REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 6897-6898 OF 2022

(ARISING OUT OF SLP (C) NOS. 19314-19315 OF 2021)

OWNERS AND PARTIES INTERESTED IN THE

VESSEL M.V. POLARIS GALAXY … Appellant (s)

Versus

BANQUE CANTONALE DE GENEVE … Respondent (s)

J U D G M E N T

Indira Banerjee, J.

Leave granted.

2. These appeals are against a judgment and order dated 28

th

October

2021 passed by the Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court of

Judicature at Madras allowing Commercial Appeal being O.S.A (CAD) No.88

of 2021 filed by the Respondent, and setting aside an order dated 24

th

September 2021 passed by the Commercial Division (Single Bench) of the

High Court, adding Gulf Petroleum FZC as defendant in the Admiralty Suit

filed by the Respondent, Banque Nationale De Geneve being CS

(Commercial Division) No.96 of 2021.

1

3. The Appellant, M/s Galaxy Marine Services Limited is the registered

owner of the Vessel, M. V. Polaris Galaxy, a sea-going oil tanker, flying the

flag of Liberia, which is hereinafter referred to as, “the Vessel”.

4. M/s Polaris Marine Services, acting as Commercial Managers of M/s

Galaxy Marine Services, entered into a charterparty agreement with

Profitable Wealth Inc., a company registered in the British Virgin Islands

and operated by Wirana Shipping Corporation Private Limited, a well-

known maritime company based in Singapore, for charter of the vessel to

Profitable Wealth Inc. Profitable Wealth Inc. in turn sub-chartered the

vessel to Gulf Petroleum FZC for carriage of cargo of Marine Fuel Oil.

5. On 6

th

May 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC entered into a contract for

purchase of 27-28,000 Metric Tons (MT) of Marine Fuel from Indian Oil

Corporation Limited (IOC) which was to be loaded at the Kandla Port, for

discharge at Fujairah.

6. Gulf Petroleum FZC requested the Respondent, Banque Cantonale

de Geneve, hereinafter referred to as the Respondent Bank, to finance

the purchase of the said 27-28,000 MT of Marine Fuel Oil from IOC. Gulf

Petroleum FZC informed the Respondent that the Marine Fuel Oil had

been sold to Aramaco for delivery at Fujairah, on open credit.

7. By a letter dated 11

th

May 2020, the Respondent Bank requested

Gulf Petroleum FZC to provide a copy of the Sale Contract between Gulf

Petroleum FZC and Aramco and also sought certain clarifications. On

the same day i.e., 11

th

May 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC and Aramco

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entered into a Sale Contract for delivery of Marine Fuel Oil at Fujairah

between 23-30 May 2020, against credit of 60 days from the date of

invoice.

8. On 12

th

May 2020, a copy of the Sale Contract between Gulf

Petroleum FZC and Aramco was forwarded to the Respondent Bank.

Thereafter, the Respondent Bank agreed to finance the transaction. The

Respondent Bank issued a Letter of Credit in favour of IOC for USD

6,050,000.00. The Letter of Credit provided that if original Bills of Lading

were not available, then payment under the Letter of Credit would have to

be made against a Letter of Indemnity.

9. On 15

th

May 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC requested the Respondent

Bank to amend the Letter of Credit by changing the Port of Discharge from

Fujairah to Singapore. The Respondent Bank sought certain clarifications

on the proposed amendment.

10.On 15

th

May 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC and Aramco made an

addendum to their Sale Contract changing the Port of Discharge from

Fujairah to Singapore. On 17

th

May 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC forwarded a

copy of the addendum to the Sale Contract, to the Respondent Bank. On

18

th

May 2020, the Respondent Bank amended the Letter of Credit by

changing the Port of Discharge from Fujairah to Singapore.

11.On 21

st

May 2020, the Master of the Vessel issued a Bill of Lading

No.21052020/01, in respect of cargo of marine fuel. In terms of the Bill of

Lading the consignee was the Respondent Bank, the ‘Notify Party’ was Gulf

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Petrochem FZC and the Port of Discharge was Singapore. On the said date

Gulf Petroleum FZC instructed the Master of Vessel that the cargo should

to be discharged to Chevron Singapore Private Limited (hereinafter

referred to as “Chevron”) at the Horizon Terminal at Singapore.

12.On 24

th

May 2020, Profitable Wealth Inc. gave a Letter of Indemnity

to Polaris Marine Services. Gulf Petroleum FZC, in turn gave a counter-

indemnity to Profitable Wealth Inc.

13.IOC issued an invoice dated 27

th

May 2020 for USD 5,985,084.28 to

Gulf Petroleum FZC. In terms of the Sale Contract between IOC and Gulf

Petroleum FZC, the Respondent Bank honoured the Letter of Credit and

paid IOC the amount due in terms of the invoice.

14.On 31

st

May 2020, the Vessel arrived at the Port of Discharge at

Singapore and tendered its Notice of Readiness as per the instructions of

Gulf Petroleum FZC. By an email dated 2

nd

June 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC

requested the Vessel to tender Notice of Readiness to Chevron being

receivers of the cargo. Thereafter, between 9

th

June 2020 and 10

th

June

2020 the cargo was discharged at Horizon Terminal, Singapore.

15.On 11

th

June 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC issued an invoice of USD

6,707,357.38 to Aramco under a Sale Contract with Aramco. The due date

of the invoice was 10

th

August 2020 i.e. 60 days from the date of discharge

as agreed in terms of the Sale Contract.

4

16.On 15

th

June 2020, Gulf Petroleum FZC provided the Respondent

Bank with a copy of the invoice issued by Gulf Petroleum FZC to Aramco.

On 20

th

July 2020, GP Global Group being the parent/holding company of

the Gulf Petroleum FZC issued a media statement with regard to financial

restructuring of Gulf Petroleum FZC on account of financial difficulties.

17.Thereafter, news reports surfaced that GP Global Group had

uncovered a massive fraud within Gulf Petroleum FZC. Gulf Petroleum FZC

and its employees were by various ways and means defrauding and

cheating various parties, including the Appellant

18.The Respondent Bank sent a letter to the Master of the Vessel

marking a copy to P&I Club and the registered owners stating that no

payment had been received by the Respondent Bank on the due date

which is 60 days after delivery of the cargo. The cargo should therefore not

be discharged without the consent of the Respondent Bank. However, by

this time the cargo had already been discharged and delivered on the

basis of instructions given by Gulf Petroleum FZC to Chevron.

19.In October 2020, there were news reports that another company,

Gulf Petrol Supplies LLC had filed criminal proceedings against Gulf

Petroleum FZC making allegations of fraud in relation to contracts for

refined product cargoes, including fuel oil. It was alleged that Gulf

Petroleum FZC had fabricated several contracts for supply of petroleum

products to Gulf Petrol Supplies LLC and had issued fraudulent/fake

invoices.

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20.On 8

th

March 2021, the Respondent Bank instituted the Admiralty

Suit being C.S. (Commercial Division) No. 96 of 2021 before the

Commercial Division of the Madras High Court.

