Appeals Nos. 416 and 417 of 1947.
Appeals from the judgment and decree dated May 1, 1956, of the Punjab High Court in Regular First Appeal No. 45 of 1950.
276 A.V. Viswanatha Sastri, Gopal Singh and R. N Sachthey, for the appellants (in C.A. No. 416/1962), and respondent (in C.A. No. 417/62).
S.T. Desai, Hardayal Hardy and J. P. Agarwal, for the, respondent (in C.A. No. 416 of 1962) and appellants (in C.A. No. 417 of 1962).
May 8, 1964.
The following Judgments were delivered by the Court.
SARKAR J.I agree with the orders proposed by my brother Hidayatullah.
These appeals arise out of a suit brought by a firm called the Modern Cultivators against the State of Punjab to recover damages for loss suffered by flooding of its lands as a result of a breach in a canal belonging to the State of Punjab.
Both the Courts below have held in favour of the plaintiff but the High Court reduced the amount of the damages awarded by the trial Court.
Both parties have appealed to this Court.
The Modern Cultivators contend that the High Court is in error in reducing the amount of the damages.
The State of Punjab contends that it had no liability forthe loss caused by the flooding.
The breach and the floodingof the plaintiff 's lands are not now denied.
In regard to the appeal by the Modern Cultivators I have nothing to add to what has been said by Hidayatullah J.
For the reasons mentioned by him I agree that the damages had been correctly assessed by the trial Court.
In its appeal the State of Punjab first contended that the plaintiff could not succeed as it had failed to prove that the breach had been caused by the defendant 's negligence.
I am unable to accept this contention.
The trial Court inferred negligence against the defendant as it had failed to produce the relevant documents and with this view agree.
The defendant had produced no documents to show how the breach was caused.
It had been asked by the trial Court to do so by an order made on May 12, 1949 but failed to produce them.
The defendant bad a large number of canal officers and according to Mr. Malhotra, the,Executive Engineer in charge of the canal at the relevant time, 277 there was a regular office and various reports concerning the breach had been made.
None of these was produced at the hearing.
It is obvious that in an Organisation like the canal office, reports and other documents must have been kept to show how the breach occurred and what was done to stop it.
If such documents are not produced, an inference can be legitimately made that if produced, they would have gone against the case of the defendant, that is, they would have proved that the defendant had been negligent: Murugesan Pillai vs Manickavasaka Pandara(1).
It was suggested in this Court.
that the documents had been destroyed.
It may be that they are now destroyed.
One of the defendant 's officers called by the High Court in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the documentary evidence said that documents Were destroyed after three lo seven years.
The breach occurred in August 1947, the suit was filed in October 1948 and the trial was held about August 1949.
So it would appear that at the time ,of the trial the relevant documents had not been destroyed.
Nor was it said that they had then been destroyed.
Furthermore, in view of the pendency of the suit the documents must have be en preserved.
It is, clear that they bad not been produced deliberately.
An inference that the defendant was negligent in the management of the canal arises from the non production of the documents.
There is therefore, evidence that the defendant was negligent.
Furthermore it seems to me that the rule of res ipsa loquitur applies to this case.
The canal was admittedly in the management of the defendant and canal banks are not breached if those in management take proper care.
In such ,cases the rule would apply and the breach itself would be prima facie proof of negligence: see Scott vs London Dock Co.(1).
No doubt the defendant can show that the breach was due to act of God or to act of a third party or any ,other thing which would show that it had not been negligent, but it did not do so.
It may be that the rule of res ipsa loquitur may not apply where it is known how the thing which caused the damage happened as was held in Bankway vs South Wales Transport Co., Ltd.(1).
But that is not the (1) L.R. 44 I.A. 98.
(2) (3) 278 case here.
No reason has been advanced why the rule should not apply.
Therefore I think that the first contention of the defendant that there is no evidence of negligence must be rejected.
I do not think it necessary in the present case to consider whether the rule in Rylands vs Fletcher(1) applies to make the defendant liable for I have already held that it is liable as negligence has been proved.
The second point raised by the defendant was one of limitation.
It was contended on behalf of the defendant that the case was governed by article 2 of the first schedule of the Limitation Act.
It is not in dispute that if that article applies, the suit would be out of time.
That article relates to a suit "for compensation for doing or omitting to do an act alleged to be in pursuance of any enactment".
It was said that the imposed a duty on the defendant to take care of the canal banks and its failure to do so was the omission to do an act in pursuance of an enactment within the article.
I have very grave doubt if this interpretation of article 2 is correct.
There is authority against it: see Mohammad Saadat Ali Khan vs The Administrator, Corporation of City of Lahore(1).
