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  • provisions of Section 16 of the C.P.C. 6. Section 16 of C.P.C.
  • Section 16, the operations of all provisions of Section 20
  • provisions of Section 20 of C.P.C.
  • Section 20 of C.P.C.
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Citation Codes
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citation codes
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  • provisions of Section 16 of the C.P.C. 6. Section 16 of C.P.C.
  • Section 16, the operations of all provisions of Section 20
  • provisions of Section 20 of C.P.C.
  • Section 20 of C.P.C.
Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

This revision petition arises from a dispute over the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to entertain a suit concerning a loan obtained by the petitioner. The petitioner contended that the loan was granted and documented at Indore, and that the petitioner resides there. The petitioner challenged the jurisdiction of the Ratlam Civil Court, where the suit was filed, on the basis that the loan documents and residence were in Indore. The trial court rejected the petitioner's objection to jurisdiction, prompting this revision petition.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the Indore Civil Court or the Ratlam Civil Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit relating to the loan and mortgage;
  2. Whether Section 16 or Section 20 of the Code of Civil Procedure (C.P.C.) governs the jurisdiction in this case involving mortgage of immovable property.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner’s Arguments

  • The loan was granted and documented at Indore, where the petitioner also resides.
  • According to Section 20 of the C.P.C., only the Indore Civil Court has jurisdiction since the loan transaction and residence are located there.
  • The plaint’s prayer clause requests refund of money with interest, indicating the suit is primarily for refund rather than property-related issues.
  • The trial court erred in rejecting the objection to jurisdiction and its order should be reversed.

Opponent No. 1’s Arguments

  • The impugned order is correct and legal as the mortgaged property is situated within the jurisdiction of the Ratlam Civil Court.
  • Section 16 of the C.P.C. mandates that suits related to foreclosure, sale, or redemption of mortgage on immovable property must be instituted in the court where the property is situated.
  • The trial court rightly applied Section 16 to assert jurisdiction.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court analyzed the jurisdictional provisions under Sections 16 and 20 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Section 16 specifically provides that suits concerning foreclosure, sale, or redemption of mortgages on immovable property must be instituted in the court within whose local limits the property is situated. Section 20, which generally governs jurisdiction based on the defendant's residence or place of business or cause of action, is subject to the limitations prescribed by Section 16. The Court noted that the plaint includes a prayer for redemption of the mortgage on immovable property situated in Ratlam, thereby invoking Section 16 rather than Section 20. Consequently, the Court found that the Ratlam Civil Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The trial court's rejection of the petitioner's jurisdictional objection was held to be correct, proper, and legal.

Holding and Implications

The Court DISMISSED the revision petition, affirming the jurisdiction of the Ratlam Civil Court to entertain the suit.

The decision directly affects the parties by confirming that jurisdiction lies where the mortgaged immovable property is situated, rather than where the loan was granted or the petitioner resides. The Court did not establish any new precedent beyond the application of existing statutory provisions.

    Prakirn Himmatsingh Gogalia v. State Bank Of Indore And Another

    C. Chitre, J.

    1. This revision petition is heard finally on request of both the counsel appearing for contesting litigants.

    2. Shri A.K. Sethi, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the loan granted to petitioner was at Indore, the documents in respect of said loand were also executed at Indore and the petitioner resides at Indore. The loan was obtained from branch of Opponent No. 1 situated at Indore. Therefore, only the Indore Civil Court is having jurisdiction to entertain suit in view of provisions of Section 20 of C.P.C.

    3. Shri Sethi, also pointed out that the prayer clause of the plaint deals with prayer for refund of money and it also indicated that money should be refunded along with the interest and, therefore, though the property which has been mortgaged is situated within the jurisdiction of Ratlam Court, Ratlam Civil Court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    4. He made a grievance that learned trial Court did not consider this important facet of the matter and committed the error of law in rejecting the prayer of the petitioner disputing the jurisdiction of the Court. He submitted that said order be reversed as it is illegal.

    5. Replying to it, Shri P. M. Bargat, counsel for Opponent No. 1 submitted that the impugned order is correct, proper and legal because the property which has been mortgaged is situated within the jurisdiction of Civil Court, Ratlam and, therefore, Court has rightly considered the issue in controversy in view of provisions of Section 16 of the C.P.C.

    6. Section 16 of C.P.C. reads as -

    "Subject to the pecuniary or other limitations prescribed by any law suits -

    (a) for the recovery of immovable property with or without rent or profits,

    (b) for the. partition of immovable property,

    (c) for the foreclosure, sale or redemption in the case of a mortgage of or charge upon immovable property,

    (d) for the determination of any other right to or interest in immovable property,

    (e) for compensation for wrong to immovable property,

    (f) for the recovery of movable property actually under distraint or attachment, shall be instituted in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is situate."

    7. Section 20 of C.P.C. reads as -

    "Subject to the limitations aforesaid, every suit shall be instituted in a court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction -

    (a) the defendant, or each of the defendants where there are more than one, at the time of the commencement of the suit, actually and voluntarily resides, or carried on business, or personally works for gain; or

    (b) any of the defendants, where there are more than one, at the time of the commencement of the suit, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gains, provided that in such case either the leave of the Court is given, or the defendants who do not reside, or carry on business, or personally work for gain, as aforesaid, acquiesce in such institution; or

    (c) the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises.

    8. The jurisdiction is to be decided by considering the averments made in the plaint. In the plaint it has been well indicated that said loan was granted by mortgaging the property which is situated within jurisdiction of Ratlam Civil Court. The plaint also shows that in addition to prayer of refund of loan amount, the plaint deals with a prayer of redemption of mortgage.

    9. Section 16 provides that -- subject to pecuniary or other limitations prescribed by any law suits for foreclosure, sale or redemption in the case of a mortgage of or charge upon immovable property, shall be instituted in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is situate.

    10. It is pertinent to note that Section 20 starts with "subject to the limitations aforesaid". Therefore, when Section 16 has provided that when the suit is in respect of foreclosure, sale or redemption in the case of mortgage of or charge upon immovable property, the suit shall be instituted in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is situate.

    11. As the provision has been adequately made by Section 16, the operations of all provisions of Section 20 are not relevant; so far as the cases like present matter, are concerned. In such cases the Court within whose jurisdiction the property which has been mortgaged is situate, is having the jurisdiction to entertain and try the suit.

    12. The trial Court has taken the same view, which I do not find any way improper, incorrect or illegal.

    13. Thus, revision petition stands dismissed, C. C. today.

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    Comments

    Prakirn Himmatsingh Gogalia v. State Bank Of Indore And Another
    (Mar 30, 1995)