21.In the plaint filed in the said Admiralty suit, the Respondent

Bank pleaded the following:-

“7. The Plaintiff submits that its claim in the present suit

arises under a Bill of Lading and is for mis-delivery of cargo. The

claim is a maritime claim under section 4(1)(f) of the Admiralty

(Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017

(hereinafter referred to as the said Act). The claim is against the

owners of the Defendant vessel. The Defendant vessel is within

the territorial jurisdiction of this Hon’ble Court. In the

circumstances the Plaintiff is entitled to file the present Suit in rem

against the Defendant vessel and entitled to an order of arrest of

the Defendant vessel in respect of its maritime claim.

8. The Plaintiff is the lawful holder of the original Bill of

Lading no. 21052020/01 dated 21

st

May 2020 issued by the owner

of the Defendant vessel for carriage of 27,132.411 MTs of marine

fuel from Kandla to Singapore.

9. The central issue in the present suit is that the owner of

the Defendant vessel has unlawfully and in breach of its

obligations misdelivered cargo belonging to the Plaintiff to

someone else, without production of the original bill of lading. The

Defendant vessel and or its owner is therefore, liable to the

Plaintiff for the tort of conversion. The Plaintiff is entitled to be

compensated for its loss. The liability of the Defendant vessel is

established once the Plaintiff demonstrates that it continues to be

the lawful holder of the original bill of lading and that the

Defendant vessel has unlawfully delivered the cargo to someone

else. However, it may be useful to provide some background.

10. On 8

th

May 2020, one Gulf Petrochem FZC (“GP”)

approached the Plaintiff seeking financing for a transaction of

purchase of fuel from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (“IOCL”) and

onward sale of marine fuel to Aramco Trading Fujairah FZE

(“Aramco”). The proposed transaction was as follows :

a.GP would buy marine fuel from IOCL at USD 220.5880 per

MT.

b.GP would sell on the marine fuel to Armco at USD 246.726

6

per MT

c.The load port for the cargo would be Kandla and the

discharge port would be Fujairah

d.The Plaintiff would finance the purchase of the fuel by GP

from IOCL by way of letter of credit so as to enable GP to

procure the cargo and sell it onward to Aramco. The

purchase price for the onward sale would be remitted by

Aramco into GP’s bank account maintained with the

Plaintiff.

11.The payment terms under the sale by GP to Aramco were

to be on open credit given that Aramco was an Oil Major.

In other words, the Plaintiff would rely on the name of

Aramco as having never defaulted as security for payment

due from them. The relevant payment terms expressed in

the contract stated:

“THE PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 60 (SIXTY)

CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE DATE OF INVOICE (INVOICE

DATE = DAY 0) AGAINST PRESENTATION OF THE SELLER’S

INVOICE AND COQ [Certificate of Quality].”

12.The understanding between the parties in relation to this

aspect of security, was as follows:

a.It was agreed that the original Bill of Lading

representing the cargo would be issued by the

shipowner to the order of the Plaintiff. The title/property

in the cargo of fuel financed and paid for by the Plaintiff

would vest with the Plaintiff

b.Independent of the obligation to pay from Aramco,

the Plaintiff would remain the lawful holder of the

original Bill of Lading and would be entitled to delivery

of the cargo thereunder., the security for the Plaintiff’s

claim was the cargo, i.e., the fuel itself. However, until

the Plaintiff received confirmation of the onward sale of

Aramco, the title/property in the cargo of fuel would vest

with the Plaintiff by virtue of being the lawful holder of

the original Bill of Lading.

11.Further emails were exchanged between GP and the

Plaintiff on the above proposed transaction. GP had, on 8 May

2020, provided to the Plaintiff the contract between it (as buyer)

and IOCL (as seller). On 12 May 2020, on the basis of the above

understanding, the Plaintiff opened the Letter of Credit in IOCL’s

favour. There were some amendments to the contract between

GP and Aramco, as regards the discharge port – it was changed

7

from Fujairah to Singapore. This was conveyed by GP to the

Plaintiff on 17 May 2020. The corresponding amendment in the

letter of credit was carried out by the Plaintiff on 18 May 2020.

***

13.The relevant documents such as the bill of lading,

commercial invoice etc. were negotiated by IOCL under the letter

of credit opened by the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff accordingly made

payment to IOCL as per the financial agreement with GP. The bill

of lading was to the order of the Plaintiff. By reason of the bill of

lading being made out to order and being the lawful holder of the

bill of lading, the Plaintiff acquired rights of suit against the

Defendant vessel in respect of the goods, pending further onward

endorsement.

14.The Plaintiff was concerned, when, even as 10 August

2020 (i.e., the deadline for Aramco to make payment for the

Cargo) was fast approaching, there was no update about any

such payment nor was there any news of the status of the Cargo.

This is in spite of the fact that, by virtue of being in possession of

the original bill of lading, it would have rights of suit against the

Defendant vessel if any mischief had been engaged in respect of

the Cargo.

***

17.It now appears that the Defendant vessel has delivered

the Cargo to Aramco or an unknown third party, on or about 10

August 2020, without insisting on production of the original bill of

lading. An invoice was raised on 11 June 2020, by GP on Aramco

for the amount of USD 6,705,357.38 (approx INR 49,07,04,087.89

(Forty-Nine Crore, Seven Lakh, Four Thousand and Eighty Seven

only) (CALCULATED AT 1 USD=73 INR). The Plaintiff learnt about

this subsequently when in the course of a fraud investigation

against GP.”

22.On 9

th

March 2021, the Commercial Division of Madras High Court

(Single Bench) passed an ex parte order of arrest of the Vessel.

Thereafter, on 26

th

March 2021, the Respondent Bank filed an Application

No.1494 of 2021 in the said Admiralty suit, for summary judgment under

Order XIV Rule 8 and Order XIIIA of the Civil Procedure Code 1908, as

amended by the Commercial Courts Act 2015 (hereinafter referred to as

“Commercial Courts Act”).

8

23.Pursuant to orders passed by the Commercial Division (Single

Bench) of the Madras High Court, on an application made by the

Appellant, the Appellant furnished a Bank Guarantee to secure the claim

of the Respondent Bank. Thereafter, on 6

th

July 2021, the Commercial

Division of the High Court passed an order vacating the order of arrest of

the vessel and allowing the Vessel to sail out.

24.On 16

th

July 2021, the Appellant filed its response to the interim

application being Application No.1494 of 2021, filed by the Respondent

Bank for summary judgment under Order XIV Rule 8 and Order XIIA of the

Code of Civil Procedure as amended by the Commercial Courts Act. In its

response/Counter-Affidavit, the Appellant pleaded:-

“(k) The Plaintiff’s customer Gulf Petrochem who is alleged to

have cheated and defrauded the Plaintiff and provided the

Plaintiff with false and fraudulent documents on the basis of

which credit was granted by the Plaintiff, is a necessary and/or

proper party whose presence is necessary to effectively

adjudicate the issues that arise in the suit. Whether the

Plaintiff has been paid any amounts by Gulf Petrochem is an

issue that can only be gone into at trial and requires the

presence of Gulf Petrochem...”

25.On 13

th

August 2021, the Respondent Bank filed its Rejoinder

Affidavit to the aforementioned Application No.1494 of 2021 for summary

judgment. After hearing the respective parties and after considering the

documents on record, the Commercial Division of the High Court (Single

Bench) passed an order dated 24

th

September 2021 directing the

Respondent Bank to take necessary steps to implead Gulf Petroleum FZC

as a necessary and proper party to the suit.