But apart from that I find nothing in the Canal Act imposing any duty on the defendant to take care of the banks.
We were referred to sections 6 and 51 of that Act.
Both are enabling sections giving power to the State Government to do certain acts.
Under section 6 it has power to enter on any land and remove any obstruction and close any channels or do any other thing necessary for the application or use of the water to be taken into the canal.
This obviously does not impose any duty in connection with the canal bank.
Section 15.
gives the power to the canal autho rities in case of accident happening or being apprehended to a canal to enter upon lands of others and to do all things necessary to repair the accident or prevent it.
This section again has nothing to do with taking care of the canal banks.
Therefore, even assuming that the defendant 's interpretation of article 2 is correct, this is not a case to which it may apply.
I wish however to make it clear that nothing that I have said (1) ; (2) [1945] L.R 26 Lah.
523 279 here is to be read as in any way approving the defendant 's interpretation of article 2.
Therefore the defendant '& conten tion that the suit was barred by limitation also fails.
The defendant 's appeal must, therefore, be dismissed and the plaintiff 's appeal allowed.
Costs will naturally follow the result.
HIDAYATULLAH, J.On August 15, 1947 the Western Jamna Canal at R.D. No. 138000 near Sangipur and Jandhrea villages burst its western bank.
The canal water inundated the neighbouring fields where crops of sugar cane, maize, urud etc.
grown by the plaintiff firm were damaged.
The plaintiff brought this action alleging that the breach in the bank was caused by negligence on the part of the canal authorities who were guilty of further negligence in not closing the breach without delay.
The plaintiff estimated its loss at Rs. 60,000 in respect of the standing crop and a further loss of Rs. 10,000 in respect of the deterioration of the land for future cultivation.
It however, limited its claim to Rs. 20,000.
The State Government denied negligence on the part of the canal authorities.
Government admitted that a breach did occur in an old inlet channel of Chhalaundi Silting Tank on August 15, 1947 and some canal water escaped through the breach which, it was said, flowed back to the canal through the outlet of the silting tank lower down the canal.
Government claimed that the site was immediately inspected by the Executive Engineer and no damage to the crops was discovered and that the breach was promptly closed and the bank was strengthened.
Government stated that there were heavy rains on the 8th September and again from 23rd to 28th September, 1947 causing floods in the nullahas but as the canal was running full supply, water brought by the nullahas to the silting tank could not get to the canal and over flowed to the adjoining areas.
Shortly stated, plaintiff 's case was that there was a breach in the western bank of the canal owing to the negligence of the defendants and canal water escaped to the fields causing them to be flooded; while the case of the Government was that a breach did take place but it was promptly repaired 280 and the fields were flooded not by the canal water but by heavy rains in the month of September.
The trial judge passed a decree for Rs. 20,000 against Government, but it was reduced by the High Court to Rs. 14,130.
These two cross appeals have thus been filed by the rival parties by special leave of this Court.
The High Court and the court below have a, reed in holding that there was a break in the canal.
The size of the breach has been variously described, but it was certainly not less than 30 feet wide and the depth of the water at the breach was about 15 feet.
It is admitted that the canal was then running full supply 2, 5,000 Cusecs.
As the width of the canal was 400 feet, the out flow would be at the rate of 5,00OX30/400 Cusecs if the breach was 30 feet wide.
This would mean extensive flooding of the low lying areas unless the breach was immediately closed.
Some of the witnesses say that it was as much as 70 to 80 feet wide and that would make the out flow even greater.
The High Court held that the floods were not caused by the rains.
Prior to the break in the canal there was only I inch of rainfall.
The heavy rains took place much later.
The inundation of the fields was thus by water from the canal and not from the nullahas.
This much has already been held.
It ,is admitted that the breach occurred at a place where there was an old nullah through which silting operations were carried out in the past and this exit was closed in the previous years and the breach was at that very site.
The breach was noticed on the morning of the 16th.
No attempt was made by either side to establish the exact duration of time before the breach was repaired.
Mr. Malhotra (Executive Engineer) stated that it was repaired by the 18th but was re opened (one does not know why) on the 20th and again closed on the 21st.
Evidence on behalf of the plaintiff established that water continued pouring out as late as the month of October.
This was apparently an exaggeration.
There is no evidence to show that the flow of water in the canal was reduced from the headworks the breach occurred.
It apparently continued on full The High Court attempted to secure the documents from the canal Office which had not been produced earlier.
The 281 Executive Engineer, then in charge was summoned to bring all the papers in his office and he produced the telegrams received by and copies of telegrams issued from the head office between August 16, 1947 and September 5, 1947.
