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citation codes
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  • Section 202 of the Companies Act, on the provisions of O. 43, R. 1 of the CPC and Cl. 10
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act read with O. 40 R. 1 of the CPC. Section 153(C)(8)
  • Section 83 of the Amending Act (22 of 1936) sub-s. (7)
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act (VII of 1913).
  • SECTION 202 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 205 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT
  • SECTION 162 COMPANIES ACT
  • Section 7 of the Amending Act (52 of 1951)
  • Section 153(C) of the Companies Act.40.
  • Section 104 of the CPC (Act 5 of 1908)
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act.
  • O. 43, R. 1, or Section 104 of the CPC
  • Section 153(C) of the Companies Act
  • Companies Act beginning with S. 155
  • SECTION 153 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 215 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 202 COMPANIES ACT
  • Section 104 or O. 43 of the CPC
  • O. 43 or Section 104 of the CPC
  • O. 49, Rule 3 of the CPC
  • Section 153(C)
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Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Advocates
Judges
Acts
  • Section 202 of the Companies Act, on the provisions of O. 43, R. 1 of the CPC and Cl. 10
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act read with O. 40 R. 1 of the CPC. Section 153(C)(8)
  • Section 83 of the Amending Act (22 of 1936) sub-s. (7)
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act (VII of 1913).
  • SECTION 202 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 205 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT
  • SECTION 162 COMPANIES ACT
  • Section 7 of the Amending Act (52 of 1951)
  • Section 153(C) of the Companies Act.40.
  • Section 104 of the CPC (Act 5 of 1908)
  • Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act.
  • O. 43, R. 1, or Section 104 of the CPC
  • Section 153(C) of the Companies Act
  • Companies Act beginning with S. 155
  • SECTION 153 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 215 COMPANIES ACT
  • SECTION 202 COMPANIES ACT
  • Section 104 or O. 43 of the CPC
  • O. 43 or Section 104 of the CPC
  • O. 49, Rule 3 of the CPC
  • Section 153(C)
Smart Summary

Structured Summary of the Opinion (Malik, C.J.)

Factual and Procedural Background

Rani Revati Devi filed a petition under Section 153(C) of the Companies Act in respect of Vishnu Pratap Sugar Works Limited, Khadda, District Deoria. She alleged that the company was a private limited company with most shares held by members of the Padrauna Rai family, that she was a shareholder and managing director, and that certain opposite parties had committed misfeasance, malfeasance and mismanagement and were able to oppress the minority. Although she alleged circumstances that might justify winding up under clause (vi) of Section 162, she sought relief under S.153(C) to regulate the company's affairs instead of winding up. In the same petition she sought an interim order under S.153(C)(8) appointing a receiver to take charge of the company pending final disposal.

After affidavit evidence, objections and replies were filed, the learned Company Judge on 2-4-1953 appointed a receiver under S.153(C)(8). Some of the opposite parties appealed against that interim order. A preliminary objection was raised by applicant respondent No.1 that no appeal lies from that order. The High Court confined arguments to the preliminary objection and heard submissions on whether any right of appeal existed against the interim order appointing the receiver.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether an appeal lies from the order of the Company Judge appointing a receiver under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act.
  2. If an appeal lies, whether the appellants can found it on Section 202 of the Companies Act (appeals in winding-up matters), Order 43 Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), or Clause 10 of the Letters Patent (appeals from a single Judge to a Division Bench of the High Court).
  3. Whether an order appointing an interim receiver under S.153(C)(8) constitutes a "judgment" within the meaning of the Letters Patent so as to attract Clause 10 appeal rights.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellants' Arguments

  • They contended that an appeal lay against the order appointing a receiver.
  • Counsel relied on Section 202 of the Companies Act (appeals in winding-up matters), Order 43 Rule 1 of the CPC, and Clause 10 of the Letters Patent read with Clauses 7 and 13 of the U.P. High Courts (Amalgamation) Order, 1948.
  • Further reliance was placed on Sections 116 and 117 of the CPC and Order 49 Rule 3 (to show application of CPC provisions to the High Court) and the submission that Orders 40 and 43 CPC applied so as to permit an appeal from the appointment of a receiver under Order 40 Rule 1 CPC.

