2013 Supreme(AP) 153
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD
Pinaki Chandra Ghose, C.J. and Vilas V. Afzulpurkar, J.
Puravankara Projects Limited - Appellants
Vs.
State of Andhra Pradesh - Respondent
Writ Appeal No. 1407 of 2012
Decided On: 05.03.2013
Advocate Appeared:
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff: Mr. S.K. Kapur, Senior Counsel and Mr. Ch. Pushyam Kiran
For Respondents/Defendant:Mr. B.P. Mohan, Advocate General SC for APIIC and G.P. for Industries and Commerce for the Respondents.
Headnote:
Writ Appeal - Urban Land Act, 1976 - Land Case - unsuccessful petitioner is in appeal against the order of the learned single Judge whereby WP filed by the petitioner, was dismissed primarily on the ground that several disputed questions of facts arising in the matter cannot be adjudicated in a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India - Held, However, non-existence of independent access was not disclosed by the corporation to the respondent - It is, in those circumstances, the Supreme Court affirmed the order of the High Court to refund the forfeited amount with interest - Said decision also reiterated the principle that the corporation being an instrumentality of the State must act fairly and reasonably - In the present case, as is discussed on the facts above, Court do not see any reason as to how the said decision could assist the appellant/petitioner inasmuch as unlike the said case, the appellant/petitioner, in the present case, had sought to resile from the contract almost after two years on the grounds for which there was no assurance whatsoever by the respondent corporation - Writ Appeal dismissed. (Para 21)
Vilas V. Afzulpurkar, J.
1. The unsuccessful petitioner is in appeal against the order of the learned single Judge dated 12.03.2012 whereby WP. No. 27133 of 2009, filed by the petitioner, was dismissed primarily on the ground that several disputed questions of facts arising in the matter cannot be adjudicated in a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Hence, while dismissing the writ petition, the learned single Judge left the parties to resolve the disputes by approaching appropriate forum other than by way of a writ petition. It would be appropriate to notice the relief sought for in the writ petition:
... the Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate Writ, direction or order especially in the nature of a writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to restitute/refund the amount of 403 Crores paid by the First Petitioner, pursuant to the tender Notification dated 5.11.2007 in respect of Plot No. 15 in Survey No. 83/1 of Raidurg known as Hyderabad Knowledge City, together with interest @ 18% p.a., on the amount of 403 Crores from the date of receipt of payment till the date of payment to the First Petitioner...
2. The order of the learned single Judge is assailed, inter alia, on the ground that remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is available even in respect of contractual matters by placing reliance on decisions of the Supreme Court in ABL International Ltd. v. Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (2004) 3 SCC 553; Zonal Manager, Central Bank of India v. Devi Ispat Ltd. 2010 (6) SCJ 555:(2010) 11 SCC 186 : 2011 (1) ALT 21.1 (DN SC); Reliance Energy Limited v. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd. 2008 (4) SCJ 374 : (2007) 8 SCC 1; M.D., H.S.I.D.C. v. Hari Om Enterprises 2009 (1) SCJ 890 = (2009) 16 SCC 208. It is also assailed on the ground that correspondence between the parties commencing with invitation of bid issued by the respondent corporation clearly spells out the terms of the contract/bargain and appropriate appreciation thereof would entitle the petitioner to the relief under Article 226 of the Constitution of India as no other disputed questions arise.
3. Mr. S.K. Kapur, learned senior counsel appearing the appellant, therefore, contended that only if oral evidence is required to prove a fact, the petitioner may be relegated to a remedy of suit but the present case does not require any evidence to be led, as the exchange of correspondence between the parties, which is not in dispute, is sufficient to adjudicate on the controversy involved in the writ petition. So far as the merits of the claim are concerned, learned senior counsel for the appellant, contended that essential terms of the contract having not been settled, merely on the basis of vague and ambiguous terms, the respondent corporation cannot contend that a concluded contract exists between the parties. He, therefore, justified the relief sought for refund of sale consideration as the negotiations between the parties continued and never did finally settle all the terms of any agreement between them.
4. Per contra, the learned Advocate General appearing for the respondents submitted that the offer of the petitioner having been accepted by the respondent corporation a concluded contract was formed and the petitioner has deposited first two instalments and on their request, the third instalment was waived. Further, from time to time, the petitioners have asked for various concession and with a view to encourage the project, the respondent corporation has agreed to almost all the requests of the petitioner including putting the petitioners in possession of the proportionate land to the extent of consideration paid by them. He, therefore, submits that the petitioners are trying to resile from a concluded contract only on account of drop in real estate prices and have devised and invented the grounds resiling from contract when there exists none. He also contended that the con