by Joshua Wu Kai-Ming | Jun 6, 2023 | Law
Yekambaran s/o Marimuthu v Malayawata Steel Bhd [1993] MLJU 96 (“Yekambaran”) is an oft quoted decision by Edgar Joseph Jr SCJ on the test to be applied in an application for discovery.
Yekmbaran is actually a case whereby Edgar Joseph Jr (despite being a Supreme Court judge then) sat in a High Court judge’s capacity to hear a High Court matter.
Section 18(1) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (“CJA 1964”)[1], read together with the definition of “Judge” in Section 3 of the CJA 1964,[2] allow for a Federal Court judge, Court of Appeal judge, or High Court judge to hear a matter in the High Court.
The fact that Edgar Joseph Jr was a Supreme Court judge when he heard and decided on Yekambaran does not take away from the fact that:
(a) Yekambaran is a decision of the High Court;
(b) Yekambaran is binding where subordinate/inferior courts are involved;[3] and
(c) Yekambaran is only persuasive where superior courts are involved.
The following cases, regrettably, wrongly quoted Yekambaran as being a decision of the Supreme Court:
(a) Bandar Utama Development Sdn Bhd & Anor v Bandar Utama 1 Jmb [2018] MLJU 697 (a decision of the Court of Appeal):
“… (a) In Yekambaran s/o Marimuthu v Malayawata Steel Berhad [1994] 2 CLJ 581, the Supreme Court set out the threshold test the applicant had to satisfy to succeed in an application for discovery.”[4] (Emphasis mine)
(b) Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya & Ors v Kerajaan Negeri Selangor and another appeal [2018] 2 MLJ 322 (a decision of the Court of Appeal):
“As for the elements required to be shown for the grant of an order for discovery, the then Supreme Court in Yekambaran s/o Marimuthu v Malayawata Steel Bhd [1993] MLJU 96; [1994] 2 CLJ 581 through Edgar Joseph Jr SCJ had this to say …”[5] (Emphasis mine)
(c) Power Cellular Accessories Supply Sdn Bhd v Pesuruhjaya Tanah Persekutuan & Ors [2019] MLJU 751 (a decision of the High Court):
“On the same issue, the general legal principle on the requirements to be fulfilled in a discovery application has been laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Yekambaran Marimuthu v Malayawata Steel Bhd [1994] 2 CLJ 581 …”[6] (Emphasis mine)
(d) Golden Affinity Development Sdn Bhd v Lim Yok Wah & Ors [2020] MLJU 1463 (a decision of the High Court):
“On the same issue, the general legal principle on the requirements to be fulfilled in a discovery application as laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Yekambaran Marimuthu v. Malayawata Steel Bhd [1994] 2 CLJ 581 …”[7] (Emphasis mine)
(e) Teknologi Enviro-Kimia (M) Sdn Bhd v Bufflow Engineering Sdn Bhd & Ors [2022] MLJU 2759 (a decision of the High Court):
“The general legal principle that is required to be fulfilled in a discovery application is found in the oft-quoted Supreme Court case of Yekambaran Marimuthu v Malayawata Steel Berhad [1994] 2 CLJ 581, where his Lordship Edgar Joseph Jr SCJ stated …”[8] (Emphasis mine)
Notwithstanding the value and propriety of the test laid down in Yekambaran, decisions (such as the above) which incorrectly quote Yekambaran as a decision of the Supreme Court incorrectly elevate Yekambaran vis-a-vis the doctrine of judicial precedent and run the risk of muddling case law which are binding on superior courts vis-a-vis applications for discovery.