Respondent's / Court's Position on Preliminary Objection

  • The respondent (applicant No.1) raised a preliminary objection that no appeal lies from the interim order appointing a receiver under S.153(C)(8).
  • The Court accepted that the appointment was made under S.153(C)(8) read with Order 40 Rule 1 CPC but emphasised that the right to appeal is statutory and must be expressly provided for; in the absence of an appeal provision in S.153(C), no appeal lies under Section 202 (which applies to winding up) or under Order 43 of the CPC as a matter of right within the High Court.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Lawrence Dawson v. J. Hormasji, AIR 1932 Rang 154 Order rejecting scheme in course of winding up — appeals under Section 202. Court held it was not helpful: that case arose in winding-up proceedings and does not assist where relief was sought under S.153(C) (an alternative to winding up).
Levy Brothers & Knowles Ltd. v. Subodh Kumar, AIR 1927 Cal 689 Order made in course of voluntary winding up — refusal to admit claim; appealability under Letters Patent/Section 202. Distinguished: the order there was made in winding-up proceedings and so Section 202 applied; that is different from an interim receiver appointed under S.153(C)(8).
Hurrish Chunder v. Kali Sunderi Debi, 9 Cal 482 (P.C.) Distinction between appeals under statutory Code provision and appeals under Letters Patent (appeal from Judge to Bench). Used to show S.104/S.588 (earlier) applies to appeals between Courts and not to appeals from a Judge to a Bench of the same High Court; supports Letters Patent primacy for intra-court appeals.
Toolsee Money Dassee v. Sudevi Dasee, 26 Cal 361 (Full Bench) A Judge exercising original civil jurisdiction is the High Court; appeals from such a Judge to the Bench are governed by Letters Patent, not CPC provisions. Supported the proposition that Orders 40/43 CPC do not create a right to appeal from a Judge to a larger Bench independently of the Letters Patent.
Mathura Sundari v. Haran Chandra, AIR 1916 Cal 361 Decision that an order might be a "judgment" under Letters Patent (differing views among judges). Court noted judicial divergence on whether certain interlocutory orders are "judgments"; did not adopt this view conclusively for the present case.
Mohammad Amin Brothers Ltd. v. Dominion of India, AIR 1950 FC 77 Interpretation of "judgment" in Letters Patent and whether it includes interlocutory judgments. Cited for the proposition that the collocation of words suggests "judgment" would not include interlocutory judgment in that context; used to support a limited meaning of "judgment".
Kuppuswami Rao v. The King, AIR 1949 FC 1 On the meaning of "judgment" and "decree"; preliminary decrees and judgments. Referred to in discussing whether preliminary judgments could be treated as "judgments" under Letters Patent.
Onslow v. Inland Revenue Commissioners, (1890) 25 QBD 465 "A judgment is a decision obtained in an action, and every other decision is an order." Quoted to illustrate English usage distinguishing judgments and orders; used in the analysis of the word "judgment".
Dr. Hori Ram Singh v. Emperor, AIR 1939 FC 43 Equivalence of decree and judgment in different procedures; judgment as decision in action. Referred to for explanatory material on the terms "judgment" and "decree" and their English roots.
Muhammad Niam-Ul-Lah v. Ihsan Ullah, 14 All 226 (Full Bench) "Judgment" in Clause 10 means the express decision of a Judge which originates an order or decree. Cited as an early decision on the meaning of "judgment" in Letters Patent jurisprudence.
Justices of the Peace for the Town of Calcutta v. Oriental Gas Co. Ltd., 17 WR 364 "Judgment" in Letters Patent means a decision affecting merits and determining some right or liability; may be final or interlocutory. Used to show one accepted definition that "judgment" affects the merits and determines rights.
Ebrahim v. Fuckrunnissa Begum, 4 Cal 531 "Judgment" decides the case in its entirety and does not mean an interlocutory decision not affecting merits. Quoted as one judicial view limiting the scope of "judgment".
Tuljaram Row v. Alagappa Chettiar, 35 Mad 1 (Full Bench) Held that some interlocutory orders (e.g., appointment of a receiver) could be "judgment" within Letters Patent depending on their effect. Cited to show that some authorities treat appointment of a receiver as a "judgment" when it is ancillary but decisive; Court noted this view but did not apply it to the present order.
Ruldu Singh v. Sanwal Singh, AIR 1922 Lah 380 No fixed rule; whether an order is a judgment depends on its nature and effect on proceedings. Referred to for the proposition that deciding whether an order is a "judgment" is fact-specific.
Shamzadi Begam v. Alakh Nath, AIR 1935 All 620 (Full Bench) Term "judgment" in Letters Patent means in civil cases a decree rather than the ordinary sense of judgment. Used to show differing judicial approaches to the word "judgment".
Sewak Jaranchod Bhogi Lal v. Dakore Temple Committee, AIR 1925 PC 155 Interpretation of "judgment" in Letters Patent. Referred as part of authorities defining "judgment" in Letters Patent context.
Sital Din v. Anant Ram, AIR 1933 All 262 (Full Bench) Held that some orders (e.g., remand that disposes of an appeal) amount to a "judgment", while others (e.g., extension of limitation) do not. Cited to demonstrate the contextual approach to the meaning of "judgment".
Manohar Damodar v. Baliram Ganpat, AIR 1952 Nag 357 Attempted comprehensive definition of "judgment". Referenced among other authorities discussing the appropriate test for "judgment".
M.A. Janki v. M.A. Srirangammal, AIR 1953 Mad 38 Order rejecting application to restore and rehear an appeal was held not to be a "judgment" or final order. Cited to show that some interlocutory orders are not "judgments" for constitution of appeals under constitutional/Letters Patent contexts.
The Jwala Bank Ltd. v. Shitla Prashad Singh, AIR 1950 All 309 "Judgment" means an adjudication conclusively determining rights of parties, not a mere interlocutory order. Applied to conclude the order appointing a receiver did not determine any rights between the parties and therefore was not a "judgment".
Asrumati Debi v. Rupendra Deb, AIR 1953 SC 198 Clarified that a decision on any and every point in dispute is not necessarily a "judgment" under the Letters Patent; an order transferring a suit was not of the same character as an order rejecting a plaint. Used to reject appellants' submission that disposal of the interim management point necessarily converted the order into a "judgment" under the Letters Patent.
Mt. Sabitri Thakurain v. Savi, AIR 1921 PC 80 Held that S.104 and Order 43 apply to High Courts but did not give an automatic right of appeal from a Judge to a larger Bench independently of Letters Patent. Relied on to show CPC provisions' applicability to High Courts does not displace Letters Patent rules for intra-court appeals.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court proceeded in stages to determine whether any statutory or other right of appeal existed against the interim order appointing a receiver under Section 153(C)(8):

