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2022 Supreme(Ker) 63

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
SHAJI P.CHALY, J.
Chekkotty, S/o.Kanaranveluthedath House – Appellant
Versus
The Perambra Grama Panchayath Represented By Its Secretary – Respondent
WP(C) No. 27881 of 2016
Decided on : 21-01-2022

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : SRI.SHYAM PADMAN, SRI.C.M.ANDREWS, SRI.P.T.MOHANKUMAR, SMT.BOBY M.SEKHAR, KUM.LAYA MARY JOSEPH
For the Respondent: SRI.P.C.SASIDHARAN, SRI.K.M.FAISAL, SRI.S.K.ADHITHYAN

Point of Law: where on the admitted or indisputable facts only one conclusion is possible and under the law only one penalty is permissible, the court may not issue its writ to compel the observance of natural justice, not because it is not necessary to observe natural justice but because courts do not issue futile writs.

Headnote:

Kerala Panchayat Raj Act 1994 - Section 235W (3),235P,220(b),235E and 62 – Construction - Blocking construction - Petitioner has a basic contention that in appeal before Tribunal, petitioner was not made a party and that petitioner was a necessary party in said proceedings since the complaint before Secretary was filed by him - According to petitioner, respondent constructed an unauthorized thatched shed in front of petitioner's commercial building, partly blocking its entry that construction was done substantially covering petitioner's building, its passage visibility, light and air, which is evident from Exhibit P1 series of photographs produced by petitioner; that 3rd respondent erected shed in violation of prevailing Municipal Building Rules, evident from Exhibit P2 complaint, inspection report of Secretary of Grama Panchayat, Exhibit P3 show cause notice and Exhibit P4 reply filed by respondent to said notice - Whether there is any illegality in order passed by Tribunal.

Finding of the Court:

If High Court had quashed said order, it would have restored an illegal order — it would have given Health Centre to a village contrary to valid resolutions passed by Panchayat Samithi - High Court, in court view, rightly refused to exercise its extraordinary discretionary power in circumstances of case - Case is a clear authority for the proposition that it is not always necessary for the Court to strike down an order merely because the order has been passed against the petitioner in breach of natural justice - Learned Senior Counsel for Bharat Petroleum contended that once natural justice was violated, Court was bound to strike down the orders and there was no discretion to refuse relief and no other prejudice need be proved - It is clear that if on admitted or indisputable factual position, only one conclusion is possible and permissible, Court need not issue a writ merely because there is violation of principles of natural justice - Upshot of the above discussion is that petitioner has not made out any case for interference with order of Tribunal or otherwise.

Result: Writ petition dismissed

JUDGMENT :

This writ petition is filed by the petitioner challenging Exhibit P10 order passed by the Tribunal for Local Self Government Institutions, Thiruvananthapuram in Appeal No.401/2014 dated 11th July, 2016, whereby the appeal filed by the 3rd respondent herein was allowed and the impugned order passed by the Secretary of the Perambra Grama Panchayat -1st respondent issued under Section 235W (3) of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act 1994 directing the 3rd respondent to demolish a hut was set aside, holding that for construction of a hut, no permit is required otherwise than as provided under section 235P of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. It was also held that no permit is necessary in the matter of construction of a hut as provided under rule 10(xii) of the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules, 2011. It is thus challenging the legality and correctness of the order, the writ petition is filed.

2. Petitioner has a basic contention that in the appeal before the Tribunal, petitioner was not made a party and that the petitioner was a necessary party in the said proceedings since the complaint before the Secretary was filed by him. The necessary facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows;

3. According to the petitioner, the 3rd respondent viz., Kunhikannan, S/o. Kanaran, Thandorappara P.O., Kozhikode, constructed an unauthorised thatched shed in front of petitioner's commercial building, partly blocking its entry on 11.10.2005; that construction was done substantially covering petitioner's building, its passage visibility, light and air, which is evident from Exhibit P1 series of photographs produced by the petitioner; that the 3rd respondent erected the shed in violation of the prevailing Municipal Building Rules, evident from Exhibit P2 complaint, the inspection report of the Secretary of the Perambra Grama Panchayat, Exhibit P3 show cause notice and Exhibit P4 reply filed by the 3rd respondent to the said notice.

4. According to the petitioner, the Secretary of the Grama Panchayat has issued a notice dated 14.3.2014 to demolish and remove the illegal structure, pursuant to Exhibit P9 direction issued by the Deputy Director of Panchayat. It is also pointed out that the 3rd respondent has challenged the said order before the Tribunal for Local Self Government Institutions suppressing material facts and excluding the petitioner from the party array, and secured Exhibit P10 order interfering with the order of the Secretary of the Grama Panchayat. It is also submitted that Exhibit P10 order was passed contrary to the facts and especially the finding that the shed was constructed 15 years back. However, the records would show that the illegal structure was constructed in the year 2005. That apart it is contended that the construction made by the 3rd respondent is hit by section 220 (b) of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and therefore liable to be demolished.

5. The Grama Panchayat has filed a detailed counter affidavit submitting that the bunk shop put up by the 3rd respondent is situated in an extent of 0.27 Ares of property belonging to the 3rd respondent ; that 2 cents of land belonging to the 3rd respondent was earlier acquired for construction of the bus stand and it was in the remaining land that the 3rd respondent had put up a thatched shed for running his small pan shop. That part, it was submitted that the shed is constructed before the coming into force of the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules, 2011; that since the Panchayat is satisfied that there is no violation of the Building Rules and that the 3rd respondent has every right to have possession and enjoyment of the property, has not proceeded further; that on enquiry it is understood that no construction has been carried out in the plot except installation of a hawker's cart provided with a roof of plastic and that the Panchayat has not taken further action in the complaint and the complaint was also closed.

6. Anyhow a fresh petition was filed by the petitioner on 3.

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