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High Court of Fiji |
IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
AT SUVA
CIVIL JURISDICTION
Civil Action No.: HBC 197 OF 2012
BETWEEN:
PREM KRISHNA GOUNDAR
of Nasese, Suva in the Republic of Fiji, Self-employed.
PLAINTIFF
AND:
FIESTY LIMITED,
a limited liability company having its registered office at Suva in the Republic of the Fiji Islands.
FIRST DEFENDANT
AND:
MINISTRY OF LANDS & MINERAL RESOURCES
SECOND DEFENDANT
AND:
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FIJI
THIRD DEFENDANT
COUNSELS : Mr Vakaloloma of Vakaloloma & Associates for the Plaintiff
Mr D Sharma of R Patel Lawyers for 1st Defendant
Ms Karan N of AG's Chambers for 2nd & 3rd Defendants
Date of Hearing : 23rd August, 2012
Date of Order : 30th November, 2012
ORDER
There were certain preliminary issues raised by the Defendants which will be dealt at the outset of this Order.
12. It is a matter for concern of this court there were no documents filed as evidence with the affidavit in support of the Notice of Motion to substantiate the averments in the Affidavit.
13. The First Defendant Affidavit raised certain preliminary issues:
(a) Peni Gavidi sworn the affidavit dated 3rd August 2012 file on 6th August 2012 on behalf of the 1st Defendant company in reply to the affidavit in support filed by the Plaintiff;
(b) Peni Gavidi was authorized to swear the affidavit by the 1st Defendant company by the written authority given on 31st July 2012 Annexure PG1 to the Affidavit. Plaintiff in reply in his affidavit dated 10th August 2012 raised preliminary issue that Peni Gavidi is not duly authorized to swear a affidavit on behalf of the 1st Defendant. This statement was made by the Plaintiff without any basis and without producing any document to the contrary. As such I hold that the document marked PG1 empowered Peni Gavidi to swear the affidavit on behalf of the 1st Defendant pursuant document annexed to the Affidavit marked PG1;
(c) The 1st Defendant also have raised a preliminary objection in its affidavit (the same objection was raised by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants in their affidavit):
"4(a) I am advised by the First Defendant solicitors that the Plaintiff's affidavit is in breach of order 41 Rule 9(2) of the High Court Rules and had not sought any leave from the Court."
(d) This court had to make a ruling on this issue before proceeding on the Notice of Motion.
What does Order 41 Rule 9(2) says?
9(2) – This rule applies to all practitioners in Fiji, it ways that every affidavit must be endorsed with a note showing in whose behalf it is filed and the dates of swearing and filing, and an affidavit which is not so indorsed may not be filed or used without leave of courts".
On perusal of the affidavit it's observed that the Plaintiff had failed to comply with Order 41 Rule 9(2). In such a situation what steps the Plaintiff would have taken? It is important to note what the Plaintiff's reply in his affidavit dated 20th August 2012 filed on the same day:
"4(a) – That I have been advised by my counsel that the prerogative of accepting court documentations lies with the registry pursuant to Order 41 Rule 9(1). If the affidavit were defective or fails to comply with the provisions pleaded by the 1st Defendant, then it should not have been accepted for filing in the first instance".
As submitted by the 1st Defendant's counsel, the provision in Rule 41 9(1) is not prerogative in the registry. It is encompassed upon the counsel and litigants. Rules are made by the Court for the counsels/solicitors and litigants to follow. I state that the court to note with concern a Senior Counsel in the calibre of Mr Vakaloloma advising his client to make a statement in this nature, in an Affidavit.
It is evident that Plaintiff's counsel had not sought leave from this court to rectify the error and further pleads that accepting the defective affidavit by the registry was wrong. Court registry is not there to check that whether the documents filed are in conformity with the law. As I said earlier, it is the duty of the counsel and litigants if they default, matter to be decided by the court. As such court cannot accommodate such defiance and I hold that the Plaintiff had failed and defaulted in filing affidavit in conformity with the Order 41 Rule (9) (2) of the High Court Rules. I further hold counsel for the Plaintiff had acted in disrespectful manner by advising his client to averred the said statement in his Affidavit.
I also observe that the Affidavit filed by the Plaintiff is undated and in addition to the said default, and it is a serious lache which cannot be excused by this court.
(e) The First Defendant in para 4(b) to 4(e) of its affidavit states and raised further preliminary issues and the same issues to were raised by the second and third Defendants in their Affidavit in reply dated 20th August 2012 sworn by Luke Rokomokoti:
"4(b) – I believe that the Plaintiff had suppressed material facts and documents in this application and in particular a copy of his Tenancy at will as well as a letter from the Director of Lands dated 22nd June 2010 cancelling his Tenancy at will whereby he was given three months (3) to vacate the land and give possession". A copy of that letter is annexed hereto marked 'PG2'.
