M/S Empee Distilleries Limited vs M/S Gimpex Private Ltd

5. On   06.03.2018,   respondent   No.   1   filed   a   civil suit   being   C.S.   (Comm.Div.)   No.   161/2018   against appellant Nos. 1, 2 and one more defendant on the original civil jurisdiction side before the High Court at Madras.  The   suit   is  inter   alia  founded   on   certain commercial   transactions   executed   between   the plaintiff   and   defendant   Nos.   1   and   2   in   relation   to supply   of   coal.   It   is   filed   for   the   recovery   of Rs.19,54,29,693/­.

6. Respondent No.1 (plaintiff), on 06.03.2018, filed an   application   (A.No.2215/2018)   along   with   the plaint   seeking   prohibitory   order   against   the   Tamil Nadu   State   Marketing   Corporation   (TASMAC) (respondent No. 2 herein). In that application, it was alleged that a sum of Rs.24,00,00,000/­ (Rs. Twenty four   crores)   is   payable   by   respondent   No.   2   to   the appellants   (defendant   Nos.1   and   2)   and,   therefore, prohibitory order be passed against respondent No.2 herein   restraining   them   from   paying   money   to   the appellants (defendant Nos. 1 and 2) to the extent of Rs.19,54,29,693/­,i.e.,   the   amount   claimed   in   the suit by the plaintiff.

7. On   13.03.2018,   the   Single   Judge   of   the   High Court   passed  ex   parte  prohibitory   interim   order against the appellants (defendant Nos. 1 and 2). The appellants   then   filed   an   application   on   20.03.2018 and   sought   vacation   of   the  ex   parte  prohibitory 3 interim   order   dated   13.03.2018.   By   order   dated 28.03.2018, the Single Judge,  in substance, affirmed the   order   dated   13.03.2018   and   directed   that   it   is made   applicable   on   TASMAC  qua  appellant   Nos.   1 and   2   in   relation   to   the   supplies   made   up   to 19.03.2018. In this way, both applications, i.e., one filed by the plaintiff and the other filed by defendant Nos. 1 and 2 were disposed of.

8. Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 (appellants herein) felt aggrieved by the order dated 28.03.2018 filed appeal (O.S.A. No. 155/2018) before the Division Bench. By impugned order, the appeal was dismissed resulting in   upholding   of   the   order   dated   13.03.2018   and 28.03.2018, which gives rise to filing of this appeal by way of special leave by defendant Nos. 1 and 2 in this   Court   against   the   order   of   the   Division   Bench dated 04.06.2018.

14. We, therefore, do not consider it necessary to go into the merits of the first submission of the learned senior counsel for the appellants and nor consider it proper to comment upon the merits and demerits of the case at this stage.

15. It   is   for   the   reasons   that   firstly,   the   suit   is pending; secondly, contesting defendant Nos. 1 and 2 (appellants   herein)   have   not   yet   filed   their   written statements disclosing their defense; and thirdly, the trial in the suit on merits is yet to commence.

20. In   the   light   of   the   foregoing   discussion   and directions, the appeal stands disposed of.

….….………………………………..J    (ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE)        ………..………………………………J.       (MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR) New Delhi, September 24, 2018 9