Rule 1.
Cases in which temporary injunction may be granted
Where in any suit it is proved by affidavit or otherwise—
(a)that any property in dispute in a suit is in danger of being wasted, damaged or alienated by any party to the suit, or wrongfully sold in execution of a decree, or
(b)that the defendant threatens, or intends, to remove or dispose of his property with a view to defrauding his creditors, or
(c)that the defendant threatens to dispossess the plaintiff or otherwise cause injury to the plaintiff in relation to any property in dispute in the suit,
the Court may by order grant a temporary injunction to restrain such act, or make such other order for the purpose of staying and preventing the wasting, damaging, alienation, sale, removal or disposition of the property or dispossession of the plaintiff, or otherwise causing injury to the plaintiff in relation to any property in dispute in the suit as the Court thinks fit, until the disposal of the suit or until further orders.
Rule 2.
Injunction to restrain repetition or continuance of breach
(1)In any suit for restraining the defendant from committing a breach of contract or other injury of any kind, whether compensation is claimed in the suit or not, the plaintiff may, at any time after the commencement of the suit, and either before or after judgment, apply to the Court for a temporary injunction to restrain the defendant from committing the breach of contract or injury complained of, or any breach of contract or injury of a like kind arising out of the same contract or relating to the same property or right.
(2)The Court may by order grant such injunction, on such terms as to the duration of the injunction, keeping an account, giving security, or otherwise, as the Court thinks fit.
Rule 2A.
Consequence of disobedience or breach of injunction
(1)In the case of disobedience of any injunction granted or other order made under rule 1 or rule 2 or breach of any of the terms on which the injunction was granted or the order made, the Court granting the injunction or making the order, or any Court to which the suit or proceeding is transferred, may order the property of the person guilty of such disobedience or breach to be attached, and may also order such person to be detained in the civil prison for a term not exceeding three months, unless in the meantime the Court directs his release.
(2)No attachment made under this rule shall remain in force for more than one year, at the end of which time, if the disobedience or breach continues, the property attached may be sold and out of the proceeds the Court may award such compensation as it thinks fit to the injured party and shall pay the balance, if any, to the party entitled thereto.
Rule 3.
Before granting injunction, Court to direct notice to opposite party
The Court shall in all cases, except where it appears that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by the delay, before granting an injunction, direct notice of the application for the same to be given to the opposite party:
Provided that, where it is proposed to grant an injunction without giving notice of the application to the opposite party, the Court shall record the reasons for its opinion that the object of granting the injunction would be defeated by delay, and require the applicant—
(a) to deliver to the opposite party, or to send to him by registered post, immediately after the order granting the injunction has been made, a copy of the application for injunction together with—
(i) a copy of the affidavit filed in support of the application;
(ii) a copy of the plaint; and
(iii) copies of documents on which the applicant relies, and
(b) to file, on the day on which such injunction is granted or on the day immediately following that day, an affidavit stating that the copies aforesaid have been so delivered or sent.
Rule 3A.
Court to dispose of application for injunction within thirty days
Where an injunction has been granted without giving notice to the opposite party, the Court shall make an endeavour to finally dispose of the application within thirty days from the date on which the injunction was granted; and where it is unable so to do, it shall record its reasons for such inability.
Rule 4.
Order for injunction may be discharged, varied or set aside
Any order for an injunction may be discharged, or varied, or set aside by the Court, on application made thereto by any party dissatisfied with such order:
Provided that if in an application for temporary injunction, or in any affidavit supporting such application, a party has knowingly made a false or misleading statement in relation to a material particular and the injunction was granted without giving notice to the opposite party, the Court shall vacate the injunction unless, for reasons to be recorded, it considers that it is not necessary so to do in the interests of justice:
Provided further that where an order for an injunction has been passed after giving to a party an opportunity of being heard, the order shall not be discharged, varied or set aside on the application of that party except where such discharge, variation or set-aside has been necessitated by a change in the circumstances, or unless the Court is satisfied that the order has caused undue hardship to that party.
Rule 5.
Injunction to corporation binding on its officers
An injunction directed to a corporation is binding not only on the corporation itself, but also on all members and officers thereof whose personal action it seeks to restrain.
Rule 6.
Power to order interim sale
The Court may, on the application of any party to a suit, order the sale, by any person named in such order, and in such manner and on such terms as it thinks fit, of any movable property, being the subject-matter of such suit, or attached before judgment in such suit, which is subject to speedy and natural decay, or which for any other just and sufficient cause it may be desirable to have sold at once.
Rule 7.
Detention, preservation, inspection, etc., of subject-matter of suit
(1)The Court may, on the application of any party to a suit, and on such terms as it thinks fit:
(a)make an order for the detention, preservation or inspection of any property which is the subject-matter of such suit, or as to which any question may arise therein;
(b)for all or any of the purposes aforesaid authorise any person to enter upon or into any land or building in the possession of any other party to such suit; and
(c)for all or any of the purposes aforesaid authorise any samples to be taken, or any observation to be made or experiment to be tried, which may seem necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining full information or evidence.
(2)The provisions as to execution of process shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to persons authorised to enter under this rule.
Rule 8.
Application for such orders to be after notice
(1)An application by the plaintiff for an order under rule 6 or rule 7 may be made at any time after institution of the suit.
(2)An application by the defendant for a like order may be made at any time after appearance.
(3)Before making an order under rule 6 or rule 7 on an application made for the purpose, the Court shall, except where it appears that the object of making such order would be defeated by the delay, direct notice thereof to be given to the opposite party.
Rule 9.
When party may be put in immediate possession of land the subject-matter of suit
Where land paying revenue to Government, or a tenure liable to sale, is the subject-matter of a suit, if the party in possession neglects to pay Government revenue or rent, any other party claiming an interest may, upon paying revenue or rent, be put in immediate possession of the land or tenure.
Rule 10.
Deposit of money, etc., in Court
Where the subject-matter of a suit is money or some other thing capable of delivery, and any party admits that he holds such money or other thing as a trustee for another party, the Court may order the same to be deposited in Court or delivered to such last-named party.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Order XXXIX
Order XXXIX of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 governs the grant of Temporary Injunctions and Interlocutory Orders, establishing the foundational tripartite test under Rules 1 and 2 and penal enforcement under Rule 2A.
Order XXXIX is the most active battleground in civil litigation. In emergency ex-parte motions, counsel must demonstrate imminent threat of irreparable harm to persuade the court to dispense with notice under Rule 3. If an injunction is breached, the aggrieved party moves an application under Rule 2A, which is tried with quasi-criminal rigor, potentially resulting in three months' civil imprisonment.