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by Joshua Wu Kai-Ming | Oct 13, 2021 | Law
1. Its purpose is to maintain status quo
In Takako Sakao (f) v Ng Pek Yuen & Anor (No. 3) [2010] 2 MLJ 141, the Federal Court held:
“When viewed in its proper perspective, what s 80 is designed to address is a situation where there is either an application for leave to appeal or an appeal pending before this court the integrity of which is required to be preserved. It would be futile for an appellant or an intended appellant to prosecute his appeal or application for leave before this court if the subject matter of the appeal is dissipated or otherwise disposed of. Power is necessary in an appellate court, in particular the apex court, to preserve and maintain the status quo until the matter is finally disposed of. Section 80 does precisely that. It empowers us to make interim preservation orders to protect the integrity of an appeal or a leave application until it is finally disposed of.”[1]
2. The Court of Appeal and Federal Court are empowered to grant it pursuant to the Courts of Judicature Act 1964
Sections 44 and 80 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 provide the following:
“44. (1) In any proceeding pending before the Court of Appeal any direction incidental thereto not involving the decision of the proceeding, any interim order to prevent prejudice to the claims of parties pending the hearing of the proceeding, any order for security for costs, and for the dismissal of a proceeding for default in furnishing security so ordered may at any time be made by a Judge of the Court of Appeal.
…
80. (1) In any proceeding pending before the Federal Court any direction incidental thereto not involving the decision of the proceeding, any interim order to prevent prejudice to the claims of parties pending the hearing of the proceeding, any order for security for costs, and for the dismissal of a proceeding for default in furnishing security so ordered may at any time be made by a Judge of the Federal Court.” (Emphasis mine)
3. The High Court can grant it if the subject matter involves property
The High Court can also grant IPOs, albeit in more narrow circumstances, namely where the subject matter involves property.
Item 6 of the Schedule to the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 seizes the High Court with the:
“Power to provide for the interim preservation of property the subject matter of any cause or matter by sale or by injunction or the appointment of a receiver or the registration of a caveat or a lis pendens or in any other manner whatsoever.” (Emphasis mine)
4. It can take the form of injunctions
The Court of Appeal in Silver Concept Sdn Bhd v Brisdale Rasa Development Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Ekspedisi Ria Sdn Bhd) [2002] 4 MLJ 113 opined that:
“[Section 44 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964] empowers this court to make interim orders to preserve the integrity of an appeal or other proceeding, including the very application under the section itself (see sub-s (2)). Such interim preservation orders may take the form of an injunction or other relief designed — in the words of the section — ‘to prevent prejudice to the claims of parties’.”[2] (Emphasis mine)
In Fawziah Holdings Sdn Bhd v Metramac Corp Sdn Bhd(previously known as Syarikat Teratai KG Sdn Bhd) [2006] 1 MLJ 435, the Court of Appeal ordered an injunction “… in the form of a post judgment Mareva injunction.”[3]
Meanwhile, in Subashini a/p Rajasingam v Saravanan a/l Thangathoray and other appeals [2008] 2 MLJ 147, it was in the form of an Erinford injunction.[4]
5. It would not be defective if granted by two (or more) judges of the Court of Appeal/Federal Court
In Wan Khairani bte Wan Mahmood v Ismail bin Mohamad & Anor [2007] 4 MLJ 409 (“Wan Khairani”), the 1st Respondent argued that the interim preservation order granted by the Court of Appeal was defective as it was granted by two Court of Appeal judges.[5]
Tengku Baharudin JCA (later FCJ), in delivering the majority judgment in Wan Khairani, held:
“Kemusykilan RP tentang perintah dibuat oleh dua orang hakim dijawab oleh s 38(1) CJA itu sendiri yang dimulakan dengan perkataan-perkataan ‘Subject as hereinafter provided’. Seksyen 44 CJA adalah salah satu peruntukan terkemudian yang dimaksudkan di mana keputusan yang dibuat oleh seorang hakim dianggap sebagai keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan — lihat sub-s (2). Jika perintah sedemikian sah dibuat oleh seorang hakim, maka mana-mana hakim dalam panel Mahkamah Rayuan boleh membuatnya. Ekorannya perintah sedemikian yang dibuat oleh dua orang hakim Mahkamah Rayuan adalah teratur dan sah.”[6] (Emphasis mine)
6. It cannot be granted if, in effect, it would render the appeal nugatory/academic
In Taipan Focus Sdn Bhd v Tunku Mudzaffar b Tunku Mustapha [2011] 1 MLJ 441, one of the legal questions posed to the Federal Court was:
“whether as a matter of law the Court of Appeal can make orders under s 44 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 which in effect renders the appeal nugatory or academic and/or is made pending the disposal of another suit which is not the subject matter of the appeal.”[7]
The majority (2-1) answered the leave question in the negative.[8]
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