2015 Supreme(Pat) 812
HIGH COURT OF PATNA
HEMANT KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, J.
(29.10.2015)
CWJC No. 7726 of 2011
Dhrub Prasad : Petitioner
Vs.
The State of Bihar & Ors. : Respondents
For the Petitioners: Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha.
For the Housing Board : M/s Tej Bahadu Singh, Ram Kishore Singh.
For the State : M/s Rajesh Singh, Abhanjalli.
Headnote:Bihar Shops and Establishments Act, 1953–Section 2(16)–Bihar State Housing Board Act, 1982–Section 29 (q)–Petrol pump will come under definition of shops but there is distinction between shops and fuel depots–Act of 1953 is not applicable in present case–Petitioner having stepped into shoes of original allottee, he was bound to use plot for same purposes for which plot had been allotted to original allottee–Writ petition dismissed. (Paras 14 to 19)
AIR 1955 SC 62; AIR 1964 Madras 131; AIR 1972 SC 1479; AIR 1984 (2) SC 1700; AIR 1963 AP 332–Referred.
2. The brief fact, which lies to file this writ petition, is that a deed of Tripartite lease was executed on 25.08.2004 between petitioner, Bihar State Housing Board and the original allottee, Sri Bajarang Lall Bazaz in respect of commercial plot no. DS-24/L situate at Lohia Nagar, Kankarbagh, Patna. The terms and conditions of the lease were duly entered in the registered deed and accordingly, petitioner came in possession of the aforesaid plot. Para-10 of the aforesaid registered deed contains a term that the prescribed plot shall be used only for office/shops/godowns purposes.
3. After coming over the above stated plot, petitioner gave a representation to competent authority of the Bihar State Housing Board for granting no objection for opening a petroleum retail outlet on plot no. DS-24/L in the year 2005. The aforesaid representation of the petitioner was processed and the office of the Board recommended that there was no technical difficulty to the Board for granting permission to open a petroleum retail outlet on the same condition/on the same rate which rate had been paid by allottee of plot no. DS-7 of the same locality. The then Managing Director, Bihar State Housing Board, Patna having perused the report of office gave certain directions for verification of the site and other enquiries. In compliance of the aforesaid directions, enquiry was conducted and recommendation was made in favour of opening a petrol pump on the above stated plot and the record of plot no. DS-7 was tagged with the record of petitioner for calculation of the rate but in the meantime, the above stated Managing Director was transferred and the matter was kept in abeyance by the office of the Board. However, in the meantime, petitioner got clearance for opening a petrol pump on the aforesaid commercial plot from other authorities including the District Magistrate etc. and in anticipation of grant of no objection from the Board proceeded to open the petrol pump on the aforesaid plot and invested huge amount in the aforesaid project. It is also case of the petitioner that petitioner again approached before the Board for issuance of no objection for opening petrol pump on his plot but same was refused by the Board by issuance of letter no. 6844 dated 04.11.2010 giving information that prayer of the petitioner had already been refused by the Board vide letter no. 5101 dated 17.10.2007 and it was not possible for the Board to grant no objection for opening petrol pump on the aforesaid commercial plot. The aforesaid fact is evident from Annexure-9 to the writ petition. It is also case of the petitioner that petitioner never received letter no. 5101 dated 17.10.2007 nor any information was given to him about rejection of his prayer by the Board. It is further case of the petitioner that Board had already granted no objection to other person for opening a petrol pump on plot no. DS-7 in the same locality but the prayer of the petitioner was refused without any rhyme and rea