#return of plaint

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that oral tenancy agreements, when evidenced by rent receipts and used for commercial purposes, fall squarely within the definition of commercial disputes under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. This removes the myth that only written contracts trigger commercial court jurisdiction, impacting landlords, tenants, and businesses operating without formal leases across India.

Bombay High Court rules that a higher court is not obligated to return a plaint under Order VII Rule 10 CPC merely because the suit value falls within a lower court's pecuniary jurisdiction. The decision underscores judicial discretion, allowing plaintiffs to proceed in a higher court even if the claim could have been filed in a lower forum, provided the court does not lack inherent jurisdiction.

Madras HC rules that civil courts cannot be barred at the pleading stage from adjudicating temple ownership disputes under Section 149 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, even if municipal authorities allege encroachment. The Court imposed an interim restraint on demolition, reinforcing that jurisdiction is determined only after a full trial.