The Courts shall (subject to the provisions herein contained) have jurisdiction to try all suits of a civil nature excepting suits of which their cognizance is either expressly or impliedly barred.

1[Explanation I].- A suit in which the right to property or to an office is contested is a suit of a civil nature, notwithstanding that such right may depend entirely on the decision of questions as to religious rites or ceremonies.

2[Explanation ll].- For the purposes of this section, it is immaterial whether or not any fees are attached to the office referred to in Explanation I or whether or not such office is attached to a particular place.].

STATE AMENDMENTS

Maharashtra- After section 9 insert the following section 9A.

"9A. Where at the hearing of application relating to interim relief in a suit, objection to jurisdiction is taken such issue to be decided by the court as a preliminary issue:-

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this code or any other law for the time being in force, if at the hearing of any application for granting or setting aside an Order granting any interim relief, whether by way of stay, injunction, appointment of a receiver or otherwise, made in any suit, on objection to jurisdiction of the court to entertain such suit is taken by any of the parties to the suit the court shall proceed to determine at the hearing of such application the issue as to the jurisdiction as a preliminary issue before granting for setting aside the Order granting the interim relief. Any such application shall be heard and disposed of by the court as expeditiously as possible and shall not in any case be adjourned to the hearing of the suit.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), at the hearing of any such application the court may grant such interim relief as it may consider necessary, pending determination by it of the preliminary issue as to the jurisdiction".

[Vide Maharashtra Act No. 65 of 1977, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 19-12-1977)].

COMMENTS

(i) The appropriate form for resolution of an industrial dispute is the forum constituted under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Jurisdiction of Civil Court is impliedly barred in such cases. C.T. Nikam v. Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad, AIR 2002 SC 997.

(ii) Telephone bill?Jurisdiction of Civil Court?The Civil Court has jurisdiction to enforce the right of a subscriber under section 7B of the Telegraph Act; Union of India v. Sasi S., AIR 1999 Ker 336.

(iii) The application for grant of interim relief would not be disposed of till decision on question of jurisdiction although ad-interim relief can be granted in view of provisions under section 9A(2); ICICI Ltd. v. Sri Durga Bansal Fertilizers Ltd., AIR 1999 Bom 402.

(iv) Under section 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the jurisdiction of Civil Court with regard to a particular matter can be said to be excluded if there is an express provision or by implication it can be inferred that the jurisdiction is taken away; Union of India v. Sasi S., AIR 1999 Ker 336.

1. Explanation renumbered as Explanation I thereof by Act No. 104 of 1976, Sec. 5 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

2. Ins. by Act No. 104 of 1976 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

[Vide Maharashtra Act No. 65 of 1977, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 19-12-1977)].