6/5/22, 1:12 PM Order 39 CPC : temporary injunction and interlocutory orders - iPleaders

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By Diganth Raj Sehgal - December 23, 2021

Image source - https://bit.ly/3cpcQ80

The article is written by Vedant Bhardwaj Singh from Hidayatullah National Law
University. The article critically analyses temporary injunctions and interlocutory orders
through Order 39 of the Code Of Civil Procedure, 1908.

This article has been published by Diganth Raj Sehgal.

Table of Contents 
1. Introduction
2. Nature of Injunctions
3. Perpetual Injunction
4. Temporary Injunction & its basic principles
4.1. Requirements for Temporary Injunctions
4.2. When can a Temporary Injunction be rejected
5. Rules under Order XXXIX of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
5.1. On Temporary Injunctions
5.2. On Interlocutory Orders
6. Conclusion
7. References

Introduction
Rooted in the principles of goodwill, equity, good conscience and the legal maxim, “Ubi
jus, ibi remedium” – where there is a right, there is a remedy – an injunction is an

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equitable remedy where an individual is commanded by a court – having authority over Translate
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that individual – to perform or cease to perform a specific action, provided, if the court
were not to intervene would cause irreparable harm to the status quo of the individuals
involved in the case.

To illustrate the practicality of an injunction, it can be used to force striking workers to

resume the course of their employment during the course of the civil suit between the
striking trade union and the firm which employs members of the said trade union.

This article will be a discussion regarding injunctions with a special emphasis on the
Order 39 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 which highlights the procedure to grant
temporary injunctions and interlocutory orders.

Nature of Injunctions
As is the case with any legal concept, injunctions have been subjected to multiple
definitions throughout the history of jurisprudence.

Joyce defined it as “an order remedial, the general purpose of which is to restrain the
commission of some wrongful act of the party informed”.

Burney attempted to define the concept of injunction as, “a judicial process, by which
one who has invaded or threatens to invade the rights of another is restrained from
continuing or commencing such wrongful act”.

But perhaps, the definition which holistically captures the essence of injunctions is the
one provided by Halsbury who claimed that “An injunction is a judicial process whereby a
party in an order to refrain from doing or to do a particular act or thing”.

An injunction is characterized by three important notions which include the presence of a

judicial proceeding, the relief which is granted is in the form of a restraint, and lastly,
that the restrained act needs to be wrongful on the grounds of equity.

Perpetual Injunction
The other broad category of injunctions and the counterpart of temporary injunction –
perpetual injunctions – as defined by Section 37 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 is “the
decree made at the hearing and upon the merits of the suit, the defendant is thereby
perpetually enjoined from the assertion of a right, or from the commission of an act
which would be contrary to the rights of the plaintiff”.

Temporary Injunction & its basic principles

In its essence, a temporary injunction is an interim remedy to maintain the status quo of
the parties with regards to the property in dispute during the pendency of the case. The
aim of temporary injunctions in the Indian law is to protect a party to the suit against
injury by violation of his right for which he could not be adequately compensated in
damages recoverable in the action if the uncertainty were resolved in his favor at the

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trial. The aforementioned aim was highlighted in the case of M/S Gujarat Pottling Co. Translate
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Ltd. & Ors v. The Coca Cola Company & Ors. (1995).

Requirements for Temporary Injunctions

The case of Dalpat Kumar And Another v. Pralhad Singh And Others (1991) has settled
the three main requirements for granting a temporary injunction, they are:

1. Prima Facie Case

A suit consists of a seriously disputed question. The facts in those questions encourage
the probability of entitlement to relief for the plaintiff or the defendant. A prima facie
case does not mean that the plaintiff or the defendant come up with an irrefutable
argument that will in all probability succeed in a trial. It only means that the case they
build for their injunction must be meritorious enough, not to be rejected instantly.

2. Irreparable Loss

If an irreparable loss were to be incurred by an individual with regards to the suit before
his legal right is established in the trial, it would be a cause of grave injustice. However,
it must be noted that illustrations like frustration over a loss of something with
sentimental value will not be regarded as irreparable damage. On the other hand, things
that by nature can be remedied will be considered to be irreparable damage if the court
were to have no fair or reasonable address. Very often an injury is irreparable where it is
continuous and repeated or where it is remediable at law only by a multiplicity of suits.
Sometimes, the term irreparable damage refers to the difficulty of measuring the
amount of damages inflicted. However, a mere difficulty in proving injury does not
establish irreparable injury.

