possession of two residential premises, whereas the Plainti� had
also claimed rent from January 2012, which indicates that the
pleading about being in possession was an inadvertent error.
17.Rival contentions now fall for determination:
3 1990 (Supp) SCC 727
4 1999 SCC OnLine Bom 212 : (1999) 3 Bom CR 684 : 1999 AIHC 3739
SQ Pathan 13/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
18. The Plainti� is claiming speci�c performance of the two
Agreements for Permanent Alternate Accommodation dated 19
th
December, 2009 executed between the Plainti� and the
Defendant. Under the said agreements, the obligation of
Defendant was to provide permanent alternate accommodation
admeasuring 350 square feet carpet area and to pay transit rent.
The obligation upon the Plainti� was to hand over vacant
possession of the premises occupied by her. There is also another
agreement of the same date i.e. 19
th
December, 2009 entered into
between the Plainti� and the Defendant, which has been produced
by the Defendant. The agreement records that the Plainti� had
represented to the Defendant that it was not conducive to avail of
alternate accommodation at the site and had expressed her desire
to make arrangements for alternate accommodation, in the event
of the Plainti� being provided with compensation against
surrendering her rights and possession of the existing structures to
the Developer. It records that upon the Plainti� being provided
with compensation against surrendering the rights in and
possession of the existing structure to the Defendant, the
Defendant would be enabled to utilise the proposed alternate
SQ Pathan 14/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
accommodation to rehouse any other eligible slum dweller or
project-a�ected person under the Slum Development Scheme of
the Government of India. Clause (3) of the agreement records that
the Plainti� has agreed to surrender all her right, title, interest,
and claims in the existing premises in favour of the Defendant and
the full, total, and complete cost and price for surrender of the
existing premises and for acquiring another accommodation was
mutually agreed at Rs.5,00,000/-. Clause (5) records that the sum of
Rs 5,00,000/ has been paid by the Defendant to the Plainti�. Clause
(6) records that simultaneously with the execution of the
agreement, the Plainti� has handed over vacant and peaceful
possession of the existing premises and the Defendant has
resumed physical possession thereof. The agreement has been
signed by the Director of the Defendant and by the Plainti�. The
agreement has been produced by the Defendant in support of its
claim of a composite arrangement having been entered into
between the Plainti� and her family members.
19. The Defendant has also produced, along with its reply, the
statement detailing the agreements entered into between the
Plainti� and the other family members, which shows ten
SQ Pathan 15/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
agreements executed with the Plainti� and her husband agreeing
for compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- each styled as Tenant
Compensation, four agreements entered into between the Plainti�
and her husband styled as alternate agreement, and two
agreements dated 8
th
February 2010 with the Plainti� as rent
agreements for a rent period of 22 months for the period 8
th
December, 2011 for Rs.3,74,000/- each.
20.Prima facie, from the material on record, apart from the
alternate accommodation agreements, there are other agreements
executed by the Plainti�, under which the Plainti� and her
husband have received substantial amount of Rs 50,00,000/. The
plaint is conspicuously silent on the receipt of Rs 50,00,000/. The
submissions canvassed indicates that the Plainti� seeks to distance
herself from the other agreements under which she and he r
husband have received substantial amount and would assert her
rights under the two permanent alternate accommodation
agreements. The agreements will have to be considered holistically
to appreciate the true nature of arrangements between the
parties, the adjustment of the amounts paid, the default, if any,
etc. These issues require evidence to be led. The Defendant would
SQ Pathan 16/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
rely on the ten agreements executed with the members of the
Plainti�'s family, as set out in the statement annexed to the
a�davit in reply, to claim composite arrangement entered into
between the Defendant and the Yadav family and the breach
thereof. The Plainti� has admitted the existence of ten
agreements and receipt of Rs 50,00,000/ as compensation but
claims that the same has been paid towards acquiring other huts,
whereas the suits �led by the Plainti�’s children acknowledge that
the Yadav family was in possession of four structures. In the
a�davit of December, 2019, the Plainti� has stated that the
Defendant has taken �ve other structures for which they have paid
Rs 5,00,000/- each.
21.In the reply dated 10
th
September 2013 �led by the
Defendant to the Plainti�'s notice dated 6
th
August 2013, the
Defendant has referred to the composite arrangement under
which all four structures were required to be handed over for
which compensation of Rs.50,00,000/- was paid. The said reply also
refers to two agreements dated 8
th
February 2010 recording
payment of Rs.3,74,000/- under each of the agreements executed
by the Plainti� towards 22 months' rent in respect of all four
SQ Pathan 17/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
structures as well as the fact that the two structures, of which
possession was not handed over, were demolished by the Mumbai
Municipal Corporation, against which the Plainti�'s children, Ravi
Yadav and Manju Yadav, had instituted suits.