From these documents it is now established that the breach was not repaired at least upto August 27, 1947 and the evidence that it was repaired on the 18th was therefore not accurate.
It has also been established that the case of the plaintiff that water continued to flow right upto October was also false.
It may thus be assumed that repairs were completed by the 27th August but not earlier.
It is admitted that the area into which water flowed was used as a silting tank.
The silting operations comprise the opening of the bank of the canal at a selected place to let out turbid water which passing through the silting tank drops the sediment and flows back to the canal at a lower reach free of the silt, and closing of the bank.
It is now admitted that at the exact spot where the breach took place there was previously an opening for silting purposes which was recently closed.
There is no evidence to show negligence on the part of Government.
Curiously enough Government said that it had not preserved the papers connected with this mishap.
We can hardly believe this.
Government led evidence to establish that the banks of the canal were periodically inspected and claimed that the breach was an act of God without any negligence on the part of the canal authorities.
It is an admitted fact that crops of the plaintiff were destroyed if not wholly at least substantially.
The only question, therefore, is whether Government can be held responsible for the damage caused to the plaintiff and, if so what should be the compensation.
Two points were urged on behalf of Government: the first was that the suit filled by the plaintiff was out of time inasmuch as article 2 of the Indian Limitation Act which pres cribes a period of three months was applicable and not article 36 which prescribes a period of two years.
This wag held against Government by the High Court and the court below.
The second point urged on behalf of Government was that there was no proof of negligence whatever by the plaintiff and the plaintiff must therefore fail.
The High 282 Court in dealing with this point held that, in the circum stances res ipsa loquitur and that it was not necessary for the plaintiff to prove negligence and it must be so presumed.
The High Court differed from the court below in assessing damages.
In the appeal of the Government both these points are urged.
On behalf of the plaintiff, in the companion appeal, it is contended that the High Court omitted to give proper compensation for the loss of maize and urud crop.
It is submitted that the High Court adopted the formula that in respect of sugar cane crop which needs plenty of water the damages should be assessed at 1/3 of the value of the crop and in respect of maize and urud crops at 1/2 the value.
The plaintiff contends in its appeal (that the whole of the maize and urud crop was completely destroyed and the decree of the court of first instance allowing 3/4 of the value of the crop as compensation was unassailable.
It is pointed out that evidence disclosed that water in the fields was 4 to 5 feet deep and the maize and urud plants were less than 2 feet high.
In other words, the plants remained submerged during all the time the fields were mandated.
It is obvious that the crop must have been entirely destroyed and the allowance of 1/4 was because the destroyed crop had some value as chari.
On the facts, as found, there was hardly any justification for reducing the amount of the decree for damages passed by the court of first instance.
The High Court itself, in more than one place, stated in its judgment that the maize and urud crops were completely destroyed.
It is, therefore, clear that unless Government succeeds in its appeal the.
decree of the court of first instance must be restored in this case.
Mr. Vishwanatha Sastri on behalf of Government asked for a remit, but in view of the slight difference and the fact that the High Court itself remarked that the maize and urud crops were completely destroyed there would not be any necessity to order a remit in case the appeal of the Government fails.
I shall now turn to that appeal.
The facts as found in this case are that in 1946, the land which got flooded, was used for silting operations.
An opening in the western bank was made in that year and the 283 bank was restored in June 1946.
Till the month of August in the following year there was no complaint.
Evidence discloses that the banks were regularly inspected.
A special Engineer and a Special Sub Divisional Officer were in charge and there were watchmen also.
There is no evidence of wilful conduct.
The plaintiff has not led evidence to establish any particular act of negligence.
There is no evidence that the breach was caused by the act of a third party or even of God.
Sastri, therefore, contends that as there was no foreseable danger against which precautions could be taken beyond making periodical inspections, and this was done, there can be no liability.
He submits that in this view of the matter the plaintiff must fail in the absence of proof of negligence.
The High Court applied to the case the rule in Donoghue vs Stavenson(1) reinforcing it with what is often described as the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.
This case is first of its kind in India and needs to be carefully considered.
Before us reliance was placed upon the rule in Rylands vs Fletcher(1).
That rule, shortly stated, is: that any occupier of land who brings or keeps upon it anything likely to do damage if it escapes is bound at his peril to prevent its escape, and is liable for all the direct consequences of its escape, even if he has been guilty of no negligence: Per Salmond, Law of Torts 13th Edu.
p. 574.
The rule in Rylands vs Fletcher was derivatively created from the rule of strict liability applicable to the acts of animals but, in my opinion, it is hardly applicable here.