3. Balance of convenience

The court needs to compare the case of parties, comparative mischief or inconvenience
which is likely to sue from withholding the injunction will be greater than which is likely
to arrive from granting it. 

When can a Temporary Injunction be rejected

The circumstances in which a temporary injunction is granted is governed by Order 39,
Rule 1 of the Code on Civil Procedure, 1908, which will be discussed later. Thus, it
becomes imperative to discuss the instances when a temporary injunction can be
rejected. This is highlighted in Section 41 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963.

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1. Restrain any person from prosecuting a judicial proceeding at the institution of the Translate
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suit, in which injunction is sought, unless restraint is necessary to prevent multiplicity
of proceedings.

2. To restrain any person from instituting or prosecuting any proceeding in a Court not
subordinate to that, from which injunction is sought.

3. To restrain any person from applying to any legislative body.

4. To restrain any person from instituting or prosecuting any proceeding in a criminal

matter.

5. To prevent the breach of a contract the performance of which could not be specifically
enforced.

6. To prevent on the ground of nuisance, an act of which it is not reasonably clear that it
will be a nuisance.

7. To prevent a continuing breach in which the plaintiff has acquiesced.

8. When equally efficacious relief can certainly be obtained by any other usual mode of
proceeding except in case of breach of trust.

9. When the conduct of the plaintiff or his agents has been such as to disentitle him to
the assistance of the court. 

10. When the plaintiff has no personal interest in the matter. 

Rules under Order XXXIX of the Code of Civil

Procedure, 1908

On Temporary Injunctions
1. Order 39, Rule 1 talks about the cases in which the court may grant a temporary
injunction as a statutory relief, they are:

In the case of property dispute, if the property in question is under a risk of being
wasted, damaged or alienated or wrongfully sold by an individual involved in the suit.

If an individual threatened or displayed intention of removing or disposing off of his

property with a motive to defraud his creditors. This is specific to the defendant only.

If the plaintiff is threatened – by the defendant – to be dispossessed or injured in the

context of the property dispute under question.

If the defendant were to commit a breach of peace or contract. The aforementioned

ground is also highlighted in Order 39, Rule 2 of the CPC, 1908. 

Lastly, the court may issue an injunction if it is of the opinion that it would be an act
in the interest of justice.

2. Order 39, Rule 2-A talks about the non-compliance of an individual with regards to an
injunction, they are:

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It mandates the detainment of that individual in civil prison for not more than three Translate
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months.

Furthermore, it warrants the attachment of property of that guilty individual for not
more than a year. However, if the delinquency were to continue, the property may be
sold.

In the case of Ram Prasad Singh v. Subodh Prasad Singh (1983), it was highlighted
that it is not necessary for an individual to be a party to the concerned suit, to be
liable under Order 39, Rule 2-A of the CPC, 1908, provided it is known that he was an
agent of the defendant and violated the injunction despite being aware of the same.

3. Usually, the court is required to issue a notice to the opposite party regarding the
application of injunction, but through Order 39, Rule 3, the court can grant an ex-
parte injunction when it is under the belief that the object of the injunction would be
defeated because of delay. The Supreme Court through the case of Union of India v.
Era Educational Trust  (2000), laid down certain guiding principles for courts to follow
while deciding upon an ex-parte injunction, they are:

Whether the plaintiff will be a victim to irreparable mischief by the defendant?

Whether the weight of injustice will be heavier if an ex-parte injunction is not

granted?

Whether the timing of applying for an ex-parte jurisdiction was maliciously motivated?

The courts will also consider the general principle of balance and irreparable loss.

4. Order 39, Rule 4 lays down that an injunction may be discharged, varied or set aside,
if any dissatisfied party makes an appeal against it, provided that:

The application for injunction or documents advocating the same included knowingly
false or misleading statements and the injunction was granted without listening to the
other party. Thus, the court will vacate the injunction. However, it can also stick with
the injunction if it considers – the reason is to be recorded – the same not be
necessary in the discourse of injustice.

