2006 Supreme(Guj) 519
Gujarat High Court
Judgename :H.N.DEVANI
SARVOTTAM CEMENT - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT - Respondent
SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION 909 Of 1990
Decided On : 08/24/2006
Headnote:
Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – State Subsidy Scheme for Industries – Sanction of subsidy – Challenge Government Resolution of the Government of Gujarat, Industries, Mines and Power Department, whereby it has been directed that the State Cash Subsidy should be restricted to the amounts to make the total subsidy (the Central as well as the State) admissible to the concerned eligible units under the State Subsidy Scheme in respect of assets created after 1st April, 1983. The petitioners also seek direction against the respondents to pay the petitioner the balance amount of Rs. 22 lakhs as subsidy at 25% of the fixed assets along with interest till the date of payment as well as to release the amount - recovered from the petitioner No. 1- petitioner Company – Held, It has been held that the recipient of a concession has no legally enforceable right against the Government to grant of a concession except to enjoy the benefits of the concession during the period of its grant – Court held that, what is granted can be withdrawn unless the Government is precluded from doing so on the ground of promissory estoppel, which principle itself is subject to considerations of equity and public interest. This Court is of the view that the same principle would be applicable in the case of grant or non-grant of subsidy, which is also, in the nature of a concession – Thus, the State Government is empowered to change its policy in respect of concessions granted by it, subject to considerations of equity and public interest – Impugned Government Resolution having been issued to effectuate the policy decision of the State Government and no case on the ground of equity having been made out, there cannot be said to be any infirmity in the impugned Government Resolution dated 9th November, 1984 – Petitioner has not been able to make out any case for applicability of the principles of promissory estoppels – No infirmity can be found in the impugned Government Resolution in seeking to merge the amount of Central Subsidy with the State subsidy, thereby putting a limit to the subsidy admissible to a unit to the amount admissible under State Scheme – Petition fails and rejected.
( 2 ) BY this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the writ petitioners challenge the Government Resolution dated 9th October, 1984 of the Government of Gujarat, Industries, Mines and Power Department, whereby it has been directed that the State Cash Subsidy should be restricted to the amounts to make the total subsidy (the Central as well as the State) admissible to the concerned eligible units under the State Subsidy Scheme in respect of assets created after 1st April, 1983. The petitioners also seek direction against the respondents to pay the petitioner the balance amount of Rs. 22 lakhs as subsidy at 25% of the fixed assets along with interest till the date of payment as well as to release the amount of Rs. 2,32,193/- recovered from the petitioner No. 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "petitioner Company" ).
( 3 ) BEING attracted by various incentives offered by the State Government, as well as the Central Government, the petitioner No. 1, a Company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 had established a mini-cement factory. The State Government, at the relevant time, had framed a scheme called the "state Subsidy Scheme for Industries" vide resolution dated 22nd December, 1977. Under the said Scheme, medium and large scale industries set up in Grade "c" Growth Centres were entitled to subsidy at the rate of 15% of the fixed assets or Rs. 25 lakhs, whichever is less. Subsequently, by Government Resolution dated 27th August, 1980, the Government of Gujarat introduced a package of new incentives for promotion of industries in rural and backward areas, which provided that pioneer units would be eligible for incentives admissible at "c" Grade Growth Centres. It is an admitted position that the petitioner is registered as a pioneer unit and as such, is eligible for incentives admissible to "c" Grade Growth Centres. On 27th April, 1983, Union of India announced subsidy of 10% under the Central Cash Subsidy Scheme for "c" Grade Growth Centres. As the petitioner came within the ambit of "c" Grade Growth Centres, the petitioner was also entitled to the benefit of Central Cash Subsidy under the said Scheme.
( 4 ) THE petitioner had applied for registration for subsidy under both State as well as Central Scheme on 15th February, 1984 and was registered in respect of both the Schemes on 24th February, 1984. On 28th June, 1984, the petitioner applied for sanction of subsidy, both Central and State, which was duly sanctioned by the respondents and payments towards subsidy were received by the petitioner on 28th October, 1985 and 14th October, 1986. The grievance of the petitioner is that the respondent refused to make further disbursement on the ground that, by virtue of the impugned resolution dated 9th November, 1994, which was made effective from 1st April, 1983, the total subsidy State and Central could not exceed 15%, and that, central subsidy is to be adjusted as if the same has merged in the State subsidy. It is the cas