Hawa Singh Tanwar v. State of Maharashtra and Others

o o 2023:PHHC:165965o o o o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 208o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o ooooooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooDateoofodecision:o22.11.2023o o HAWAoSINGHoTANWARo o o o o o ......Petitioneroo o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoMAHARASHTRAoANDoOTHERSoo o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:o-oo Mr.oAmitoSharma,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oAjayoSharma,oAdvocateoo forotheopetitioner.o o o o Ms.oAnjuoSharmaoKaushik,oDAG,oPunjab.oo o Mr.oOnkaroRai,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.7.oo o oo o o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o

1.o o Theopetitionerothrough,otheopresentopetition,oseeksoquashingoofo theoFIRoNo.o02odatedo07.01.2014oregisteredounderoSectionso420,o409oando506o ato Policeo Station,o Pimpalgaon,o Districto Nashik,o Maharashtrao allegingo theo sameo too beo illegal,o arbitrary,o withouto competenceo ando beingo ano abuseo ofo processoofolaw.oo

2.o o Brieflyosummarized,otheofactoofotheocaseoareothatotheopetitionero claimsotoobeodealingoinoFoodoGrainounderotheonameoandostyleoofoM/soGreeno ValleyoOrganicoFoodsoLimited,ohavingoregisteredoofficeoinoAmritsar,oPunjab.o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -2-o o Heo isohavingo Exporto Licenseo No.o IECo No.o121003163odatedo04.02.2011.o Duringotheocourseoofobusiness,otheopetitionerowasointroducedowithooneoRinkuo Sonio @o Arjuno Soni,o ao Tradero ofo Nasiko ino Maharashtrao ino Onionso &o Tomatoesoono30.08.2013o(respondentoNo.7-complainantoinoFIR)obyooneoAjayo KumaroSoni,oaolocalobroker.oItowasoinformedothatoRinkuoSoni-respondento No.7oisoinotheoexportobusinessoforoseveraloyearsobutodoesonotohaveoanoexporto license.oTheopetitioneroshowedohisowillingnessoforoexportingoTomatoesotoo Pakistan.oRespondentoNo.7-RinkuoSoni,oundertookotooarrangeoforoaobuyeroino Pakistano too beo exportedo througho theo petitioner,o ono hiso exporto license,o ono mutuallyoagreedoterms.oTheopetitionerowasorequiredotoopayotheocostoofotheo Tomatoesosinceotheoexportolicenceostoodoinohisonameoandotheoamountowasotoo beoremittedointootheoaccountoofotheopetitionerobyotheopurchaseroinoPakistan.o OneoM/soPurioBrothersowasoappointedoasocustomohouseoclearingoagent.oAo consignmentoofo04otrucksohavingototaloworthoofoUSDo22597.8,owasosentotooao PakistanioTraderonamelyoM/soInternationaloImranoYusufo&oCompany.oFouro differento invoiceso equivalento too Rs.o 13,15,318.64o wereo raised,o whicho areo claimedo too haveo beeno remittedo byo theo petitionero too theo complainant-respondentoNo.7-RinkuoSoniothroughovariousoinstallmentsoincludingofreighto chargesoofoRs.o2,63,060/.oTheoconfidenceoofotheopetitioneroinotheocomplainanto grewoafterotheofirstotransactionoandoclearanceoofotheodues.ooTheocomplainanto contendedothatotheoclearanceoofotomatoesothroughotheoclearingoagentowasonoto expeditious.o Tomatoeso beingo ao perishableo commodity,o theo clearanceo iso requiredotoobeoexpedited.oTheocomplainantothenointimatedothatooneoVinayako Sachdevao@oVickyoisohisoknownoclearingoagent,ooperatingoinoAmritsaroandoiso anooldoexporteroofovegetablesoandooperatesounderotheonameoandostyleoofoM/so Seao Airo Clearingo Pvt.o Ltd.o Ito waso conveyedo thato ifo Vinayako Sachdevao ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -3-o o undertakesotheocustomoclearanceowork,othereowouldobeonoohassleoinotradingo witho theo complainanto basedo ino Nasiko ando theo importingo tradero basedo ino Pakistan.oo

3.o o TheopetitioneroreliedoonotheocomplainantoandoengagedoVinayako Sachdevaoasotheoclearingoagent.oAsoperotheounderstanding,oVinayakoSachdevao wasotooplaceoanoorder,oasoperotheorequirementotootheocomplainant-RinkuoSoni,o whoowouldoraiseoinvoiceotootheopetitioneroowhoowouldobeoentitledotoo3opero centoprofitoonototalogrossocostoofotheotrucksocontainingoTomatoesoincludingo freighto pluso customo clearingo chargeso ando othero incidentalo charges.o Theo requisiteodocumentsowereothusoforwardedobyotheopetitioneroinoadvanceoandoaso manyoaso21otrucksocontainingoTomatoesowereosentotooPakistanoduringotheo periodo fromo 17.09.2013o too 02.12.2013o raisingo 21o invoiceso wortho Rs.o 1,07,79,539/-.o Ao 3%o profito margino waso addedo byo theo petitionero ino theo invoicesotakingotheototalocostotootheotuneoofoRs.o1,29,08,361/-.oItoisoaverredo thatoasoagainsto21otrucks,oonlyo11otrucksocontainingoTomatoesowereodeliveredo tooM/soInternationaloImranoYusufo&oCompanyoafterotheocustomoclearance,o whereasoafterotheodeliveryoofo08otrucks,oaodelayowasocausedoinoclearingotheo remainingodues/payments.oUnderotheosaidocircumstances,otheopetitionerotooko indulgenceoofotheoclearingoagentoforoclearingotheopaymentoandoalsooforotheo reasono thato theo costo waso alsoo requiredo too beo paido too theo complainant-respondentoNo.7oatoNasik.ooItoisoalsooaverredothatotheodeliveryoofotheotomatoeso wasomadeoonotheodirectionsoofoandotootheopersonsoknownotootheocomplainanto &oVinayakoSachdeva.oo o4.o o Ito iso furthero averredo thato variouso othero supplies,o too differento TradersoinoPakistan,owereothenocarriedooutoinotheosameomanneroandoatotheo instanceo ofo Clearingo Agento Vinayako Sachdevao ando theo complainant-ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -4-o o respondentoNo.7.oTheopetitionerometotheoPakistanioTradersoinoaoConferenceoino theoyearo2013owhenoitowasodisclosedothatopaymentsoofoallotheotrucksohadoino factobeenoreleasedoandothatotheoamountsooforemittanceowereobeingotransferredo byothemoinovariousoaccountsoasoinformedobyocomplainant-respondentoNo.7o andoClearingoAgentoVickyoSachdeva.oComplaintsowereoraisedoinorespectoofo theoqualityoofotheomaterialobeingosupplied.oTheoaboveosaidoaspectoandomoneyo disputeo gaveo riseo too ao disputeo amongsto theo partieso ando theo petitionero submittedoaocomplaintotootheoEnforcementoDirectoroallegingothatothereowaso certaino illegalo transactionso beingo carriedo outo ono theo strengtho ofo forgedo documentsobyotheosaidopersonsoi.e.orespondentoNo.7oandoVickyoSachdeva.o Notwithstandingo thato theo saido complaintso wereo alreadyo submittedo byo theo petitionerotootheoPoliceoasowelloasotheoEnforcementoDirectorate,oaonoticeowaso receivedobyotheopetitioneroono29.01.2014ofromoPimpalgaonoPoliceoStationo andoonoenquiryoitotranspiredothatotheoaboveosaidoFIRohadobeenoregisteredo againstotheopetitioneroatotheosaidoPoliceoStationoatotheobehestooforespondento No.7.oItoisoclaimedothatotheosaidoFIRoisobasedoonofalseoallegationoandoonlyotoo armo twisto theo petitioner,o byo allegingo thato ao parto paymento too theo tuneo ofoooooooooo Rs.o39,84,857/-ohasonotobeenoremittedobyotheopetitionerotootheorespondent-complainant.oAopleaowasoraisedothatoregistrationoofotheosaidoFIRowasoillegalo ando iso ano abuseo ofo theo processo ofo law,o byo conferringo jurisdictiono ono theo investigatingoagencyoatoNasikoevenothoughonoocauseoofoactionoaccruedoatotheo saidoplaceoandohadoaccruedoonlyoinoAmritsar.oVariousootheropleasoofodefenceo wereoraisedoinotheowritopetitionoforoseekingoquashingoofotheosaidoFIR.oo

5.o o Ao writteno statemento hado beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo theo complainant-respondentoNo.7owhereinoitowasostatedothatotheopetitionerohado approachedohimoatoNasikoforotheosupplyoofoTomatoesotoohimoforoexportingotheo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -5-o o vegetablesotooPakistan,ounderotheosaidonameoandostyleoofoM/soGreenoValleyo OrganicoFoodoLimited,oandoanoassuranceowasogivenothatotheopaymentowouldo beomadeowithinoaoperiodoofo03odaysoonoreceiptoofotheogoods.oOnotheobasisoofo sucho assuranceo ando understanding,o heo (respondento No.7)o startedo makingo supplyoofoTomatoesotootheopetitioneroandothatodespiteoanoassuranceotooremito theopaymentowithinoaoperiodoofo03odaysooforeceiptoofotheogoods,otheopetitionero misappropriatedo ao paymento ofo Rs.o 39,84,857/-o againsto theo supplyo ofo 25o trucks.oAosumoofoRs.o65,60,000/-owasoremittedoasoagainstotheopaymentoofoRs.o 1,20,44,857/-.o Theo respondento No.7o allegedo thato variouso othero similaro complaintso hado alsoo beeno lodgedo againsto theo petitionero byo theo differento personso ino differento partso ofo Indiao ando thato heo hado beeno cheatingo ono businessmen,ounderotheopretextoofoobeingoexporter,oandothatohisointentionowaso maliciouso fromo theoinceptiono ofo relationship.o Theo causeo ofo actionohavingo arisenopartlyoinoNasik,osinceotheopetitioneroapproachedotheorespondentoNo.7oato thatoplaceoandotheoarrangementowasoagreedouponoatoNasik,ohence,othereowasoao territorialojurisdictionowithotheoauthoritiesoatoNasikoinotermsoofoSectiono181oofo theoCr.P.C.oOtheroallegationsowereodeniedoasobeingomalicious,omischievouso andomotivated.oAnoobjectionoasoregardsomaintainabilityoofotheoinstantowrito petitiono againsto proceedingso ino Maharashtrao waso alsoo raised.o Documentso demonstratingo supplyo ofo Tomatoeso wereo alsoo appendedo alongwitho theo presentowritopetitionowhichoareohoweveronotobeingoreferredotooatothisostage.oo

