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2021 PHHC 90100
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Neutral Citations
2021 PHHC 90100
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Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

This matter arises from a dispute between Richmond Park Owners and Residents Association and Regency Park-1 Residents Welfare Association & Ors concerning the usage of an 18 metres wide road within a group housing colony developed by DLF Limited. The original layout (1995) and a revised plan (1999) provided for the 18 metres road and additional gates. Pleadings in the plaint were found to be evasive and silent as to actual use and rights over the 18 metres road. A trial court dismissed a prayer for a mandatory injunction; the Lower Appellate Court reversed that dismissal. This Court, by order dated 12.09.2018, set aside the order dated 31.05.2018 and directed the parties to maintain status quo with regard to the existing position of the 18 metres wide road during pendency of the suit, noting that interim mandatory injunctions are not to be granted routinely and require stronger grounds. An SLP was later dismissed as withdrawn on 01.02.2019 with liberty to seek other remedies, and contempt petitions by both parties are pending.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the existing order of status quo in respect of the 18 metres wide road is confined only to its usage and should be modified to permit necessary repairs and maintenance.
  2. Whether the higher standard for granting an ad interim mandatory injunction (i.e., that such relief is not to be granted routinely and requires clear and unambiguous grounds) governs the relief sought in this dispute.

Arguments of the Parties

Applicant's Arguments

  • The issue in the earlier revision petition related only to usage of the 18 metres road and the status quo order was confined to usage, not to maintenance or repairs.
  • Maintenance of the 18 metres wide road was never put in issue in the revision petition.
  • The SLP to the Apex Court was dismissed as withdrawn on 01.02.2019 with liberty to pursue other remedies; contempt petitions remain pending.
  • The condition of the 18 metres road has deteriorated over time; a sewerage pipeline is damaged and connected to storm water drainage.
  • Engineer-II, Drainage Division GMDA Gurugram issued a memo dated 20.09.2021 warning of possible FIRs if remedial action is not taken; the applicant therefore faces potential criminal consequences if repairs are not carried out.
  • The applicant seeks modification/clarification of the status quo order so that necessary repairs and maintenance may be undertaken; the applicant does not seek to affect the subject matter of contempt proceedings.
  • Annexures R/2A & R/2B were sought to be placed on record to show road condition and threat perception.

The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the plaintiff/respondent No.1's legal arguments beyond noting that a reply has been filed and that no counsel appeared on the listed date despite prior directions.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court reviewed the pleadings and earlier proceedings and noted: pleadings were evasive and did not specify whether the plaintiff used the 18 metres road or what rights were attached; no declaration or reference to plans/bye-laws had been pleaded. The Court reiterated the legal principle that ad interim mandatory injunctions are exceptional and require a stronger showing than that for prohibitory injunctions; they should not be granted routinely and only on clear and unambiguous grounds appearing on record. In light of these considerations, the Court previously set aside the appellate order and directed maintenance of status quo regarding the existing position of the 18 metres wide road during pendency, without adjudicating merits.

On the present application (CM No.6368-CII of 2021), the Court recorded submissions that the road's condition has materially deteriorated, that GMDA issued a warning memo dated 20.09.2021, and that the applicant seeks a clarification that the status quo order pertains only to usage and does not bar necessary repairs. The Court did not decide the modification request on merits; instead it issued notice to counsel for respondent No.1, gave a last opportunity to appear, and listed the matter on the urgent list for 01.11.2021.

Holding and Implications

ORDER: NOTICE ISSUED; MATTER LISTED ON 01.11.2021 IN THE URGENT LIST.

Implications: The Court did not grant the substantive relief of modifying the status quo. The immediate effect is procedural—respondent No.1 must be served and given a last opportunity to appear; the issue of whether the status quo should be clarified to permit repairs/maintenance remains pending for hearing. No new precedent was established by this order.

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    RICHMOND PARK OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION v. REGENCY PARK-1 RESIDENTS WELFARE ASSOCIATION REGISTERED AND ORS

    136 CM-7553-CII-2021 CM-9777-CII-2021 CM-9778-CII-2021 & CM-6368-CII-2021 in CR-5741-2018

    RICHMOND PARK OWNERS AND RESIDENTS

    ASSOCIATION VS REGENCY PARK-1 RESIDENTS WELFARE

    ASSOCIATION REGISTERED AND ORS

    Present: Ms. Puja Chopra, Advocate for the applicant.

    ****

    CM No.6368-CII of 2021 has been preferred by applicant -respondent No.2 in the main revision petition, who is defendant No.1 in the main suit.

