Power to transfer suits which may be instituted in more than one Court
Full Text
Where a suit may be instituted in any one of two or more Courts and is instituted in one of such Courts, any defendant, after notice to the other parties, may, at the earliest possible opportunity and in all cases where issues are settled at or before such settlement, apply to have the suit transferred to another Court, and the Court to which such application is made, after considering the objections of the other parties (if any), shall determine in which of the several Courts having jurisdiction the suit shall proceed.
Plain English Summary
Section 22 empowers a defendant to apply for the transfer of a suit when it could have been legitimately instituted in more than one court. The application must be made after notice to other parties at the earliest possible opportunity, at or before the settlement of issues.
Key Legal Elements
- Concurrent Jurisdiction Prerequisite: Applies exclusively where two or more courts legitimately have concurrent jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
- Defendant's Right of Motion: Triggered on an application made by any defendant seeking transfer to another competent forum.
- Mandatory Notice & Timeline: Notice must be served on all other parties, and the application must be moved at or before settlement of issues.
- Judicial Determination: The competent appellate/revisional court determines forum on principles of balance of convenience and interests of justice.
Practical Note
Strategic invocation vs. Order 7 Rule 10: Section 22 applies strictly where multiple courts have valid concurrent jurisdiction, and balance of convenience or fairness favors another forum. If the court where the suit is instituted lacks jurisdiction entirely, do not file under Section 22; instead, move an application under Order 7 Rule 10 for return of plaint. Furthermore, respect the mandatory timeline: an application for transfer under Section 22 moved after settlement of issues is legally barred.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां कि कोई वाद दो या अधिक न्यायालयों में से किसी एक में संस्थित किया जा सकता है और ऐसे न्यायालयों में से किसी एक में संस्थित किया गया है, वहां कोई भी प्रतिवादी अन्य पक्षकारों को सूचना देने के पश्चात्, यथासम्भव शीघ्र अवसर पर और उन सभी मामलों में जिनमें विवादक स्थिर किए जाते हैं, ऐसे स्थिरीकरण पर या उससे पहले, वाद को किसी अन्य न्यायालय में अन्तरित किए जाने के लिए आवेदन कर सकेगा, और वह न्यायालय जिसको ऐसा आवेदन किया गया है, अन्य पक्षकारों के आक्षेपों पर (यदि कोई हों) विचार करने के पश्चात् यह अवधारित करेगा कि अधिकारिता रखने वाले कई न्यायालयों में से किस न्यायालय में वाद आगे चलेगा।