Canal systems are essential to the life of the nation and land that is used as canals, is subjected to an ordinary use and not to an unnatural use on which the rule in Rylands vs Fletcher rests.
The words of Lord Cairns "non,natural use" of land and of Blackburn, J. "special use bringing with it increased danger to others" are sometimes missed.
There is difficulty in distinguishing non natural and natural user but perhaps the best test to apply is slated by Lord Moulton in Richards vs Lothian(1): (1) [1932] A.C. 562 (2) L.R 3 H.L. 300 (3) ; , 280 284 "Some special use bringing with it increased danger to others, and must not merely be the ordinary use of the land or such a use as is proper for the general benefit of the community.
" They formed the basis of observation of Viscount Maugham in Sedleigh Denfield vs V. O 'Callaghan and Ors.(1).
As was pointed out by Holmes in his Common Law (1963) at p. 93: "It may even be very much for the public good that dangerous accumulations should be made.
" Cases of breaks in canals resulting in danger to neigh bouring lands are rare but some are to be found in law reports from the United States of America.
I need not refer to them because the following passage from American Jurisprudence Vol.
9 page 340 para 38 gives an adequate summary of the principles on which they had been dealt with: "A canal company is also liable for flooding private property where it has not acquired the legal right to do so; it is answerable in damages for all loss occasioned by a neglect on its part to use reasonable care and precaution to prevent the waters of its canal from escaping therefrom to the injury and detriment of others.
A canal proprietor is not, however, liable for damages to adjoining lands resulting from a mere accidental break in his canal which human foresight and vigilance could not have anticipated, and against which proper prudence and judgment could not be expected to provide.
Although it has been held that a canal company is not liable for damages occasioned by the per colation of waters through the banks of its canal, in the absence of proof of negligence on its part in want of skill or care in the construction and maintenance of its canal, such holdings are maintenance of its canal.
such holdings (1) ; at 889 285 are opposed to the weight of reason and autho rity.
" Perhaps the liability is viewed strictly as an inducement to care Safety is best secured when.
it is made the responsi bility of the person who must not only take precautions to avoid accident but who alone decides what those precautions should be.
In this connection the rule that is most often quoted was stated by Erle C.J. in Scott vs London and St. Katherine Docks Co. (1) thus: "There must be reasonable evidence of negligence.
But where the thing is shown to be under the management of the defendant or his servants, and the accident is such as in the ordinary course of things does not happen if those who have the management use proper care, it affords reasonable evidence, in the absence of explanation by the defendants that the accident arose from want of care.
" In subsequent cases it has been customary to regard this as a statement of the principle of res loquitur.
But the principle, if it be one, cannot always be safely applied where the facts before the court are not the whole facts.
In a vast canal system constructed with great care and attention to detail it may be difficult to prove negligence but it may sometimes be equally difficult to explain how the defect arose.
The principle of res ipsa loquitur had its origin in the failing of a barrel of flour from a first floor window on a passerby but it has been extended to situations quite different.
It is not very much in favour and if applied it must be correctly understood.
It is not a principle which dispenses with proof of negligence.
Rather it shifts onus from one party to another.
It is rule of evidence and not of liability.
A too ready reliance on the maxim reinforces a fault liability and makes it into an absolute liability.
If absolute liability is to give way to fault liability, some fault must be established by evidence or must be capable of being reasonably inferred from the circumstances.
It is not (1) ; : 286 sufficient to say res ipsa loquitur because the danger is that facts may not always tell the whole story and if there is something withheld how can the thing be said to speak for itself ? The principle which I consider reasonable to apply where fault has to be inferred from circumstances was best stated by Lord Porter and I respectfully adopt it.
Speaking of res ipsa loquitur it was observed by Lord Porter in Barkway vs South Wales Transport Co. Ltd.(1) : "The doctrine is independent on the absence of explanation, and, although it is the duty of the defendants, if they desire to protect themselves, to give an adequate explanation of the cause of the accident, yet, if the facts are sufficiently known, the question ceases to be one where the facts speak for themselves, and the solution is to be found by determining whether, on the facts as established, negligence is to be inferred or not.
" I have made these observations so that the principle may not be applied too liberally.
It must also be remembered that what is said in relation to it in one case cannot indiscriminately be applied to another case.
It should not be applied as legal rule but only as an aid to an inference when it is reasonable to think that there are no further facts to consider.
I shall now consider the facts as they stand in this case to discover if the canal authorities can be said to be at fault.
The facts show that the water escaped into the Chillaundi Silting Tank through the nallah which had previously been used for silting operations and had been sealed in the previous year.
