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M.N. Clubwala v. Fida Hussain Saheb, 1964

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M.N. Clubwala v. Fida Hussain Saheb, (1964) 6 SCR 642, 651 This case interpretation/case summary is written by Ms. Swati Sharma a student at the Faculty of Law (Delhi University). If you also want to publish your articles or case interpretations/summaries, send your work to  niyamskanoon09@gmail.com . Case Details PETITIONER:  MRS. M. N. CLUBWALA AND ANR. Vs. RESPONDENT: FIDA HUSSAIN SAHEB AND ORS. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/02/1964 BENCH: MUDHOLKAR, J.R. SUBBARAO, K. CITATION: 1965 AIR 610 1964 SCR (6) 642 Introduction   The case of M.N. Clubwala v. Fida Hussain Saheb (1964) under the Delhi Rent Control Act is a landmark judgment that clarifies the distinction between a lease and a license and the jurisdiction of the Rent Controller. The primary issue in this case was whether the agreements between the landlord (M.N. Clubwala) and the shopkeepers (Fida Hussain Saheb) created a lease or a license.  Facts of the Case M.N. Clubwala (Landlord) used his building as market by

R.S. Ruikar v. Emperor AIR 1935 Nag. 149

R.S. Ruikar v. Emperor, 1935 Case Summary/Brief 

Facts

  1. The appellant was the President of the Nagpur Textile Union, who organized a strike against the Empress Mills, Nagpur for not fulfilling certain conditions settled by them in a previous strike.
  2. The appellant in order to make the strike more impactful and to get the involvement of larger members encouraged the members to picket at the mills through speeches.
  3. Also, on a complaint from female members, of the harassment by the police, the appellant posted his wife on the gate of a mill with instructions to beat, with her slippers, anyone who interfered with her.
  4. The charges under S.7 of the Criminal Amendment Law were made against him for the abetment of picketing and a conviction order was made by the Court. Hence the appellant made a revision petition.

Issues

  1. Whether the Court was right in making the conviction order.
  2. Whether the appellant will get the benefit of S.17 of the Trade Union Act.

Contentions of the Appellant

  1. By referring to the Statement of Objects and Reasons for the Criminal Amendment Law, they contended that S.7 of the Criminal Amendment Law can not be applied to industrial disputes.
  2. S.7 is directed only for the activities subversive to the Government.
  3. The Legislature while passing the Criminal Amendment Law assured that it will not be applied in the case of industrial disputes.
  4. The ordinance out of which S.7 arose was enacted with the particular purpose of combating the Civil Disobedience Movement.
  5. S.17 of the Trade Union Act provides immunity from criminal conspiracy to raise a strike. And it will be breached by applying S.7 of the Criminal Amendment Law to trade disputes.

Ratio Decidendi

  1. Reference to the statement of objects and reasons can only be made where ambiguity is found, as observed in Shantanand Gir v. Basudev Gir. Therefore no reference can be made for such plain and unambiguous words used in S.7.
  2. Although various sections in the Criminal Amendment Law are directed towards activities subversive to the Government, it doesn't mean it has no universal application.
  3. The duty of the Court is to interpret the law as it is. It is not empowered to go into the debate of the Legislature. If the Legislature intended to exclude the application of S.7 from industrial disputes, it would have mentioned it explicitly.
  4. S.17 only protects from making an agreement that is directed towards achieving any objectives of the Trade Union and from only the offence of Criminal conspiracy.

Summary

The applicant through a revision petition made an appeal to the Nagpur High Court against the order of conviction. The applicant was the President of Nagpur Textile Union who was charged under S.7 of the Criminal Amendment Law for his speech during a strike which encouraged the picketing of the Mills and also for the abetment of picketing by his wife. Although the petitioner contended that S.7 of the Criminal Amendment Law has no application on industrial disputes and it is directed towards activities subversive to the Government, the Court rejected all these contentions and held that S. 7 has its universal application and also it is not against the criminal immunity as provided by S.17 of the Trade Union Act. S.17 itself makes liable the members and officers of a Trade Union for an agreement to commit any offence. It only protects from making an agreement that is directed towards achieving any objectives of the Trade Union and from only the offence of Criminal conspiracy.

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