IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Vikash Jain, J.
M/s Golchha Udyog - Appellant
Versus
State Of Bihar & Ors. - Respondent
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 8139 of 2020
Decided On : 02-11-2021
Writ Petition - Remand for Fresh Order - The court set aside the impugned order and remanded the matter to the Certificate Officer for passing a fresh order, considering the interim order passed in the Arbitration Case No. 2/2019.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a writ petition seeking to quash an order passed by the Additional District Magistrate (Establishment) cum District Certificate Officer, Araria, and to keep the case in abeyance until the final decision of the Arbitral Tribunal. The petitioner also sought adjudication on the alleged violation of an interim order by the Respondent Authorities and requested relief for the loss and damages caused by their actions.
Finding of the Court:
The court, after hearing both parties, set aside the impugned order and remanded the matter to the Certificate Officer for passing a fresh order, taking into account the interim order passed in the Arbitration Case No. 2/2019.
Issues: The issues involved in the case included the alleged arbitrary exercise of power by the Respondent Authorities, violation of interim orders, and the petitioner's request for relief and compensation for the damages caused.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the fact that the interim order passed in the Arbitration Case No. 2/2019 was not brought to the notice of the Certificate Officer due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the impugned order not being recalled. The court found it appropriate to remand the matter for a fresh order in light of this circumstance.
Final Decision: The writ petition was disposed of with the direction to remand the matter to the Certificate Officer for passing a fresh order, considering the interim order passed in the Arbitration Case No. 2/2019.
JUDGMENT
1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents. Learned counsel for the petitioner has filed an undertaking to remove all defects pointed out by the Stamp Reporter as and when required. It is accordingly directed that all defects pointed out by the Stamp Reporter be removed within one month hereof.
2. The present writ petition has been filed for the following reliefs as formulated by the petitioner-
"1(i) To issue an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari for quashing order dated 13.06.2020 passed by the Respondent Additional District Magistrate (Establishment) cum District Certificate Officer, Araria in Certificate Case No. 01/2014-2015 whereby and where under the objection filed by the petitioner has been rejected and the petitioner has been directed to deposit Rs. 46,66,254.40/- as interest upon the principal amount already paid by the Petitioner under protest, on the ground that the same is completely arbitrary and unjustified in nature.
(ii) To issue a further writ order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the Respondent Additional District Magistrate (Establishment) cum District Certificate Officer, Araria, not to proceed further with Certificate Case no. 01/2014-2015 and keep the same in abeyance till the final decision of Arbitral Tribunal consisting of Sole Arbitrator Hon'ble (Retired) Mr. Justice Ramesh Kumar Dutta, in Arbitration Case No. 02 of 2019.
(iii) The Hon'ble Court may adjudicate and hold the order dated 13.06.2020 passed by the Respondent Additional District Magistrate (Establishment) cum District Certificate Officer, Araria in Certificate Case no 01/2014-2015 is in utter violation of interim order dated11/22.10.2019 passed by the Arbitral Tribunal consisting of Sole Arbitrator Hon'ble (Retired) Mr. Justice Ramesh Kumar Dutta, in Arbitration Case No. 02 of 2019, directing that no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner and thus bad in law.
(iv) This Hon'ble Court may adjudicate and hold that action of the Respondents in compelling the petitioner to deposit Rs. 46,66,254.40/- as interest upon the principal amount already paid by the Petitioner under protest, under the threat of coercive action that too without any substantive finding of liability against the Petitioner is highly arbitrary exercise of power conferred under the Act and tantamount to abuse of power.
(v) This Hon'ble Court may adjudicate and hold that no interest is payable since the entire disputed amount has been paid prior to adjudication.
(vi) This Hon'ble Court may award the cost of litigation and suitable compensation to the Petitioner for the loss and damages caused on account of the illegal and arbitrary actions of the Respondent Authorities.
(vii) To grant any other relief or reliefs which the Petitioner may be found entitled to in the facts and circumstances of the case. "
3. Without going into the detailed merits of the matter, Mr. Suraj Samdarshi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner states that three separate proceedings relating to the petitioner and two other persons, were running concurrently before the Certificate Officer, which were disposed of by separate orders, all dated 13.06.2020, and in all of which a direction was issued for making certain payment latest by 15.07.2020 before proceeding further in the matter. He further states that in the other two matters, namely Certificate Case no. 02/2014-2015 and Certificate Case No. 03/2014-2015 respectively, the interim orders of stay passed in arbitration proceedings were brought to the notice of the Certificate Officer, consequent upon which the Certificate Officer recalled both his orders dated 13.06.2020 in the said two cases.
4. It is stated that in the petitioner's case, however, the similar interim order passed in Arbitration Case No. 2/2019 in the petitioner's case could not be brought to the notice of the Certificate Officer by the parties in the backdrop of the on-going C
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