D. Murugan v. The Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 24.03.2022
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU W.P.NOS.4214 TO 4216 OF 2018 AND W.M.P. NOS. 5183 TO 5188, 30626, 31925 AND 31927 OF 2018 D.Murugan
...Petitioner in W.P.No.4214 of 2018
K.Chinnasamy
...Petitioner in W.P.No.4215 of 2018
M.Subbiah
...Petitioner in W.P.No.4216 of 2018
Vs 1.The Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Municipal Administration, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The Director of Local Fund Audit, Integrated Complex for Finance Department, Animal Husbandry Hospital Complex, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.
4.The Commissioner, Madurai Corporation, 5.The Deputy Director of Local Fund Audit,
...Respondents
Common Prayer:- Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, praying to issue Writs of Certiorari, to call for the records in pursuant to the impugned letter issued by the Second Respondent in proceedings RC.Lr. No. 45529/F3/2010 dated 21.05.2015 and the consequential impugned order issued by the Fourth Respondent in proceedings Ma.Ni.15/001952/17 dated 27.11.2017 and quash these orders.
For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Prem Narayan (in all W.P.s) For Respondents :
Mrs.C.Sangamithirai (in all W.P.s) Special Government Pleader (for R1 to R3 and R5) Mr.T.Shanmugam (for R4) C O M M O N O R D E R Heard Mr. R.Prem Narayan, Learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioners, Mrs. C.Sangamithirai, Learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the First to Third and Fifth Respondents and Mr. T.Shanmugam, Learned Counsel for the Fourth Respondent and perused the materials placed on record, apart from the pleadings of the parties.
2. These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the Proceedings in R.C. Lr. No. 45529/F3/2010 dated 21.05.2015 issued by the Second Respondent and consequential Proceedings No. Ma. Ni. 15/001952/17 dated 27.11.2017 issued by the Fourth Respondent.
3. It is not in dispute that the office of the Fourth Respondent in which the Petitioners are working is located within the territorial limits of jurisdiction of the Madurai Bench of this Court. The only reason stated for having approached the Principal Seat of this Court instead of approaching the Madurai Bench of this Court is that the office of the First to Third Respondents are situated at Chennai within the territorial limits of jurisdiction of the Principal Seat of this Court. There cannot be any doubt that the First to Third Respondents exercise powers for the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu, but that cannot be said to mean as if the cause of action arises within the territorial limits of jurisdiction of the Principal Seat of this Court.
4. In this context, reference may be made to the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in C.Ramesh -vs- Director General of Police, Chennai (Order dated 06.06.2013 in W.P. (MD) No. 8790 of 2013), in which it has been observed as follows:- "7. Exercise of jurisdiction is based on arising of the cause of action, either in whole or in part in any one of the said Revenue Districts. [See RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT ADVOCATES' ASSOCIATION Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTEHRS (2001 (2) SCC 294) and B.STALIN Vs. THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA AND OTHERS (2012 (3) LW 489 (FB))].
8.
It should be remembered that the part of cause of action must be substantial in nature. The territorial jurisdiction of the Court is linked with the place of accrual of cause of action. [See U.P. RASHTRIYA CHINI MILL ADHIKARI PARISHAD, LUCKNOW Vs. STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS (1995 (4) SCC 738)].
9.
Referring to KUSUM INGOTS & ALLOYS LTD. Vs. UNION OF INDIA (2004 (3) CTC 365), a Full Bench of this Court in SANJOS JEWELLERS Vs. SYNDICATE BANK, BANGALORE AND OTHERS (2007 (5) CTC 305), held as under:- "30. We must, however, remind ourselves that even if a small part of cause of action arises within the territorial jurisdiction of the High Court, the same by itself may not be considered to be a determinative factor compelling the High Court to decide the matter on merit. In appropriate cases, the Court may refuse to exercise its discretionary jurisdiction by invoking the Doctrine of forum conveniens. [See BHAGAT SINGH BUGGA Vs. DEWAN JAGBIR SAWHNEY, AIR 1941 CAL 670 : ILR (1941) 1 CAL 490; MADANLAL JALAN Vs. MADANLAL, 1945 (49) CWN 357: AIR 1949 CAL 495; BHARAT COKING COAL LTD. Vs. JHARIA TALKIES & COLD STORAGE (P) LTD., 1997 CWN 122; S.S.JAIN & CO. Vs. UNION OF INDIA, 1994 (1) CHN 445, and NEW HORIZONS LTD. Vs. UNION OF INDIA, AIR 1994 DEL 126].
10. Question of entertaining a lis disclosing a cause of action or part of cause of action is based on the averments contained in the affidavit etc. At that stage, the truth or otherwise of the averments need not be gone into. But, there must be necessary averments disclosing a cause of action, so that the Court can take cognizance of/entertaining the lis exposed in the petition for taking further action. [See OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMMISSION Vs. UTPAL KUMAR BASU AND OTHERS (1994 (4) SCC 711)]
11. A Court cannot arrogate/assume/confer upon itself a jurisdiction- territorial jurisdiction, when it has no such jurisdiction. Lack of jurisdiction to entertain a matter goes to the root of the matter, otherwise whatever action taken or orders passed by the Court becomes a nullity, it is non est and of no consequence at all resulting in wasting of precious public time. Courts are barred from indulging in hypothetic and academic exercises."
Having regard to the aforesaid legal position, viz-a-viz, factual matrix of this case, the cause of action for these Writ
Petitions, viz., challenging the Proceedings in R.C. Lr. No. 45529/F3/2010 dated 21.05.2015 issued by the Second Respondent and consequential Proceedings No. Ma. Ni. 15/001952/17 dated 27.11.2017 issued by the Fourth Respondent, would have to be necessarily construed as having arisen wholly within the territorial limits of jurisdiction of the Madurai Bench of this Court, notwithstanding that the office of the First to Third Respondents are located in Chennai.
5. When it is pointed out that these Writ Petitions cannot be entertained in the Principal Seat of this Court in that backdrop, Learned Counsel for the Petitioners seeks permission of the Court to withdraw these Writ Petitions with liberty to file fresh Writ Petitions for the same relief before the Madurai Bench of this Court and he has made an endorsement to that effect in the court record.
In fine, these Writ Petitions are dismissed as withdrawn granting such liberty. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-VIII) // True Copy // Sub Assistant Registrar Maya To 1.The Secretary to Government Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Municipal Administration Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The Director of Local Fund Audit Integrated Complex for Finance Department Animal Husbandry Hospital Complex Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.
4.The Commissioner Madurai Corporation
5.The Deputy Director of Local Fund Audit +1cc to Mr.R.Prem Narayanan, Advocate Sr.No.20305 +1cc to the Government Pleader Sr.No.20363 +3ccs to M/s.T.Shanmugam, Advocate Sr.No.19709, 19710, 19711 W.P.Nos.4214 to 4216 of 2018 KJ(CO) RVM(09/05/2022)