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1972 Supreme(Cal) 61

HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
AMIYA KUMAR MUKHERJI
THE CORPORATION OF CALCUTTA - Appellant
Versus
THE BUILDING TRIBUNAL - Respondent
Civil Revn.  1573  Of  1966
Decided On : MARCH 2, 1972

Advocates Appeared:
KANIKA BANERJI, SUNIL KUMAR BASU

The Building Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to entertain an appeal against a demolition order passed by the Commissioner under Section 414(3) of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, if the appeal is filed beyond the 30-day limitation period prescribed under Section 414-A. Additionally, the absence of the Commissioner as a party to the appeal renders the appeal defective.

Headnote:

CALCUTTA MUNICIPAL ACT, 1951 - SECTION 414-A - APPEAL AGAINST DEMOLITION ORDER - JURISDICTION OF BUILDING TRIBUNAL - REVIEW APPLICATION - LIMITATION - PARTIES TO APPEAL.

Fact of the Case:

The Corporation of Calcutta challenged the appellate order of the Building Tribunal, which allowed an appeal against a demolition order issued by the Commissioner under Section 414(3) of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951. The Tribunal found that the sheds in question were erected more than 12 years before the notice under Section 414(1) was issued, and therefore, no action could be taken under that section.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the appeal because it was filed beyond the 30-day limitation period prescribed under Section 414-A. Additionally, the Commissioner of the Corporation, who passed the demolition order, was not made a party to the appeal, which rendered the appeal defective.

Issues: 1. Whether the Building Tribunal had jurisdiction to entertain an appeal against a demolition order passed by the Commissioner under Section 414(3) of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, when the appeal was filed beyond the 30-day limitation period prescribed under Section 414-A? 2. Whether the absence of the Commissioner of the Corporation as a party to the appeal rendered the appeal defective?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court interpreted Section 414-A of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, and held that the right of appeal against a demolition order under Section 414(3) must be exercised within 30 days from the date of the order. The Tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction by entertaining an appeal filed beyond this limitation period. 2. The court relied on Sections 6, 24, and 34 of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, to hold that the Commissioner of the Corporation is the sole authority to exercise the powers conferred under Section 414(3) of the Act. Impleading the Corporation alone was not sufficient to challenge the Commissioner's order, and the absence of the Commissioner as a party rendered the appeal defective.

Final Decision: The court allowed the petition, set aside the impugned order of the Building Tribunal, and restored the Commissioner's demolition order dated 15th May 1963.

AMIYA KUMAR MOOKERJI, J.

( 1 ) THIS Rule was obtained by the Corporation of Calcutta. It is directed against the appellate order of the Building Tribunal passed in an appeal under Section 414-A of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951.

( 2 ) THE opposite party No. 2 as proprietor of Sree Printers and Binders and as the Managing Director of Esscbe Printers Pvt. Ltd. , is a monthly tenant of a structure in the ground floor of premises No. 42. Dharamtolla Street Calcutta, since April, 1955. Sometime in the year 1960, by two letters dated 25-8-1960 and 3-9-1960 complaint was made by the owner as well as some co-tenants of the said premises, to the City Architect and the Commissioner of the Corporation of Calcutta respectively, that the said opposite party No. 2 without any permission covered the open space with corrogated sheets and constructed a room on the corridor space, thus created an unauthorised structure. On receipt of the said complaint, the site was inspected. Two unauthorised sheds of C. I. Sheets in the side space were detected. The said unauthorised sheds infringed Rules 32 and 33 of Schedule XVI of Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951. Thereupon, on 30th July 1962, a notice under Section 414 (1) of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1951, (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was served upon the said opposite party No. 2. On receipt of the said notice, the opposite party No. 2 on 4th August, 1962, addressed a letter to the City Architect of the Corporation of Calcutta, wherein he denied any construction, addition and alterations and, contended that the existing structures were more than 12 years old. Thereafter, on the 15th of May, 1963, the Commissioner passed an order of demolition under Section 414 (3) of the Act after duly intimating the said opposite party No. 2 the date of hearing which was fixed on 15th May, 1963 The opposite party No. 2, however, did not appear before the Commissioner at the date of the hearing of the demolition case. Immediately after the said order of demolition was passed, the said opposite party No. 2 by his letter dated 23rd May, 1963, asked the Commissioner, Calcutta Corporation, for rehearing of the case, and stay of the implementation of the order that passed on 15th of May 1963. The Commissioner rejected the prayer for review. Thereupon, a Lawyer's notice purported to be under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure was served upon the Commissioner and the Special Officer (Building), Corporation of Calcutta, by the opposite party No. 2 expressing his intention to file a suit for setting aside order of the Commissioner and for other reliefs. A reply was sent thereto intimating that the Commissioner's order should not be stayed unless an injunction was obtained from a Civil Court. Thereafter, on the 17th of December, 1963, the opposite party No. 2 again applied to the Commissioner for review of his order passed on 15th May, 1963. On 4th of April, 1960, (1964 ?) the Commissioner declined to grant review and by a letter dt. 16th of March, 1963 (1965 ?) addressed to the opposite party No. 2 asked him to carry out the order of demolition. By Amending Act XVIII of 1964. Section 414-A was brought into force on the 1st April, 1965, The right of appeal was given under that section against the order of the Commissioner passed under Subsection (3) of Section 414 within the 30 days from the date of such order. On 16th of March, 1965, notice was given to the opposite party No. 2 to carry out the demolition order dated 15th of May, 1963. On the 20th of June, 1965, the opposite party No. 2 again applied for the third time for the review of the demolition case. On 21st January, 1966, the Commissioner rejected the opposite party No. 2's said application after hearing the parties. Thereafter on the 19th February, 1966, the opposite party No. 2 filed an appeal before the Building Tribunal under Section 414-A of the Act against the order dated 21-1-1966 passed by the Commissioner by which the opposite party No. 2's appli








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