6.o o Ao shorto replyo waso alsoo filedo ono behalfo ofo theo Enforcemento Directorate,opointingooutothatotheocomplaintosubmittedotoothemowasoundero investigationobyotheosaidooffice.o

7.o o oAo similaro shorto replyo waso alsoo filedo byo respondento No.6-o AssistantoCommissioneroofoCustoms,opostedoatoIntegratedoCheckoPost,oAtari.o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -6-o o Aso pero theo same,o ano interimo enquiryo reporto waso filedo byo theo Assistanto Commissioner,o Integratedo Checko Posto whereino ito waso concludedo thato noo offenceoasoperoCustomsoAct,o1962owasocommittedobyotheoaccusedonamedobyo theopetitionerohereinoandothatotheocomplaintoappearedotoobeoaocounteroreactiono tooFIRoNo.o02olodgedoono07.01.2014oatoNasikoagainstotheopetitioneroherein.oo

8.o o Nooobjections/rejoinderotootheoaboveosaidointerimoreportobyowayo ofocounteroaffidavitoorootherwiseowasofiledobyotheopetitioner.o

9.o o oAoseparateoreplyowasoalsoofiledobyotheorespondentsoNo.1oando2o througho Assistanto Policeo Inspector,o Pimpalgaon,o Policeo Station,o Districto Nasik.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosameoreadsothus:-o "1)oIostateothatoIoamoattachedowithoPimpalgan(B)opoliceo stationofromo01/10/2016otillodate.o 2)oOnoreceiptoofotheonoticeoinoCriminaloWritoPetitionoNo.o 2989/2014o ono behalfo ofo respondento no.1o ando 2o Io amo makingosubmissionoasoundero:-o 3)oBriefofactsoofotheotheocaseoasoundero:-o o ThatoonoaocomplaintoofooneoArjunoDevendrakumaro soni,ocomplaintocameotoobeolodgedowithoPimpalgaono(B)o policeo stationo video C.R.No.2/2014,o datedo 07/01/2014,o undero Sectiono 420,409,o 506o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Codeo that.oAsoperotheostoryoofoprosecutionotheocomplainantoisoao tradero workingo ino nameo ando styledo aso "A.S.Vegetable"o companyo ando havingo shopo ato Pimpalgaono (B)o theo complainanto usedo too collecto theo vegetableso fromo theo farmersoandoasoperotheoqualityoofogoodsocomplainantousedo tootransportotheovegetableotoovariousoplacesoinoIndia.oThato oneoMr.AjayoSohaniohasocontractedotheocomplainantoando introducedo theo Greeno Valleyo Organico Foodo Pvt.o Ltd.o Company.oAsoperotheooraloagreementobetweenotheopartieso theo compainanto fromo timeo too timeo haso transportedo theo vegetableo goodso wortho Rs.o 1,20,74,857/-o too theo aboveo mentionedo company.o Theo concernedo companyo hasoVISHAL SHARMA ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -7-o o transferredo theo someo amounto ofo theo moneyo i.e.o ofo Rs.81,10,00/-o througho RTGS.o However,o remainingo balanceo withheldo witho theo proprietoro Greeno Valleyo Organico Foodo Pvt.o Ltd.o i.e.o Mr.o Hawao Singho Tanwaro residingoatoAmrutsar.oTheocomplainantofromotimeotootimeo madeocontractowithotheoaccusedoandorequestedohimoforo balanceoamountoHowever,oaccusedoandoheothreatenofroo direoconsequenceoifocomplainantocameoatoAmrutsar.o o Thatoafterolodgingooffenceotheoinvestigatingoofficero haso collectedo theo evidenceo ando recordedo statementso ofo witnesses.o o Thatoitohasorevealedoinotheoinvestigationothatofromo timeotootimeotheocomplainantohasotransportedotheogoodsotoo theoaccusedothroughotransportoandopoliceohasocollectedo theo deliveryo challano aso Biltyo througho whicho theo goodso wereotransported.o o Thatoitohasoalsoorevealedoinotheoinvestigationothato allogoodsowereosafelyotransportedotootheoaccusedoHawao SinghoTanvar.o o Thato ito haso alsoo revealedo thato aso pero theo oralo agreemento betweeno theo partieso theo complainanto haso performedo hiso parto ofo transportationo ando theo accusedo personso witho theo intentiono too misappropriateo theo remainingoamountohasopurposelyowithheldotheoremainingo amount.o o Thatoasoperotheoinvestigation,otheoaccusedopersono hasotimeotootimeocollectedotheogoodsofromotheocomplainanto andofailedotoorepayotheoremainingoamount.o o Thato ito iso furthero revealedo thato accusedo haso exportedo thoseo goodso too Pakisthano ando dueo too someo reasono theo amounto waso noto paido byo theo Merchanto ofo Pakisthanoandodueotoowhichoaccusedonotoableotoomakeotheo paymentooforemainingoamountotootheocomplainant.o o Thatoitoisorevealedoinotheoinvestigationothatowithotheo intentiono too cheato theo accusedo botho theo accusedo haveo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -8-o o hatchedotheoconspiracyoandomisappropriatedotheoamounto ofotheocomplainant.o o Thato theo complainanto haso too bearo theo amounto too repayo theofarmers.o Itoisoadmittedofacto thato tillodateo theo accusedopersonsohaveonotoraisedoanyoobjectionoregardingo theogradingoofogoodsoasowelloasotheoquantityoofogoods.oIno orderotoodupedotheocompainantotheoaccusedopersonsohaveo createdofalseostory.o o That,otheocomplainantoisolegallyoentitleotoorecovero theoremainingoamountowithotheoaccusedopersonsoandoforo thisopurposeotheosufficientoevidenceoisocollectedothrougho theoundersignedoandosoonotheochargesheetowillobeofiledoino theoCourt.o o AsotheotransactionotookoplaceoatoPimpalgaono(B)o througho localo brokero namelyo Ajaykumaro Sohanio thiso Hon'bleoCourtohasonoojurisdictionotooentertainoandodecideo theowirtopetition.o o Ito iso pertinento too noteo thato theo complainanto iso nowhereo concernedo witho exportso doneo byo theo accused.o Theoaccusedopersonohasoprimeoroleotoomisappropriateotheo amountoofotheocomplainant.o o That,oforotheopurposeooforecoveryoofotheoamountoaso welloasotheoroleoplayedobyotheoaccusedoinothisooffenceoiso vitalohisophysicalocustodyoisoquiteonecessary.oHence,oitoiso requestedothatoasotheotransactionotookoplaceobetweenotheo partyoatoPimpalgaono(B)oandotheoaccusedohasodupeotheo complainantotheoprimaofacieocaseoisomadeooutoagainstotheo accused.oHence,oforoaforesaidoreasonsotheowritopetitiono foroquashingoFIRomayokindlyobeorejectedoandonecessaryo orderotoothatoeffectomayokindlyobeopassed.oForothisoactoofo kindness,otheoundersignedoshalloeveroprayoandooblige."o o

10.o o Theopetitioneroalsoodidonotofileoanyorejoinder/replicationotootheo saidowrittenostatementoasowell.oo

11.o o Aoseparateoshortoreplyowasoalsoofiledoonobehalfooforespondentso ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -9-o o No.3oando4obyowayoofoaffidavitoofoVarinderoSinghoKhosa,oP.P.S.oAssistanto CommissioneroofoPolice,o(North)oAmritsaroCityowhereinotheosaidorespondento hadotakenoaostandothatotheopresentowritopetitionoagainstoFIRoNo.o02odatedo

07.01.2014oregisteredoinotheoStateoofoMaharashtraowasonotomaintainableoando couldobeoimpugnedoonlyobyoanoappropriateoproceedingobeforeotheoHon'bleo Bombayo Higho Court.o Theo complainto was,o however,o inquiredo intoo byo theo DepartmentoandotheoenquiryoreportowasosentotootheoofficeoofoDistrictoAttorneyo (Legal)oforohisoopinionowhooopinedothatonoocriminalocaseoisomadeooutoonotheo aboveosaidocomplaintosubmittedobyotheopetitioneroandoitoisoatobestoaocaseoofo breachoofocontractualoobligationowhichoisoamenableotootheojurisdictionoofocivilo Court.o Theo saido legalo opiniono datedo 19.03.2014o waso acceptedo ando theo applicationoofotheopetitionerowasoconsignedotoorecordosinceonoopoliceoactiono wasowarranted.oLateroon,ohowever,oanoFIRowasoregisteredoinotheosaidocaseo andoproclamationoproceedingounderoSectiono82oCr.P.C.ohadobeenoinitiated.oAo finaloreportounderoSectiono173oCr.oP.C.ohadobeenosubmittedoinotheoabsenceoofo theoco-accusedoandotheiropresenceoisostillosought.o ISSUEo

12.o o Beforeo proceedingo too examineo theo caseo ono meritso ofo theo respectiveo argumentso foro seekingo quashingo ofo theo FIRo No.o 02o datedo