9

26.The Single Bench observed and held:-

“6. In the written statement and the common counter filed by the

Vessel owner/the sole defendant, it is specifically stated that on

the instructions, the goods were delivered at Singapore Port

based on the delivery order issued by the customer of the

plaintiff. In such circumstances, the original Bill of Lading is not

required. Acting upon the e-mail communication dated

21.05.2020 by the Gulf Petrochem, the customer of the plaintiff,

the defendant delivered the cargo at Singapore. The plaintiff is

the financier to GP and the defendant is the carrier for GP. The

plaintiff is not the owner of the cargo. Hence the suit has to be

dismissed for non-joinder and mis joinder of the party. If at all the

plaintiff have any money claim, it has to proceed against its

customer Gulf Petrochem (GP) for breach of contract and not a

suit for maritime claim. The suit against the carrier as if it is a

maritime claim is abuse of law.

7. Heard. Records perused.

8. In the suit transaction, the Gulf Petrochem (GP), who is the

customer of the plaintiff, is the key player on whose instructions,

the goods have been delivered at Singapore by the defendant.

IOCL has sold marine fuel to GP based on the LC issued by the

plaintiff for USD 6,050,000. GP has engaged the defendant to

transport cargo. As per the Bill of Lading, the cargo is supposed to

be delivered at Singapore. The defendant has discharged the

cargo at Singapore Port based on the letter of indemnity dated

24.05.2020 given by Profitable Wealth INC, Singapore. In the

documentary credit opening (LC) dated 12.05.2020 originated

from the plaintiff there is a clause which indicates cargo can be

delivered on obtaining indemnity in case of temporary non

availability of original Bill of Lading.

9. From the documents and the facts pleaded, this Court is of the

view that Gulf Petrochem (GP) who is the customer of the plaintiff,

is the proper and necessary party in the suit. Unless the plaintiff

impleads GP as a party, the suit cannot be adjudicated to render

proper justice.”

27.The Respondent Bank filed an appeal being OSA (CAD) No.88 of

2021, against the said order dated 24

th

September 2021, in the

Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court (Division Bench), under

Section 13(1) of the Commercial Courts Act 2015. By the judgment and

order dated 28

th

October 2021 impugned in this appeal, the Commercial

10

Appellate Division of the High Court (Division Bench) allowed the appeal

and set aside the judgment and order of the Single Bench (Commercial

Division), imposing costs of Rs.1,50,000/- on the Appellant. The

preliminary objection raised by the Appellant, to the maintainability of

the appeal, was rejected.

28.After recording the submissions of the parties, the Division Bench,

observed and held:

“12. Indeed, the order impugned is spread over eight paragraphs.

The first five are the preliminary paragraphs. At the sixth

paragraph, it is recorded that the sole defendant delivered the

goods at Singapore based on a delivery order apparently issued by

the customer of the plaintiff and the defendant apparently acted on

the basis of an e-mail of May 21, 2020 issued by Gulf Petrochem.

The trial court recorded the defendant’s contention that the plaintiff

had financed the transaction and that the plaintiff was not the

owner of the cargo and since the owner of the cargo was Gulf

Petrochem which had not been impleaded, the suit was liable to be

dismissed.

13.Upon noting such contention, the trial court concluded as

follows in the only paragraph in support of the order:

“8. In the suit transaction, the Gulf Petrochem (GP), who is the

customer of the plaintiff, is the key player on whose instruction,

the goods have been delivered at Singapore by the defendant.

IOCL has sold marine fuel to GP based on the LC issued by the

plaintiff for USD 6,050,000. GP has engaged the defendant to

transport the cargo. As per the Bill of Lading, the cargo is

supposed to be delivered at Singapore. The defendant has

discharged the cargo at Singapore Port based on the letter of

indemnity dated 24.05.2020 given by Profitable Wealth Inc.

Singapore. In the documentary credit opening (LC) dated

12.05.2020 originated from the plaintiff there is a clause which

indicates cargo can be delivered on obtaining indemnity in case of

temporary non availability of original Bill of Lading.”

***

18. The matter falls within a very short compass. The primary

document is not disputed. The plaintiff is the named consignee in

the bill of lading and it is also accepted by the defendant, in

particular, that ordinarily it would be the consignee who would be

11

entitled to obtain delivery of the goods covered by a bill of lading.

In this case, it may also be noticed that Gulf Petrochem is the notify

party mentioned in the bill of lading. In international trade,

documents are of immense value and courts must proceed on the

basis of the letter of the documents without seeking to ascertain

the nature of the underlying or any incidental transaction. If it is

imperative that a carrier notifies the party indicated as the notify

party, what it implies is that notice of the arrival of the vessel or the

notice of readiness to discharge cargo must be given to such party

whereupon such party would produce the bill of lading and obtain

the discharge of the cargo. It is also possible that the consignee

may authorise the carrier to release the cargo in favour of the notify

party or to any other as the consignee is entitled to assign its right

to obtain delivery under the bill of lading to any party of the

consignee’s choice.

19.What is of paramount importance is that it is the consignee and

the consignee alone which can issue instructions or authorise the

delivery of the goods covered by the bill of lading to any third party.

The carrier is not obliged to act as per the directions or instructions

of any third party as the bill of lading, in a sense, is the document of

title pertaining to the cargo and it is elementary that it is only the

owner of the goods who has the right to alienate the goods or

transfer the same.

20. Implicit in the letter of May 24, 2020 issued by Profitable

Wealth Inc. was that such entity required the carrier to do

something unusual or out of the ordinary, and, as such, exposing

the carrier to a risk in course of such deviation. As a consequence,

to induce the carrier to deviate from the usual practice, Profitable

Wealth Inc. indemnified the carrier harmless against any claim that

may be made against the carrier for the carrier acting according to

the instructions of Profitable Wealth Inc. The plaintiff had nothing to

do with Profitable Wealth Inc. or any instructions that profitable

Wealth Inc. or Gulf Petrochem or even the Maharaja of Gaipajama

may have issued to the carrier. These instructions, whether issued

by Gulf Petrochem or Profitable Wealth Inc., were not backed by any

authority of the plaintiff. In such circumstances, what the

arrangement between the defendant and the third parties may

have been may not be of any relevance in the suit and in the

context of the plaintiff’s claim herein.

21.As to the averments in paragraphs 10 to 12 of the plaint, it is

sometimes better not to say too much. However, the averments

may be seen as part of a narrative leading up to the claim of the

plaintiff and the plaintiff’s cause of action against the defendant. In

the scheme of the action and the particular claim of the plaintiff as

the consignee in the bill of lading against the defendant carrier, the

transactions between the plaintiff and Gulf petrochem or those

between Gulf Petrochem and Indian Oil Corporation or even that

between Gulf Petrochem and Aramco are of no relevance. Till such

12

time that the plaintiff’s name appeared as the consignee in the bill

of lading, the defendant was obliged only to the plaintiff to deliver

the goods to the plaintiff or to the order of the plaintiff and the

defendant, in acting on the basis of instructions issued by others

may not have affected the right of the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s

claim under the bill of lading.