  1. Nature of the order and statutory source:

    The order was made under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act read with Order 40 Rule 1 CPC as an interim appointment of a receiver pending final disposal of the application under S.153(C). Section 153(C) is in Part IV (management and administration) of the Act, while winding up provisions (including Section 202) are in Part V. The petitioner had not sought winding up but alternative relief under S.153(C).

  2. Section 202 inapplicable:

    Section 202 allows appeals in the matter of winding up. The Court found that an interim appointment under S.153(C)(8) was not an order made "in the matter of the winding up of a company" and therefore Section 202 did not furnish a right of appeal. The Court distinguished the cited authorities that arose in winding-up contexts for that reason.

  3. Order 43 CPC does not create intra-court appeal rights:

    Although Orders 40 and 43 CPC apply to High Courts, the Court analysed the nature of Part VII of the CPC (appeals) and Sections 96 and 104 CPC and concluded that those provisions contemplate appeals from one court to another (i.e., two separate Courts). They do not purport to create a mechanism for appeals from a single Judge of a High Court to a Division Bench of the same High Court; such intra-court appeals are governed by the Letters Patent.

  4. Letters Patent and the meaning of "judgment":

    The only provision in the Letters Patent for appeal from a single Judge to a Bench is Clause 10, which applies to "judgments". The Court undertook a detailed review of authorities on the meaning of "judgment" in the Letters Patent context. The authorities demonstrate divergent approaches, but the thread running through them is that not every interlocutory or procedural order qualifies as a "judgment". The Court emphasised that the test is the nature and effect of the order and whether it conclusively determines rights between the parties.

  5. Application of the "judgment" test to the present order:

    The Court examined whether the appointment of a receiver finally disposed of rights between the parties or was an interlocutory, ancillary order. While the learned Judge had to consider maintainability and prima facie facts, the order was an interim one pending final disposal of the S.153(C) petition. The Court held that the Judge had not determined rights between the parties; the interim receiver appointment did not dispose finally of the S.153(C) petition or determine the rights in controversy.

  6. Rejection of expansive interpretation:

    The Court rejected the appellants' submission that any order which finally disposes of an application (even if ancillary and not affecting the merits of the main controversy) must be treated as a "judgment" for Letters Patent purposes. The Court relied on Supreme Court precedent (Asrumati Debi) and other authorities to hold that such a broad construction would be impermissible.

  7. Conclusion on appealability:

    Because there was no statutory provision for an appeal in S.153(C), Section 202 did not apply, Order 43 CPC does not supply a right of intra-court appeal independent of the Letters Patent, and the impugned order was not a "judgment" within Clause 10 of the Letters Patent, the appellants had no right of appeal.

Holding and Implications

APPEAL DISMISSED

Direct effect: The appeal against the interim order dated 2-4-1953 appointing a receiver under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act was dismissed by the Court. The preliminary objection that no appeal lay had substance and succeeded; the appeal failed and was dismissed with costs.

Implications: The decision limits the avenues of appeal from interim orders made under Section 153(C)(8) in the absence of any express statutory right of appeal in that section. The Court emphasized that appeals are creatures of statute and that intra-court appeals from a single Judge to a Bench are governed by the Letters Patent and depend upon whether the impugned order amounts to a "judgment" under that instrument. The opinion did not purport to establish any broad new principle beyond applying existing authorities to the facts: its practical effect is to deny an appeal in these circumstances.

Disposition in the opinion: The preliminary objection was upheld; the appeal was dismissed with costs.

    Vishnu Pratap And Others v. Sm. Revati Devi And Others

    Malik, C.J:— This appeal has been filed by some of the opposite parties against whom an order was made by the learned Company Judge under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act (VII of 1913). A preliminary objection has been raised on behalf of the applicant respondent 1 that no appeal lies.