07.01.2014oregisteredoatoPoliceoStation,oPimpalgaonoinoNasik,otheoobjectiono asoregardsomaintainabilityoofotheopresentowritopetitionoforoquashingoofotheoFIRo beforeotheoHighoCourtoatoPunjaboandoHaryanaoinoChandigarhoneedsotoobeo consideredo ando aso too whyo theo petitionero oughto noto too pursueo hiso remedyo beforeotheoCourtoexercisingoterritorialojurisdictionoinotheomatter.oo o o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -10-o o ARGUMENTSoOFoPETITIONERo

13.o o Counselo foro theo petitionero haso arguedo thato theo petitioneroiso ao residentoofotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheoPunjaboandooHaryanaoHighoCourto ando haso beeno falselyo implicatedo ino theo aboveo saido caseo ato Nasiko ino Maharashtra.o Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao wouldo entitleo theo petitionerotooinvokeojurisdictionoofoaoCourtowhereocauseoofoactionohasoariseno whollyooroinopart.oRelianceowasoplacedoonotheojudgmentoofoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoofoIndiaoinotheomatteroofo"NavinchandraoN.MajithiaoversusoStateoofo Maharashtraoandoothers"oreportedoaso2000o(7)oSCCo640owhereinoitowasoheldo thatotheoHighoCourt,oinowhoseoterritorialojurisdictionotheocauseoofoactionoaroseo whollyo oro ino part,o wouldo haveo jurisdictiono eveno thougho theo seato ofo theo Governmento oro authorityo oro residenceo ofo persono againsto whomo direction,o orderoorowritoisosoughtotoobeoissuedoisonotowithinotheosaidoterritory.oSinceotheo petitioneroisoaoresidentoofotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofothisoCourtoandopartsoofo transactionso tooko placeo withino thiso territory,o hence,o theo issueo aso regardso seekingoquashingoofotheoFIRoregisteredoagainstohimoinoMaharashtraocanobeo raisedobeforeothisoCourt.oTheopetitionerothusocannotobeoleftotootheomercyoofo complainanto whoo iso mischievouso &o managedo gettingo ano FIRo registeredo againstohimoonofalse,oincompleteoandomisleadingofacts.oo ARGUMENTSoOFoCONTESTINGoRESPONDENTSo

14.o o CounseloforotheocontestingorespondentoNo.7,oonotheootherohando hasoreiteratedohisoargumentsonoticedoaboveoandosubmitsothatoChapteroXIIIoofo theo Criminalo Procedureo Code,o 1973o conferso territorialo jurisdictiono foro initiationo ofo criminalo proceedingso ino theo territorialo areao ofo Nasiko aso welloo sinceotheopartiesohadometoandoenteredointooagreementoatoNasikoandosuppliesoofo TomatoesowasoalsooinitiatedofromoNasik.oTheopaymentotowardsotheocostoofo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -11-o o theoTomatoesowasoalsootoobeoremittedoatoNasik.oBesides,otheoFIRoinoquestiono hadoalreadyobeenoregisteredoatoNasikonearlyo03oyearsopriorotooregistrationoofo theoFIRoatoAmritsaroinotheoyearo2017oandothatotheoinstitutionoofotheoquashingo petitionobeforeothisoCourtoisoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolaw,ointendedotooarmo twistotheocomplainant,oandotooharassohimobyoimplicatingohimoinoaofalseocase.o Heoemphasizesothatotheopetitioneroisoinvolvedoinomultipleosimilarocasesoandoiso thusoaohabitualooffenderoasowell.oItoisocontendedothatoinoanoissueoofoterritorialo jurisdiction,otheosameohasotoobeosettledoasoperoRuleo25o(5)oofotheoPunjabo Policeo Rules,o 1934o ando theo mattero haso too beo sento too theo concernedo jurisdiction.o Sinceotheo caseohaso alreadyo beeno registeredo ato Pimpalgaonoino Nasikoprioroatopointoofotime,ohence,otheopetitioneromay,oifosooadvised,otakeo recourseo too theo remedieso beforeo theo Bombayo Higho Court.o Theo aboveo argumentohasoalsoobeenosupportedobyotheoStateoCounsel.oTheosameoareohenceo notobeingore-iterated.oo CONSIDERATIONoANDoDECISIONo

15.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitioneroandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwithotheo presentopetition.oo

16.o o Beforeo proceedingo furthero intoo theo primaryo questiono whicho ariseso foro considerationo ofo thiso Courto aso regardso maintainabilityo ofo theo presentoquashingopetitionoforoFIRoinoMaharashtraoandotheoscopeoofoArticleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o ito iso necessaryo too adverto too theo Constitutionaloprovision.oo

17.oo o Articleo226o(2)oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoconfersojurisdictiono onoaoHighoCourtoinorelationotooitsoterritoriesowithinowhichotheocauseoofoaction,o whollyooroinopartoarisesoforotheoexerciseoofosuchopower,onotwithstandingothato ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -12-o o theoseatoofosuchoGovernmentooroauthorityoorotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoiso notowithinothoseoterritories.oTheosubstantiveoprovisionoisoextractedoasounder:-o o"226.oPoweroofoHighoCourtsotooissueocertainowritso

(1)oNotwithstandingoanythingoinoArticleo32,oeveryoHighoCourto shallo haveo powers,o throughouto theo territorieso ino relationo too whicho ito exerciseo jurisdiction,o too issueo too anyo persono oro authority,o includingo ino appropriateo cases,o anyo Government,o withino thoseo territorieso directions,o orderso oro writs,o includingo writsoinotheonatureoofohabeasocorpus,omandamus,oprohibitions,o quoo warrantoo ando certiorari,o oro anyo ofo them,o foro theo enforcementoofoanyoofotheorightsoconferredobyoPartoIIIoandoforo anyootheropurpose.o

(2)oTheo powero conferredo byo clauseo (1)o too issueo directions,o ordersoorowritsotooanyoGovernment,oauthorityooropersonomayo alsoobeoexercisedobyoanyoHighoCourtoexercisingojurisdictionoino relationo too theo territorieso withino whicho theo causeo ofo action,o whollyo oro ino part,o ariseso foro theo exerciseo ofo sucho power,o notwithstandingothatotheoseatoofosuchoGovernmentooroauthorityo orotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithinothoseoterritories.o

(3)oWhereoanyopartyoagainstowhomoanointerimoorder,owhetherobyo wayoofoinjunctionoorostayooroinoanyootheromanner,oisomadeoon,ooro ino anyo proceedingso relatingo to,o ao petitiono undero clauseo (1),o withouto

(a)ofurnishingo too sucho partyo copieso ofo sucho petitiono ando allo documentsoinosupportoofotheopleaoforosuchointerimoorder;oando

(b)ogivingosuchopartyoanoopportunityoofobeingoheard,omakesoano applicationotootheoHighoCourtoforotheovacationoofosuchoordero andofurnishesoaocopyoofosuchoapplicationotootheopartyoinowhoseo favourosuchoorderohasobeenomadeoorotheocounseloofosuchoparty,o theoHighoCourtoshallodisposeoofotheoapplicationowithinoaoperiodo ofotwooweeksofromotheodateoonowhichoitoisoreceivedoorofromotheo dateo ono whicho theo copyo ofo sucho applicationo iso soo furnished,o whicheveroisolater,oorowhereotheoHighoCourtoisoclosedoonotheolasto dayoofothatoperiod,obeforeotheoexpiryoofotheonextodayoafterwardso ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -13-o o onowhichotheoHighoCourtoisoopen;oandoifotheoapplicationoisonoto soodisposedoof,otheointerimoorderoshall,oonotheoexpiryoofothato period,oor,oasotheocaseomayobe,otheoexpiryoofotheoaidonextoday,o standovacated.o

(4)oTheopoweroconferredoonoaoHighoCourtobyothisoarticleoshallo notobeoinoderogationoofotheopoweroconferredoonotheoSupremeo courtobyoclauseo(o2o)oofoArticleo32."o

18.o o Itoisoundisputedlyoevidentofromoaoperusalofromotheosameothato Articleo226(2)oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoconfersojurisdictionoonoaoHigho Courtotooissueodirections;oordersoorowritotooanyogovernment,oauthorityooro personsonotwithstandingotheoseatoofosuchogovernmentoinorelationotoocauseoofo actionowhichoarisesowhollyooroinopartowithinoitsoterritories,oforootheoexerciseoofo suchopower.o

19.o o oInosupportoofohisocase,otheopetitionerohasoreliedouponojudgmento ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ofo Indiao ino theo mattero ofo "Navinchandrao N.MajithiaoversusoStateoofoMaharashtraoandoothers".oTheorelevantoextracto thereoforeadsoasounder:-oo o "18.oInolegaloparlanceotheoexpressiono"causeoofoaction"oiso generallyounderstoodotoomeanoaosituationoorostateoofofactsothato entitlesoaopartyotoomaintainoanoactionoinoaocourtooroaotribunal;oao groupoofooperativeofactsogivingoriseotoooneooromoreobasisoforo suing;oaofactualosituationothatoentitlesooneopersonotooobtainoao remedyoinocourtofromoanotheroperson.o(Black'soLawoDictionary)oo o 19.oInoStroud'soJudicialoDictionaryoao"causeoofoaction"oiso statedo too beo theo entireo seto ofo factso thato giveso riseo too ano enforceableoclaim;otheophraseocomprisesoeveryofact,owhich,oifo traversed,otheoplaintiffomustoproveoinoorderotooobtainojudgment.oo o 20.oo Ino "Wordso ando Phrases"o (4tho Edn.)o theo meaningo attributedo too theo phraseo "causeo ofo action"o ino commono legalo parlanceoisoexistenceoofothoseofactsowhichogiveoaopartyoaorightotoo VISHAL SHARMA judicialointerferenceoonohisobehalf.o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -14-o o o 21.oo AoBenchoofothreeolearnedoJudgesoofothisoCourtoino theocaseoofoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissionov.oUtpaloKumaro Basuo reportedoaso (1994)o4oSCCo711consideredo atolengtho theo questionoofoterritorialojurisdictionounderoArticleo226(2)oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.oSomeoofotheorelevantoobservationsomadeo ino theo judgmento areo extractedo hereunder:o (SCCo pp.o 716-17,o paraso5-6)o "5.oClauseo(1)oofoArticleo226obeginsowithoaononoobstanteo clauseo notwithstandingo anythingo ino Articleo 32-o -o ando provideso thato everyo Higho Courto shallo haveo powero throughoutotheoterritoriesoinorelationotoowhichoitoexerciseso jurisdiction',o too issueo too anyo persono oro authority,o includingoinoappropriateocases,oanyoGovernment,o'withino thoseo territories'o directions,o orderso oro writs,o foro theo enforcementoofoanyoofotheorightsoconferredobyoPartoIIIooro foroanyootheropurpose.oUnderoclauseo(2)oofoArticleo226otheo HighoCourtomayoexerciseoitsopoweroconferredobyoclauseo