22.In such circumstances, Gulf Petrochem Inc., which may have

been financed by the plaintiff qua the subject transaction is neither

a necessary nor a proper party to the plaintiff’s simple claim

against the carrier of the goods for the breach of the contract of

carriage and in the carrier’s failure to deliver the goods to the

plaintiff or to the order of the plaintiff. It is not unusual in the

industry for goods to be released at the request of a stranger, but

that is precisely why the stranger indemnifies the carrier. It is more

likely than not that the entity that induced the defendant to

discharge the goods in Singapore may be beyond the defendant’s

reach; but that may not be an excuse to resist the plaintiff’s claim.

It is equally possible that the plaintiff may have acquiesced in the

delivery instructions issued by Profitable Wealth Inc., but when the

plaintiff has not, it is only the indemnity furnished by the entity that

the defendant can chase.

23.The observations made herein must be understood to be in the

context of what was required to be considered and should not

unduly weigh with the trial court in course of the expeditious

disposal of the application for summary judgment that the plaintiff

has filed.

24.The order impugned dated September 24, 2021 is set aside.

The trial court is requested to take up the application for summary

judgment and disposal of the same in accordance with law as

expeditiously as the business of the trial court permits. OSA (CAD)

No.88 of 2021 is allowed as above. The defendant will pay costs

assessed at Rs.1,50,000/- CMP No.16921 of 2021 is closed.”

29.There is no doubt that in international trade, documents are of

immense value and that Courts must proceed on the basis of the

documents as held by the Division Bench. It is, however, difficult to

accept that the Court is not required to ascertain the nature of the

underlying transaction. The Division Bench rightly noted that when a

carrier notifies the party indicated as the ‘notify party’, what it implies is

13

that notice of the arrival of the vessel or notice of readiness to discharge

cargo must be given to such party, whereupon such party would produce

the Bill of Lading and obtain the discharge of the cargo.

30.The law governing bills of lading is a combination of mandatory

international rules and rules of common law, while charterparties are

governed entirely by the common law.

31.The International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of

Law relating to Bills of Lading framed in 1924, and known as the Hague

Rules, govern the liability of carriers in respect of cargo, covered by bills of

lading. The Hague Rules, which are mandatory, impose certain non-

derogable obligations on the shipowner, but in return, confer an extensive

list of immunities, a defence of limitation of liability and a short time limit

for the bringing of claims.

32.In 1968, the Hague-Visby Rules introduced a modified version of the

Hague Rules, including amendments. The Hague-Visby Rules are enacted

into English law by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1971. The

Hague/Hague Visby Rules were widely adopted internationally.

33.In 1978, the United Nations conducted a Convention on the Carriage

of Goods by Sea. The Rules which emerged in the convention, which are

known as Hamburg Rules, came into force in 1992. However, the rules

were not accepted by major trading nations of the world.

34.There was an attempt to replace the Hague/Hague-Visby settlement,

by for the adoption in 2008 of the United Nations Convention on Contracts

for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, which is

14

known as the Rotterdam Rules. Rotterdam Rules have also not been

uniformly implemented.

35.In modern English law, Bills of Lading are governed by the Hague-

Visby Rules with respect to the matters addressed by the Rules and

otherwise by rules of common law.

36.A Bill of Lading is a type of transport document that may be used in

respect of the carriage of goods by sea or on behalf of owner, or less

commonly the charterer of the carrying ship. Bills of Lading are

commonly used when a vessel is employed as a general ship, being put

up for a particular voyage to carry the goods of any person.

37.A Bill of Lading serves as a receipt for the goods entrusted to the

carrier in respect of both the quantity and the condition of the goods

received.

38.A Bill of Lading serves also as evidence of the terms of the contract

of affreightment. As between the immediate parties to that contract,

namely the carrier and the shipper, the evidence provided by the bill is

not conclusive and may be supplemented or even overridden by

extraneous evidence. Once the bill has been transferred however, the bill

provides conclusive evidence as between the carrier and the new holder,

as to the terms of the contract of affreightment. In this sense the bill may

be said to “contain” the contract.

39.Finally, the Hague-Visby Rules, to which effect is given in English law

by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, apply as a matter of law to

15

contracts of carriage “covered by a bill of lading or any similar document

of title”. That a contract of affreightment contemplates the issuing of a

Bill of Lading serves, therefore, to attract the application of the Hague-

Visby Rules.

40.Carver on Bills of Lading (2005) says, a bill of lading is a document

issued by or on behalf of a carrier of goods by sea to the person, (usually

known as the shipper) with whom he has contracted for the carriage of

goods.

41.Scrutton on Charterparties and Bills of Lading (1984) says that “the

Bill of Lading is not the contract, for that has been made before the Bill of

Lading was signed and delivered, but it is excellent evidence of the terms

of contract and in the hands of an endorsee, is the only evidence.”

42.Three common characteristics of a Bill of Lading are (i) it constitutes

a receipt for the goods shipped or received by the carrier; (b) it

constitutes a document of title for such goods; and (iii) it contains or

evidences the contract of carriage by sea relating to the goods.

43.There is no universally accepted definition of bill of lading. To quote

Sir Richard Aikens “Bills of Lading” (2006), “Like an elephant, a Bill of

Lading is generally easier to recognize than to define”.

44.The Preamble to the Bills of Lading Act does not define a Bill of

Lading but mentions Bill of Lading. The Preamble reads “whereas by the

custom of merchants a Bill of Lading of goods being transferable by

endorsement of property in the goods may thereby pass to the endoresee,

16

but nevertheless all rights in respect of the contract contained in the Bill

of Lading continue in the original shipper or owner, and it is expedient

that such rights should pass with the property; it frequently happens that

the goods in respect of which Bill of Lading purport to be signed have not

been laden on board, and it is proper that such Bills of Lading in the hands

of a bona fide holder for value should not be questioned by the Master or

other person signing the same on the ground of the goods not having

been laden as aforesaid; it is enacted as follows”:- Though there is no

definition of the Bill of Lading but the concept of it is clear.

45.Delivery of goods covered by a Bill of Lading are ordinarily to be

made on presentation of the bill. The Carrier may be liable to the person

lawfully in possession of such a Bill, if he wrongly delivers the goods to

anyone else. Whether the delivery of the goods to anyone other than the

holder of the Bill of Lading, is wrongful or not, would depend on the facts

and circumstances of the case.

46.As observed in Cho Yang Shipping Co. Ltd. v. Coral (UK) Ltd.

1

,

the Bill of Lading is not a contract but it is excellent evidence of the terms

of the contracts. It is open to the shipper to adduce oral evidence to

show the true terms of the contract.

47.As observed by the Division Bench, in the judgment and order

impugned in this appeal, it is also possible that the consignee may

authorise the carrier to release the cargo in favour of the notify party or to

any other party. Whether the consignee authorised release of the cargo

1 (1997) 2 Lloyd’s Rep 641

17

in favour of the notify party or any other party, can effectively be

adjudicated in the presence of Gulf Petrochem, shown as the notify party

in the Bill of Lading.

48.Even assuming that the consignee alone can issue instructions or

authorise delivery of the goods covered by the Bill of Lading, to any third

party, as observed by the Division Bench, the question of whether the

consignee had issued any instructions authorising delivery of the goods

covered by the Bill of Lading to Chevron can also be effectively adjudged

in the presence of the notify party.