"4(c) – That the Plaintiff had failed to obtain the consent of the Director of Lands prior to instituting this action contrary to Section 13 of the State lands Act since the land in question is a protected lease.
4(d) – That the Plaintiff has not provided any relevant evidence in support of his undertaking as to damages as contained in para 22 of his affidavit;
4(e) – That the Plaintiff's action is misconceived as he is seeking to challenge the decision of a public body i.e. a statutory authority without filing a judicial review".
"Para 6 4(b) is denied. The Plaintiff however reiterates that the Defendants itself suppressed the material facts by failing to disclose to the courts that the Plaintiff continues to meet all lease rentals to the 2nd Defendant. The 2nd Defendant continues to demand ground rentals from the Plaintiff and same continues to abide by terms of the Tenancy at Will;
4(c) – is denied. The urgency of the application in view of the devastating developments carried out by the 1st Defendant has caused the Plaintiff to exercise the courts inherent jurisdiction in considering a waiver of the consent in any event, the Director of Lands is a party to the proceedings and they would at any cost refused to consent to our Application for Consent to institute proceedings as it is self incriminating;
4(d) – is denied. The Plaintiff owns a residential property which is valued at $267,000, and the same is offered as security as to costs;
4(e) – is denied. The Plaintiff is challenging the development works being carried out by the 1st Defendant on its surrounding premises which has disrupted road access and water pipes. Such development is disturbing the Plaintiff quite enjoyment of its leased premises which he has enjoyed over a period of more than 20 years".
DEPARTMENT OF LANDS & SURVEY
PO BOX 2222
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
SUVA, FIJI
Tel No. 3211389 Fax No. 3301720 | Ref No. LD 4/16/4105 Date 22/6/10 |
REGISTERED MAIL
Prem Krishna Goundar
PO Box 17621
SUVA
Dear Sir,
RE: CANCELLATION OF TENANCY AT WILL FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES ISLAND SOUTH OF BANUVE SREEET AND NORTH OF LAVETI CREEK NASESE, SUVA, REWA
I wish to draw your attention to condition (d) of your Tenancy-At-Will which states as follows:
"This letter shall not operate to create a tenancy in respect of the said land and you may be required to vacate the land on receipt of notice of that effect".
The subject area over which you hold a Tenancy-At-Will is now required by the Government for residential development purposes.
By virtue of condition 4 of your tenancy the Tenancy-At-Will is hereby cancelled.
You are kindly advised to give up vacant possession within three(3) months from the date of this notice.
Your co-operation on the above will be appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
..................................
[ T. Nasipi ] [Mr]
for Director of Lands & Surveyor General
cc: Manager Director, Fiesty Limited, PO Box 3692, Samabula, Suva
I conclude that the 1st Defendant need not to divulge any information with regard to payment of rental if at all it is a matter to be divulged by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants or by the Plaintiff himself. Rental payments were made to the 2nd Defendant. The 1st Defendant wasn't aware of rental payments. By making this statement, Plaintiff had attempted to evade answering the averment 4(b) of the 1st Defendant's affidavit dated 3rd August 2012 which is vital factor for these proceedings. In fact it's evident that once the tenancy at will is cancelled, the Plaintiff had no basis to make the application seeking interim relief. It is my contention the Plaintiff had not only suppressed the letter dated 22/6/2010 by the Director of Lands, he had failed to answer the averment. As such I conclude:
(a) The Plaintiff's tenancy at will was cancelled on 22/6/2010 by the Director of Lands and Plaintiff is not entitled for a interim relief as per motion;
(b) The Plaintiff intentionally not disclosed the letter dated 22 June 2010 in his undated affidavit filed on 17th July 2012 and he had suppressed this letter in these proceedings;
(c) I conclude suppressing and non disclosing the letter dated 22nd June 2010 by the Plaintiff was deliberate action to misrepresent the facts to the court and to obtain interim injunction. It is further evident that if this letter was tendered the Plaintiff could not have sought the Orders in the Notice of Motion;
(d) The payment of rental was made deliberately to misrepresent the facts, and however there was no valid lease to make the rental payments and the Plaintiff's submission fails.
As such the 2nd and 3rd Defendants had proved by submitting documentary evidence annexed to the affidavit that the subject tenancy commenced from 1st January 2008 and not from 1967 as averred by the Plaintiff in para 9 of his affidavit in support undated. I hold the Plaintiff had deliberately suppressed this document without disclosing for the purpose of obtaining Orders as pleaded in the Notice of Motion.
It is further observed in the Statement of Claim filed by the Plaintiff in paragraph 6 it was stated:
"6. The 2nd Defendant whilst issuing the above lease had failed to realize that they had issued the portion of the lot that has been given to the Plaintiff and the same has resided on the property from 1967 until today."