(1)oifotheocauseoofoaction,owhollyooroinopart,ohadoariseno withinotheoterritoryooverowhichoitoexercisesojurisdiction,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo sucho Governmento oro authorityoorotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithino thoseoterritories.oOnoaoplainoreadingoofotheoaforesaidotwoo clausesoofoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoitobecomesoclearo thato ao Higho Courto cano exerciseo theo powero too issueo directions,oordersoorowritsoforotheoenforcementoofoanyoofo theo fundamentalo rightso conferredo byo Parto IIIo ofo theo Constitutiono oro foro anyo othero purposeo ifo theo causeo ofo action,owhollyooroinopart,ohadoarisenowithinotheoterritorieso ino relationo too whicho ito exerciseso jurisdiction,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo theo Governmento oro authorityoorotheoresidenceoofotheopersonoagainstowhomotheo direction,oorderoorowritoisoissuedoisonotowithinotheosaido territories.o Ino ordero too confero jurisdictiono ono theo Higho CourtoofoCalcutta,oNICCOomustoshowothatoatoleastoaoparto VISHAL SHARMA ofotheocauseoofoactionohadoarisenowithinotheoterritorialo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -15-o o jurisdictionoofothatoCourt.oThisoisoatobestoitsocaseoinotheo writopetition.o

6.oItoisowellosettledothatotheoexpressiono'causeoofoaction'o meanso thato bundleo ofo factso whicho theo petitionero musto prove,oifotraversed,otooentitleohimotooaojudgmentoinohiso favourobyotheocourt.oInoChandoKourov.oPartaboSinghoLordo WatsonoreportedoasoILRo(1889)o16oCalo98osaid:o ...otheocauseoofoactionohasonoorelationowhateverotoo theodefenceowhichomayobeosetoupobyotheodefendant,o norodoesoitodependouponotheocharacteroofotheoreliefo prayedoforobyotheoplaintiff.oItorefersoentirelyotootheo groundosetoforthoinotheoplaintoasotheocauseoofoaction,o or,oinootherowords,otootheomediaouponowhichotheo plaintiffoasksotheocourtotooarriveoatoaoconclusionoino hisofavour.'o Therefore,o ino determiningo theo objectiono ofo lacko ofo territorialojurisdictionotheocourtomustotakeoallotheofactso pleadedo ino supporto ofo theo causeo ofo actiono intoo considerationoalbeitowithoutoembarkingouponoanoinquiryo asotootheocorrectnessoorootherwiseoofotheosaidofacts.oIno othero wordso theo questiono whethero ao Higho Courto haso territorialojurisdictionotooentertainoaowritopetitionomustobeo answeredo ono theo basiso ofo theo avermentso madeo ino theo petition,otheotruthoorootherwiseowhereofobeingoimmaterial.o Tooputoitodifferently,otheoquestionoofoterritorialojurisdictiono musto beo decidedo ono theo factso pleadedo ino theo petition.o Therefore,otheoquestionowhetheroinotheoinstantocaseotheo Calcuttao Higho Courto hado jurisdictiono too entertaino ando decideo theo writo petitiono ino questiono eveno ono theo factso allegedomustodependouponowhetherotheoavermentsomadeoino paragraphso5,o7,o18,o22,o26oando43oareosufficientoinolawotoo establishothatoaopartoofotheocauseoofoactionohadoariseno withinotheojurisdictionoofotheoCalcuttaoHighoCourt."o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -16-o o o o o o o o o o (emphasisosupplied)o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

38.o"Causeoofoaction"oisoaophenomenonowellounderstoodoinolegalo parlance.oMohapatra,oJ.ohasowellodelineatedotheoimportoofotheo saidoexpressionobyoreferringotootheocelebratedolexicographies.o Theocollocationoofotheowordsoao"causeoofoaction,owhollyooroino part,oarises"oseemsotoohaveobeenoliftedofromoSectiono20oofotheo Codeo ofo Civilo Procedure,o whicho sectiono alsoo dealso witho theo jurisdictionaloaspectoofotheocourts.oAsoperothatosectionotheosuito couldobeoinstitutedoinoaocourtowithinotheolegalolimitsoofowhoseo jurisdictiono theo "causeo ofo actiono whollyo oro ino parto arises".o Judicialo pronouncementso haveo accordedo almosto ao uniformo interpretationotootheosaidocompendiousoexpressionoevenopriorotoo theoFifteenthoAmendmentoofotheoConstitutionoasotoomeano"theo bundleoofofactsowhichowouldobeonecessaryoforotheoplaintiffotoo prove,oifotraversed,oinoorderotoosupportohisorightotootheojudgmento ofotheocourt".o

39.oInoReadov.oBrowno(1888)o22oQBDo128oLordoEsher,oM.R.,o adoptedotheodefinitionoforotheophraseo"causeoofoaction"othatoito meantoo "everyofactowhichoitowouldobeonecessaryoforotheoplaintiffotoo prove,oifotraversed,oinoorderotoosupportohisorightotootheo judgmentoofotheocourt.oItodoesonotocompriseoeveryopieceoofo evidenceowhichoisonecessaryotooproveoeachofact,obutoeveryo factowhichoisonecessaryotoobeoproved"oo

40.o Theo Privyo Councilo haso notedo ino Mohd.o Khalilo Khano v.o Mahbubo Alio Miano reportedo aso AIRo 1949o PCo 78o thato theo aforesaido definitiono adoptedo byo Lordo Eshero M.R.o hado beeno followedo ino India.o Eveno thereaftero theo courtso ino Indiao haveo consistentlyofollowedotheosaidointerpretationowithoutoexceptiono forounderstandingotheoscopeoofotheoexpressiono"causeoofoaction".o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -17-o o

41.oEvenoinotheocontextoofoArticleo226(2)oofotheoConstitutionothiso Courtoadoptedotheosameointerpretationotootheoexpressiono"causeo ofoaction,owhollyooroinopart,oarises"ovideoStateoofoRajasthanov.o SwaikaoPropertieso(1985)o3oSCCo217.oAothree-JudgeoBenchoofo thisoCourtoinoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissionov.oUtpaloKumaro Basuo(supra)oobservedothatoitoisowellosettledothatotheoexpressiono "causeo ofo action"o meanso thato bundleo ofo factso whicho theo petitioneromustoprove,oifotraversedotooentitleohimotooaojudgmento inohisofavour.oHavingogivenosuchoaowideointerpretationotootheo expressionoAhmadi,oJ.o(asotheolearnedoChiefoJusticeothenowas)o speakingoforoM.N.oVenkatachaliah,oC.J.oandoB.P.oJeevanoReddy,o J.,outilisedotheoopportunityotoocautionotheoHighoCourtsoagainsto transgressingo intoo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo othero Higho Courtso merelyo ono theo groundo ofo someo insignificanto evento connectedo withotheocauseoofoactionotakingoplaceowithinotheoterritorialolimitso ofotheoHighoCourtotoowhichotheolitigantoapproachesoatohisoowno choiceooroconvenience.oTheofollowingoareosuchoobservations.oo "Ifoanoimpressionogainsogroundothatoevenoinocasesowhicho fallooutsideotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheocourt,ocertaino memberso ofo theo courto wouldo beo willingo too exerciseo jurisdictionoonotheopleaothatosomeoevent,ohoweverotrivialo andounconnectedowithotheocauseoofoactionohadooccurredo withinotheojurisdictionoofotheosaidocourt,olitigantsowouldo seekotooabuseotheoprocessobyocarryingotheocauseobeforeo sucho memberso givingo riseo too avoidableo suspicion.o Thato wouldo lowero theo dignityo ofo theo institutiono ando puto theo entireosystemotooridicule.oWeoareogreatlyopainedotoosayosoo butoifoweodoonotostronglyodeprecateotheogrowingotendencyo weo will,o weo areo afraid,o beo failingo ino ouro dutyo too theo institutionoandotheosystemoofoadministrationoofojustice.oWeo doohopeothatoweowillonotohaveoanotherooccasionotoodealo withosuchoaosituation."o

20.o o Beforeoproceedingoanyofurtheroinotheosaidoaspect,oitoisoessentialo tooreferotooaobriefohistoryoofoArticleo226o(2)oofoConstitutionoofoIndia.oo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -18-o o

21.o o Articleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaowasoexhaustedobyowhato nowo formso Clauseo (1)o ofo Articleo 226.o Theo languageo circumscribeso theo jurisdictionotootwoofoldolimitationoofonotoonlyotootheogeographicoterritoriesoofo theoStateoconcernedobutoalsootootheoperson/authorityoresiding/situatedotherein.o TheoaboveosaidoissueowasodeterminedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiao oinotheomatteroofo"ElectionoCommissionoofoIndiaoversusoSakaoVenkataoRao" reportedoaso(1953)o1oSCCo320owhileohearingoaomatteroagainstojudgmentoofo MadrasoHighoCourtoagainstoorderoofoElectionoCommissionoofoIndia.oItowaso heldothatosinceotheoorderoofodisqualificationooforespondentowasopassedobyo ElectionoCommissionoofoIndiaowhichohadoofficeoinoDelhi,ohence,oonlyotheo HighoCourtoofoPunjaboandoHaryanaohadoterritorialojurisdictionotoohaveotheo case.oo

22.o o TheocontroversyocameoupoagainobeforeoaoconstitutionaloBenchoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"Lt.oCol.oKhajooroSinghoversuso UnionoofoIndia"oreportedoaso1961o(2)oSCRo828oandotheojudgmentoofoSakao Venkatao Raoo (supra)o waso upheldo byo ao majority.o Whileo delineatingo ando explainingotheodifferenceobetweeno'location'oando'functioning',oitowasoheldo thatowhileotheo"UnionoGovernment'omayobeofunctioningoalloover,ohowever,oito wouldobeosubjectotoowritojurisdictionoofoonlyothatoHighoCourtowhereoitoiso 'located'.oItowasothusoheldothatoonlyotheoPunjaboHighoCourtocouldohearotheo issueso pertainingo too Uniono Governmento sinceo theo territorialo jurisdictiono vestedoinotheosaidoHighoCourtoonly.o

23.o o TheodissentingoviewowasohoweverowrittenobyoSubbaoRaooJ.oando hisodissentingojudgmentonotedoandonoticedoasounder:-o o o "Ifotheocontentionoofotheorespondentsobeoaccepted,o wheneverotheoUnionoGovernmentoinfringesotheorightoofoaopersonoVISHAL SHARMA ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -19-o o inoanyoremoteopartoofotheocountry,oheomustocomeoallotheowayotoo NewoDelhiotooenforceohisorightobyofilingoaowritopetitionoinotheo Circuito Bencho ofo theo Punjabo Higho Court.o Ifo ao commono mano residingoinoKanyakumari,otheosouthern-mostopartoofoIndia,ohiso illegallyo detainedo ino prison,o oro deprivedo ofo hiso propertyo otherwiseothanobyolaw,obyoanoorderoofotheoUnionoGovernment,oito wouldobeoaotravestyoofofundamentalorightsotooexpectohimotoocomeo too Newo Delhio too seeko theo protectiono ofo theo Higho Courto ofo Punjab.oThisoconstructionoofotheoprovisionsoofoArticleo226owouldo attributeo too theo framerso ofo theo Constitutiono ano intentiono too conferotheorightoonoaopersonoandotoowithholdofromohimoforoallo practicalopurposesotheoremedyotooenforceohisorightoagainstotheo Uniono Government.o Obviouslyo ito couldo noto haveo beeno theo intentionoofotheoConstituentoAssemblyotoobringoaboutosuchoano anomalouso resulto ino respecto ofo whato theyo conceivedo too beo ao cherishedorightoconferredouponotheocitizensoofothisocountry.oIno thatoevent,otheorightoconferredoturnsooutotoobeoanoemptyooneoando theo objecto ofo theo framerso ofo theo Constitutiono iso literallyo defeated."o

24.o o Thisolaidotheoseedsoforoamendmentoofotheoprovisionothroughotheo FifteenthoAmendmentoAct,o1963,owhichointroducedoArticleo226o(1A)-laterore-ndnumberedo aso Articleo 226o (2)o ino theo 42 o Amendmento Act,o 1976.o Theo statementoofoobjectsoandoreasonsoofotheoAmendmentoAct,o1963oreadothus:-o o o "Underotheoexistingoarticleo226oofotheoConstitution,o theoonlyoHighoCourtowhichohasojurisdictionowithorespectotootheo CentraloGovernmentoisotheoPunjaboHighoCourt.oThisoinvolveso considerableo hardshipo too litigantso fromo distanto places.o Ito is,o therefore,o proposedo too amendo articleo 226o soo thato wheno anyo reliefoisosoughtoagainstoanyoGovernment,oauthorityooropersonoforo anyoactionotaken,otheoHighoCourtowithinowhoseojurisdictionotheo causeo ofo actiono ariseo mayo alsoo haveo jurisdictiono too issueo appropriateo directions,o orderso oro writs.o Theo othero newo proposalsoareoofoaominorocharacter."o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -20-o o

25.o o Theoamendmentothusooccasionedoonoaccountoofohardshipocausedo tooaolitigantofromoaofaroflungoremoteoareaotooprosecuteotheoUnionoGovt.oforohiso reliefoagainstoanyoactooroomissionoofotheoUnionoGovernment.oo

26.o o Originally,o Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao waso exhaustedo byo whato nowo formso Clauseo (1)o ofo Articleo 226.o Theo languageo circumscribeso theo jurisdictiono too twoo foldo limitationo ofo noto onlyo too theo geographicoterritoriesoofotheoStateoconcernedobutoalsootootheoperson/authorityo residing/situatedo therein.o Theo aboveo saido issueo waso interpretedo ando determinedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ofo Indiao ino theo mattero ofo "Electiono Commissiono ofo Indiao versuso Sakao Venkatao Rao"o reportedo aso

(1953)o1oSCCo320,owhileohearingoaomatteroagainstojudgmentoofoMadrasoHigho CourtoagainstoorderoofoElectionoCommissionoofoIndia.oItowasoheldothatosinceo theo ordero ofo disqualificationo ofo respondento waso passedo byo Electiono CommissionoofoIndia,owhichohadoofficeoinoDelhi,ohence,oonlyotheoHighoCourto ofoPunjabohadoterritorialojurisdictionotoohearotheocase.oo

27.o o TheocontroversyocameoupoagainobeforeoaoconstitutionaloBenchoofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ofo Indiao ino theo mattero ofo "Lt.o Col.o Khajooro SinghoversusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoanother"oreportedoaso1961o(2)oSCRo828o andotheojudgmentoofoSakaoVenkataoRaoo(supra)owasoupheldobyoaomajority.o Whileo delineatingo ando explainingo theo differenceo betweeno 'location'o &o functioning',o ito waso heldo thato whileo theo 'Uniono Government'o mayo beo functioningoalloover,ohowever,oitowouldobeosubjectotoowritojurisdictionoofoonlyo thatoHighoCourtowhereoitoiso'located'.oItowasothusoheldothatoonlyotheoPunjabo HighoCourtocouldohearotheoissuesopertainingotooUnionoGovernmentosinceotheo territorialojurisdictionovestedoinotheosaidoHighoCourtoonly.oo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -21-o o

28.o o Theo dissentingo minorityo judgmento waso howevero writteno byo SubbaoRaooJ.owhereinoheonotedoandodeterminedoasounder:-o "Ifotheocontentionoofotheorespondentsobeoaccepted,owheneverotheo UnionoGovernmentoinfringesotheorightoofoaopersonoinoanyoremoteo partoofotheocountry,oheomustocomeoallotheowayotooNewoDelhiotoo enforceohisorightobyofilingoaowritopetitionoinotheoCircuitoBenchoofo theo Punjabo Higho Court.o Ifo ao commono mano residingo ino Kanyakumari,o theo southern-mosto parto ofo India,o hiso illegallyo detainedoinoprison,oorodeprivedoofohisopropertyootherwiseothano byolaw,obyoanoorderoofotheoUnionoGovernment,oitowouldobeoao travestyoofofundamentalorightsotooexpectohimotoocomeotooNewo DelhiotooseekotheoprotectionoofotheoHighoCourtoofoPunjab.oThiso constructionoofotheoprovisionsoofoArticleo226owouldoattributeotoo theoframersoofotheoConstitutionoanointentionotooconferotheorighto onoaopersonoandotoowithholdofromohimoforoallopracticalopurposeso theoremedyotooenforceohisorightoagainstotheoUnionoGovernment.o ObviouslyoitocouldonotohaveobeenotheointentionoofotheoConstituento Assemblyotoobringoaboutosuchoanoanomalousoresultoinorespectoofo whatotheyoconceivedotoobeoaocherishedorightoconferredouponotheo citizensoofothisocountry.oInothatoevent,otheorightoconferredoturnso outotoobeoanoemptyooneoandotheoobjectoofotheoframersoofotheo Constitutionoisoliterallyodefeated.o

29.o o Thisolaidotheoseedsoforoamendmentoofotheoprovisionothroughotheo fifteenthoAmendmentoActoofo1963,owhichointroducedoArticleo226o(1A)-Latero re-numberedo aso Articleo 226o (2)o ino theo 42tho Amendmento Act,o 1976.o Theo statementoofoobjectsoandoreasonsoofotheoAmendmentoActoofo1963oreadothus:-o o "Underotheoexistingoarticleo226oofotheoConstitution,otheo onlyo Higho Courto whicho haso jurisdictiono witho respecto too theo CentraloGovernmentoisotheoPunjaboHighoCourt.oThisoinvolveso considerableo hardshipo too litigantso fromo distanto places,o ito is,o therefore,o proposedo too amendo articleo 226o soo thato wheno anyo reliefoisosoughtoagainstoanyoGovernment,oauthorityooropersonoforoVISHAL SHARMA ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -22-o o anyoactionotaken,otheoHighoCourtowithinowhoseojurisdictionotheo causeo ofo actiono ariseo mayo alsoo haveo jurisdictiono too issueo appropriateodirections,oordersoorowritsoTheootheronewoproposalso areoofoaominorocharacter."o

30.o o Theoamendmentothusooccasionedoonoaccountoofohardshipothuso causedo too ao litiganto fromo ao faro flugo remoteo areao too prosecuteo theo Uniono Governmento foro hiso reliefo againsto anyo acto oro omissiono ofo theo Uniono Government.oo

31.o o Theoamendmentowasothusoproposedoandointroducedotoomitigateo theohardshipsoofoaolitigant,oprimarilyoagainstoactions/omissionsoofotheoUniono ofo India.o Ito waso envisagedoinotheobackgroundo ofo ao civilo disputeo ando waso apparentlyointendedoforotheosaidonatureoofodisputes.oo