49.On a reading of averments made in the plaint and, in particular,

paragraphs 10 to 12 to which reference has been made in the impugned

judgment and order, it cannot be said that Gulf Petrochem, the owner of

the cargo financed by the Respondent Bank, and the notify party who had

admittedly been communicating with the Respondent Bank as also the

carrier and others, was a complete stranger to the proceedings.

50.The consignee named in the Bill of Lading, need not necessarily be

the owner of the cargo. Whether the Respondent Bank had anything to

do with any instruction that Gulf Petrochem might have given is to be

decided in the suit. It is perhaps preposterous to equate the instructions

that might be given by Gulf Petrochem, to instructions that might be given

by the fictitious Maharaja of Gaipajama.

51.Having noted the averments made in paragraph 10 to 12 of the

plaint and commented “better not to say too much” it is difficult to

understand how the Division Bench could have imposed costs of

18

Rs.1,50,000/- on the Appellant, who had not even made any formal

application for addition of Gulf Petrochem as party.

52.In our view, the Division Bench erred in holding that Gulf Petrochem

was neither a necessary nor a proper party to the admiralty suit. Gulf

Petrochem was a proper party, whose presence, as observed above, was

necessary for effective adjudication of the issue in the suit.

53.An important question of law involved in these appeals is, whether

an appeal lies to the Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court

from an order of the Commercial Division (Single Bench) of the same High

Court for addition of a party, in an Admiralty Suit governed by the

Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017,

hereinafter referred to as “the Admiralty Act”.

54.If it is held that, an order in an Admiralty Suit, for addition of party,

passed by the Commercial Division of the High Court, is appealable to the

Commercial Appellate Division, the question which would follow is,

whether the Commercial Appellate Division of the High Court (Division

Bench) should have allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the

Commercial Division (Single Bench) adding Gulf Petroleum FZC as

defendant in the suit?

55.The relevant provisions of the Admiralty Act, which governs the

above suit are as follows:

“3. Admiralty jurisdictions— (1) Subject to the provisions of Sections

4 and 5, the jurisdiction in respect of all maritime claims under this Act

shall vest in the respective High Courts and be exercisable over the

19

waters up to and including the territorial waters of their respective

jurisdictions in accordance with the provisions contained in this Act:

Provided that the Central Government may, by notification, extend the

jurisdiction of the High Court up to the limit as defined in Section 2 of

the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and

Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976(80 of 1976).

4. Maritime claim.- (1) The High Court may exercise jurisdiction to

hear and determine any question on a maritime claim, against any

vessel, arising out of any—

***

(g) agreement relating to the carriage of goods or passengers on board

a vessel, whether contained in a charter party or otherwise;

5. Arrest of vessel in rem. -(1) The High Court may order arrest of any

vessel which is within its jurisdiction for the purpose of providing security

against a maritime claim which is the subject of an admiralty proceeding,

where the court has reason to believe that—

(a) the person who owned the vessel at the time when the maritime

claim arose is liable for the claim and is the owner of the vessel when

the arrest is effected; or

(b) the demise charterer of the vessel at the time when the maritime

claim arose is liable for the claim and is the demise charterer or the

owner of the vessel when the arrest is effected; or

***

(2) The High Court may also order arrest of any other vessel for the

purpose of providing security against a maritime claim, in lieu of the

vessel against which a maritime claim has been made under this Act,

subject to the provisions of sub-section (1):

Provided that no vessel shall be arrested under this sub-section in

respect of a maritime claim under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of

section 4.

6. Admiralty jurisdiction in personam.- Subject to Section 7, the

High Court may exercise admiralty jurisdiction by action in personam in

respect of any maritime claim referred to in clauses (a) to (w) of sub-

section (1) of section 4.

xxxxx

12.Application of Code of Civil Procedure.- The provisions of

the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall apply in all the

proceedings before the High Court in so far as they are not inconsistent

20

with or contrary to the provisions of this Act or the rules made

thereunder.

xxxxx

14. Appeal.- Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for

the time being in force, an appeal shall lie from any judgment, decree

or final order or interim order of a single Judge of the High Court under

this Act to a Division Bench of the High Court.”

56.In view of Section 12 of the Admiralty Act, referred to above, the

provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, hereinafter referred to as

CPC shall apply to all proceedings before the High Court, under the

Admiralty Act, insofar as they are not inconsistent with, or contrary to the

provisions of the Admiralty Act or any rule made thereunder.

57.Order 1 Rule 10(2) of the CPC provides:

“Court may strike out or add parties.—The Court may at any

stage of the proceedings, either upon or without the application of

either party, and on such terms as may appear to the Court to be

just, order that the name of any party improperly joined, whether

as plaintiff or defendant, be struck out, and that the name of any

person who ought to have been joined, whether as plaintiff or

defendant, or whose presence before the Court may be necessary

in order to enable the Court effectually and completely to

adjudicate upon and settle all the questions involved in the suit,

be added.”

58.There being no inconsistency between Order 1 Rule 10(2) and any

provision of the Admiralty Act, Order 1 Rule 10(2) of the CPC would be

applicable to suits and/or proceedings governed by the Admiralty Act.

Order 1 Rule 10 (2) enables the Court to add any person as party at any

stage of the proceedings, on its own, irrespective of whether there is any

application before it, if the Court deems it necessary to do so, to enable

the Court to effectively and completely adjudicate and settle all questions

21

involved in the suit. One of the objects of Order I Rule 10(2) is to avoid

multiplicity of proceedings.

59.The Commercial Courts Act, 2015, has, as per its preamble been

enacted to provide for the constitution of Commercial Courts, Commercial

Appellate Courts, and for Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate

Division in the High Courts, for adjudicating commercial disputes of

specified value and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

60.‘Commercial dispute’ has been defined in Section 2(c) of the

Commercial Courts Act to include issues relating to admiralty and

maritime laws. Sections 7, 13, 14, 16 and 21 of the Commercial Courts

Act, relevant to the issues involved in this Appeal, are set out hereinbelow:

"7. Jurisdiction of Commercial Divisions of High Courts.—All

suits and applications relating to commercial disputes of a Specified

Value filed in a High Court having ordinary original civil jurisdiction

shall be heard and disposed of by the Commercial Division of that

High Court:

Provided that all suits and applications relating to commercial

disputes, stipulated by an Act to lie in a court not inferior to a

District Court, and filed or pending on the original side of the High

Court, shall be heard and disposed of by the Commercial Division of

the High Court:

Provided further that all suits and applications transferred to the

High Court by virtue of sub-section (4) of Section 22 of the Designs

Act, 2000 (16 of 2000) or Section 104 of the Patents Act, 1970 (39 of

1970) shall be heard and disposed of by the Commercial Division of

the High Court in all the areas over which the High Court exercises

ordinary original civil jurisdiction.

13. Appeals from decrees of Commercial Courts and

Commercial Divisions.—20[(1) Any person aggrieved by the

judgment or order of a Commercial Court below the level of a

District Judge may appeal to the Commercial Appellate Court

within a period of sixty days from the date of judgment or order.