The same position was averred by the Plaintiff in the affidavit of support. In fact this statement is a false statement which was evident by the letter Annexure LR1 to the affidavit of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (which letter was issued by the Acting Director of Lands on 13th March 2008).
It is clearly stated in para (e) of the said letter that Tenancy at Will, issued to Lakshmi Chand was cancelled and effective date of the Tenancy at Will of the Plaintiff was 1st January 2008. Plaintiff had not replied the affidavit of 2nd and 3rd Defendants neither adduced any documentary evidence to establish he had been occupying the land from 1967. To add further Plaintiff had accepted the terms and conditions of the letter dated 5th March 2008. LR4 annexed to the Affidavit filed by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants clearly shows the buildings in the land were erected by the previous lessees and the Plaintiff cannot claim the buildings were erected by him.
The Plaintiff had deliberately suppressed this letter and merely stated he was residing in the land from 1967. This fraudulent and vexatious statement by the Plaintiff who suppressed the material facts to mislead the court.
The Plaintiff had not come to this court with clean hands. Non disclosures of LR1 itself is suffice to dismiss the Orders sought in the Notice of Motion.
13. – (1) Whenever in any lease under this Act there has been inserted the following clause:
"This lease is a protected lease under the provisions of the Crown Lands Act"
(hereinafter called a protected lease) it shall not be lawful for the lessee thereof to alienate or deal with the land comprised in the lease of any part thereof, whether by sale, transfer or sublease or in any other manner whatsoever, nor to mortgage, charge or pledge the same, without the written consent of the Director of Lands first had and obtained, nor, except at the suit or with the written consent of the Director of Lands, shall any such lease be dealt with by any court of law or under the process of any court of law, nor, without such consent as aforesaid, shall the Registrar of Titles register any caveat affecting such lease.
Any sale, transfer, sublease, assignment, mortgage or other alienation or dealing effected without such consent shall be null and void.
(2) On the death of the lessee of any protected lease his executors or administrators may, subject to the consent of the Director of Lands as above provided, assign such lease.
(3) Any lessee aggrieved by the refusal of the Director of Lands to give any consent required by this section may appeal to the Minister within fourteen days after being notified of such refusal. Every such appeal shall be in writing and shall be lodged with the Director of Lands.
(4) Any consent required by this section may be given in writing by any officer or officers, either solely or jointly, authorized in that behalf by the Director of Lands by notice published in the Gazette. The provisions of subsection (3) shall apply to the refusal of any such officer or officers to give any such consent.
(Inserted by 21 of 1959, s.2)
(5) For the purposes of this section "lease" includes a sublease and "lessee" includes a sub lessee.
"The court no doubt must be satisfied that the claim is not frivolous or vexatious; in other words, that there is a serious question to be tried. It is no part of the court's function at this stage of the litigation to try to resolve conflicts of evidence on affidavit as to facts on which the claims of either party may ultimately depend nor to decide difficult questions of law which call for detailed argument and mature considerations. These are matters to be dealt with at the trial".
In the present case as stated in the preceding paragraphs, the claim is frivolous and vexatious and no serious question to be tried. As such the Plaintiff's claim fails and on the findings of the preliminary issues no case being established to deal in a Trial.
Having concluded as above, I hold that the:
(a) Plaintiff failed to establish a case to obtain Orders sought in interpartes filed on 17th July 2012;
(b) The Plaintiff's claim is frivolous and vexatious (paragraphs 13(e), 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Order;
(c) The Plaintiff failed to comply with Order 41 Rule 9(2) of the High Court Rules and the said Affidavit was not signed by the deponent and as such there is no legally valid affidavit for consideration by this Court. (Paragraph 13(c) and (d) of this Order;
(d) The Plaintiff had failed to obtain the consent from the Director of Lands under Section 13(1) of the State Lands Ordinance and further the Director of Lands had not been made a party to this action initiated by Writ of Summons (para 20, 21 and 22 of this Order).
Accordingly, I make the following Orders that:
(i) The Inter-partes Motion filed on 17th July 2012 be dismissed;
(ii) The Writ of Summons filed on 17th July 2012 dismissed;
(iii) The Plaintiff is ordered not to obstruct the development work carried out by the 1st Defendant on the Land described in the annexure marked PG3 to the Affidavit dated 3rd August 2012;
(iv) The Plaintiff should pay summarily assessed costs of $3,000 to the 1st Defendant and $1,500 to the 2nd Defendant and further $1,500 to the 3rd Defendant and the payment of the said costs should be made within 14 days from the date of this Order.
Delivered at Suva this 30th Day of November, 2012
[ C. Kotigalage ]
JUDGE
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