32.o o Theo concepto ofo causeo ofo actiono arisingo whollyo oro ino part,o too conferojurisdictionowasoseeminglyodrawnofromotheoCiviloProcedureoCode,o whichoalreadyohadosimilaroclauseoinoSectiono20oandomoreoparticularoinosub-sectiono(c)othereof.oo

33.o o Theo amendmento beingo driveno byo ao hardshipo noticedo ino theo minorityojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaowasoprimarilyo concentratingoonocivilodisputesoandoviolationooforights/interestsobyotheoUniono ofoIndia.oTheosubsequentojudicialopronouncementsohaveohoweveroexpandedo theoscopeoofotheosaidoArticle,oapplyingotheoliteraloruleoandoinotheosaidoprocess,o happenedo too slightlyo overlooko theo othero cardinalo ruleso ofo statutoryo interpretations.oTheoArticleowasorightlyogivenoitsowidestoamplitude,obefittingo aocardinalojurisdictionaloauthorityoofoaoconstitutionaloCourt.oo

34.o o Aoconventionalowayotoointerpretoanoedictoofolegislatureoisotooseeko theointentionoofotheoframers.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoheldoinotheo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -23-o o mattero ofo "Stateo ofo Himachalo Pradesho ando anothero versuso Kailasho ChanderoMahajanoandoothers"ooreportedoasoAIRo1992oS.C.o1277othatotheo intentionoofotheolegislature,othus,oassimilatesotwooaspects:oInooneoaspectoito carriesotheoconceptoofo"meaning",oi.e.owhatotheowordsomeanoandoinoanothero aspect,o ito conveyso theo "purposeo ando object"o oro theo "reasono ando spirit"o pervadingo througho theo statute.o Theo processo ofo construction,o therefore,o combinesobotholiteraloandopurposiveoapproaches.oo

35.o o Ito iso thuso essentialo too seeo theo purposeo oro objecto whicho comprehendsotheomischiefoandoitsoremedyotoowhichotheoenactmentoisodirected.oo nd36.o o Ino theo wordso ofo A.o Driedges,o Constructiono ofo Statute,o 2 o Edition,o1983:otheowordsoofoanoActoareotoobeoreadoinotheiroentireocontextoando inotheirogrammaticaloandoordinaryosenseoharmoniouslyowithotheoschemeoofo Act,o theo objecto ofo theo Act,o ando theo intento ofo theo Parliament.o Theo saido principlesoreceivedoapprovaloofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo "Uniono ofo Indiao versuso Elphinstoneo Spinningo ando Weavingo Co.o Ltd."oo reportedoasoAIRo2001oSCo724.oo

37.o o Foroascertainingotheopurposeoofoaostatute,ooneoisonotorestrictedotoo theointernaloaidofurnishedobyotheostatuteobutoalsootootheocontext,oevenothougho textoisomaterial.oItowasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo "ReserveoBankoofoIndiaoversusoPeerlessoGeneraloFinanceoandoInvestment"o reportedoasoAIRo1987oSCo1023othatointerpretationodependsoonotextoandotheo context.oAnointerpretationowhichomakesotheotextualointerpretationomatchotheo contextual,oisotheobestointerpretation.oo

38.o o Theoconstitutionaloamendmentohadoitsobackgroundoandotheosameo hasotoobeoappliedoasoaobeaconotooguideoexerciseoofoaojudicialodiscretion,onoto ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -24-o o onlyotoomaintainoaojudicialodisciplineobutoalsootooavoidohardship,oabuseoofo power,o forumo shoppingo ando judicialo conflictso overo territorieso ando lawo enforcement.oAnyosucholapseoerodesoconsistencyoandoenforceabilityoofolawo andoconsequentlyodiminishesotheosovereigntyoandoRuleoofolaw.oo

39.o o Sinceoaomaterialoaspectoforoconferringoaoterritorialojurisdictionoiso "Causeoofoaction",ohence,otheosaidocrucialoaspectoalsooneedsotoobeoadvertedoto.o

40.o o Thiso Courtoiso requiredotoo examineo aso too whato constitutesotheo "causeo ofo action"o insofaro aso theo institutiono ofo theo presento caseo seekingo quashingoofoFIRoisoconcerned.oooTheomeaningoofo"causeoofoaction"othusohasotoo beoseenofromoaofineoprism.o"Causeoofoaction",oasointerpretedobyotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourt,ohasotoobeounderstoodofromotheoperspectiveoofoinitiationoofoao proceedingoandotheosameohasotoobeodistinguishedofromoao"caseoofodefence".o LordoWatsonohadointerpretedo"causeoofoaction"oinotheojudgmentoinocaseoofo ChandoKauroversusoPartapoSingh,oILRo(1889)o16oCalo98oothatoitohasonoo relationowithotheodefenceothatomayobeosetoupoorouponotheocharacterooforeliefo prayedofor.oItoisothusorequiredotoobeojudiciallyoexaminedoasotoowhetherotheo natureo ofo theo proceedingo broughto beforeo thiso Courto iso ino theo natureo ofo initiationoofoanoactionoagainstoaocauseooroitoisoseekingotooenforce/initiateoao proceedingoasoaodefenceoagainstotheocause.oTheolineoofodemarcationomayobeo fineobutoisorealoandodistinct.oWhenoaocaseoisofiled,oessentiallyoandoprimarilyoaso ao proceedingo ofo defenceo oro iso pre-emptoryo ando ino anticipation,o theo sameo wouldostillobeoconstruedoasoaoproceedingoofodefenceoandowouldonotodivesto jurisdictionoofotheoCourtowhereotheosubstantiveoactionoisobroughtoagainstotheo cause.oo

41.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaohasofurtherolaidoaoruleoofo VISHAL SHARcMaAutiono foro maintainingo judicialo disciplineo ando sanctityo ofo judicialo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -25-o o proceeding,othatotheoHighoCourtsoshouldonototransgressointootheojurisdictiono ofo othero Higho Courtso merelyo ono groundo ofo certaino insignificanto eventso connectedowithotheocauseoofoactionothatoalsootookoplaceowithoinotheoterritorialo limitsoofothatoHighoCourt,otoowhichoaolitigantoapproachesoatohisoownochoiceooro convenience,oinotheocaseoofoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissionoversusoUtpalo KumaroBasuo(1994)o4oSCCo711.o

42.o o Blurringo ofo theo aboveo demarcationo wouldo transposeo everyo possibleodefenceoasoaoseparateocauseotooeachoindividualo(whenothereoareomoreo defendants/accused,owhooareolocatedoacrossodifferentoterritorialojurisdiction).o Theoconstructionoofo"causeoofoaction"oasoproposed,oifoaccepted,oisolikelyotoo openogatesoforogreateropotentialoofomischieforatherothanoremedyotheocause.oIno todaysoworldoorder,owhenocountryoisogettingosmalleroinotermsoofoPeople'so movement,o migrationo ando settlementso ando peopleo havingo footprintso ino differentoStates,oaomischievousodefendant/accusedowouldobeohighlyotemptedo tooblurotheodemarcationoandoclaimojurisdictionotoobeovestedoinoCourtoofohiso (their)o choiceo oro eveno multipleo jurisdictiono (wheno moreo defendantso oro accusedoresideoinodifferentoterritories)obyoinsisitingoandohammeringoaopleaoofo defenceoasoao"causeoofoaction"oandoclaimovestingoofojurisdictionowithosucho Courtoonoanoallegedobreach/violationooforight.o

43.o o Eveno otherwise,o "causeo ofo action"o haso too beo interpretedo ando appliedoforoconferringoterritorialojurisdictionoisoatotheostageoofo"settingotheo processoofolawoinomotion".oOnceotheosaidoprocessoofolawohasoalreadyobeenoseto inomotion,oinitiationoofoproceedingsoseekingosettingoasideoofosucholegaloactiono inootheroterritorialojurisdictionoisonototoobeounderstoodoinotheoreferenceoofo "initiationoofoaocauseoofoaction"oforosettingoasideotheoprocessoofolawoalreadyo setoinomotionobutoforocomputingolimitationoforoinitiationoofosuchoproceedingo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -26-o o inodefence.oTheooriginalocauseohavingoalreadyoarisenobyosettingotheoprocessoofo lawoinomotion,ofilingoofoeveryopetitionobeforeoCourtoofodifferentojudicature,o whereoanoaccusedo(multipleoaccused)omayobeoresiding,ocannototransposeoitselfo forotheo"causeoofoaction"oasoitooriginallyomeansobutohasotoobeounderstood,o interpretedo ando acceptedo aso ao "causeo ofo actiono foro institutiono ofo theo proceedings"o oroforoseekingo enforcemento ofo ano accruedo causeo ino originalo territories.o Ao challengeo raisedo too sucho causeo ando theo meritso claimedo thereunderoisonoomoreothanoaodefenceoraisedobyosuchopersonoandotheosameo cannotobeoportrayedooroclaimedoasogivingoriseotooanoindependentocauseoofo action.oItoisoonlyoaocascadingoeffectowhichoconfersolibertyoonoaopersonotoo initiateo proceedingso too protecto hiso limitedo interest.o Ao crosso versiono foro seekingoquashingoofotheoFIRoregisteredoinoaodifferentojurisdictionowouldoonlyo beoaodefenceoagainstoanoactionothatoisoalreadyooccurred.oAo'causeoofoactionoforo seekingoquashingoofoanoFIR'ocannotobeoconfusedoforo"causeoofoactionoforo vestingoaoterritorialojurisdiction".oTheoCourtoofolawoisorequiredotooordinarilyo examineotheoaboveosaidofineodistinctionoandotooexerciseoaojudicialorestrainto beforeo exercisingo ao writo jurisdiction.o Anyo persono whoo feelso aggrievedo iso expectedo too approacho theo competento Courto whicho exerciseso hiso territorialo jurisdictiono foro sucho substantialo reliefo ando noto beforeo ao forumo whereo ao consequentialoimpactoofosuchocauseoofoactionomayobeofailedotoohisoprejudice.o Exerciseoofosuchopowersoareocircumscribedoonlyotootheoextentoofoprotectingo certainolibertiesoandorightsotooenableoanoindividualotooexhaustohisoremediesoino lawo ando approachedo theo concernedo Courto ino theo endso ofo theo justiceo foro protectingohisorightsoandowhereoanyosuchodenialowouldodefeatotheoendsoofo justiceo ando tantamounto too denialo ofo constitutiono remedies.o Disregardo too territorialojurisdictionoandoboundariesowouldohaveoanoadverseoimpactoonotheo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -27-o o federalostructureoandoundermineotheosupremacyoofotheorespectiveoHighoCourt.o Theo supremacyo ofo theo concernedo Higho Courto exercisingo territorialo jurisdictiono wouldo beo severallyo compromisedo ando beo defeatedo givingo ano impressionoofoaojudicialooveroreachobyotheoHighoCourtoofoaodifferentoterritorialo jurisdiction.oo