(1-A) Any person aggrieved by the judgment or order of a

Commercial Court at the level of District Judge exercising original

22

civil jurisdiction or, as the case may be, Commercial Division of a

High Court may appeal to the Commercial Appellate Division of that

High Court within a period of sixty days from the date of the

judgment or order:

Provided that an appeal shall lie from such orders passed by a

Commercial Division or a Commercial Court that are specifically

enumerated under Order XLIII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5

of 1908) as amended by this Act and Section 37 of the Arbitration

and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996).]

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time

being in force or Letters Patent of a High Court, no appeal shall lie

from any order or decree of a Commercial Division or Commercial

Court otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

14. Expeditious disposal of appeals.—The Commercial Appellate

Court and the Commercial Appellate Division shall endeavour to

dispose of appeals filed before it within a period of six months from

the date of filing of such appeal.

xxxxx

16. Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in its

application to commercial disputes.—(1) The provisions of the

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall, in their application to

any suit in respect of a commercial dispute of a Specified Value,

stand amended in the manner as specified in the Schedule.

(2) The Commercial Division and Commercial Court shall follow the

provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), as

amended by this Act, in the trial of a suit in respect of a commercial

dispute of a specified value.

(3) Where any provision of any Rule of the jurisdictional High Court

or any amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908),

by the State Government is in conflict with the provisions of the

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), as amended by this Act,

the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure as amended by this Act

shall prevail.

21. Act to have overriding effect.—Save as otherwise provided,

the provisions of this Act shall have effect, notwithstanding anything

inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being

in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law for

the time being in force other than this Act.”

23

61.As observed above, Section 12 of the Admiralty Act applies the

provisions of the CPC to all Admiralty proceedings in the High Court.

Section 16 of the Commercial Courts Act makes it explicit that the

provisions of CPC, as amended by the Schedule to the Commercial Courts

Act, applies to suits relating to commercial disputes governed by the

Commercial Courts Act.

62.There can be no doubt that the Commercial Division of the High

Court has the power to add a party to an Admiralty suit, on its own,

without any application having been made, if it is of the view that the

presence of that party before the Court may be necessary to effectively

and completely adjudicate upon and settle all the questions involved in

the suit. The question is whether an order of the Commercial Court or the

Commercial Division of the High Court, adding a party to an Admiralty

Suit, is appealable under Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act, read

with Section 14 of the Admiralty Act.

63.Proviso 2 of Section 13(1A) of the Commercial Courts Act restricts

intra Court appeals from the Commercial Division of a High Court to its

Commercial Appellate Division, only to those orders of the Commercial

Division, which are specifically enumerated under Order 43 of the Code of

Civil Procedure 1908 as amended by the Commercial Courts Act and

Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996.

64.The Commercial Courts Act does not amend Order 43 Rule 1 of the

CPC which provides:

“1. Appeals from orders.—An appeal shall lie from the following

orders under the provisions of Section 104, namely:—

24

(a) an order under Rule 10 of Order VII returning a plaint to be presented

to the proper Court except where the procedure specified in Rule 10-A

of Order VII has been followed;

(b) * * *

(c) an order under Rule 9 of Order IX rejecting an application (in a case

open to appeal) for an order to set aside the dismissal of a suit;

(d) an order under Rule 13 of Order IX rejecting an application (in a case

open to appeal) for an order to set aside a decree passed ex parte;

(e) * * *

(f) an order under Rule 21 of Order XI;

(g) * * *

(h) * * *

(i) an order under Rule 34 of Order XXI on an objection to the draft of a

document or of an endorsement;

(j) an order under Rule 72 or Rule 92 of Order XXI setting aside or refusing

to set aside a sale;

(ja) an order rejecting an application made under sub-rule (1) of Rule 106

of Order XXI, provided that an order on the original application, that is

to say, the application referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 105 of that

Order is appealable;

(k) an order under Rule 9 of Order XXII refusing to set aside the abatement

or dismissal of a suit;

(l) an order under Rule 10 of Order XXII giving or refusing to give leave;

(m) * * *

(n) an order under Rule 2 of Order XXV rejecting an application (in a case

open to appeal) for an order to set aside the dismissal of a suit;

(na) an order under Rule 5 or Rule 7 of Order XXXIII rejecting an

application for permission to sue as an indigent person;

(o) * * *

(p) orders in interpleader-suit under Rule 3, Rule 4 or Rule 6 of Order

XXXV;

(q) an order under Rule 2, Rule 3 or Rule 6 of Order XXXVIII;

(r) an order under Rule 1, Rule 2, [Rule 2-A], Rule 4 or Rule 10 of Order

XXXIX;

(s) an order under Rule 1 or Rule 4 of Order XL;

(t) an order of refusal under Rule 19 of Order XLI to readmit, or under Rule

21 of Order XLI to rehear, an appeal;

(u) an order under Rule 23 [or Rule 23-A] of Order XLI remanding a case,

where an appeal would lie from the decree of the Appellate Court;

(v) [* * *]

25

(w) an order under Rule 4 of Order XLVII granting an application for

review.”

65.Sub-section (2) of Section 13 begins with a non obstante clause

giving the said Section overriding over all other laws including the Letters

Patent of the High Court. Sub-section (2) of Section 13 of the Commercial

Courts Act says that no appeal shall lie from any order of a Commercial

Division or Commercial Court otherwise than in accordance with the

provisions of the Commercial Courts Act.

66.On the other hand, Section 14 of the Admiralty Act, which also starts

with a non-obstante clause saying that notwithstanding any other law for

the time being in force, an appeal shall lie from any judgment, decree or

final order or interim order of a Single Bench of the High Court under the

Admiralty Act, to a Division Bench of the High Court.

67.Both Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act and Section 14 of the

Admiralty Act contain non-obstante clauses giving the Sections overriding

effect. While Section 14 of the Admiralty Act which begins with a non-

obstante clause as observed, provides that notwithstanding contained in

any other law for the time being in force, an appeal shall lie from any

judgment, decree or final order or interim order under the Admiralty Act,

of a Single Judge of the High Court to a Division Bench of the High Court,

Section 13(2) of the Commercial Courts Act says notwithstanding anything

contained in any other law for the time being in force, or the Letters

Patent of the High Court, no appeal shall lie from any order or decree of a

Commercial Division or Commercial Court otherwise than in accordance

with the provisions of the Commercial Courts Act. As stated above, the

26

proviso restricts an appeal under the Commercial Courts Act, to such

orders as are specifically enumerated in Order 43 of the CPC.

68.A clause with the words “notwithstanding anything contained in any

other law for the time being in force” is generally appended at the

beginning of a section with a view to give the enacting part of the section

overriding effect in case of conflict with any other law. Ordinarily, when

two or more statutes contain statutory provisions which start with the

clause “notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time

being in force” and those statutes contain conflicting provisions, a

question that could arise is, which statute would prevail. As a general

rule, the Special Statutes prevail over General Statutes. If both statutes

are general statutes or special statutes containing identical or similar non-

obstante clauses, the later statute would prevail.

69.The rule that a non-obstante clause in a later statute prevails over

the non-obstante clause in an earlier statute is not an absolute rule. The

question of which provision prevails, would necessarily depend on the

object of the enactment and, in particular, the object of giving overriding

effect to the enactment or any specific provision thereof.