    2. We have confined the arguments only to the preliminary objection and it is, therefore, not necessary to go into the facts in any detail. Rani Revati Devi filed an application in this Court under Section 153(C) of the Companies Act in the matter of the Vishnu Pratap Sugar Works Limited, Khadda, District Deoria. She claimed that the company was a private Ltd. Co., with a capital of Rs. 8,50,000/-, divided in 1,700 fully paid up shares of Rs. 500/- each, and most of the shares of the company were held by members of the Padrauna Rai family. She alleged that she was a share-holder and managing director of the company and that opposite parties 2 to 4 supported by opposite parties 6 to 8, and committed various acts of misfeasance, malfeasance and mismanagement and had so conducted the affairs of the company as to promote their personal ends at the cost of the company and its other shareholders. It was further alleged that the opposite parties mentioned above having the majority of votes are in a position to oppress the minority. She claimed that the circumstances set out by her in the petition are such as would justify the winding up of the company under the just and equitable cl. (vi) of Section 162 of the Companies Act but, instead of asking for that relief, she wanted that the Court should pass orders for the regulation of the conduct of the company's affairs in future and pass such other and further orders detailed in the petition as may be necessary for the proper running of the company in the interest of all concerned. In the same petition a prayer was made for an interim order under S. 153(C)(8) which was as follows:

    “That pending the hearing and final disposal of this petition the applicant or some other fit and proper person be appointed as receiver to take charge of the properties, assets, books of account, papers and vouchers of the company, with power to carry on the business of the company and with all other powers under O. 40, R. 1 of the CPC”

    3. The petition was supported by a long affidavit and, on notice being issued to the opposite parties, they appeared and filed objections to which the petitioner filed replies.

    4. Before, however, the application under S. 153(C) could be finally heard and disposed of, a prayer was made that, pending the decision, interim relief may be granted and a receiver be appointed so that the petitioner's interest may not further suffer. On 16-1-1953, the case was put up before the learned Company Judge in order to decide whether the interim relief sought in the petition should be granted. Due to, however, some defect in the affidavits the matter was postponed to 18th February for the consideration of the question whether an interim relief by appointment of a receiver should or should not be granted. Arguments were addressed on the point and the learned Judge on 2-4-1953, passed an order appointing a receiver to take over charge of the company's affairs. It is against that order dated 2-4-1953, that this appeal has been filed.

    5. In answer to the preliminary objection, Mr. Jagdish Swarup has relied on Section 202 of the Companies Act, on the provisions of O. 43, R. 1 of the CPC and Cl. 10 of our Letters Patent read with cls. 7 and 13 U.P High Courts (Amalgamation) Order, 1948.

    6. As regards Section 202 of the Companies Act, it provides for appeals from orders made or given in the matter of the winding up of a company by the Court. Section 202 is as follows:

    “Appeals from orders—

    Re-hearings of, and appeals from, any order or decision made or given in the matter of the winding up of a company by the Court may be had in the same manner and subject to the same conditions in and subject to which appeals may be had from any order or decision of the same Court in cases within its ordinary jurisdiction.”

    7. Learned counsel has urged that the order appointing a receiver was an order or decision made or given in the matter of the winding up of a company by the Court. We do not think that this contention has any substance. Before the-amendment of the Companies Act, where the Court was of the opinion that the majority was oppressing the minority so that the minority could get no relief from the domestic forum that is the vote of the share-holders, or, for sufficient other cause which need not be enumerated here the Court was of the opinion that it was just and equitable to wind up a company, it could pass an order to that effect but it could not grant relief in any other manner. To meet this hardship, the Act was amended and an alternative remedy was provided by S. 153(C) which enabled, the Court to keep the company alive and yet so regulate its affairs that the interest of the company may not be prejudiced and the interest of the share-holders may be safeguarded. This being, therefore, an alternative relief in place of the relief of winding up it cannot be said that the order or decision was made or given in the matter of winding up of a company.

    8. The petitioner applying u/s. 153(C) does not ask for the winding up of the company but prays that instead of the company being wound up the-other relief under that section may be granted to him. Part V, Companies Act beginning with S. 155 deals with winding up of companies, while-S. 153(C) is in part IV which deals with management and administration of a company. It may in this connection-be pointed out that by Section 83 of the Amending Act (22 of 1936) sub-s. (7) was added to S. 153 which gave a right of appeal from any order made by the Court exercising original jurisdiction under that section to the authority authorized to hear appeals from the decisions of the Court. Section 153(C) was added by Section 7 of the Amending Act (52 of 1951) and there is no special provision for an appeal in that section. If the case, therefore, does not come under S. 202 for an order made under S. 153(C) the appellants will have to rely on some other provision of law giving them the right to appeal.

    9. Learned counsel for the appellants has, relied on ‘Lawrence Dawson v. J. Hormasji’, AIR 1932 Rang 154 (A) but we do not see how that case is at all helpful. In that case there had been an order of winding up of a company and, in the course of the winding up of the company, a petition was filed by the liquidators, under Section 153 of the Companies Act praying for the sanction of the Court to a scheme for the re-organisation of the capital of the company. The learned company Judge, however, refused to grant the sanction and rejected the petition. The learned Chief Justice, held that an appeal lay from an order rejecting a scheme both under Section 202 of the Companies Act, and Cl. 13, Letters Patent of the Rangoon High Court. The order in that case was passed in the course of the winding up proceedings and it might have been treated as: an order made or given in the matter of the winding up of the company, though we have grave doubts whether even to that case S. 202 applied. The learned Chief Justice, however, based it in the alternative under S. 202, as well as Cl. 13 of the Letters Patent. Now, that S. 153 has been amended and sub-s. (7) added to it, an appeal would clearly lie under sub-s. (7) of S. 153.