44.o o Aomereoinconvenienceocausedotooaopersonoaggrievedoinoseekingo enforcemento ofo hiso remedieso cannoto beo interpretedo too confero ao territorialo jurisdictionooverotheoHighoCourtowhereoheoorosheomayofeelotheoeffectoofosucho action.oTheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndia,oinotheomattero ofo"NavinchandraoN.o Majithiao (supra)o o doesonotodealo witho theoissueoofo "causeoofoaction"ovis-?-vis.o"case/causeoofodefence".ooTheosameowouldothuso notobeoapplicableotootheofactsoofotheoinstantocaseoandotheoissueoraisedoabove.o

45.o o Hence,oao'causeoofoaction'oinoitsoplainoreadingoandomeaningoisoao setoofofactsogivingoreasonsotooinitiateoaolegaloproceedings.oHowever,oinitiationo ofolegaloproceeding,oisodifferentoino'civilolaw',ooasocomparedotooinitiationoofoao legaloproceedingoundero"criminalolaw".oWhereas,oinitiationoofoaoproceedingo inocivilolawoisomoreoakinotooinstitutionoofoaosuit/petitionobeforeosuchoCourt,o theoinitiationoofoaoproceedingoino'criminalolaw'oisonotonecessarilyobyowayoofo institutionoofoaocomplaintobeforeotheoMagistrate.oTheoinitiationoofoproceedingo inocriminalolawoisooftenobyowayoofosubmissionoofoaocomplaintotoopolice,oifoao cognizableo offenceo iso madeo out.o Theo registrationo ofo ano FIRo iso onlyo consequential.o"Causeoofoaction"oinocriminalolawoisothusotoobeoseenoatothato stage.oAoproceedingoisothusodeemedotoohaveobeenoinitiatedoandoregistrationoofo FIRofurtherolendsostrengthotooit.oOnceotheoproceedingsoareoinitiatedoinotermso ofo Chaptero XIIIo ofo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo Code,o 1973o ando ino ao jurisdictionoprescribedothereunder,otheojurisdictionowithorespectotootheosaido ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -28-o o causeoofoactionowouldovestoinothatorespectiveoHighoCourtoonly,oinowhose'so territorialojurisdictionotheoproceedingohasobeenoinitiated.oo

46.o o Theo wordo "initiation"o iso too beo reado ino theo contexto ofo "firsto invocation"o ofo ao proceedingo ando noto firsto invocationo ino theo contexto ofo ao person/partyotootheoproceedings.oIfoinitiationoisotoobeoseenoandointerpretedoino theocontextoandoperspectiveoofoaoparty,oitoisolikelyotooleadotoochaos,ojudicialo indiscipline,o causeo steepo riseo ino attemptso ato forumo shoppingo ando mayo beo conflictingojudgmentsofromodifferentojurisdictions.oTheosameodefinitelyocouldo notohaveobeenotheointentionoofolegislature.oAolimitedoexerciseoofojurisdiction,o tooprotectoaorightoasoanointerimomeasureoandotoobalanceoequitiesoisohowevero validosinceotheosameoisonotoakinotooexercisingojurisdictionoonotheosubstantiveo subjectomatterobutoonlyoprotectsotheolibertiesoofoanoindividualotootakeorecourseo too pursueo hiso remedieso beforeo ao forumo exercisingo jurisdictiono overo theo substantiveo matter.o Theo saido powero mayo alsoo beo invokedo undero circumstancesowhereoaosubstantiveocauseofallsowithinojurisdictionoofotheosaido HighoCourtoandoitsoordersoneedotoobeoimplementedobyoanotheroState.oo TooelucidateoifotheopoweroofoHighoCourt,oexercisingoterritorialojurisdiction,oiso invokedoforoinitiationoofoaocauseoofoactionoandooforoensuringoproperojusticeo andoanoorderoorodirectionoisorequiredotoobeoissuedotooanyootheropersonoorotheo StateoGovernmentooutsideothoseoterritories,osuchoaodirectionocanobeoissued.o Toounderstandotheosame,oinoCiviloandoCriminaloaspecto(otherothanoactionso againstoUnionoofoIndia),oitocanobeoexplainedobyotheofollowingoexamples:o CriminaloMatterso

47.o o IfoaocaseofororegistrationoofoFIRooroforoexecutionoofoaobailableo warrantoofoarrestoand/oronon-bailableowarrantoofoarrestoisopendingobeforeotheo concernedo Higho Courto ando theo Authoritieso residingo outsideo theo territorialo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -29-o o jurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtoareonotoexecutingotheowarrantsoetc.ooroareonoto associatingowithotheopoliceotoosecureotheoarrest/detentionoofotheoaccused,otheo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 226(2)o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao cano beo exercisedobyotheoparentoHighoCourt.oo CiviloMatterso

48.o o Assumingo thato anyo propertyo iso too beo attachedo oro auctionedo pursuantotooanyoorderopassedobyoaocompetentoCourtoandotheosameoisonotobeingo doneobyotheoExecutive/AdministrativeoAuthoritiesoofoaoseparateoterritory,otheo Higho Courto exercisingo originalo territorialo jurisdictiono mayo entertaino sucho civiloproceedings.o o o Theo abovesaido exampleso areo onlyo illustrativeo ando noto exhaustive.oo

49.o o Referenceo cano alsoo beo madeo too theo followingo extracto ofo theo judgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinomatteroofo"RupalioDevioversuso StateoofoUttaropradeshoandoOthers"oreportedoaso2019o(5)oSCCo384.oo o "6.o oAolookoatotheoprovisionsoofoChapteroXIIIoofotheoCodeoofo CriminaloProcedure,o1973o(CrPC)odealingowithotheojurisdictiono ofo theo criminalo courto ino inquirieso ando trialso willo nowo beo required.o Sectiono 177o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo contemplateso thato"everyo offenceoshallo ordinarilyo beo inquiredo intooandotriedobyoaocourtowithinowhoseolocalojurisdictionoitowaso committed".oItois,otherefore,oclearothatoinotheonormalocourse,oitoiso theo courto withino whoseo localo jurisdictiono theo offenceo iso committedo thato wouldo haveo theo powero ando authorityo too takeo cognizanceoofotheooffenceoinoquestion.o

7.oo Sectionso178oando179oareoexceptionsotootheoaboveoruleo andomayobeosetooutohereinunder:o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -30-o o "178.oPlaceoofoinquiryoorotrial.-(a)oWhenoitoisouncertaino inowhichoofoseveralolocaloareasoanooffenceowasocommitted,o oro

(b)o whereo ano offenceo iso committedo partlyo ino oneo localo areaoandopartlyoinoanother,ooro o(c)owhereoanooffenceoisoaocontinuingoone,oandocontinueso toobeocommittedoinomoreolocaloareasothanoone,ooroo

(d)owhereoitoconsistsoofoseveraloactsodoneoinodifferentolocalo areas,oo itomayobeoinquiredointooorotriedobyoaocourtohavingojurisdictiono overoanyoofosucholocaloareas.o

179.oOffenceotriableowhereoactoisodoneooroconsequenceo ensues.oWhenoanoactoisoanooffenceobyoreasonoofoanythingo whichohasobeenodoneoandoofoaoconsequenceowhichohaso ensued,otheooffenceomayobeoinquiredointooorotriedobyoao courtowithinowhoseolocalojurisdictionosuchothingohasobeeno doneoorosuchoconsequenceohasoensued."o

8.o Sectiono 178o createso ano exceptiono too theo "ordinaryo rule"o engraftedoinoSectiono177obyopermittingotheocourtsoinoanothero localo areao whereo theo offenceo iso partlyo committedo too takeo cognizance.o Alsoo ifo theo offenceo committedo ino oneo localo areao continuesoinoanotherolocaloarea,otheocourtsoinotheolatteroplaceo wouldobeocompetentotootakeocognizanceoofotheomatter.oUndero Sectiono179,oifobyoreasonoofotheoconsequencesoemanatingofromoao criminaloactoanooffenceoisooccasionedoinoanotherojurisdiction,o theocourtoinothatojurisdictionowouldoalsoobeocompetentotootakeo cognizance.oThus,oifoanooffenceoisocommittedopartlyoinooneoplaceo andopartlyoinoanother;ooroifotheooffenceoisoaocontinuingooffenceo orowhereotheoconsequencesoofoaocriminaloactoresultoinoanooffenceo beingo committedo ato anothero place,o theo exceptiono too theo "ordinaryorule"owouldobeoattractedoandotheocourtsowithinowhoseo jurisdictiono theo criminalo acto iso committedo willo ceaseo too haveo exclusiveojurisdictionotootryotheooffence.o o9.oo Atothisostageoitomayoalsoobeousefulotootakeonoteoofowhatocano beounderstoodotoobeoaocontinuingooffence.oTheoissueoisonoolongero ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -31-o o reso integrao havingo beeno answeredo byo thiso Courto ino Stateo ofo Biharov.oDeokaranoNenshiso(1972)o2oSCCo890.oParao5omayobeo usefullyonoticedoinothisoregard:o(SCCop.o892,oparao5)o "5.oAocontinuingooffenceoisooneowhichoisosusceptibleoofo continuanceoandoisodistinguishableofromotheooneowhichoiso committedoonceoandoforoall.oItoisooneoofothoseooffenceso whichoarisesooutoofoaofailureotooobeyoorocomplyowithoao ruleooroitsorequirementoandowhichoinvolvesoaopenalty,otheo liabilityo foro whicho continueso untilo theo ruleo oro itso requiremento iso obeyedo oro compliedo with.o Ono everyo occasiono thato sucho disobedienceo oro non-complianceo occursoandoreoccurs,othereoisotheooffenceocommitted.oTheo distinctionobetweenotheotwookindsoofooffencesoisobetweeno anoactooroomissionowhichoconstitutesoanooffenceoonceoando foro allo ando ano acto oro omissiono whicho continues,o ando therefore,o constituteso ao fresho offenceo everyo timeo oro occasiono ono whicho ito continues.o Ino theo caseo ofo ao continuingo offence,o thereo iso thuso theo ingrediento ofo continuanceoofotheooffenceowhichoisoabsentoinotheocaseoofo anooffenceowhichotakesoplaceowhenoanoactooroomissionoiso committedoonceoandoforoall."o o

