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Supreme Court of India· 18 September 2026

Is a Civil Court seized of a leave application under Section 92 of the Code empowered to pass protective or preservatory interim orders pending its disposal?

S.PANCHALINGU & ORS v. PEOPLE’S EDUCATION TRUST (R)
2026 INSC 1010
Coram: Justice Manoj Misra · Justice Manmohan
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Answer

A Civil Court seized of a leave application under Section 92 is not empowered to pass protective or preservatory interim orders pending its disposal.

No. A Civil Court seized of a leave application under Section 92 is not empowered to pass protective or preservatory interim orders pending its disposal. Until leave is granted there is no lis before the Court, and the appointment of a receiver over a public trust is intrusive rather than merely preservatory, defeating the very purpose of the leave requirement.

Headnote

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.92 — s.94 — s.141 — s.151 — Order XL Rule 1 — Suits against Public Charities — Leave of Court — Interim orders — Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.92 — Interim orders pending leave — Held: A Civil Court seized of a leave application under Section 92 is not empowered to pass protective or preservatory interim orders pending its disposal. Appointing a receiver at that stage is intrusive, not preservatory, and defeats the purpose of the leave requirement. (¶53, 60) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.92 — Leave as pre-condition — Held further: A suit against a public charity instituted without the leave of the Court required by Section 92 is not maintainable. Leave is peremptory and non-derogable, and until it is granted there is no lis before the Court. (¶31, 43) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.141 — s.92 — Procedural v substantive rights — Held further: Section 141 of the Code applies only to procedural rights and does not override the substantive safeguards under Section 92. These safeguards affect substantive rights and cannot be overridden by the Court's inherent power under Section 151. (¶42, 47) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.92 — Notice before grant of leave — Held further: Notice to proposed defendants prior to grant of leave under Section 92 can be dispensed with where facts disclose the necessity of urgent relief. Courts must exercise utmost care, caution and circumspection in granting leave ex parte; appeals dismissed with this clarification. (¶57, 60, 61)

Headnote

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In the Court's own words
Paragraph 43In R.M. Narayana Chettiar & Anr. (supra), this Court held that a suit instituted without leave under Section 92 is not maintainable at all. Leave under Section 92 is thus peremptory and non-derogable and interlocutory applications can be entertained only after leave has been granted.
Paragraph 53The submission that the appointment of a receiver is protective and preservatory in character, rather than adjudicatory, is of no consequence where the Court lacks the power and jurisdiction to appoint a receiver in the first place. A Court which lacks jurisdiction cannot assume jurisdiction merely on the basis of how the relief sought is characterised.
Paragraph 60In light of the foregoing discussion, this Court holds that a Civil Court, seized of a plaint under Section 92 of the Code together with an application seeking leave to institute the suit, is not empowered to pass protective or preservatory interim orders pending disposal of the leave application. However, for compelling reasons to be recorded in writing like where facts disclose the necessity of urgent relief, notice prior to the grant of leave may be dispensed with.
Acts & Sections
s.92 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s.94 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s.141 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s.151 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908Order XL Rule 1 Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

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Also decided in this judgment
Is a suit against a public charity instituted without the leave of the Court required by Section 92 of the Code maintainable?Does Section 141 of the Code, which applies only to procedural rights, override the substantive safeguards under Section 92?Can notice to proposed defendants prior to grant of leave under Section 92 of the Code be dispensed with where facts disclose the necessity of urgent relief?
Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Supreme Court of India. Corrections