If the plug were sound it would have withstood the pressure of water as it did after it was repaired on the 27th August even though 28" of rainfall fell within 20 days.
There is nothing to show that the outflow was due to rainfall or a storm so exceptional that it could be regarded as an act of Good.
Nor was it due to any disturbance of the earth 's crust or interference by a stranger.
There is thus ,sufficient evidence, in the absence of reasonable explanation (1) at 394,395 287 (which there is not), to establish negligence.
Further, there was inordinate delay and negligence in sealing the breach.
Even the flow in the canal was not reduced for repairs to be carried out quickly.
In such circumstances, the facts prove negligence and government was rightly held responsible.
Whether the defect was patent or latent is not much to the purpose.
It was not an inevitable accident, and the Government must be held liable.
It remains to consider the question of limitation.
The high Court and the court below have applied article 36 of the indian Limitation Act.
Government claims that the proper Article to apply was article 2.
These Articles may be set down here: Description of Period of limitation Time from which suit.
period begins to run.
For compensation Ninety days When The act or for doing or for omission takes omitting to do an place.
act alleged to be in pursuance of any enactment in force for the time in India 36.
For compensation Two years (now When the malfeasance for any mal feas one year) misfeasance or non ance, misfeasance feasance takes place.
or nonfeasance independent of contract and not herein specially provided for.
It is not denied that if article 2 was not applicable, the proper Article would be article 36 and the suit would also be within time.
In contending that the second article applies reliance is placed on a decision of the Privy Council in Punjab Cotton Press Co. Ltd. vs Secretary of State(1).
But that case is clearly inapplicable.
There the canal authorities cut the bank of a canal at a selected point to let the water away with a view to protecting a railway track passing close by ,on a high embankment and in this way flooded and injured the plaintiff 's mills.
The Judicial Committee held that if the act was done, as was said, under section 15 of the (8 of 1873), article 2 was applicable and not article 36.
The case was thus remanded (1) I.L.R. to Lah.
171 P.C. 288 to find the fact necessary for the application of the.
right article.
In relying upon this case, Mr. Viswanatha Sastri claims that section 15 of the Canal Act covers the present facts.
Mr. Gopal Singh, who followed, also refers to section 6.
These, sections read: "6.
Powers of Canal Officer.
At any time after the day so named, any Canal Officer, acting under the orders of the State Government in this behalf, may enter on any land and remove any obstructions, and MaY close any channels, and do any other thing necessary for such application or use of thE said water." "15.
Power to enter for repairs and to prevent accidents.
In case of any accident happening or being apprehended to a canal, any Divisional Canal.
Officer or any person acting under his general or special orders in this behalf may enter, upon any lands adjacent to such canal, and may execute all works which may be necessary for the purpose of repairing or preventing such accidents.
Compensation for damage to land.
In every such case, such Canal Officer or person shall tender compensation to the proprietors or occupiers of the said lands for all damage done to the same.
If such tender is not accepted, the Canal Officer shall refer the matter to the Collector, who shall proceed to award compensation for the damage as though the State Government had directed the occupation of the lands under section 43 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1870.
" In regard to section 6 it is sufficient to say that it has no application here.
It refers to the day named in section 5 and 289 that section provides for a notification to be issued declaring that water would be applied after a particular date for purpose of any existing or projected canal or drainage work or for purposes of Government.
On such notification issuing any Canal Officer, acting under the orders of the State Government, may enter on any land and remove obstructions or close any channels so that water may be applied to those purposes.
This is an entirely different matter and it is no wonder that Mr. Viswanatha Sastri did not rely upon section 6.
Section 15 no doubt confers a power to enter lands and property of others to affect repairs or to prevent accidents.
One can hardly dispute that it is the normal duty of canal authorities to make repairs and execute works to prevent accidents.
But article 2 cannot apply to omissions in following the statutory duties because it cannot be suggested that they are 'in pursuance of any enactment '.
Cases of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance may or may not have statutory protection.
Act or omission which can claim statutory protection or is alleged to be in pursuance of a statutory command may attract article 2 but the act or (mission must be one which can be said to be in pursuance of an enactment.
Here the suit was for compensation for damage consequent on a break in the canal on August 15, 1947.
The only act or omission could be the opening and closing of the channel for silting operations.
That was before June 1946.
The third column of article 2 provides the start of the limitation of 90 days" when the act or omission takes place.
" The period of limitation in this case would be over even before the injury if that were the starting point.
This subject was elaborately discussed in Mohamad Sadaat Ali Khan vs Administrator Corporation of City of Lahore(1) where all rulings on the subject were noticed, Mahajan J. (as he then was) pointed out that "the act or omission must be those which are honestly believed to be justified by a statute".