    10. Reliance is also placed on a decision of the Calcutta High Court in — ‘Levy Brothers and Knowles, Ltd. v. Subodh Kumar’, AIR 1927 Cal 689 (B). In that case in the course of the voluntary winding up of a company the liquidators had applied to the Court under Section 215 of the Companies Act asking that they might be at liberty to admit the claim of the appellants. The learned Company Judge made an order to the effect that the liquidators were not to admit the claim unless the appellants brought a regular suit and obtained a decree. Against that order an appeal was filed. It was held that the order of the Judge in the winding up amounted to a refusal to the creditors of their important right to establish their claim in the winding-up proceedings and it was a “judgment” under Cl. 15 of the Letters Patent from which an appeal, under Section 202 of the Companies Act, would lie. It would thus appear that the order was made in the matter of the winding-up of a company and it has nothing to do with an order like the one before us appointing an interim receiver pending the final disposal of an application under S. 153(C). We are, therefore, not satisfied that the appellants have any right of appeal under Section 202 of the Companies Act.

    11. It was next urged that an appeal lies to us under O. 43, R. 1 of the CPC. It was urged that the order passed by the learned Judge appointing a receiver was an order under O. 40, R. 1 of the CPC and an appeal against that order was provided for in O. 43, R. 1 of the CPC. Learned counsel has referred to Sections 116 and 117 of the CPC and has urged that, save as provided in Part IX or Part X or in the rules, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure apply to High Courts in Part A and B States. Reference is also made to O. 49, Rule 3 of the CPC and it is urged that Orders 40 and 43 are not excluded therein and they, therefore, apply to a Chartered High Court in the exercise of its ordinary or extraordinary original civil jurisdiction.

    12. It is true that Orders 40 & 43 both apply to the High Court but the question here is whether O. 43 makes provision for an appeal from one court to another or it is intended to cover cases of an appeal from one Judge to a bench of the same Court. Section 94 of the CPC gives a civil Court, including a High Court, power to pass various orders to prevent the ends of justice being defeated and cl. (d) of this section provides for appointment of a receiver of any property. Part VII of the CPC deals with appeals and S. 96 provides that an appeal against a decree passed by a Court shall lie to a Court authorised to hear appeals from the decisions of such Court. Clearly S. 96 contemplates two separate Courts, one being authorised to hear appeals from a decree passed by the other. While S. 96 deals with original decree, Section 104 of the CPC deals with orders, not being decrees, and the orders that are appealable are set out under O. 43 of the CPC. The question of an appeal from one Court to another Court is no doubt governed by the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure but the provision for appeal from one Judge of a Court to a bench of the same Court is not provided for by the Code and must be governed by the Letters Patent.

    13. Though learned counsel has urged that the order was passed under O. 40, R. 1 of the CPC the order in fact was passed under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act read with O. 40 R. 1 of the CPC. Section 153(C)(8) is as follows:

    “It shall be lawful for the Court upon the application of any petitioner or of any respondent to a petition under this section and upon such, terms as to the Court appears just and equitable, to make any such interim order as it thinks fit for regulating the conduct of the affairs of the company pending the making of a final order in relation to the application.”

    14. It is not necessary for us to consider whether, if sub-s. (8) was not there, the Court could during the pendency of an application under S. 153(C) appoint a receiver or not. The appeal, however, as has been frequently said, is a creature of statute and, unless, there is a provision for an appeal, no appeal would lie. The point that O. 43 relates to appeals from one Court to another and not from a Judge of a Court to a bench of the same Court is covered by authority.

    15. In — ‘Hurrish Chunder v. Kali Sunderi Debi’, 9 Cal 482 (P.C) (C) where the question was whether an appeal from a single Judge to a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court was barred by Section 588 of the Act 10 of 1877, their Lordships held that the restriction in S. 588 did not apply to an appeal from one Judge to a bench of the same Court, to which appeals Cl. (15) of the Letters Patent was applicable. Section 104 of the CPC (Act 5 of 1908) has now replaced Section 583 of the Act 10 of 1877 with this difference that while in S. 588 no appeal could be filed against an order which did not come under that section, S. 104 now provides that an appeal shall lie from the-orders enumerated in S. 104 or by any law for the time being in force and from no other orders, but the fact remains that their Lordships of the Judicial Committee held that S. 588, which is now equivalent to S. 104, applied to an appeal from one Court to another and not to a case of an appeal from a Judge of a Court to a bench of the same Court. To the same effect is a Full Bench, decision of the Calcutta High Court in — ‘Toolsee Money Dassee v. Sudevi Dasee’, 26 Cal 361 (D). Mr. Woodroffe in the course of his argument pointed out in that case that

    “a Judge exercising the original civil jurisdiction of the High Court is not sub-ordinate to the High Court; he is ‘the High Court’. No appeal lies or can lie, under the Civil Procedure Code, from the decree or order of the High Court in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction; the appeal is by virtue of Clause 15 of the Letters Patent.”

    16. This argument was accepted by the Full Bench which held that such appeals were governed by the Letters Patent and not by S. 588 of the Code.

