On a perusal of the above authorities it is evident that a representative suit is binding on all the interested parties. Therefore, the judgment of the court in the first suit would be binding on Jamia Masjid and would preclude it from instituting another suit on the same issue if it has been conclusively decided. It is now to be analysed if the substantive issue in the instant suit was conclusively decided in the first suit.
E.2.3 Conclusive decision and Res Judicata
36. The locus classicus on the point of determining if an issue was 'directly and substantially' decided in the previous suit is the decision of Justice M Jagannadha Rao (writing for a two judge bench) in Sajjadanashin Syed MD B.E. Edr. (D) by Lrs. v. Musa Dadabhai Ummer MANU/SC/0122/2000 : (2000) 3 SCC 350. During the course of the judgment, the Court analysed the expression "directly and substantially in issue" in Section 11 and laid down the twin test of essentiality and necessity:
12. It will be noticed that the words used in Section 11 Code of Civil Procedure are "directly and substantially in issue". If the matter was in issue directly and substantially in a prior litigation and decided against a party then the decision would be res judicata in a subsequent proceeding. Judicial decisions have however held that if a matter was only "collaterally or incidentally" in issue and decided in an earlier proceeding, the finding therein would not ordinarily be res judicata in a latter proceeding where the matter is directly and substantially in issue.
18. In India, Mulla has referred to similar tests (Mulla, 15th Edn., p. 104). The learned author says: a matter in respect of which relief is claimed in an earlier suit can be said to be generally a matter "directly and substantially" in issue but it does not mean that if the matter is one in respect of which no relief is sought it is not directly or substantially in issue. It may or may not be. It is possible that it was "directly and substantially" in issue and it may also be possible that it was only collaterally or incidentally in issue, depending upon the facts of the case. The question arises as to what is the test for deciding into which category a case falls? One test is that if the issue was "necessary" to be decided for adjudicating on the principal issue and was decided, it would have to be treated as "directly and substantially" in issue and if it is clear that the judgment was in fact based upon that decision, then it would be res judicata in a latter case (Mulla, p. 104). One has to examine the plaint, the written statement, the issues and the judgment to find out if the matter was directly and substantially in issue (Ishwer Singh v. Sarwan Singh [MANU/SC/0345/1964 : AIR 1965 SC 948] and Syed Mohd. Salie Labbai v. Mohd. Hanifa [MANU/SC/0510/1976 : (1976) 4 SCC 780 : AIR 1976 SC 1569]). We are of the view that the above summary in Mulla is a correct statement of the law.
19. We have here to advert to another principle of caution referred to by Mulla (p. 105):
It is not to be assumed that matters in respect of which issues have been framed are all of them directly and substantially in issue. Nor is there any special significance to be attached to the fact that a particular issue is the first in the list of issues. Which of the matters are directly in issue and which collaterally or incidentally, must be determined on the facts of each case. A material test to be applied is whether the court considers the adjudication of the issue material and essential for its decision.
(emphasis supplied)
37. Adverting to the decision in Mahant Pragdasji Guru Bhagwandasji (supra) and two earlier decisions12, the Court held that these were instances where in spite of adverse findings in an earlier suit, the finding on that specific issue was not treated as res judicata as it was purely incidental, auxiliary or collateral to the main issue in each of these cases and not necessary in the earlier case.
38. In another decision in Gram Panchayat of Village Naulakha v. Ujagar Singh MANU/SC/0628/2000 : (2000) 7 SCC 543, it has been held that the decision in an earlier suit for an injunction, where no question of title was adjudicated upon will not be binding on the question of title:
10. We may also add one other important reason which frequently arises Under Section 11 Code of Civil Procedure. The earlier suit by the Respondent against the Panchayat was only a suit for injunction and not one on title. No question of title was gone into or decided. The said decision cannot, therefore, be binding on the question of title. See in this connection Sajjadanashin Sayed v. Musa Dadabhai Ummer [MANU/SC/0122/2000 : (2000) 3 SCC 350] where this Court, on a detailed consideration of law in India and elsewhere held, that even if, in an earlier suit for injunction, there is an incidental finding on title, the same will not be binding in a later suit or proceeding where title is directly in question, unless it is established that it was "necessary" in the earlier suit to decide the question of title for granting or refusing injunction and that the relief for injunction was founded or based on the finding on title. Even the mere framing of an issue on title may not be sufficient as pointed out in that case.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Civil Appeal No. 10946 of 2014
Decided On: 23.09.2021
The Jamia Masjid Vs. K.V. Rudrappa (Since Dead) by L.Rs. and Ors.
Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, Vikram Nath and Hima Kohli, JJ.
Author: Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, J.
Citation: MANU/SC/0691/2021.
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