The same opinion was expressed (1) I.L.R. F.B. 51 S.C. 19. 290 by Courtney Terrell C.J., in Secretary of State vs Lodna Colliery Co. Ltd. (1) in these words : "The object of the article is the protection of public officials, who, while bona fide purporting to act in the exercise of a statutory power, have exceeded that power and have committed a tortious act; it resembles in this respect the English Public Authorities Protection Act.
If the act complained of is within the terms of the statute, no protection is needed, for the plaintiff has suffered no legal wrong.
The protection is needed when an actionable wrong has been committed and to secure the protection there must be in the first place a bona fide belief by the official that the act compalined of was justified by the statute; secondly, the act must have been performed under colour of a statutory duty, and thirdly, the act must be in itself ,a tort in order to give rise to the cause of action.
It is against such actions for tort that the statute gives protection.
" These cases have rightly decided that Art.2 cannot apply to cases where the act or omission compalained of is not complained of is not alleged to be in pursuance of statutory authority.
It is true that in Commissioners for the Port of Calcutta vs Corporation of Calcutta(1) the Judicial Committee, while dealing with section 142 of the Calcutta Port Act (3 of 1890) which reads: No suit shall be brought against any person for any done or purporting or professing to be done in pursuance of this Act, after the expiration of three months from the day on which the cause of action in such suit shall have arisen", pointed to the presence of the words "purporting or profess ing to be done in pursuance of this Act" and observed that (1) I.L.R. 1 5 Pat.
510 (2) 64 I.A. 36 291 they regarded the words as of 'pivotal importance ' and that their presence postulated "that work which is not done in pursuance of the statute may nevertheless be accorded its protection if the work professes or purports to be done in pursuance of the statute".
But they were giving protection to an act which could legitimately claim to be in pursuance of the Port Amt.
Here the break in the bank was not that kind of act or omission.
It could not claim to be in pursu ance of the Canal Act.
Nor could the opening or closing of the channel for silting operations, though in pursuance of the Canal Act, be the relevant act or omission because they were more than a year before the cause of action and to apply a limitation of 90 days to that cause of action is not only impossible but also absurd.
article 2, therefore, does not apply here.
It was not contended before us that the suit was otherwise time barred and we accordingly confirm the finding that the suit was within time.
The result thus is that the appeal filed by the State Government fails and I would dismiss it with costs and allow the appeal filed by the plaintiff with costs.
I would modify the judgment and decree of the High Court by altering the amount of Rs. 14,130 to Rs. 20,000 as ordered by the trial judge.
MUDHOLKAR, J.I agree with my brethren Sarkar and Hidayatullah that the appeal preferred by the defendant, the Stale of Punjab, be dismissed and the appeal preferred by the plaintiff, the Modern Cultivators, be allowed and the decree for damages be restored to the sum awarded by the trial court.
I also agree with the order for costs as proposed.
I wish to add nothing with regard to the plaintiff 's appeal to what has been said by my brother Hidayatullah nor to what he or my brother Sarkar has said regarding the question of limitation raised on behalf of the defendant.
They have both held that article 2 of the Limitation Act is not attracted to a case like the present where the damages sustained by the plaintiff are not the result of anything done by the State 292 in pursuance of a statutory power exercised by it or by reason of an act which could properly be said to have been performed in the purported exercise of a statutory power.
If article 2 is out of the way, it is not disputed on behalf of the State that the suit will be within time.
My learned brother Hidayatullah has referred to the rule of common law as to strict liability with respect to damages resulting from the escape of deleterious substances or cattle from the land which have been accumulated or brought on the land by its owner for his use and which were not natural there.
The rule was stated thus in Rylands vs Fletcher(1) by Blackburn, J. "We think that the true rule of law is that the person who for his own purposes brings on his lands and collects and keeps there anything likely to do mischief if it escapes, must keep it in at his peril, and if he does not do so is prima facie answerable for all the damage which is the natural consequence of its escape.
" It was approved by the House of Lords, but Lord Cairns laid down a new principle distinguishing the natural from the non natural user of land and holding that in the latter case only was the liability absolute.
(see Salmond on Torts, 13th ed.
p. 579).
This rule has been adopted in this country in several cases (see Gooroo Churn vs Ram Dutt(2); Dhanusao vs Sitabai(3) and several other cases) and can, therefore, be regarded as a part of the common law of the land.
In the country of its origin, this rule has been subjected to certain exceptions.
The present case falls in one of the exceptions recognised in some, though not, all cases.