    17. In — ‘Mathura Sundari v. Haran Chandra’, AIR 1916 Cal 361 (E) Sanderson, C.J and Mookerjee, J. were inclined to take a different view and Woodroffe, J. expressed no opinion on the point. It was held in that case that the order was a judgment within the meaning of Cl. 15 of the Letters Patent and was, therefore, appealable.

    18. The difficulty, however, about accepting this view is that while, in the case of an order, which is appealable under Section 104 or O. 43 of the CPC an appeal would lie to a Court to which it is subordinate, what would happen to cases, if the Code of Civil Procedure, as such is applied where an order similar to an order mentioned in O. 43 is passed by a bench and not by a single Judge. Quite often questions whether a receiver should be appointed, whether an injunction should be issued and similar other matter are referred to and dealt with by Division Benches of the High Court. If S. 104 read with O. 43 makes all these orders appealable then what would be the Court to which appeals would lie from an order passed by a Division Bench and not by a single Judge. We are not satisfied that S. 104 or O. 43 ever intended to deal with appeals from a Judge or Judges of one Court to a larger number of Judges in the same Court. It is no doubt true, as has been held by their Lordships of the Judicial Committee in — ‘Mt. Sabitri Thakurain v. Savi’, AIR 1921 PC 80 (F) that S. 104 as well as O. 43 apply to High Courts but it does not mean that they give any right to an appeal from an order by a Judge or Judges of that Court to a larger number of Judges of the same Court independently of the Letters Patent of the Court; As we have said if O. 43 or Section 104 of the CPC were made applicable per se, without reference to the Letters Patent, then even an order passed by a bench would come under those provisions, but before an appeal can be filed there will have to be a Court constituted for hearing an appeal and the only provision for hearing an appeal, from the judgment of a single Judge, by a bench of two or more Judges of the same Court is contained in the Letters Patent of the Chartered High Courts. An order, to come under the Letters Patent, must be a judgment, and, if an order is not a judgment, then Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent would not apply and there is no provision for constituting a bench of more than one Judge to hear such an appeal. We, therefore, fail to understand how O. 43, R. 1, or Section 104 of the CPC without any reference to Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent, can help the appellants.

    19. Coming now to Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent, a great deal of controversy has raged round the word “judgment” and what it means. In the Letters Patent itself we have several clauses in which provisions are made for appeals. Clause 10 deals with an appeal from the judgment of a single Judge. Clause 30 deals with appeals to the Privy Council from any final judgment, decree or order of the High Court. Clause 31 provides for appeals to the Privy Council against certain preliminary or interlocutory judgment, decree, order or sentence of the High Court. Clause 32 provides for an appeal to the Privy Council against any judgment, order or sentence made by the High Court in the exercise of original criminal jurisdiction. It would thus appear that in dealing with appeals to the Privy Council the words used are “Judgment, final or preliminary, or interlocutory, decree, order or sentence”, while in dealing with appeals from one judge to a bench of the same Court only the word “judgment” has been used. There being no appeal under the Letters Patent in criminal matters from one Judge to a larger number of Judges the word “sentence” could easily be omitted. There is also no appeal from an order passed by a single Judge in the exercise of revisional jurisdiction. Appeals only lie from judgment in civil matters in the exercise of ordinary or extraordinary original jurisdiction of the Court and, with the leave of the Judge, against a decree or order made by him in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction against a decree or order made by a sub-ordinate Court. In Section 205 of the Government of India Act providing for appeals to the Federal Court the words used are “judgment, decree or final order”.

    20. In ‘Mohammad Amin Brothers Ltd. v. Dominion of India’, AIR 1950 FC 77 (G), the point arose whether an order under the Letters Patent setting aside an order of a single judge directing the compulsory winding up of a company was a final order against which an appeal lay to the Federal Court and, it having been held that it was not a final order, an argument was raised that it may be a judgment if it was not a final order. Their Lordships held that by reason of the collocation of the words the word “judgment” would not include interlocutory judgment and observed as follows:

    “In English Courts the word ‘judgment’ is used in the same sense as a ‘decree’ in the Civil Procedure Code and it means the declaration or final determination of the rights of the parties in the matter brought before the Court”

    and referred to a previous decision of the same Court in — ‘Kuppuswami Rao v. The King’, AIR 1949 FC 1 (H). In that case Kania, C.J observed:

    “It is next necessary to ascertain the meaning of the words ‘judgment’ and ‘decree’. In England in civil actions a decree is understood to be the same as a judgment. If so, as there may be a preliminary decree, there may be a preliminary judgment.”

    21. His Lordship mentioned the case of — ‘Onslow v. Inland Revenue Commissioners’, (1890) 25 QBD 465 (I) where Lord Esher M.R said:

    “A ‘Judgment’ therefore, is a decision obtained in an action, and every other decision is an order.”

    22. Kania, C.J, said:

    “These and other English decisions make it clear that in England when the word judgment or decree is used, whether it is preliminary or final, it means the declaration or final determination of the rights of the parties in the matter brought before the Court.”

    23. His Lordship pointed out that definitions of the words “judgment” and “decree” in the Code are applicable merely to that Code. Those definitions, therefore, are not helpful.

