IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.N.KRISHNAN TUESDAY, THE 12TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 23RD MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 32335 of 2007(Y) -------------------------------------- OS.115/2006 of I ADDL.SUB COURT,ERNAKULAM .................... PETITIONERS: --------------------- 1. ST.MARY'S ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL, PARK AVENUE, ERNAKULAM, KOCHI-11, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESENT TRUSTEE - JACOB C.MATHEW, S/O. P.C.MATHEW, 34/691, KARUVELIL ROAD, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI-25. 2. MAMMEN KOSHY, S/O. KUNJU KOSHY, MUTHALALY, KALLOT, VEEKSHANAM ROAD, KOCHI-18. 3. CHERIYAN THOMAS, S/O. LATE THOMAS CHERIAN, KALLATH APARTMENTS, MATHAI MANJOORAN ROAD, KOCHI-18. BY ADV. SRI.R.D.SHENOY (SR.) SRI.S.VINOD BHAT RESPONDENTS: ------------------------ 1. M.ISSAC, S/O. M.K.MATHAI, KADAVIL HOUSE, PANAMPILLY NAGAR P.O. 2. HIS GRACE ZACHARIAH MAR ANTHONIOS, METROPOLITAN OF COCHIN DIOCESE, ZION SEMINARI, KORATTY, THRISSUR DISTRICT. 3. HIS HOLINESS MORAN MAR BASELIUS MAR THOMA DIDYMUS-1, CATHOLICOS OF THE EAST AND MALANKARA METROPOLITAN, CATHOLICATE ARAMANA, DEVALOKAM, KOTTAYAM-38. 4. MALANKARA ORTHODOX EPISCOPAL SVNOD, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, THE GRACE THOMAS MAR ATHANASIOS, METROPOLITAN, CATHOLICATE, ARAMANA, DEVALOKAM, KOTTAYAM-38. W.P.(C) NO.32335/2007 5. M.C.POULOSE, S/O. K.V.CHERIAN, KEERAMKUZHIYIL, PARAMBITHARA ROAD, PANAMPILLY NAGAR P.O., KOCHI-36. 6. THOMAS VARGHESE, S/O. LATE P.O.VARGHESE, PANAKKAMATTOM HOUSE, HOUSE NO.28/2396, CHELAVANNOOR, ELAMKULAM, KOCHI-20. 7. SONY JOB, S/O. T.M.JOB, THOLATH HOUSE, L.F.C.ROAD, KALOOR, KOCHI-17. 8. REV. FR. MATHEW CORE EPISCOPA, PULIMOOTTIL HOUSE, KANJIRAMATTOM P.O. 9. K.V.CHACKO, NADAVALLIL HOUSE, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-20. 10. A.M.KOSHY, S/O. M.M.MATHAI, RESIDING AT PLOT NO.21, KUMARANASAN NAGAR, KOCHI-20. 11. JOSEPH GEORGE, S/O. LATE M.K.GEORGE, THERAKAVIL MULLASSERIL HOUSE, PARAMBITHARA CROSS ROAD, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, KOCHI-36. 12. KURUVILLA VARUGHESE, S/O. K.K.VARGHESE, 29/1565, KALLOOPPARAMBIL, VYTTILA, KOCHI-682 019. 13. T.V.GEORGE, S/O. T.VARGHESE, -DO- -DO- 14. P.P.MATHEW, S/O. P.M.PHILIPOSE, RAJBHAVAN, JAWAHARNAGAR, KOCHI. 15. K.K.JACOB, S/O. LATE KURIAN ALEXANDER, KALLAMMAKKAL, JANATHA ROAD, LANE-14, VYTTILA, KOCHI-19. 16. THOMAS YOHANNAN, S/O. K.G.YOHANNAN, KUTTIYIL HOUSE, PONNURUNNI, VYTTILA P.O., KOCHI-19. 17. T.G.MATHEWS, S/O. GEEVARGHESE, NADUVAMPURATH, CHELAVANNUR, KOCHI. 18. K.M.VARGHESE, AGED 50 YEARS, S/O. K.C.MATHEW, KANIYAMPUZHA, VYTTILA. 19. M.A.CHERIAN, S/O. M.C.ABRAHAM, MOOKANCHERIL, KOCHI-16. W.P.(C) NO.32335/2007 20. THAMPI SAMUEL, S/O. P.T.SAMUEL, KOCHUPARAYIL, WATER LAND BOARD, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-20. 21. ZACHARIA P.JOHN, AGED 56 YEARS, S/O. THOMAS YOHANNAN, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, ERNAKULAM. 22. T.C.VARGHESE, S/O. K.C.CHACKO, CHURCH SRUARE, ELAMKULAM, KOCHI-20. 23. M.C.ISSAC, S/O. CHERIAN, BHARATIYAVIDYA BHAVAN ROAD, PANAMPILLY NAGAR. 24. T.C.SOLOMON, S/O. LATE T.K.CHERIAN, THUNDALATHIL, F.A.C.ROAD, VYTTILA, KOCHI-19. 25. ABRAHAM P.SIMON, S/O. LATE P.SIMON, KOCHUVEETTIL, C.P.CROSS ROAD, KADAVANTHRA. 26. PHILIP ABRAHAM, S/O. LATE A.T.PHILIP, AYROOPARAMBIL, K.P.VALLON ROAD, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-20. 27. ITTY JACOB, S/O. CHACKO, KALARIKKAL, KOCHI-20. 