It has been held in some cases that where the owner or occupier of land accumulate,,, a deleterious substance thereon by virtue of an obligation imposed upon him by a statute or in exercise of statutory authority he will not be rendered liable for damages resulting therefrom to other persons unless it is established that he was guilty (1) 18681 ; (2) 293 of negligence in allowing the deleterious substance to escape.
In a recent decision Dunne vs Horth Western Gas Board(1) the Court of Appeal has recognised this exception and the controversy may be said to have been set at rest subject, of course, to what the House of Lords may have to say hereafter.
Indeed, the liability to pay damages to another resulting from an act of a person is laid upon him by the law of torts upon the basis that his act was wrongful and that he was a wrong doer.
Where, therefore, the act consists of something which the law enjoins upon that person to do or which the law permits him to do, it cannot possibly be said that his mere act in doing that something was in itself wrongful and that he was a wrong doer.
He will, however, be liable if he performed the act in a negligent manner or if the escape of the deleterious substance subsequent to accumulation of that substance in exercise of a statutory authority was the result of his negligence.
There is nothing here to show that in constructing the canal under the powers conferred by the State did anything other than what the law permitted.
Therefore, by constructing the canals and allowing water to flow along it the State merely exercised its statutory authority.
Further, there is nothing to show that there was any want of care in constructing the canal and so no question of negligence will arise in constructing the canal and allowing water to flow along the canal in question.
Here, what has happened is that at the point where prior to 1946 the water from the canal was allowed to flow into the silting tank through a nallah, there was an opening which was plugged in that year.
Here, it is established that over a year after that opening was plugged by the State a breach of about 30 or 40 feet was caused.
This occurred on August 15, 1947.
It has not been shown that the breach could have been caused by an act of God or an act of third party.
The contention of the State that it was caused by heavy rains in the catchment area has not been found to be true If, therefore, there is material from which it could be inferred that the breach was caused by reason of negligence on the part of the State in inspecting the banks of the canal and in (1) 294 particular that portion of it where the breach had been caused the State would be liable in damages.
This would be, so not by the operation of the rule in Rylands vs Fletcher(1) but by reason of negligence.
The sole ground upon which the liability of the State could be established in this case would be negligence of the State in properly maintaining the banks of the canal.
For this purpose it would be relevant to consider whether there were periodical inspections, whether any breaches or the development of cracks were noticed along the banks of the canal and in particular at the place where the breach ulti mately occurred or whether any erosion of the banks parti cularly at the place where one of the banks had been plugged had been noticed and no action or timely action had been taken thereon.
There is evidence to show that the canals were being regularly inspected.
That, however, is not the end of the matter.
Immediately after the breach occurred some reports were made and as pointed out by my brethren in their judgments they were not placed before the court despite its order requiring their production.
When the matter went up before the High Court it was said that the records had been destroyed in the year 1958 or so and therefore they could not be furnished.
This action on the part of the State is manifestly unreasonable and the legiti mate inference that could be drawn from it is that if the documents had been produced they would have gone against the State and would establish its negligence.
In it could legitimately be presumed that the State was negligent inasmuch as it had deliberately suppressed evidence in its possession which could have established negligence.
In the circumstances of this case I do not think it appropriate to refer to the rule of evidence res ipsa loquitur.


Summary:
A firm called the Modern Cultivators brought a suit against the State of Punjab to recover damages for loss of crops suffered by flooding of its lands as a result of a break in a canal belonging to the State.
The plaintiff 's case was that there was a breach in the western bank of the canal owing to the negligence of the defendants and canal water escaped to the fields causing them to be flooded.
The case of Government was that breach did take place but it was promptly repaired and the fields were flooded not by the canal water but by heavy rains in the month of September.
The trial Judge passed a decree for Rs. 20,000 against Government, but it was reduced by the High Court to Rs. 14,130.
The High Court held that the inundation of the fields was by water from the canal and not from the nallahas.
Both the plaintiff and the defendant filed cross appeals by special leave of this Court.
Held (per Sarkar, J.): (i) That the rule of res ipsa loquitur was applicable to the facts of this case because there would not have been a breachin the banks of the canal if those in management took proper care andthe breach itself would be prima facie proof of negligence.
Scott vs London Dock Co., applied.
Barkway vs South Wales Transport Co. Ltd., [1950] 1 All.
E.R. 392, distinguished.
(ii)An inference that the defendant was negligent in the management of the canal arises because it is clear from the record that documents called for had not been produced deliberately.
Murugesam Pillai vs Manickavasaka Pandara, L.R. 44 I.A. 98, referred to.