    24. In — ‘Dr. Hori Ram Singh v. Emperor’, AIR 1939 FC 43 (J) Sulaiman, J. pointed out that:

    “Decree was a term, which, in Equity practice, corresponded to judgment at Common law. Decree is the equivalent to the term judgment in the Queens' Bench Division. A judgment is a decision obtained in an action, and any other decision is an order: per ‘Cotton L.J in Ex. Parte Chineres’, ‘(1884) 12 QBD 342 (K)’.”

    25. His Lordship went on to say that:

    “The word ‘judgment’ occurs in Cl. 10 Letters Patent of the Allahabad High Court and Cl. 15, Letters Patent of the Calcutta, Madras and Bombay High Courts, and ‘final judgment’ in Cls. 30 and 39 respectively. As they had been drafted in England, the first interpretation put upon the word was more or less in the English sense and not that used in the Civil Code.”

    26. The earliest decision of this Court referred to us as to what the word ‘judgment’ means is ‘Muhammad Niam-Ul-Lah v. Ihsan Ullah’, 14 All 226 (FB) (L). In this case Sir John Edge, C.J, held that—

    “the word ‘Judgment’ in Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent means the express decision of a Judge of the Court which leads up to and originates an order or decree.”

    27. Many learned Judges have tried to explain what the word ‘judgment’ used in the relevant clause of the Letters Patent means and a reference to some of them might be helpful. In the — ‘Justices of the Peace for the Town of Calcutta v. Oriental Gas Co. Limited’, 17 WR 364 (M) the learned C.J Sir Richard Couch, said:

    “We think that ‘judgment’ in Cl. 15 means a decision which affects the merits of the question between the parties determining some right or liability. It may be either final or preliminary or interlocutory, the difference between them being that a final judgment determines the whole cause or suit, and a preliminary or interlocutory judgment determines only a part of it leaving other matters to be determined.”

    28. In — ‘Ebrahim v. Fuckrunnissa Begum’, 4 Cal 531 (N) Garth, C.J defined the word ‘judgment’ as follows:

    “I think that word ‘judgment’ means a judgment or decree which decides the case one way or the other in its entirety, and that it does not mean a decision or order of an interlocutory character, which merely decides some isolated point, not affecting the merits or result of the entire suit.”

    29. In — ‘Tuljaram Row v. Alagappa Chettiar’, 35 Mad 1 (FB) (O) Sir Arnold White, C.J, said that the word “Judgment” did not necessarily mean all orders in civil proceedings. But the test according to him was not the form of the adjudication but its effect on the suit or proceeding in which it was made. The learned Chief Justice went on to say that

    “an order or an independent proceeding which is ancillary to the suit (not instituted as a step towards judgment, but with a view to rendering the judgment effective if obtained) — e.g, an order on an application for an interim Injunction, or for the appointment of a receiver is a ‘judgment’ within the meaning of the clause.”

    30. Krishnaswami Ayyar, J. in this case quoted Danial's Chancery Practice, Volume I, where the definition given was as follows:

    “A judgment is a sentence or order of the Court, pronounced on hearing and understanding all the points in issue, and determining the right of all the parties to the cause or matter. It is either interlocutory or final.”

    31. The learned Judge was of the opinion that a more accurate definition was to be found in Black on ‘judgment’ where the author had said:

    “We may define a ‘Judgment’ as the determination or sentence of the law pronounced by a competent Judge or Court as the result of an action or proceeding instituted in such Court affirming that upon the matters submitted for decision a legal duty or liability does or does not exist.”

    32. In — ‘Ruldu Singh v. Sanwal Singh’, AIR 1922 Lah 380 (2) (P) Shadi Lal, J. expressed the opinion as follows:

    “It is, therefore, impossible to lay down any definite rule which would meet the requirements of all the cases, and the only thing which can be said is that in determining whether an order constitutes a judgment or not the Court must take into consideration the nature of the order and its effect upon the civil proceeding in which it was made.”

    33. In — ‘Shamzadi Begam v. Alakh Nath’, AIR 1935 All 620 (2) (FB) (Q) reference was made to the decision of Sir John Edge in the case of ‘Sewak Jaranchod Bhogi Lal v. Dakore Temple Committee’, AIR 1925 PC 155 at p. 156 (R) where his Lordship laid down that:

    “The term judgment in the Letters Patent of the High Court means in civil cases a decree and not a judgment in the ordinary sense.”

    34. and the decision of the Full Bench of this Court in ‘Sital Din v. Anant Ram’, AIR 1933 All 262 (S) in which it was held that the word “judgment” in Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent should not be read in a restricted sense and that an order of remand under O. 41, R. 23, which effectually disposes of the appeal before the High Court amounts to a judgment, whether it amounts to a decree or not. The learned Judges further held that the order extending the period of limitation was not a judgment and therefore no appeal lay under Cl. 10 of the Letters Patent.

    35. A comprehensive definition was attempted to be given by Hidayatullah, J. in — ‘Manohar Damodar v. Baliram Ganpat’, AIR 1952 Nag 357 at p. 376 (T).

