IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Manoj Kumar Ohri, J.
M/s Nyoni Enterprises Pvt. Ltd - Appellant
Versus
South Delhi Muncipal Corporation & Ors. - Respondents
Civil Writ Petition No. 5755 of 2022
Decided On : 07-04-2022
Parking Site - Writ Petition - Article 226 of the Constitution of India - NIT No.aC/RPC/SDMC/2021/D-200 - Possession letter No.aC/RPC/SDMC/2021/D-509 - Jagtar Singh v. Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. and Ors., W.P.(C) 8648/2018
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a Private Limited Company, sought relief against interference in the operation of a parking site at Dwarka Sector-11 Market by local shopkeepers. The petitioner claimed to have been awarded a contract and possession of the parking site by respondent No.1/SDMC.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner's grievance was against the local shopkeepers, not respondent No.1/Corporation. It held that the petitioner cannot enforce its private rights against the members of respondent No. 4/association through a writ petition. The court also noted that the alleged inaction of the police authorities could not be assailed in the present proceedings as an alternate remedy was available to the petitioner.
Issues: The main issue was whether the petitioner's grievance against the interference in the operation of the parking site could be addressed through a writ petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner cannot enforce its private rights against the members of respondent No. 4/association by way of a writ petition. It also noted that the alleged inaction of the police authorities could not be assailed in the present proceedings as alternate remedy was available with the petitioner.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petition and the pending application, clarifying that it had not gone into the merits of the contentions raised, and that the rights and contentions of the parties shall remain reserved.
JUDGMENT
Manoj Kumar Ohri, J. - CM aPPL. 17247/2022 (Exemption)
1. allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
2. The application stands disposed of.
W.P.(C) 5755/2022 & CM aPPL. 17246/2022 (Stay)
1. The present writ petition has been filed under article 226 of the Constitution of India on behalf of the petitioner seeking the following reliefs:-
'a. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ thereby directing the Respondent Nos.1 to 3 to take appropriate action against the Respondent No.4 association and its members, Customers, local politicians etc. and stop them from interfering/creating any hindrance in the peaceful running of the authorized Parking Site of the Petitioner at Dwarka Sector -11 Market (Pocket-4), Dwarka.
b. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Certiorari or any other writ thereby restraining the Respondent No. 4 association from interfering in the peaceful running/Collection of parking charges/creating any obstacles in smooth running of the Parking Site of the Petitioner at Dwarka Sector -11 Market (Pocket-4), Dwarka.
c. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ thereby directing the Respondent No. 1 not to charge any Monthly Licence Fee till the time the authorized Parking Site of the Petitioner at Dwarka Sector -11 Market (Pocket-4), Dwarka becomes fully functional.
d. any other or further order which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.'
2. The petitioner claims to be a Private Limited Company engaged in the business of running of Parking Sites under contracts/licenses issued by various Departments like MCD, DDa, Indian Railways, DMRC etc.
3. It is further claimed that respondent No.1/SDMC had floated NIT (Notice Inviting Tender) No.aC/RPC/SDMC/2021/D-200 dated 17.08.2021 for operation of various parking sites, including the parking site at Dwarka Sector-11 Market (Pocket 4), Delhi on monthly license fee for a period of five years. The petitioner, being the successful bidder, was issued an offer letter dated 21.10.2021 by the respondent/Corporation. Consequent to the same, the petitioner deposited three months' advance license fee i.e., Rs.7,56,324/- alongwith equivalent amount of security deposit/performance guarantee. Thus, the total amount deposited by the petitioner came to about Rs.15,12,648/-.
4. It is also claimed that vide letter dated 21.10.2021 bearing No.aC/RPC/SDMC/2021/D-412, the petitioner was directed to take over the possession of the parking site within a period of 7 days from the date of issuance of the offer letter and consequently, on 24.11.2021, the physical possession of the parking site was handed over to it vide possession letter bearing No.aC/RPC/SDMC/2021/D-509.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that when the petitioner sought to install the parking boards/banners, some of the shopkeepers of the local market gathered and stated that they would not pay parking charges to the petitioner. It is submitted that on account of resistance by the shopkeepers belonging to respondent No.4/association, the petitioner has not been able to operate the parking site. It is also the grievance of the petitioner that despite being informed, the SHO/respondent Nos. 2 & 3 failed to take necessary action.
6. In support of his submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on the order dated 17.08.2018 passed in Jagtar Singh v. Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. and Ors., W.P.(C) 8648/2018.
7. Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.1, on the other hand, has taken a preliminary objection to the maintainability of the present petition. He has referred to the averments made in the petition as well as in the letters written by the petitioner to submit that concededly, the possession of the parking lot was handed over by respondent No. 1 to the petitioner, whereafter the local shopkeepers, state
AI
A petitioner cannot enforce its private rights against a third party through a writ petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India.
A writ petition under Article 226 is maintainable against state actions, not against private entities, and alternate remedies must be exhausted before seeking such relief.
Writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution is a public law remedy not available for the resolution of private disputes involving private rights in non-public spaces.
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