(iii)Article 2 of the Limitation Act does not apply to the facts of the casefor there is nothing in the Canal Act imposing any duty on the defendant to take care of the banks.
Held (per Hidayatullah, J.): (i) The principle of res ispa loquitur cannot always, be safely applied where the facts before the court are not the whole facts.
It should not be applied as legal rule but only 51 S.C. 18. 274 as an aid to an inference when it is reasonable to think that there are lb no further facts to consider.
It is not a principle which dispenses with proof of negligence.
Rather it shifts onus from one party to another.
It is a rule of evidence and not of liability.
A too ready reliance on the maxim reinforces a fault liability and makes it into an absolute liability.
If absolute liability is to give way to fault liabilty, some fault must be established by evidence or must be capable of being reasonably inferred from the circumstances.
It is not sufficient to say res ipsa loquitur because the danger is that facts may not always tell the whole story and if there is something withheld how can the thing be said to speak for itself? The High Court erred in applying the principle of res ipsa loqutur to the facts of this case.
In the present case there was sufficient evidence, in the absence of reasonable explanation (which there was not), to establish negligence.
Donoghue vs Stevenson, 1932 1 A.C. 562, explained.
Sedleigh Denfield vs V. O 'Callaghan and Other section 1940 1 A.C. 890 and Scott vs London and St. Katherine Docks Co., ; , referred to.
Barkway vs South Wales Transport Co. Ltd. [1950] 1 All.
E.R. , relied on.
(ii)The rule in Raylands vs Fletcher is hardly applicable here.
Canal Systems are essential to the life of the Nation and land that is used as canals, is subjected to an ordinary use and not to unnatural use on which the rule in Raylands vs Fletcher rests.
There is difficulty in distinguishing non natural and natural user.
Rylands vs Fletcher, L.R. 3 H.L. 300, inapplicable.
Richards vs Lothian, ; , relied on.
(iii)Article 2 of the Limitation Act cannot apply to cases where the act or omission complained of is not alleged to be in pursuance of statutory authority.
Act or omission which can claim statutory protection or is alleged to be in pursuance of a statutory command may attract article 2 of the Limitation Act but the Act or omission must be one which can be said to be in pursuance of an enactment.
In the present case the breach in the bank was not that kind of act or omission.
It could not claim to be in pursuance of the Canal Act.
Nor could the opening or closing of the channel for operations, though in pursuance of the Canal Act, be the relevant act or omission because they were more than a year before the cause of action and to apply a limitation of 90 days to that cause of action is not only impossible but also absurd.
Article 2, therefore does not apply.
Article 3 of the Limitation Act applies to the present case.
Punjab Cotton Press Co. Ltd. vs Secretary of State, I.L.R. P.C., inapplicable 275 Mohamad Sadaat Ali Khan vs Administrator Corporation of City of Lahore, I.L.R. F.B. and Secretary of State vs Lodna Colliery Co. Ltd., I.L.R. 15 Pat.
510, referred to.
Commissioners for the Port of Calcutta vs Corporation of Calcutta, 64 I.A. 363, distinguished.
Held (per Mudholkar. J.): (i) The rule in Rylands vs Fletcher applies only if the defendant brings or accumulates on his own land something that is likely to escape and do mischief, irrespective of the question whether that was done by the defendant wilfully or negligently.
This rule has been adopted in this country in several cases and so can be regarded as a part of the common law of the land.
In the country of its origin, this rule has been subjected to certain exceptions.
One of the exceptions is this: that where the owner or occupier of land accumulates a deleterious substance thereon by virtue of an obligation imposed upon him by a statute or in exercise of statutory authority he will not be rendered liable for damages resulting therefrom to other persons unless it is established that he was guilty of negligence in allowing the deleterious substance to escape.
The present case falls within this exception.
The State of Punjab would not be liable for damages by the operation of the rule in Rylands vs Fletcher but is liable by reason of its negligence.
The breach was caused by the negligence on the part of the officers of the State in inspecting the banks of the canal and in particular that portion of it where the breach had been caused.
Rylands vs Fletcher, ; explained.
Gooroo Churn V. Ram Dutt, , Dhanusao V. Sitabai, , and Dunne vs North Western Gas Board, referred to.
(ii)The rule of evidence res ipsa loquitur cannot be applied to the facts of this case because all the facts for the decision of the case were not placed before the court.
Immediately after the breach occurred some reports were made by the officers of the State but they were not placed before the Court despite its order requiring their production.
In other words the State had deliberately suppressed evidence in its possession which could have established negligence.
In this view the rule of res ipsa loquitur is not the applicable.