28. DANIEL C.JOHN, S/O. C.D.JOHN, CHALAPPURATH, MARADU P.O. 29. P.G.JAMES, S/O. P.S.GEORGE, JESS VILLA, PONNURUNNI, KOCHI-19. 30. K.K.EAPPAN, S/O. ALEXANDER KURIAN, KALLAMMAKKAL HOUSE, POONITHURA P.O., KOCHI. 31. K.K.LUKOSE, S/O. LATE K.L.KURUVILLA, 100, GIRINAGAR. 32. C.V.SUNNY, S/O. LATE VARGHESE, BLOSSOM, KOCHI ROAD, KADAVANTHRA. 33. Y.CHACKO, S/O. LATE YOHANNAN, SUNIL NIVAS, VYTTILA. 34. SUNNY VARGHESE, S/O. LATE P.VARGHESE, KANNADISSERIL, ELAMKULAM ROAD, KOCHI-17. 35. M.J.GEORGEKUTTY, S/O. M.C.JOHN, ST.MARY'S CLINIC, ERNAKULAM, KOCHI-20. W.P.(C) NO.32335/2007 36. K.J.JACOB, S/O. K.I.JOHN, 37/1415, KOITHARA, KALOOR-KADAVANTHRA ROAD, KALOOR P.O., KOCHI-17. 37. T.A.VARGHESE, AGED 74 YEARS, S/O. ALEX KOCHAVIRA, PLOT NO.12, MIG GCDA, PANAMPILLY NAGAR. 38. MATHEW VARGHESE, S/O. P.P.VARGHESE, PANAMPILLY NAGAR. 39. K.K.WILSON, S/O. LATE KOCHUMAMON, 28/702, KADAVANTHRA, K.P.VALLON ROAD, KOCHI-20. 40. GEORGE THARAKAN T., S/O. T.G.THANKACHAN, THANKAN VEEDU, VYTTILA P.O., THYKOODAM, KOCHI-19. 41. T.P.JOSEPH, S/O. LATE I.POULOSE, THATTAMPURATH, SUDARSAN LANE, KOCHI-20. 42. MR. T.V.THOMAS, S/O. LATE VARKEY VARGHESE, THYKKAKATH, HIG AVENUE, GANDHI NAGAR, KOCHI-20. 43. ALICE ISSAC, W/O. M.ISSAC, KADAVIL, G.262, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, KOCHI-36. 44. GEORGE VALLAKKALIL, S/O. JOHN JACOB, VALLAKKALLIL, VYTTILA P.O. 45. C.JACOB KOSHY, S/O. C.M.KOSHY, M/3/85, INDIRA NAGAR, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-20. 46. M.K.ABRAHAM, S/O. M.K.KOSHY, 10/B4, ABM TOWER, KOCHI-682 020. 47. S.P.SAJO, S/O. K.PAPPACHAN, VALIYAZHIKATH, CHILAVANNUR ROAD, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI. 48. E.JACOB KURIAN, S/O. E.N.KURIAN, ENCHAKKADU HOUSE, 31/752, VYTTILA, KOCHI-682 019. 49. SISILY JOHN, W/O. M.P.JOHN, MAYANAMKUZHIL HOUSE, VENNALA, JANATHA ROAD, KOCHI. 50. NASH P.THOMAS, PALLIVATHUKKAL, KAWAHAR NAGAR, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-682 020. W.P.(C) NO.32335/2007 51. P.M.MATHEW, 27/2328-A, BVM ROAD, GIRINAGAR, KOCHI-20. 52. JACOB E.J., S/O. LATE JACOB, ANUGRAHA, ELANJIKKAL BHAVANI VIDYA MANDIR ROAD, KADAVANTHRA P.O., ERNAKULAM. 53. K.K.MATHEW, ELANJHIMATTOM HOUSE, NEAR GAS PLANT, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI. 54. CAPT. A.C.GEORGE, S/O. LATE PERUMAI CHACKO, 28/1330, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-682 020. 55. ANNAMMA KOSHY KURIAN, THONDUPARAMBIL HOUSE, IRIMPANAM P.O., TRIPUNITHURA. 56. T.V.JOSEPH, S/O. T.G.VARGHESE, THONDUPARAMBIL HOUSE, KARICODE, MULANTHURUTHY. 57. T.V.JOHN, S/O. T.G.VARGHESE, 264, GIRINAGAR, KADAVANTHRA P.O., KOCHI-682 020. 58. JACOB OMMEN, H.B.52, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, THATTUPURACKAL, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, KOCHI-682 036. 59. MRS. MARIAMMA MATHEW, W/O. MATHEW P.M., PURACKAL, B.V.M.ROAD, KADAVANTHRA-20. BY ADV. SRI.S.SREEKUMAR SRI.DINESH R.SHENOY SRI.M.V.SABU SRI.S.V.BALAKRISHNA IYER (SR.) THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 12/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C0 NO.32335/2007 APPENDIX PETITIONERS EXHIBITS EXT.P1:- COPY OF THE ORDER DT. 16.10.07 IN OS. 115/06 ON THE FILE OF IST ADDITIONAL SUB COURT, ERNAKULAM. EXT.P2:- COPY OF THE PLAINT OS. NO.115/06 ON THE FILE OF IST ADDITIONAL SUB OF SUB COURT, ERNAKULAM. /TRUE COPY/ P.A. TO JUDGE tss M.N.KRISHNAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No.32335 OF 2007 -------------------------- Dated this the 12th day of February, 2008 J U D G M E N T ~~~~~~~~~~~ This writ petition is preferred against the order of the Subordinate Judge, Ernakulam in O.S.No.115/2006 whereby the court directed to give an amended statement to show the market value of the property for the purpose of ascertaining the court fee under Section 25(b) of the Kerala Court fees and Suits Valuation Act. It is aggrieved by that decision the plaintiff has come up in appeal. It is desirable to refer to the prayer in the suit for the purpose of calculating court fee. The 1st prayer is to declare that the plaint A schedule chapel was founded with the object of ministering spiritual services at the time of funeral as well as thereafter on 7th, 9th, 30th and 40th day etc. 2. Prayer(b) is to declare that the present character of the plaint A schedule chapel functioning as a chapel of the pliant schedule church adjoining to B schedule cemetery cannot be altered. 3. Prayer (c) is to declare that the Kalpana No.16/2006 is W.P.(C) No.32335/2007 2 invalid, void, unenforceable and 4th is for a prohibitory injunction. 4. The plaintiff has valued prayer(a) under section 25 (d) (ii) of the Court Fees Act. Prayer(b) under Section 25 (d) (ii) of the Court Fees Act. Prayer(c) also under the same and relief (d) as per Section 27 (c) of the Court Fees Act. 5. Now the court below found that subject matter of the suit is immovable property and therefore it requires the valuation under Section 25 (b) of the Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act. It is true that there is immovable property involved in the case. But it is not the immovable property that is the subject matter for decision. But it is the matters concerning relating to certain aspects a relief is sought for. It is very clear that the 1st prayer is for a declaration to the effect regarding the purpose for which a chapel was founded and the second is regarding the character of the chapel and 3rd prayer is with respect to the Kalpana and its validity and the 4th prayer is only a consequential relief with respect to the property in case of the declaration under a to c. Therefore the subject matter which falls for consideration is not really with respect to the right in the immovable property but it is with respect to certain materials regarding administration and W.P.(C) No.32335/2007 3 lifting up of the status and also for declaration of a particular order to be void. These prayers are really in capable of being properly valued under Section 25(a) or 25(b) of the Court Fees Act because the market value of such prayers cannot be ascertained by the court. Therefore, the matter comes squarely under Section 25 d (ii) of the Court Fees Act reads as follows: “Where the subject matter of the suit is not capable of valuation fee shall be computed on the amount at which the relief sought is valued in the plaint or on rupees one thousand whichever is higher”. Here the plaintiffs have chosen to value the prayers (a) & (b) at Rs.1,00,000/- prayer (c) & (d) at Rs.5,000/- each and had paid the court fees. Therefore, I find that the court below was not justified in coming to the conclusion that the market value of the chapel, cemetery etc. has to be ascertained and court fee has to be paid under Section 25 (b) of the Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act. Therefore, the order under challenge is set aside and the valuation shown by the plaint under Section 25(d) (ii) of the Act is to be confirmed and the writ petition is allowed. (M.N.KRISHNAN, JUDGE) ps