CHARMANT vs. MENSAH [1982]DLHC2113

Date	1982-01-19
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1982]DLHC2113

AMPIAH J.

A. A. MUNUFIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

S. K. AKOTO FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[1982]DLHC2113
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CHARMANT <o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;MENSAH <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, SUNYANI]<o:p></o:p>[1982-83] GLR 65<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
19 JANUARY
1982<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

A. A. MUNUFIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF. <o:p></o:p>

S. K. AKOTO FOR THE DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

AMPIAH J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF AMPIAH J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an appeal by the defendant against the judgment of the District Court, Grade 1,
Goaso. By his writ of summons issued on 28 July 1980, the plaintiff-respondent
(hereinafter referred to as the respondent), claimed from the
defendant-appellant (hereinafter referred to as the appellant):<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(a) Cash
the sum of ¢2,710.64 being the plaintiff’s three months’ salary and entitlement
for the work done by the plaintiff for the defendant. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b) The
defendant should assign reasons why he should not be liable to pay the
plaintiff’s transport expenses from Mim to Dokankye in the Ashanti Region
amounting to ¢800 for unlawful dismissal of the plaintiff from the Agro
Industries, Mim. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(c)
¢2,000 damages for unlawful dismissal.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
appellant counterclaimed for “the sum of ¢4,230 or the sum of ¢1,519.36
representing the difference between the said sum of ¢4,230 and the sum of
¢2,710.64 due to the plaintiff as three months’ salary in lieu of notice.” On
15 August 1980, the appellant amended his claim to read ¢2,800 instead of
¢4,230. On that very day the trial magistrate entered judgment against the
appellant for ¢2,710.64 in respect of the three months’ salary due to the
respondent. The respondent thereupon discontinued his claim for ¢2,000 damages
for unlawful dismissal. That aspect of the claim was struck out as discontinued.
The court then proceeded to hear the case on 5 September 1980. On 19 September
1980, the court gave judgment in favour of the respondent for ¢800 with costs
of ¢300. The appellant’s counterclaim was dismissed.<o:p></o:p>Among the
several grounds filed in this appeal against the judgment is the one, that <o:p></o:p>“The
trial court was wrong in trying the action as it was apparent on the face of
the writ of summons and the counterclaim that the trial court lacked
jurisdiction in the matter.” There was an objection to the raising of this
issue in their appeal as it was contended that the parties by their conduct had
acquiesced in giving the court jurisdiction. The law, however, is that, an
objection to jurisdiction can be taken at any time; it may even be raised for
the first time on a second appeal; see the cases of Djabartey v. Awua II (1938)
4 W.A.C.A. 202 and Benin v. Ababio (1957) 2 W.A.L.R. 216. This court therefore
has power to entertain this ground of appeal.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>At the
start of the hearing of the case, the respondent’s claim stood at ¢2,710.64 and
¢800; the appellant’s claim stood at ¢2,800. By section 37 (1) (a) of the
Courts Act, 1971 (Act 372), the jurisdiction of the district magistrate, grade
I, in such matters is limited to ¢2,000. It is therefore obvious that the claim
before the court was above its jurisdiction and so it could not entertain the
action. It is however provided by section 37 (3) of Act 372 that:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(3)
Where in any action, cause or matter the amount claimed or the value of any
land or property exceeds the amount or value specified in subsection (1) of
this section, the Court shall, notwithstanding that subsection, proceed to hear
the case if the parties agree that it should do so.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Parties
cannot by consent or by acquiescence confer jurisdiction on a court where it
has none otherwise: see Quist v. Kwantreng [1961] G.L.R. (Pt II) 60</main>