50.o o Ito iso thuso evidento thato territorialo jurisdictiono ino relationo too criminalo matterso iso determinedo byo theo Criminalo Procedureo Code,o 1973.o Articleo 226o (2)oofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao isonoto toobeo transposedoasoao substantiveoprovisionotoosubstituteoChapteroXIIIoofoCriminaloProcedureoCode,o 1973oandoconferojurisdictionobyolocationoofoparties;obyotheiroconvenienceooro byotheirodefences-supplantingothemoasocauseoofoaction,oasoaocamouflageoforo defence.oTheojurisdictionoasodeterminedobyoCriminaloProcedureoCode,o1973o thuso needso too beo seeno ando acceptedo aso substantiveo lawo foro determiningo territorialojurisdictionoinocriminalolaw.oo ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -32-o o

51.o o Theo interpretationo suggestedo byo theo petitionero abouto powero underoArticleo226o(2)oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoinoaoCourtowhereoaocauseoofo actionoaroseowhollyooroinopartoirrespectiveoofotheoseatoofotheoGovernmentoooro placeooforesidenceoofoanoaccusedomayobeotrueowhereotheocauseoforotheoinitialo actionohasoaccrued,owhollyooroinopartowithinotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofoao HighoCourto(whichosuchocauseohasobeenoheldoinosubsequentojudgmentsotoobeo sustentativeo ando noto justo ao mereo peripheralo cause).o o Theo aboveo saido contentionoandointerpretationocouldohaveobeenovalidoinotheopresentocaseoifotheo prayeroofotheopetitionerowasoconfinedotooseekingoissuanceoofodirectionsotootheo policeotooregisteroFIRoatoAmritsarosinceoaopartoofocauseoofoactionocanobeosaido toohaveoaccruedowithinotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofothisoCourtoandothatotooo beforeo registrationo ofo caseo ino anyo othero jurisdiction.o Theo causeo ofo actiono beingo ao fact/collectiono ofo facts/actionso whicho giveo riseo too initiation/enforcemento ofo ao legalo actiono oro enforceableo claimo haso too beo understoodoasodistinctofromoaocauseoofoactionoforoinitiationooroinstitutionoofoao proceedingoandoaocauseoofoactionoforoinitiationoofoaoproceedingoofodefence.o Whilsto causeo ofo actiono too determineo territorialo jurisdictiono haso too beo ino referenceotooinitiationoofoaolegaloproceeding;otheocauseoofoactionodeclaredoforo seekingoenforcementoofoaodefenceohasotoobeoconstruedoasoderivingoknowledgeo toopursueohisodefenceoandoestablisholimitation.oo

52.o o Besides,otheoConstitutionoofoIndiaousesoveryodistinctoexpressionso inobothotheoClausesoi.e.o226o(1)oando(2).oTheosameoareotabulatedoasounder:-o Articleo226o(1)o Articleo226o(2)o Notwithstandingo anythingo ino articleo Theopoweroconferredobyoclauseo(1)otoo 32o everyo Higho Courto shallo haveo issueo directions,o orderso oro writso too powers,othroughoutotheoterritoriesoino anyoGovernment,oauthorityooropersono relationo too whicho ito exerciseo mayoalsoobeoexercisedobyoanyoHigho jurisdiction,otooissueotooanyopersonooro Courto exercisingo jurisdictiono ino authority,o includingo ino appropriateo relationo too theo territorieso withino ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -33-o o cases,oanyoGovernment,owithinothoseo whichotheocauseoofoaction,owhollyooro territorieso directions,o orderso oro ino part,o ariseso foro theo exerciseo ofo writs,oincludingowritsoinotheonatureoofo suchopower,onotwithstandingothatotheo habeaso corpus,o mandamus,o scatoofosuchoGovernmentooroauthorityo prohibition,o quoo warrantoro ando orotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonoto certiorari,o oro anyo ofo them,o foro theo withinothoseoterritories.o enforcemento ofo anyo ofo theo rightso conferredo byo Parto IIIo ando foro anyo otheropurpose.o o

53.o o Hence,owhileoArticleo226o(1)oconfersoaosubstantiveomandateoando authorityo througho outo territorieso overo whicho ito exerciseso jurisdiction,o theo powerounderoArticleo226o(2)oisodiscretionaryoandosubjectotooaccrualoofocauseo ofoaction.oo o o Theo abovesaido distinctiono needso too beo appreciatedo ando implementedotoomaintainojudicialodiscipline.oo o oo

54.o o Theo Constitutiono consciouslyo chooseso too useo theo expressiono "mayoalsoobeoexercised"oinsteadoofotheoexpressiono"shallobeoexercised"obyo leavingo ito too theo judicialo prudenceo aso too whethero ito optso too exerciseo theo discretionooronot.oAopersonoaggrievedoisoordinarilyorequiredotooapproachotheo concernedoHighoCourtoexercisingoterritorialojurisdictionounderoArticleo226(1)o ofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoandoonlyoinocertainoexceptionalocircumstances,o wouldo theo Higho Court,o othero thano theo Higho Courto exercisingo territorialo jurisdiction,omayoexerciseotheoauthority/powerounderoArticleo226(2)oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.o

55.o o Theo petitionero thuso haso hiso remedieso too approacho beforeo theo competentoCourtoand/orotheoconcernedoMagistrateoforoseekingoenforcemento ofo hiso statutoryo remedies.o Heo haso failedo too demonstrateo anyo emergento circumstanceso warrantingo ano immediateo interventionoofo thiso Courto failingo whichohisorightotooseekoconstitutionaloremediesowouldobeodefeatedogivingoriseo tooanoirreparableolossooroinjury.oNoosuchocircumstancesoariseoinotheopresento ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -34-o o caseoatoall.o

56.o o Ioamofurtherosupportedoinomyoviewofromotheojudgmentsoinotheo matteroofo"AnushkaoAroraoandoanotheroversusoPunjaboandoSindoBank"oino CWP-24190o ofo 2022o decidedo ono 17.03.2023o aso wello aso judgmento datedo

11.05.2023oinoCWP-10136oofo2023oinotheomatteroofo"KrishanoKumaroGuptao andoanotheroversusoStateoofoUttrakhand"oo

57.o o Evidently,otheocaseopertainsotooversionoandocrossoversionoando bothotheopartiesohaveosucceededoinogettingoanoFIRoregisteredoagainstoeacho other.o Accusedo Vinayako Sachdevao is,o however,o alreadyo reportedo too haveo died.oNeedlessotoomentionothatotheoEDoasowelloasotheoIntegratedoCheckoPosto didonotofindoanyocognizableooffenceomadeooutoandoevenotheoinitialodecisionoofo theopoliceowasothatoitoisoaocaseoofocivilodisputeoandonoocriminalooffenceowaso madeoout.oBesides,otheoFIRoatoNasikowasoregisteredoono07.01.2014owhereaso theoFIRoatoAmritsarohasobeenoregisteredoono18.01.2017oatoPoliceoStation,oo CiviloLines,oi.e.oafteroaoperiodoofomoreothano03oyearsooforegistrationoofotheo FIRoatoNasik.oo o58.o o SinceothisoCourtoisonotoinclinedotooentertainotheopresentopetitiono onotheogroundoofomaintainability,oitowouldonotobeoappropriateoforothisoCourto toocommentoonotheomeritsoofotheorespectiveoclaim.oForotheoreasonsoreferredotoo above,o Io findo thato theo presento writo petitiono seekingo quashingo ofo theo FIRo registeredowithinotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheoStateoofoMaharashtraoisonoto maintainableobeforeothisoCourt.oHowever,oinsofaroasohisoprayeroforoseekingo directionso too theo respondento No.4o too 6o foro expeditiouso conclusiono ofo investigationo ino complainto submittedo too themo iso concerned,o theo sameo iso withinotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofothisoCourt,ohowever,oasotheoinvestigationo ofotheosaidocaseohasobeenoconcludedoandoaofinaloreportohasoalreadyobeenofiled,o ooCWP-2989-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o -35-o o noofurtherodirectionsoareorequiredotoobeoissued.oNoogrievanceothusosubsists.oo Theopresentowritopetitionoisoaccordinglyodismissedoatotheostage.oLibertyois,o however,ograntedotootheopetitionerotoopursueohisoremediesobeforeoaocompetento Courtoasoperolaw.oo o o o Allotheopendingomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,oareoalsoo odisposedoof.o o o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo NOVEMBERoo22,o2023o o o o o oooooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o ooooooooWhetheroReportableo ooooooo:o oooooooYes/Noo