Suits for compensation for wrongs to person or movables
Full Text
Where a suit is for compensation for wrong done to the person or to movable property, if the wrong was done within the local limits of the jurisdiction of one Court and the defendant resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gain, within the local limits of the jurisdiction of another Court, the suit may be instituted at the option of the plaintiff in either of the said Courts.
Illustrations
(a) A, residing in Delhi, beats B in Calcutta. B may sue A either in Calcutta or in Delhi.
(b) A, residing in Delhi, publishes in Calcutta statements defamatory of B. B may sue A either in Calcutta or in Delhi.
Plain English Summary
Section 19 governs territorial jurisdiction in tortious actions for compensation regarding wrongs committed against a person or movable property. It gives the plaintiff the exclusive option to file the suit either where the wrong was committed or where the defendant resides, carries on business, or works for gain.
Key Legal Elements
- Wrongs Covered: Pertains to suits for compensation for civil wrongs (torts) committed against the human person (assault, false imprisonment, defamation) or movable property.
- Plaintiff's Option: Plaintiff possesses unilateral statutory discretion to choose between two competent forums.
- Forum 1 (Locus Delicti): Court within whose territorial jurisdiction the wrongful act was committed.
- Forum 2 (Defendant's Nexus): Court within whose jurisdiction the defendant actually and voluntarily resides, conducts business, or works for gain.
Practical Note
Strategic forum selection in tort and defamation: In civil defamation actions (Illustration b), vehicular accidents, assault, or conversion of goods, the plaintiff holds an unassailable option to choose between the place of wrong (locus delicti) and the defendant's residence/workplace. In modern digital and online defamation, publication occurs wherever the defamatory content is accessed and read, empowering the plaintiff to sue in their local forum if the defamatory statement reached their community.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां कि वाद शरीर या जंगम (चल) सम्पत्ति के प्रति किए गए दोष के प्रतिकर के लिए है, वहां यदि वह दोष एक न्यायालय की अधिकारिता की स्थानीय सीमाओं के भीतर किया गया था और प्रतिवादी दूसरे न्यायालय की अधिकारिता की स्थानीय सीमाओं के भीतर निवास करता है, या कारबार चलाता है, या अभिलाभ के लिए स्वयं काम करता है, तो वाद वादी के विकल्प पर उक्त न्यायालयों में से किसी में भी संस्थित किया जा सकेगा।
दृष्टांत
(क) दिल्ली में निवास करने वाला 'क', कलकत्ता में 'ख' को पीटता है। 'ख', 'क' पर वाद या तो कलकत्ता में ला सकेगा या दिल्ली में।
(ख) दिल्ली में निवास करने वाला 'क', 'ख' के बारे में मानहानिकारक कथन कलकत्ता में प्रकाशित करता है। 'ख', 'क' पर वाद या तो कलकत्ता में ला सकेगा या दिल्ली में।