Jacky v. Tiny alias Antony
Background
A shop occupier alleged that a purchaser had brought a collusive civil suit against someone else to obtain orders used to close the occupier's business. The High Court accepted the allegation in writ proceedings, quashed the plaint and ensuing orders, and imposed Rs.25,000 costs. The purchaser challenged that intervention.
Decision Breakdown
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the High Court's judgment. Whether the suit and orders had been procured to harass the occupier required evidence, but no such issue had been tried or proved. The occupier could challenge the orders before an appropriate forum, even though he had not been a party to the suit. Supervisory powers ensure that subordinate courts stay within their authority; on this record they did not permit the High Court to resolve contested private facts and quash the plaint in that manner.
Lesson Learnt
Allegations that a civil suit is collusive must be pursued through appropriate proceedings with evidence. Writ or supervisory proceedings do not ordinarily replace the civil process for deciding a contested landlord-tenant or ownership dispute.