70.When two or more enactments operating in the same field contain a

non obstante clause stating that its provisions will have effect

notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other

law, the conflict has to be resolved upon consideration of the purpose and

policy underlying the enactments. Mr. Vishwanathan, learned Senior

Counsel appearing for the Appellant, argued that Section 14 provides for

27

appeals from an interim order of a Single Judge of a High Court under the

Admiralty Act which means an interim order in relation to an action in rem.

Once the owner of the Vessel enters appearance and submits to the

jurisdiction and provides security for release of the Vessel, the Admiralty

Action proceeds to trial as an action in personam as in any other suit. This

view finds support from the judgment of this court in MV Elizabeth v.

Harwan Investment and Trading Pvt. Ltd.

2

71.The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Commercial Courts

Bill, 2015 indicates that the Commercial Courts Bill followed from “(a)

proposal to provide for speedy disposal of high value commercial

disputes”, which “involves complex facts and question(s) of law”. The

Statement notes that “early resolution of commercial disputes shall create

a positive image to the investor world about the independent and

responsive Indian legal system”. The Statement says that “the proposed

Bill shall accelerate economic growth, improve the international image of

the Indian Justice delivery system, and the faith of the investor world in

the legal culture of the nation”.

72.The Statement of Objects and Reasons for the Admiralty (Jurisdiction

and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 says that the Bill

“consolidates the existing British era laws on civil matters of Admiralty

jurisdiction of courts, Admiralty proceedings on Maritime claims, arrest of

vessels and related issues, in line with modern trends in the maritime

sector and in uniformity with prevalent international practices”. The

2 1993 Supp (2) SCC 433

28

Admiralty Bill “provides for adjudication of identified maritime claims and,

to ensure security against maritime claims, arrest of vessels in certain

circumstances”. The Bill also ‘provides for inter se priority on maritime

lien.” The Statement of Objects and Reasons reiterates that CPC shall be

applicable in respect of aspects on which provisions are not laid down in

the Bill.” The Bill also “deals with admiralty jurisdiction in personam and

the order of priority of maritime claims.”

73.A dispute arising out of issues relating to admiralty and maritime

law is a commercial dispute as defined in Section 2(1) (c)(iii) of the

Commercial Courts Act. Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act, which

restricts the scope of appeals, has been interpreted by this Court in

Kandla Corporation v. OCI Corp.

3

, to mean that orders that are not

specifically enumerated under Order XLIII of the CPC would, not be

appealable.

74.This Court held:

“14.The proviso goes on to state that an appeal shall lie from such

orders passed by the Commercial Division of the High Court that

are specifically enumerated under Order XLIII of the Code of Civil

Procedure Code, 1908, section 37 of the Arbitration Act. It will at

once be noticed that orders that are not specifically enumerated

under Order XLIII of the CPC would, therefore, not be appealable,

and appeals that are mentioned in Section 37 of the Arbitration

Act alone are appeals that can be made to the Commercial

Appellate Division of a High Court.”

75.Mr. Vishwanathan submitted that, considering the scope of the

Commercial Courts Act, the Madras High Court has issued Notification No.

48 of 2018 in exercise of the powers conferred under section 18 of the

3 (2018) 14 SCC 715

29

Act, which is a practice note in relation to the Commercial Appellate

Division. The Notification states "If the decision of the Commercial Court

and Commercial Division is an 'order', it should be an order which has

been specifically enumerated as an appealable order under Order XLIII of

the CPC [proviso to Section 13 of the Act 4 of 2016]. Other than the

above, even if there is an appeal provision under the Letters Patent of a

High Court or under any law, no appeal will lie against an order or decree

of a Commercial Division or Commercial Court [Section 13(2) of Act 4 of

2016)." Incidentally the notification was issued by one of us, (Indira

Banerjee, J.) as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, at the material

time.

76.In Magic Frames v. Radiance Media P Ltd.

4

, relied upon by Mr.

Vishwanathan, the Madras High Court held that an Original Side Appeal

under Section 13(1A) was not maintainable against a Single Judge’s order,

dismissing an application filed by the defendants Magic Frames for

summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the commercial suit filed by the

plaintiff, Radiance Media. The relevant paragraphs of the judgment are

reproduced herein below:-

“24.Further, as per Notification No.48 of 2018 of this Court, in

exercise of the power conferred under Section 18 of the Commercial

Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of

High Courts Act, 2015 (Act 4 of 2016), the Hon. The Chief Justice is

pleased to issue the Practice Note therein and in relation to

Commercial Appellate Division, it is stated as follows:

II. Commercial Appellate Division:

Jurisdiction of Commercial Appellate Division:

4 2019 SCC Online Mad 38929

30

1) Jurisdiction of Commercial Appellate Division is set out in three

provisions of Act 4 of 2016, i.e. section 9(2), section 13 and Section

15(5).

2) In suits relating to a Commercial Dispute (where the value of the

suit when filed is not of specified value’) in the even of counter

claim/s by defendants/s of ‘Specified Value’) in the event of counter

claim/s by defendant/s of Specified value, such a suit shall be

transferred to Commercial court or the commercial division, as the

case may be (Section 9(1) of Act 4 of 2016). If such a suit is not

transferred, on an application by any of the parties to the suit,

Commercial Appellate Division may withdraw such suits from the

regular.

25.Therefore, from the above Notification, it is clear that the

amendment to section 13(1) of the Commercial Courts Act, has no

impact on the right of appeal, which was clarified in the practice

directions to be limited under Order 43 of the CPC, and section 37 of

the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, if it had any impact, the

practice directions would have also been amended which the Court

has not done till date.”

77.The judgment in Magic Frames (supra), in the context of dismissal

of an application for summary judgment, is not attracted in this case,

even though the finding that an order dismissing an application for

summary judgment is not appealable, is correct. However, a Notification

giving Practice Directions can neither restrict nor expand the scope of a

statutory enactment.

78.It is clear from a reading of the Admiralty Act and the Commercial

Courts Act, that orders passed under the Admiralty Act pertaining to the

exercise of in rem jurisdiction by the High Court are the only orders which

are appealable under section 14 of the Admiralty Act, whereas orders

passed in the trial of a suit and on applications made under the provisions

of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 are not orders under the Admiralty

Act but orders under the CPC which would be appealable only if they fall

31

under Order 43 of the CPC as provided in Section 13 of the Commercial

Courts Act.

79.Both the Admiralty Act and Commercial Courts Act are Special Acts.

In Ashoka Marketing Ltd. v. Punjab National Bank

5

, a Constitution

Bench of this Court, after considering the law on the subject of conflicting

non-obstante clauses and inconsistency between the provisions of the two

statutes, observed in paragraph 61 that "The principle which emerges

from these decisions is that in the case of inconsistency between the

provisions of the two enactments, both of which can be regarded as

special in nature, the conflict has to be resolved by reference to the

purpose and policy underlying the two enactments and the clear

intendment conveyed by the language of the relevant provisions therein.

