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2020 Supreme(Ker) 976

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA
ALEXANDER THOMAS, J.
Dr Mohammed Ashraf – Appellant
Versus
Rani P Eldho – Respondent
C. C. (C) No. 1802 of 2020
Decided on 03-12-2020

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Peeyus A Kottam (Adv.)
For the Respondent: K.J. Mohammed Anzar (Adv.)

The judgment emphasizes the duty of government officers to faithfully and sincerely comply with final and conclusive judgments and orders, and criticizes noncompliance as a breach of duty.

Headnote:

Contempt of Court - Noncompliance of Court Directions - Kerala Land Tax Act - Section 6A, Rule 6(2), Section 27A(3) - Court ordered reassessment of subject property under Section 6A of the Kerala Land Tax Act - Quashed conditions to pay amounts under Section 27A(3) and Rules - Tahsildar's noncompliance with court directions - Tahsildar's request for Writ Appeal against judgment - Court's criticism of Tahsildar's actions - Special Government Pleader's plea for leniency - Contempt of Court Case closed

Fact of the Case:

The Contempt of Court Case was filed alleging noncompliance of the directions issued by the Court in a previous judgment. The petitioner had sought statutory permission for change of land use and reassessment of the subject property under Section 6A of the Kerala Land Tax Act. The Tahsildar, despite court orders, delayed compliance and requested a Writ Appeal against the judgment.

Finding of the Court:

The Court criticized the Tahsildar's noncompliance with court directions and her request for a Writ Appeal against the judgment. The Special Government Pleader pleaded for leniency, and the Court decided to close the Contempt of Court Case.

Issues: Noncompliance with court directions, Tahsildar's request for Writ Appeal, Criticism of Tahsildar's actions, Plea for leniency by Special Government Pleader

Ratio Decidendi: The Court emphasized the importance of officers faithfully and sincerely complying with final and conclusive judgments and orders, and criticized the Tahsildar's actions as a breach of duty. The Court also acknowledged the Special Government Pleader's plea for leniency and decided to close the Contempt of Court Case.

Final Decision: The Contempt of Court Case was closed by the Court, considering the Special Government Pleader's plea for leniency and the Tahsildar's actions.

JUDGMENT :

The aforementioned Contempt of Court Case has been filed alleging noncompliance of the directions issued by this Court in Annexure A1 judgment dated 25.02.2020 in WP(C) No.5446 of 2020 filed by the petitioner herein.

2. Heard Sri.Peeyus A Kottam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner/writ petitioner and Sri.K.J.Mohammed Anzar, learned Special Government Pleader (Revenue) appearing for the respondent, Tahsildar/R4 in the WP(C).

3. This Court as per Annexure A1 judgment dated 25.02.2020 in WP(C) No.5446 of 2020 filed by the petitioner herein had inter alia ordered that after orders are passed by the respondent RDO on the application filed under Rule 6(2) of the KLU order, by the writ petitioner, securing statutory permission for change of user of the subject property, then the petitioner is entitled to have his request considered under Section 6A of the Kerala Land Tax Act before the Tahsildar seeking for reassessment of the subject property and change of classification of the nature of land in the Basic Tax Register (BTR), by making additional entries in the BTR to show the changed nature of the land, in the light of the dictum laid down by the Division Bench of this Court in LLMC, Kizhakkambalam Grama Panchayath and others v. Mariumma and another [2015 (2) KLT 516(DB)]. It appears that the RDO concerned had passed the proceedings dated 14.02.2020, allowing the request of the petitioner for change of user of land but imposing an order of condition that he should necessarily pay the amounts as conceived as per Rule 27A(3) of State Act 28 of 2008 read with Rule 12 (9) of the Rules framed thereunder as a condition precedent for getting the benefit of change of user of land. The said proceedings dated 14.02.2020 issued by the RDO to the limited extent it places the abovesaid onerous condition was later separately challenged by the petitioner by filing WP(C) No.10382 of 2020 before this Court. This Court as per judgment dated 27.5.2020 had disposed of the said W.P.(C).No.10382/2020 holding that there is no dispute that the subject property has been converted prior to the coming into force of the 2008 Act and further that the petitioner has also filed requisite application under Rule 6(2) of the KLU order before the cut off date of 30.12.2007 (the date of coming into force of the amended provisions of the 2008 Act) and therefore, it is absolutely illegal and ultra vires that the RDO who has placed an onerous condition that the petitioner should necessarily pay the amounts as conceived as per Section 27A(3) and the Rules framed thereunder. This Court has so ordered that it has been well settled that an application for change of user of land filed in such cases before the cut off date can be considered only in terms of Rule 6(2) of the KLU order. Only those applications for change of user of land in such cases filed on or after 30.12.2017 (the date of coming into force of the amended provisions of the 2008 Act) that could be considered in terms of Section 27A and the Rules framed thereunder, in view of the specific legislative mandate contained in Section 30 of the said Act. Accordingly, this Court had quashed the said conditions to pay the amounts under Section 27A(3) and the Rules as imposed in the said proceedings dated 14.02.2020 [Ext.P8 in W.P. (C).No.10382 of 2020] and had directed the RDO to pass orders in the matter without any such condition. There is no dispute that thereafter the RDO has only complied with the directions issued by this Court in the judgment dated 27.05.2020 in W.P(C).No.10382/2020 by passing proceedings dated 03.09.2020 allowing the request of the petitioner for statutory permission under Rule 6(2) of the KLU order without imposing any such conditions.

4. Upon receipt of the said proceedings dated 03.09.2020 issued by the RDO granting unconditional statutory permission, the petitioner had submitted Annexure A3 application dated 09.09.2020 along with Form A before the respondent Tahsildar concer

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