    Civil revision petition was decided by this Court vide order dated 12.09.2018. The dispute between the parties is in respect of usage of 18 meters wide road. Pleadings in the plaint suggest that defendants have locked/blocked the road. In the year 1995, DLF Limited being the Developer planned a Residential Group Housing Colony with multi-story apartments and independent flats which were a part of a single complex and a road measuring 18 meters wide was provided. The original lay out plan was also revised in the year 1999 and in order to create separate entry and exit for Regency Park-1 residents, provision for additional gates was made and revised plan was made by the developer. While deciding the controversy on prima facie note, this court found that the

    For Subsequent orders see CM-6368-CII-2021 Decided by HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

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    pleadings of the plaint in terms of usage of 18 meters wide road are evasive as the same are silent with regard to usage of 18 meters wide road. Pleadings are silent as to whether the plaintiff is in use of 18 meters wide road or not and what is the right attached with it. No declaration has been sought nor has any reference been made to any plan or bye-laws. Injunction was sought before the trial Court in the form of mandatory injunction. Trial Court dismissed the prayer for mandatory injunction, however, the same was reversed by the Lower Appellate Court.

    This Court further commented upon that the interim mandatory injunction cannot be granted in routine. For granting a mandatory injunction, a strong case has to be made out and the standard for making of such a case rests on higher pedestal than the prima facie case which is normally required for a prohibitory injunction. Ad interim mandatory injunction is not to be granted in a routine manner, rather the same can be granted only on clear and unambiguous grounds which exist on record. While parting with the order, this Court set aside the order dated 31.05.2018 passed by the Additional District Judge, Gurugram and without meaning anything on the merits of the case, both

    For Subsequent orders see CM-6368-CII-2021 Decided by HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

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    the parties were directed to maintain status quo with regard to the existing position of 18 meters wide road during pendency of the suit. Applicant is defendant No.1 in the civil suit and respondent No.2 in the aforesaid revision petition. Due to change in scenario, now, learned counsel for the applicant/respondent No.2 appears on behalf of applicant/defendant No.1 and she is not appearing on behalf of the petitioner.

    Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the issue involved in the aforesaid revision petition was only in respect of usage of 18 meters wide road and the order of status quo was confined only in this regard. Maintenance of 18 meters wide road was never in issue. The said order was unsuccessfully assailed in the Hon'ble Apex Court and the SLP was ordered to be dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 01.02.2019 with a liberty to avail any other remedy in accordance with law. Thereafter, some contempt petitions have been filed by both the parties which are still pending. With the passage of time condition of 18 meters wide road has worsen. Sewerage pipe line has been damaged and that stands connected with storm water drainage thereby attracting the

    For Subsequent orders see CM-6368-CII-2021 Decided by HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

    3 of 5

    attention of Engineer-II Drainage Division GMDA Gurugram,who has issued letter memo dated 20.09.2021 to the applicant. Virtual threat has been given in respect of lodging of FIR if condition of sewerage connection is not improved. It is the duty of the applicant to repair the road in question. In the event of not repairing the road in time, the applicant may face the consequence of criminal prosecution. Even otherwise maintenance and repairs of the road are to be conducted for the welfare of the residents of the society. With this background, the applicant seeks necessary modification of the order to the extent of clarifying that the order of status quo is only in respect of usage of 18 meters wide road and not for carrying out necessary repairs and maintenance. The subject matter of contempt is not to be affected by such a clarification. Notice of this application was issued on 11.08.2021 to non-applicant /petitioner as well as to non- applicant/respondent No.1. Copies have already been supplied to the petitioner as well as respondent no.1. Thereafter, CM No.9777-CII of 2021 was filed with a prayer to place on record Annexures R/2A & R/2-B in order to show the road condition as well as the threat perception received by the stake-holders, in

    For Subsequent orders see CM-6368-CII-2021 Decided by HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

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    the context of not carrying out the necessary repairs and maintenance work.

    Learned counsel for the applicant submits that reply filed on behalf of the plaintiff/respondent No.1 has already been received by her office. None has appeared on behalf of plaintiff- respondent No.1, despite the order dated 08.10.2021 passed by this Court, taking note of urgency involved in the application. The case was adjourned for today and the same was ordered to be shown in the urgent list.

    Let notice be issued to the office of Mr. Davinder Lubana, Advocate on behalf of respondent No.1, thereby giving last opportunity to respondent No.1 to attend this case. List on 01.11.2021.

    To be listed in urgent list.

    28.10.2021

    Amandeep

    (RAJ MOHAN SINGH)

    JUDGE

    Neutral Citation No:=2021:PHHC:090100 For Subsequent orders see CM-6368-CII-2021 Decided by HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH

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