…”

80.Even assuming that the Commercial Courts Act provisions are

considered to be general provisions relating to appeals, whilst the

provisions in the Admiralty Act are considered to be special provision for

appeal, then too the maxim Generalia Specialibus Non Derogant, which is

ordinarily attracted where there is a conflict between a special and a

general statute, would not apply. “If it appears from a consideration of the

general enactment, in the light of admissible circumstances, that

Parliament's true intention was to establish thereby a rule of a universal

application, then the special provision must give way to the general". In

CTO vs. Binani Cements

6

, this Court held:-

5 (1990) 4 SCC 406

6 2014 SCC Online SC 140

32

"34. It is well established that when a General Law and a

special law dealing with some aspect dealt with by the general

law are in question, the rule adopted and applied is one of

harmonious construction whereby the general law, to the

extent dealt with by the special law, is impliedly repealed. This

principle finds its origins in the latin maxim of generalia

specialibus non derogant, i.e., general law yields to special law

should they operate in the same field on same subject. (Vepa

P. Sarathi, Interpretation of Statutes, 5th Ed., Eastern Book

Company; N. S. Bindra's Interpretation of Statutes, 8th Ed., The

Law Book Company; Craies on Statute Law, S.G.G.Edkar, 7th

Ed., Sweet & Maxwell; Justice G.P. Singh, Principles of Statutory

Interpretation, 13th Ed., LexisNexis; Craies on Legislation,

Daniel Greenberg, 9th Ed., Thomson Sweet & Maxwell, Maxwell

on Interpretation of Statutes, 12th Ed., Lexis Nexis)

35. Generally, the principle has found vast application in cases

of there being two statutes: general or specific with the latter

treating the common subject matter more specifically or

minutely than the former. Corpus Juris Secundum, 82 C.J.S.

Statutes § 482 states that when construing a general and a

specific statute pertaining to the same topic, it is necessary to

consider the statutes as consistent with one another and such

statutes therefore should be harmonized, if possible, with the

objective of giving effect to a consistent legislative policy. On

the other hand, where a general statute and a specific statute

relating to the same subject matter cannot be reconciled, the

special or specific statute ordinarily will control. The provision

more specifically directed to the matter at issue prevails as an

exception to or qualification of the provision which is more

general in nature, provided that the specific or special statute

clearly includes the matter in controversy. (Edmond v. U.S.,

520 U.S. 651, Warden v. Marrero, 417 U.S. 653)

36. The maxim generalia specialibus non derogant is dealt

with in Volume 44 (1) of the 4th ed. of Halsbury's Laws of

England at paragraph 1300 as follows:

"The principle descends clearly from decisions of the House of

Lords in Seward v. Owner of "The Vera Cruz", (1884) 10 App

Gas 59 and the Privy Council in Barker v Edger, (1898) AC 748

and has been affirmed and put into effect on many

occasions .... If Parliament has considered all the

circumstances of, and made special provision for, a particular

case, the· presumption is that a subsequent enactment of a

purely general character would not have been intended to

interfere with that provision; and therefore, if such an

enactment, although inconsistent in substance, is capable of

reasonable and sensible application without extending to the

case in question, it is prima facie to be construed as not so

extending. The special provision stands as an exceptional

33

proviso upon the general. If, however, it appears from a

consideration of the general enactment in the light of

admissible circumstances that Parliament's true intention was

to establish thereby a rule of universal application, then the

special provision must give way to the general."

81.If such an order under the Code of Civil Procedure which does not

fall under Order XLIII of CPC is held to be appealable, then the entire

purpose of the Commercial Courts Act would be defeated, and every

single order passed in a course of a trial of an admiralty suit would be

appealable under section 14 of the Act. Such orders would be large in

number including orders in relation to discovery, inspection, case

management hearing, admissibility of evidence, framing of issues,

interrogatories, etc. This would make a mockery of the intended purpose

of Parliament in enacting the Commercial Courts Act, which is to expedite

trials in commercial suits of a specified value, and restrict the number of

interlocutory appeals.

82.This Court is of the view that an order for addition of a party under

Order 1 Rule 10(2) of the CPC is not appealable under section 14 of the

Admiralty Act. Gulf Petrochem is a party to the dispute and the suit

transaction and the Contract of Carriage (Bill of Lading) and hence is a

necessary party. Gulf Petrochem is also a proper party whose presence is

necessary for complete and final decision on questions in the suit. In Anil

Kumar Singh vs. Shivnath Mishra

7

, this Court held:

"10. A person may be added as a party defendant to the suit

though no relief may be claimed against him/her provided

his/her presence is necessary for a complete and final decision

7 (1995) 3 SCC 147

34

on the question involved in the suit. Such a person is only a

proper party as distinguished from a necessary party .... "

83.The pleadings in Paragraphs 10 to 12 of the Plaint [Page 264] which

are extracted in the Impugned Judgement at Page 11-13 demonstrate that

Gulf Petrochem is a proper and necessary party even though the

Respondent may choose not to claim any reliefs against them in the

present Suit.

84.Section 14 of the Admiralty Act, as argued by Mr. Vishwanathan,

provides the fora for an appeal from any judgment, decree, final order or

interim order of a Single Judge of the High Court under the Admiralty Act

to a Division Bench of the High Court. The expression “any interim order”

has to be read harmoniously with Order 43, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil

Procedure in view of Section 12 of the Admiralty Act read with Section 13

of the Commercial Courts Act referred to above.

85.It is not the intent of the overriding provision of Section 14 to nullify

Section 12 of the Admiralty Act. Section 12 of the Admiralty Act applies to

all proceedings in the High Court whether they be original proceedings or

appellate proceedings.

86.On a harmonious reading of Sections 12 and 14 of the Admiralty Act

with Section 13 of the Commercial Courts Act, an intra-court appeal under

the Admiralty Act to the Commercial Division of the High Court would lie

from any judgment, decree or final order under the Admiralty Act or an

interim order under the Admiralty Act relatable to the orders specified in

Order 43, Rule 1.

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87.We are unable to accept Mr. Barucha’s argument that Section 14

read with Section 12 of the Admiralty Act, 2017 demonstrates legislative

intent to permit appeals from any interim order passed by the Single

Judge of a High Court exercising admiralty jurisdiction to a Division Bench

of that High Court without any restriction or limitation. The judgments of

the High Courts referred to by Mr. Barucha rendered in the facts and

circumstances of those cases, in respect of orders under the Admiralty Act

has specifically been made appealable under Section 14 of the Admiralty

Act. The mere dismissal of a special leave petition does not operate as a

precedent of the Supreme Court.

88.It could not possibly have been the legislative intent of the

Admiralty Act to make all interim orders appealable. Such a wide

interpretation of the expression “interim order” would mean that any

party would be able to delay the trial and final disposal by filing appeals

even from inconsequential orders calling for affidavits and the like. We,

therefore, hold that an appeal does not lie to the Commercial Appellate

Division of the High Court from an order of the Commercial Division

(Single Bench) of the same High Court for addition of a party in an

admiralty suit governed by the Admiralty Act.

89.Even otherwise, we are of the view that the Division Bench erred in

law in allowing the appeal from the order of the Commercial Division

(Single Judge) adding Gulf Petroleum as party defendant to the suit.

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90.For the reasons discussed above, the appeals are allowed. The

impugned judgment and order of the Division Bench is set aside.

…………………………………………,J.

[ INDIRA BANERJEE ]

……….…………………………………,J.

[ A. S. BOPANNA ]

NEW DELHI;

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022.

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