    36. The learned Judge held:

    “A judgment means a decision in an action whether final, preliminary or interlocutory which decides either wholly or partially, but conclusively in so far as the Court is concerned, the controversy which is the subject of the action. It does not include a decision which is on a matter of procedure, nor one which is ancillary to the action even though it may either imperil the ultimate decision or tend to make it effective. The decision need not be immediately executable ‘per se’ but if left untouched must result inevitably without anything further, save the determination of consequential details, in a decree or decretal orders, that is to say, an executive document directing something to be done or not to be done in relation to the facts of the controversy. The decision may itself order that thing to be done or not to be done or it may leave that over till after the ascertainment of some details but it must not be interlocutory having for its purpose the ascertainment of some matters or details prior to the determination of the whole or any part of the controversy.”

    37. In ‘M.A Janki v. M.A Srirangammal’, AIR 1953 Mad 38 (U) an order rejecting an application under O. 41, R. 19 of the CPC to restore and rehear an appeal dismissed for default of appearance was held to be neither a judgment nor a decree nor a final order. No doubt those observations were made with reference to Article 133 of the Constitution and it may be said that the word ‘judgment’ in the Constitution does not necessarily mean the same thing as the word “judgment” in the Letters Patent.

    38. From the case discussed above it would appear that every order passed by a learned single Judge in the exercise of his civil jurisdiction is not a judgment. What is or what is not a judgment will have to be decided in each case with reference to its effect on the rights of the parties. In — “The Jwala Bank Ltd. v. Shitla Prashad Singh’, AIR 1950 All 309 (V) it was held by a bench of this Court that a judgment means an adjudication which conclusively determines the rights of the parties and not a mere interlocutory order during the pendency of a case. Judged from that point of view it cannot be said that the learned Judge has determined any rights between the parties. No doubt it is true that in determining the question whether a receiver should or should not be appointed the learned Judge had to express an opinion as to the maintainability of the application and whether ‘prima facie’ the facts justified the passing of an interim order under Section 153(C)(8) of the Companies Act. By reason of those observations Mr. R.C Chowdhry urged at one stage that the learned Judge had finally disposed of the application under S. 153(C) and his order was an order under sub-ss. (4) and (5) of that section and it was an interim order under S. 153(C)(8). When, however, faced with the entries in the order-sheet the learned counsel had to admit that the application under S. 153(C) was still pending and the learned Judge had purported to appoint an interim receiver pending final disposal of the application.

    39. It may be that by reason of the appointment of receiver the appellants are caused inconvenience and their rights have been interfered with, but it cannot be said that orders have been passed disposing of the application under Section 153(C) of the Companies Act.

    40. Shri Jagdish Sarup, learned counsel for the appellants, has urged that the order passed by the learned single Judge should be held to be a judgment as it, at least, finally disposed of the application for an interim order making arrangements for the management of the affairs of the company & any order, which finally disposes of some dispute between the parties must be held to be a judgment. This interpretation, if accepted, would widen the scope of the word ‘judgment’ in Cl. (13) of the Letters Patent so as to include every order passed on any application raising a dispute during the pendency of a suit or proceeding even though it may not affect the merits of the controversy between the parties in the suit itself nor may it terminate or dispose of the suit or proceedings on any ground. Such a wide interpretation cannot be accepted. Their Lordships of the Supreme Court, in — ‘Asrumati Debi v. Rupendra Deb’, AIR 1953 SC 198 (W) considered whether an order for transfer of a suit made under Cl. (13) of the Letters Patent of the Calcutta High Court was or was not a judgment within the meaning of Cl. (15) of the Letters Patent and held:

    “In the present case, a single Judge of the High Court had decided this question in favour of the plaintiff in the suit; but a decision on any and every point in dispute between the parties to a suit is not necessarily a “judgment”. The order in the present case neither affects the merits of the controversy between the parties in the suit itself, nor does it terminate or dispose of the suit on any ground. An order for transfer cannot be placed in the same category as an order rejecting a plaint or one dismissing a suit on a preliminary ground as has been referred to by Couch, C.J in his observations quoted above. An order directing a plaint to be rejected or taken off the file amounts to a final disposal of the suit so far as the Court making the order is concerned. That suit is completely at an end and it is immaterial that another suit could be filed in the same or another Court after removing the defects which led to the order of rejection. On the other hand, an order of transfer under Cl. (13) of the Letters Patent, is, in the first place, not at all an order made by the Court in which the suit is pending. In the second place, the order does not put an end to the suit which remains perfectly alive and that very suit is to be tried by another Court, the proceedings in the latter to be taken only from the stage at which they were left in the Court in which the suit was originally filed.”

    41. This decision by their Lordships of the Supreme Court makes it clear that an order, even if it disposes of another point in dispute between the parties to a suit which has been raised by a separate application and which may be ancillary to the suit itself, is not necessarily a judgment. The mere fact that in the case before us, the order passed by the learned Single Judge has disposed of the dispute relating to the interim, management of the company cannot, therefore, justify the inference that the order amounts to a judgment.

    42. The preliminary objection, in our view, has substance and the appellants have failed to satisfy us that they have a right of appeal against the interim order. The appeal fails and is dismissed with costs.

    A/K.S

    43. Appeal dismissed.

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    Vishnu Pratap And Others v. Sm. Revati Devi And Others
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