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2018 Supreme(Del) 2239

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW, J.
LT Colonel Vineet Mehta - Petitioner
Versus
The Estate Officer And Ors. - Respondents
W.P.(C) No. 3573 of 2017, CM No.2127 of 2018 (for stay) & CM No.4951 of 2018
Decided On : 05-09-2018

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Mohan Kumar and Mr. Abishek Sarvaria, Advs.
For the Respondent: Mr. Vikram Jetly, CGSC with Col. A.K. Singh, SO (Legal).

Headnote:

Public Premises - Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants - Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 (PP Act) - Section 9, Section 5, Section 7(3) - The judgment discusses the eviction of the petitioner from House no.4, Tigris Road, Delhi Cantt under Section 5 of the PP Act, the challenge to the eviction order, and the determination of penal rent under Section 7(3) of the Act. The court's decision was influenced by the interpretation of the scope of Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the limited interference in exercise of such jurisdiction, and the availability of appellate remedy under the statute.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, an Army Officer, was evicted from a regular married accommodation under Section 5 of the PP Act. The petitioner challenged the eviction order and the determination of penal rent under Section 7(3) of the Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the challenge to the eviction order was not pressed, and the interference in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226 was limited. The court held that the legal recourse against the order under Section 7(3) of the Act would be as provided for under Section 9 of the Act.

Issues: The issues included the challenge to the eviction order, the determination of penal rent, and the availability of appellate remedy under the statute.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the limited interference in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226, the availability of appellate remedy under the statute, and the preservation of rights and contentions in case of an appeal under Section 9 of the Act.

Final Decision: The petition was disposed of in terms of the judgment of the Division Bench, and the court held that the challenge to the eviction order having been not pressed, any adjudication on the order passed by the Estate Officer under Section 7(3) of the Act in exercise of the extraordinary jurisdiction of the Court was not called for.

JUDGMENT :

1. This petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India impugns the order [dated 29th March, 2017 in PPA No.10/2016 of the Court of the Additional District Judge-01 (South-West) acting as Appellate Officer under Section 9 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 (PP Act)] of dismissal of appeal preferred by the petitioner against the order dated [6th October, 2012 of the respondent no.1 Estate Officer, Delhi Military Station] of eviction of the petitioner under Section 5 of the PP Act from House no.4, Tigris Road, Delhi Cantt.

2. This petition came up first before this Court first on 25th April, 2017 when it was adjourned to 27th April, 2017 when the following order was passed:-

“1. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner submits on instructions that the petitioner is restricting his claim in this writ petition only to the recovery of the penal rent by the respondents.

2. Learned standing counsel for Central Government submits on instructions from Col. Neeraj Mohey, OIC, Legal Cell, Delhi High Court (Army) present in Court that the penal rent is recoverable by Military Engineering Services and Controller of Defence Accounts and as per his information, the penal rent has not yet been calculated.

3. On the oral prayer on behalf of the petitioner, respondents No.1 to 4 are deleted from the array of parties and Military Engineering Services and Controller of Defence Accounts are impleaded as respondents No.1 and 2. Let the amended memo of parties be filed within one week.

4. Issue notice to newly added respondents No.1 and 2 on the limited issue as to whether there is any infirmity in the respondent’s claim for recovery of penal rent against the petitioner. Learned standing counsel accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1 and 2.

5. Let the counter affidavit along with the computation of the penal rent recoverable from the petitioner be filed within a period of 8 weeks. Rejoinder within four weeks thereafter.

6. List on 30th August, 2017.

7. The petitioner’s case on merits shall be considered after the computation of the penal rent is placed on record. Since the respondents have not yet even calculated the penal rent and the respondents are likely to take about 8 weeks to calculate the amount, the respondents shall withhold any coercive action against the petitioner to recover the penal rent till the next date of hearing.

8. The relevant official records be kept available by the respondents on the next date of hearing.

9. The record of the Appellate Court be requisitioned before the next date of hearing.

10. Copy of this order be given dasti to counsels for the parties under signature of Court Master.”

3. The petitioner filed CM No.19083/2017 for modification of the order dated 27th April, 2017 and which came up before this Court on 19th May, 2017 when notice thereof was ordered to be issued. The respondents filed a counter affidavit. The application of the petitioner to restrain the respondents from recovering penal rent from the petitioner was dismissed on 30th August, 2017 observing, that the respondent Estate Officer till then had not determined the penal rent under Section 7(3) of the PP Act; liberty was however granted to the petitioner to approach the Court after the said determination and the proceedings under Section 7 of the Act before the Estate Officer were made subject to outcome of the petition. On 8th February, 2018 it was informed that the proceedings under Section 7 of the Act before the Estate Officer were listed on 10th February, 2018; observing, that the proceedings before the Estate Officer be continued and the final order along with relevant record be produced before this Court on 3rd May, 2018, this petition was adjourned to 3rd May, 2018.

4. The petitioner preferred LPA No.242/2018 against the order dated 8th February, 2018 and which has been disposed of vide judgment dated 11th May, 2018 of the Division Bench of this Court.

5. The petitioner has filed another
























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