2010 Supreme(Bom) 992
2010(5) ALL MR 45
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY (NAG PUR BENCH)
B. P. DHARMADHlKARI, J.
Om prakash Sawalram Agrawal & Ors.
Vs.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation & Ors.
Writ Petition Nos.4564. 4565, 4650, 4651, 4975 to 4983, 4985, 4986, 4990 to 4993, 5300, 5301 & 5631 of 2007 19th July, 2010.
Mr. MASOOD SHAREEF, Advocate for the Petitioners.
Mr. S. M. PURANIK, Advocate for Respondents.
Headnote:(A) City of Nagpur Corporation Act (1948), S.76-B(2), (1):- Before issuing a notice under sub-Section (2), Commissioner need not record the reasons for proceeding though he has to record his satisfaction as to the grounds of eviction in the final order.
(B) City of Nagpur Corporation Act (1948), S.76-B(2):- Once the authority takes a particular decision for development of the area, the individual interest should give way for the larger public interest.
(C) City of Nagpur Corporation Act (1948), S. 76-B:- Once the satisfaction of commissioner is recoded, speedy remedy of eviction of the occupant for public interest is provided after giving an opportunity to the occupant.
(D) City of Nagpur Corporation Act (1948), S.76-8:- Considerations of loss of livelihood to the petitioners and several others in the locality cannot be pleaded while challenging the order under this section which are taken once the larger interest of public is decided by the competent authority
2. Shri. B. B. Mehadia, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P. No.4565/2007 has tendered synopsis and invited attention to events stated therein to urge that a ready format is used mechanically to issue show cause notices (SCN) in the matter without bothering to IInd out requirements of Section 76-8 of the City of Nagpur Corporation Act, 1948. He advanced the lead arguments which are adopted by other learned Counsel who then made additional submissions. Other learned Counsel include Shri. Anand Parchure, Shri. Masood Sharifand Shri. Neeraj Patil.
3. According to Shri. Mehadia, learned counsel the notice under Section 76-8 is vague as it does not specify grounds for satisfaction of the Commissioner, no public interest is apparent or mentioned and as proforma of SCN is used, the model clauses not necessary in the facts of present matters are retained. Thus, the grounds on which the show cause is based are not communicated to the notice at all. The law contemplates an effective opportunity of hearing that too, before the decision to evict is taken. Because of these lacunae said hearing is denied to the petitioners. Support is being taken from the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court reported at (1980)3 SCC 1 : AIR 1980 SC 1157 "Nasir Ahmed Vs. Assistant Custodian General, Evacuee Property, V.P., Lucknow". The SCN and consequential order are therefore bad. (2001) 1 SCC 291 : AIR 2001 SC 250 "Food Corporation of India Vs. State of Punjab" is being relied upon by him. The I1nal order after hearing passed by the Additional Municipal Commissioner (ADM C) is stated to be containing grounds even beyond SCN. The judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court reported at (1994)4 SCC 269 : 1994 AIR SCW 2923 "Indian Nut Products Vs. Union of India" and of Hon'ble Gujrat High Court at AIR 2003 Guj. 332 - Shreeji Mailing Service, Ahmedabad Vs. Govt. of India and others, are pressed into service to highlight the importance of the requirement of satisfaction to be recorded and relevance of material then looked into. AIR 1967 SC 295 - "Barium Chemicals Ltd. Vs. Company Law Board" is also cited to drive home the point. Not giving of one month time to vacate in his order by ADMC is also given as an instance of non-application of mind. The learned Counsel states that later on