22.The Defendant claims that the Yadav family occupied four
structures and under the composite agreement, all four structures
were required to be handed over, whereas the Plainti� claims that
there were about ten structures for which ten agreements were
executed under which Rs 5,00,000/ each were paid.
23.There is no clarity as to the number of structures which were
in occupation of the Plainti�, the reason for payment of Rs
50,00,000/ as there are two di�erent arrangements on record i.e.
one in the nature of surrender of rights and other for Permanent
Alternate Accommodation of the same date. The Plainti� has also
received payment of Rs 7,48,000/ as advance transit rent. In event
the Plainti� and her husband were in occupation of four structures
only, the demolition of two structures by the Corporation would
prima facie constitute breach of obligation. Even if the structures
which were demolished were occupied by the Plainti�’s children,
considering the payment of Rs 50,00,000/ , prima facie it appears
SQ Pathan 18/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
that the understanding was to hand over possession of all four
structures. Prima facie, at this stage, without evidence being led,
there is no clarity about the nature of arrangement between the
parties or even about the number of structures which were in
occupation of Yadav family. The Plainti� seeks interim relief of
payment of transit rent from the year 2011 onwards claiming
default in payment of transit rent as the sum of Rs 7,48,000/ was
received as rent for 22 months for two structures. There is no
accounting of the sum of Rs 50,00,000/ admittedly received by the
Plainti� and her husband. The Defendant claims breach of the
agreement by the Plainti� which will have to be considered in the
context of overall arrangement entered into between the parties.
The Plainti�’s agreements cannot be considered in isolation of the
other agreements under which the Defendant has parted with
substantial consideration. The payment of Rs 50,00,000/ cannot be
ignored and have to be accounted for by the Plainti�.
24.The Plainti�’s reliance on the writing dated 8
th
February
2010, does not �nd place in the plaint and is produced subsequent
to the conclusion of the oral arguments. The Trial Court has rightly
not referred to the writing which is not pleaded in the plaint. Even
SQ Pathan 19/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
accepting the documents on record establishing the handing over
of possession of two structures, the payment of Rs 50,00,000/
would cover the liability of payment of transit rent. In view of the
substantial payment received by the Plainti� and her husband, at
this stage, it is di�cult to accept that there is default in payment
of transit rent. In event the Defendant succeeds in the trial to
establish the breach of obligation by the Plainti�, the restitution
would be di�cult.
25. The Defendant has also instituted independent proceedings
claiming breach of contract based on the composite agreement
and there is dispute about the compliance of obligation by the
Plainti� endangering the subsistence of the agreements of which
speci�c performance has been sought. The Trial Court has rightly
noted that substantial amount has been paid by the Defendant to
the Plainti� even though pertaining to other agreements and that
the existence of agreement is disputed on the count of breach.
26.The Plainti� has suppressed the receipt of Rs 50,00,000/ and
failed to account for the same while seeking transit rent from
November, 2011 onwards. In event the payment of Rs 50,00,000/,
was not towards the payment of transit rent, the Plainti� is
SQ Pathan 20/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
required to explain the purpose for the said payment. The answer
to these issues require evidence to be led and no prima facie case
of default in payment of transit rent is made out by the Plainti�. As
the Plainti� is in receipt of substantial amount and the documents
indicate that two of the structures were demolished by the
Corporation, the balance of convenience is in favour of the
Defendant. The rejection of the interim application does not cause
irreparable loss to the Plainti� as the Plainti� would be entitled to
the same in event the suit is decreed.
27.In the case of Metro Marins & Anr. vs. Bonus Watch Co. (P)
Ltd. & Ors. (supra), the Hon'ble Apex Court noted the decision in
Dorab Cawasji Warden v. Coomi Sorab Warden
5
that an interim
mandatory injunction can be granted only in exceptional cases. In
Dorab Cawasji Warden (supra), the Hon’ble Apex Court held in
paragraph 16 and 17 as under:
“16. The relief of interlocutory mandatory injunction are
thus granted generally to preserve or restore the status quo
of the last non-contested status which preceded the
pending controversy until the �nal hearing when full relief
may be granted or to compel the undoing of those acts that
have been illegally done or the restoration of that which was
wrongfully taken from the party complaining. But since the
granting of such an injunction to a party who fails or would
5 (1990) 2 SCC 117
SQ Pathan 21/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
fail to establish his right at the trial may cause great injustice
or irreparable harm to the party against whom it was
granted or alternatively not granting of it to a party who
succeeds or would succeed may equally cause great injustice
or irreparable harm, Courts have evolved certain guide-lines.
