[2013] KEHC 434 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff failed to comply with the mandatory requirement to serve the amended application and the ex parte injunction order on the defendants within three days as stipulated by Order 40 Rule 4(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules. The court held that the interim injunction should have lapsed...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 434 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Jane Waithera; Defendant: Joseph Kariuki Mbuthia; Defendant: National Bank of Kenya; Defendant: Gichuru wa Kamotho; Defendant: Kariuki Ngige
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 79 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Injunction Application / Ruling on Amended Application for Temporary Injunction
- Outcome
- Amended application for injunction dismissed; interim orders discharged.
- Judges
- L Waithaka
- Legal Topics
- Interlocutory Injunctions, Service of Process, Ex Parte Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Jane Waithera
Plaintiff
Joseph Kariuki Mbuthia
Defendant
National Bank of Kenya
Defendant
Gichuru wa Kamotho
Defendant
Kariuki Ngige
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Injunction Application / Ruling on Amended Application for Temporary Injunction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff complied with mandatory service requirements after obtaining an ex parte injunction.
- 2 Whether the interim injunction should lapse for failure to serve the application and order as required by law.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff failed to comply with the mandatory requirement to serve the amended application and the ex parte injunction order on the defendants within three days as stipulated by Order 40 Rule 4(3) of the Civil Procedure Rules. The court held that the interim injunction should have lapsed automatically due to this non-compliance. The continued enjoyment of the interim orders by the plaintiff, despite repeated directions to serve the application, amounted to an abuse of process. In the interest of justice and to prevent further injustice to the defendants, the court discharged the injunction orders granted on 14th March 2012 and dismissed the amended application for...
Court Disposition
Amended application for injunction dismissed; interim orders discharged.
Orders
- The orders for injunction granted on 14th March 2012 are discharged.
- The amended application dated 14th March 2012 is dismissed under sections 1A, 1B, and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
32 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAKURU
HCC 79 OF 2012
JANE WAITHERA …………………..…………..PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
JOSEPH KARIUKI MBUTHIA ….…..…1ST DEFENDANT
NATIONAL BANK OF KENYA………..2ND DEFENDANT
GICHURU WA KAMUTHO………………3RD DEFENDANT
KARIUKI NGIGE…………………………..4TH DEFENDANT
RULING
1. The plaintiff Jane Waithera filed this suit against the Defendants Joseph Kariuki Mbuthia, National Bank of Kenya, Gichuruwa Kamotho and Kariuki Ngige on 12th March, 2012. The key prayer in the plaint is for an order of permanent injunction against the Defendants.
2. Contemporaneous the plaint, the plaintiff filed an application under certificate of urgency for temporary injunction pending the determination of the application. The said application was served upon the defendants.
3. An amended application seeking similar orders was filed on 14th March, 2012 and a temporary injunction granted exparte. The application was set down for inter parties hearing on 23rd March 2012.
4. Inter parties hearing did not proceed on 23rd March 2012 and interim orders were extended. The said orders were further extended on 15th May 2012, 21st June 2012, 3rd October 2012, 30th October 2012 and 23rd November 2012.
5. When the application came up for hearing On 9th May, 2013 Mr Gathenji acting for the 1st and 4th defendants was ready to proceed with the application he had been served with i.e. the application dated 12th March, 2013. Mr Nyamwange holding brief for Mr Ikua stated that the application coming up for hearing was the one dated 14th March, 2013.
6. Directions were taken by consent that the Application dated 12th March, 2013 be disposed of by way of written submissions. A date for highlighting was given as 22nd July, 2013.
7. When I retired to chambers, I took the liberty to peruse the court proceedings. I noted that indeed an amended Notice of Motion dated 14th March, 2013 had been filed, heard exparte and a temporary injunction granted on the same date.
8. A Notice was issued to the parties and directions changed. Written submissions would now be filed for the application dated 14th March, 2013. By this time the 1st , 2nd and 4th Defendants had filed their written submissions for the Application dated 12th March, 2013. They still had not been served with the application dated 14th March, 2012. The Court again directed that the defendants be served with the application. To date the defendants are yet to be served with the said application and yet the plaintiff continues enjoying the interim orders. I am convinced that the counsel for the applicant is not serious about this application.
Order 40 Rule 4 (3)provides:
In any case where the court grants an ex parte injunction the applicant shall within three days from the date of issue of the order serve the order, the application and pleading on the party sought to be restrained. In default of service of any of the documents specified under this rule, the injunction shall automatically lapse.
9. Order 40 (3) is couched in mandatory terms. The orders enjoyed by the applicant ought to have lapsed long ago for failure to serve the pleadings. This did not happen but the court should not allow an injustice to continue. 10. In the interest of justice, I discharge the orders for injunction granted on 14th March 2012 and dismiss the amended application dated 14th March, 2012 under sections 1A 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act.
11. Parties are directed to comply with Order 11 within 60 days and take a mention date in the registry.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court this 20th day of December 2013.
L N WAITHAKA
JUDGE
PRESENT
Mr Murithi holding brief for Mr Kiburi Kamonjo for 2nd Defendant
Mr Otieno holding brief for the plaintiff
N/A for 1st & 4th Defendants
Emmanuel Maelo: Court Assistant
L N WAITHAKA
JUDGE