Furthermore, the court may also set aside the injunction if, due to a change of
circumstances, the party against whom the injunction is granted, has suffered
unnecessary hardships.

5. Order 39, Rule 5 makes an important point that, if an injunction is granted against a
corporation or a firm, the authority of the is not limited to the corporation as an entity
alone, members and officers of the corporation whose personal action it seeks to
restrain are also included under its ambit. 

On Interlocutory Orders
Before we analyze the remaining rules in Order 39, we must understand the concept of
interlocutory orders. Interlocutory orders are the extension of which temporary
injunctions are a part of. They are the final hammer for the subplots that are not related
to the core of a pending suit. They settle those subordinate issues which may be
necessary for deciding the outcome of the case – intangibly – and need a swift decision

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because of the time-sensitivity of those issues. These orders exist to make sure that the Translate
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involved parties’ interests are not harmed during the due process of justice.

Achieving justice is the main aim of the Indian judiciary but achieving their aim in an
equitable process is also important. The latter is governed by interlocutory orders. 

Interlocutory orders may take on many shapes and sizes including, but not limited to,
notice to conduct search and seizure, temporary injunction, payment into court, etc.

However, in the case of the Sub Committee of Judicial Accountability v. Union of India
(1991), the Supreme Court noted that an interlocutory order must not be passed if it
were to have any inference of pre-judging some important and delicate issue related to
the main matter.

Reading Rules 6-10 of the Code on Civil Procedure 1908, will give us a proper
understanding of the weight of interlocutory orders in the Indian legal system.

1. Order 39, Rule 6 talks about the power to hold an interim sale.The court may order
the sale of any movable property being the subject matter of the suit. Furthermore,
these movable properties also include such things which are subject to natural delay
and will be rendered futile if not sold swiftly. For example, the court may order the
sale of fruits and vegetables if they are a matter of suit as they cannot be stored
indefinitely and are perishable goods. 

2. Order 39, Rule 7 talks about the detention or inspection of the subject matter of the
suit. Essentially, the court may order any individual to retain, preserve or inspect the
property of dispute. The court may pass such an order specific observations or
experiments upon the disputed land if it were to deem it necessary for the purpose of
obtaining complete information.

3. Order 39, Rule 8 brings closure to rule 6 and 7 on grounds of equity. It claims that an
order under rule 6 and 7 will only be passed if:

The applicant applies for the order after the institution of the suit.

The applicant provides notice of the application to the parties involved in the suit.

The other parties of the suit have been given a fair chance to argue against the
interim order.

However, the rule is subject to the exception that if the hearing would cause delay
leading to the loss of the objective of the suit. 

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4. Order 39, Rule 9 talks in relation to an instance if land paying revenue is the subject Translate
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matter of the suit. It speaks about if an individual neglects paying his government
revenue or the rent to his proprietor, then the court may order the sale of the land or
tenure, as the case may be, to any party interested in buying that said land or tenure.
The proceeds from the sale can be used to compensate the defaults in the payment of
the rent. Furthermore, the party who was interested in buying the property, by the
decree of the court, can be compensated by the defaulter. 

5. Order 39, Rule 10 talks about dispute over money or any item which is capable of
delivery. If in the dispute, a party claims to have the trusteeship of the disputed item,
then the court may order that item to be deposited in the able hands of the court until
the dispute is resolved.

Conclusion
In the general understanding of injunctions in Indian jurisprudence and as is the case
presented here, the reader must have noticed the intangible presence of the Specific
Reliefs Act,1963 while discussing Order 39 of the Code on Civil Procedure, 1908. This is
because the essence of injunctions is captured when the two documents are interpreted
together. Their symphony is what brings out the equity, good conscience, and goodwill of
injunctions. 

Thus, the rationale behind the provision of Order 39 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as
laid down by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of M. Gurudas and Ors. v. Rasaranjan
and Ors. (2006) can be summarized as “While considering an application for injunction,
the Court would pass an order thereupon having regard to prima facie, balance of
convenience and irreparable injury“.

References
1. https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/sites/default/files/1ARTICLE%20ON%20LAW%20RELATIN

2. https://law.jrank.org/pages/7647/Injunction-Types-Injunction.html

3. https://blog.ipleaders.in/types-injunctions-indian-law/

4. https://blog.ipleaders.in/temporary-injunctions-india/ 

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