Generally stated, these guidelines are:
(1) The plainti� has a strong case for trial. That is, it shall be
of a higher standard than a prima facie case that is
normally required for a prohibitory injunction;
(2) It is necessary to prevent irreparable or serious injury
which normally cannot be compensated in terms of money;
(3) The balance of convenience is in favour of the one
seeking such relief.
17. Being essentially an equitable relief the grant or
refusal of an interlocutory mandatory injunction shall
ultimately rest in the sound judicial discretion of the court to
be exercised in the light of the facts and circumstances in
each case. Though the above guidelines are neither
exhaustive nor complete or absolute rules, and there may be
exceptional circumstances needing action, applying them as
pre-requisite for the grant or refusal of such injunctions
would be a sound exercise of a judicial discretion.”
28. Applying these principles to the facts of present case, the
present case cannot be said to be an exceptional case warranting
grant of mandatory injunction of payment of transit rent in view of
the admitted position of receipt of substantial amount from the
Defendant.
SQ Pathan 22/23
901- AO-1140-2022 & 1163-2022-J .odt
29.The Trial Court has rightly considered the material on record
to conclude that the Plainti�’s claim for payment of transit rent is
not justi�ed at this stage.
30.In light of the discussion above, both the Appeals are devoid
of merits and stand dismissed.
31.Interim Applications do not survive for consideration and are
disposed of accordingly.
SHARMILA U. DESHMUKH, J.
SQ Pathan 23/23
In a significant ruling concerning Specific Performance of Agreement and the grant of an Interim Mandatory Injunction, the High Court of Judicature at Bombay recently dismissed appeals seeking interim relief for transit rent and possession. These rulings, officially cited as Appeals from Order No. 1140 of 2022 and 1163 of 2022, underscore critical principles regarding interlocutory applications in complex property disputes. On CaseOn, these judgments are highlighted for their insightful application of equitable remedies and the stringent conditions required for mandatory injunctions.
The crux of the appeals before the Bombay High Court revolved around whether the Plaintiff, Mrs. Shantadevi Ramdhani Yadav, was entitled to immediate (interim) payment of rent arrears and ongoing rent, along with the provision of transit accommodation and a self-contained flat. This claim stemmed from agreements for Permanent Alternate Accommodation dated December 19, 2009, between the Plaintiff and M/s. Pashmina Realty Pvt. Ltd. The Plaintiff contended that she had vacated her original structures, paving the way for the Defendant's development, and was therefore owed rent as per the agreements.
At the heart of the court's deliberation were established legal principles governing the grant of interim mandatory injunctions. The High Court drew heavily from precedents such as Dorab Cawasji Warden v. Coomi Sorab Warden and Metro Marins & Anr. vs. Bonus Watch Co.(P) Ltd. & Ors., which outline strict guidelines for such extraordinary relief:
Crucially, the courts emphasize that such relief should generally preserve or restore the status quo and compel the undoing of illegal acts, rather than granting final reliefs at an interlocutory stage.
The legal battle presented a tangled web of agreements and counter-allégations.
Mrs. Yadav asserted that she had entered into two Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreements for two 350 sq ft flats and was due transit rent of Rs. 17,000 per month. She claimed to have handed over vacant possession of her structures and pointed to a writing dated February 8, 2010, as evidence. She also acknowledged receiving Rs. 3,74,000 as advance rent for 22 months for two structures.
M/s. Pashmina Realty Pvt. Ltd. presented a different picture, arguing a “composite arrangement” involving Mrs. Yadav and her entire family (the Yadav family), who allegedly occupied four unauthorized structures. The Defendant claimed to have:
Both the Trial Court and the High Court carefully weighed the competing narratives. They noted that while the Plaintiff's claim of separate agreements had prima facie conviction, the broader context of multiple agreements and substantial payments could not be ignored.
Key observations included:
For legal professionals and students grappling with such intricate details, CaseOn.in's 2-minute audio briefs provide a concise yet comprehensive summary of these specific rulings, making complex legal arguments easily digestible and aiding in quick case analysis.
Ultimately, the High Court upheld the Trial Court's decision, dismissing both appeals and consequently, the interim applications. The judgment underscored that granting such interim relief would effectively pre-judge the main suit without a full examination of evidence and clarification of all facts. The court reiterated that interim mandatory injunctions are extraordinary remedies reserved for truly exceptional circumstances, which were not met in this case, particularly given the Plaintiff's non-disclosure of substantial payments and the contested nature of the agreements.
This ruling serves as a vital lesson in several areas of law:
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