2002 Supreme(Raj) 99
Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench
Honble SHIV KUMAR SHARMA, J.
Maya Devi Keswani - Appellant
Versus
The Estate Officer (Addl. District Magistrate, Jaipur) and Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 2060 of 1999
Decided On : January 16, 2002
Ajeet Bhandari, for Petitioner Sagar Mal Mehta, Advocate General with G.C. Garg, for Respondents
Headnote:Rajasthan Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1964, Sec. 2(b)(x), 4(1) and 10 – Maintainability of writ petition under Article 227 when the Order of the Appellate Authority attained finality – Held – Under Section 10 of the Act the order of the Estate Officer or Appellate Officer is final and cannot be called in question – No injunction can be granted by Court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under the Act – High Court cannot reopen the decision under Article 227 that has attained finality u/Sec.10 of the Act unless there is a dereliction of duty and flagrant abuse of powers.
Section 10 of 1964 Act provides that any order made by the estate officer or appellate under this Act, shall be final and shall not be called in question in any original suit, application or executing proceeding and no injunction shall be granted by court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any powers conferred by or under the Act. (Para 10)
(2). Contextual facts depict that IRCS let out to the petitioner a premises measuring 119 sq. ft. in the Red Cross Campus outside Sanganerit Gate Jaipur for running medical shop on July 2, 1987 and the lease deed was executed by the Chairman of the IRCS. After expiry of two years, the IRCS executed another lease deed for a period of 2 years and yearly rent was increased. Again after expiry of two years revised lease deed was executed on October 1, 1991 and the duration of the lease deed was made to be six years and rent was increased to Rs. 33750/- per annum with yearly increase of twelve and half per cent payable quarterly.
(3). On August 22, 1997 IRCS issued tender notice in question. The petitioner instituted a civil suit in the Court of Additional Civil Judge Junior Division) East Jaipur City and the learned Civil Court granted order of making status quo in regard to suit premises on September 2, 1997. The IRCS thereafter initiated proceedings before the Estate Officer under 1964 Act against the petitioner.
(4). Mr. Ajeet Bhandari, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner vehemently canvassed that the premises in question is not covered under the definition of public premises as incorporated in section 2(b)(x) of the 1964 Act. It is further contended that provisions contained in Section 4 of 1964 Act which are mandatory in nature have been flouted. No opinion was formed by the Estate Officer before issuance of notice under Sec. 4 of 1964 Act as no necessary material was placed before the Estate officer to form the opinion. Notice under Sec. 4 was issued on October 18, 1997 whereas the documents were submitted on January 16, 1998. Section 4(2)(b) of 1964 Act requires notice not to be earlier than 10 days, whereas notice was issued on October 18, 1997 for hearing on October 24, 1997. Notice under Section 4 of 1964 Act was vague as grounds were not clearly mentioned. No details of property was given and it was not stated that the premises was public premises. It is further urged that the premises in question will again be given on lease to some other person therefore it is not necessary to evict the petitioner from the said property. The Estate Officer has no jurisdiction over the property in question, which is a nazul property. As no eviction was sought by the State Government the, impugned orders of the Estate Officer, and Appellate Authority deserve to be set aside. Reliance is placed on S.S. Dhanoa vs. Municipal Corporation Delhi and others (1), M/s. Wire Netting Stores and another vs. The Delhi Development Authority and others (2), Mohan Lal vs. State of Rajasthan (3), (1981) 1 SCC 664 (4), Mrs. Kulsom Malick vs. District Judge Jaipur City (5), Jai Charan Lal vs. The State of U.P. (6), Minoo Framroze Balsara vs. Union of India and others (7), Radhey Shyam vs. Vijai Singh (8), 1999(1) WLC 604 (9) and 1986 RLR 966 (10).
(5). Per contra Mr. S.M. Mehta,