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1996 Supreme(Guj) 363

Gujarat High Court
Judgename :J.N.Bhatt
RAJAN SANKALCHAND PATEL - Appellant
Versus
STATE - Respondent
S.C.A. 5906 of 1995
Decided On : 08/02/1996

Advocates Appeared: K.C.SHAH, PRASHANT DESAI, R.N.SHAH

Headnote:

Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976 - Sections 70, 71 and 52 - Rule 26 - Constitution of India,1950 - Article 226 – Petition challenge in against proposal of respondent authority for variation in scheme for up gradation of slums situated on different parcels of lands which form part of town planning scheme in exercise of statutory powers - Petitioners is that on account of political motive a proposal came to be sent by respondent Municipal Corporation for variation of Scheme with regard to original plot admeasuring sq. yds land situated at Paldi Extension Scheme by way of second variation and for slum up gradation said action is taken by respondent corporation pursuant to its Resolution - It is case of the petitioners that the Town Planning Committee by its Resolution No. 244 passed town planning scheme which was varied on which later on came to be declared as new scheme Act - A duty is cast upon the Municipal Corporation to prepare town planning scheme and provisions of appropriate authority like that respondent is entrusted powers to carry out directions and instructions as may be issued from time to time by State Government for efficient administration of g. T. P. U. D. Act –Held, Court also submitted that there is no requirement for slum up gradation on lands in town planning as proposed by Municipal corporation as there are no huts - Petitioners have also alleged mala fides allegation of mala fides is not substantiated - Mere allegation without any supporting material is not sufficient of admission of this matter - Whether there is need for slum up gradation or not cannot be questioned by petitioners being part and parcel of executive domain and falling in policy matter of respondent authority – Court is not for decide whether land could be reserved for slum up gradation being a part of policy matter - It must be remembered that Court is obliged to tilt balance between judicial restraint and judicial activism - Court cannot embark upon scrutinizing rightly executive policies of the State or statutory authority - Where how and why slum up gradation project is required and is undertaken by respondent-authority should not be subjected to judicial review or scrutiny as same would be falling within domain of policy of the executive and that too in absence of mala fides and discrimination – Petition rejected(Para 14)

J. N. BHATT, J.

( 1 ) THE challenge in this petition under Art. 226 of the constitution is against the proposal of the respondent authority for variation in the scheme for upgradation of slums situated on different parcels of lands which form part of town planning scheme No. 22 in exercise of statutory powers under Secs. 70, 71 and 52 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976 for a writ of prohibition. (Presidents Act No. 27 of 1976) ("g. T. P. U. D. Act") and Rule 26 of the Gujarat town Planning and Urban Development Rules, 1976 ("g. T. P. U. D. Rules" ).

( 2 ) THE petitioners are owners of lands bearing final plot No. 315 situated in town Planning Scheme No. 22 Narayannagar Road, Paldi, Taluka City, District- ahmedabad. They purchased sub-plots of S. No. 315 by registered sale deed in the month of December 1983. Thus, each petitioner is holding separate portion of land in the said final plot No. 315. The petitioners have inter alia relied on consent purshis below Exhs. 5 and 6 in Civil Suit No. 523 of 1986 and also in Civil Suit no. 6017 of 1986 dated 13-7-1987 and by placing copies of both the orders passed in the aforesaid suits pending between the petitioners and tenants of the said lands.

( 3 ) THE case of the petitioners is that on account of political motive, a proposal came to be sent by respondent No. 4 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for variation of Scheme No. 22 with regard to original plot No. 315 admeasuring 4,186 sq. yds. of land situated at Paldi Extension Scheme No. 22 by way of second variation and for slum upgradation. The said action is taken by respondent No. 4 corporation pursuant to its Resolution No. 897 of 1984-85. It is the case of the petitioners that the Town Planning Committee by its Resolution No. 244 passed the town planning scheme which was varied on 2-11-1975 which later on came to be declared as new scheme No. 22 under Sec. 23 (1) of the G. T. P. U. D. Act. A duty is cast upon the Municipal Corporation to prepare town planning scheme and under the provisions of Sec. 122, appropriate authority, like that respondent No. 4 is entrusted powers to carry out such directions and instructions as may be issued from time to time by the State Government for efficient administration of g. T. P. U. D. Act. In view of the provisions of Secs. 23 (1) (2) and 41 (1) of the g. T. P. U. D. Act, respondent No. 4 Corporation had prepared a scheme and declared it as final scheme No. 22. The scheme had become final after undergoing the statutory provisions.

( 4 ) IT is also the case of the petitioners that a letter was obtained and thereunder the proposal was sent under Sec. 71 (1) of the G. T. P. U. D. Act and Rules thereunder for variation of town planning scheme by another scheme. Thus, the Corporation is trying to vary the scheme of final scheme by passing the aforesaid Resolution No. 897 of 1984-85. On the basis of the same, for upgradation of slums with the aid of World bank, the respondent-Corporation decided to acquire land occupied by public slums for their upliftment and/or establishment of various schemes. The Municipal corporation sent proposal under Sec. 71 for variation of the scheme to the government.

( 5 ) THE town planning officer of T. P. scheme No. 22 issued notice dated 10- 2-1988 in connection with proposal for variation in the original plot No. 4,186 of land situated in town planning scheme No. 22 (Paldi extension), second variation for slum upgradation. The petitioners who are owners of the land submitted their objections. The petitioners have inter alia contended that there is no question of requiring their land for slum upgradation and to make variation second time, in final scheme No. 22 as proposed by the Corporation in view of the fact that there are no huts as alleged. It is also the case of the petitioners that once the scheme is finalised, there is no justification to vary the same for the aforesaid purpose. If their lands are acquired, pursuant to the variation in t














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