BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
N.KIRUBAKARAN, B.PUGALENDHI, JJ.
K.Pushpavanam (M 24/2020), S/o. I.Kasi Viswanathan - Appellant
Vs.
The Union of India, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Union of India - Respondent
W.P.(MD).No.16274 of 2020 and W.M.P.(MD).No.13603 of 2020
Decided On : 17-08-2021
Constitution Of India,1950 - Articles 300, 226, 142, 32, 21, 19(1)(g)., 294 and 300 - (Protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) Act 2014 - “Crown Proceedings Act, 1947” - “Federal Torts Claims Act 1946” - Government of India Act 1858 - Section 58 - India Act 1915 - India Act 1858. - British Crown assumed the sovereign powers in 1858 - Human Rights Act, 1998 - Section 6 - Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 - Government of India Act 1858 - Section 58 - Religious Endowments Act 1863 - Official Trustees Act 1864 - Carriers Act 1865 - Indian Companies Act 1866 - General Clauses Act 1868 - Divorce Act 1869 - Court fees Act 1870 - Land Acuqisition Act 1870 - Female infanticide prevention Act 1870 - Code of criminal procedure revised 1872 - Indian Contract Act 1872 - New Indian Evidence Act 1872 - Special Marriages Act 1872 - Code on transfer of property and easement 1882 - Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing respondents to propose a comprehensive legislation in field of “Torts and State Liability” as per directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in “MCD V. Uphaar Tragedy Victims and Vadodara Municipal Corporation and others in accordance with law within time stipulated by Court – Whether it has been accepted or not - Whether recommendation has to be implemented or not - Held, Court directs Government to consider suggestions made by Court to provide either statutory status after enacting Central Act or give constitutional status like Commission for SC/ST, backward classes by amending constitution - Whole exercise done by Law Commission with research and also consulting various stakeholders and making recommendations would become futile if recommendations are not acted upon - Court directs to appoint Chairman and other members for which a notification has already been published on within a period of three months from date of receipt of a copy of Court order - Writ Petition is allowed.
ORDER :
(Order of the court was made by MR.N.KIRUBAKARAN.J.,)
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to propose a comprehensive legislation in the field of “Torts and State Liability” as per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in “MCD V. Uphaar Tragedy Victims Assn (2011) 14 SCC 481” and “Vadodara Municipal Corporation V. Purshotam V. Murjani and others (2014) 16 SCC 14” in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.
“What is the use of having a Law Commission without its recommendation being acted upon?”
“BLACKSTONIAN” principle is being followed in our country by which the role of judiciary is to propound and interpret the law and not to legislate the law. Though the separation of powers between judiciary, executive and legislature has not been specifically spelt out in constitution of India, the same is maintained without crossing their respective boundaries. However, the way in which things are moving, it is very difficult to maintain the limits or the boundaries as legislature fails consistently to take notice of many of Courts' suggestions, which have been in the interest of the society to enact laws. It is still worse with regard to acceptance of recommendations of Law Commission which after getting inputs, from various stakeholders and discussions on various issues, made to the Government to enact law, which are neither accepted nor acted upon whereas they are kept it in cold storage for decades together.
2. One such recommendation was made by the first Law Commission as early as in 1956. When the first Law Commission submitted its reports, Report No.1 titled “Liability of the State in Tort” and recommended to the Central Government to enact the law covering the field of liability of State in Tort, the said recommendation has not been enacted as law, inspite of the judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. In the case of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Vs. Uphaar Tragedy Victims Association and others reported in 2011 (14) SCC 481 in paragraph 109, the Hon’ble Supreme Court pointed out about the lack of legislation, regarding tortious claims against States and need for a comprehensive legislation in dealing with the tortious liability of the States and its instrumentalities and hoped and trusted that utmost attention would be given by the legislature for bringing in appropriate legislation to deal with claims in public law for violation of fundamental rights therein to its citizens at the hands of the State and its officials. Subsequently in Vadodara Municipal Corporation V. Purshottam V. Murjani and others reported in (2014) 16 SCC 14 again the Hon’ble Supreme Court reiterated the necessity for a comprehensive legislation dealing with the tortious liability of the State and its instrumentalities and referred the matter to Law Commission for further necessary action. Inspite of the recommendations made by the Hon’ble Supreme Court about a decade ago in 2011 and thereafter in 2014, the Government has not taken the recommendations positively and enacted a comprehensive legislation.
3. In the above circumstances only, the Petitioner has come before this Court seeking Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to propose a comprehensive legislation in the field of “Torts and State Liability” as per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in “MCD V. Uphaar Tragedy Victims Assn reported in (2011) 14 SCC 481” and “Vadodara Municipal Corporation V. Purshottam V. Murjani and others reported in (2014) 16 SCC 14” in.
4. When the matter came up for admission before this Court on 01.12.2020, the following interim order has been passed, raising about 7 queries to be answered by the respondents:
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Vadodara Municipal Corporation V. Purshottam V. Murjani and others reported in (2014) 16 SCC 14
V.Sudeer vs. Bar Council of India reported in AIR 1999 SC 1167
Vishaka and others v. State of Rajasthan reported in AIR 1997 SC 3011
State of Rajasthan Vs. Vidyavati & another reported in AIR 1962 SC 933
State of Bihar v. Abdul Majid (1954) SCR 786
Kasturi Lal Ralia Ram Vs. State of Uttarpradesh reported in AIR 1965 SC 1039
Nagendra Rao Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh reported in AIR 1994 SC 2663
Kathri Vs. State of Bihar reported in AIR 1981 SC 928
Rudal Shah Vs. State of Bihar reported in AIR 1983 SC 1086
Bhim Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in AIR 1986 SC 494
Saheli Vs. Commissioner of Police reported in AIR 1990 SC 513
Nilapati Behra Vs. State of Orissa
P.Sudir Vs. bar Council of India reported in AIR 1999 SC 1167
Gainda Ram and others Vs. MCD and others dated reported in 2010 (10) SCC 715
Prithipal Singh Vs. State of Punjab reported in 2012 (1) SCC 10
B.P. Achala Anand v. S. Appi Reddy
Narinder Chand Hem Raj v. UT, H.P.
State of H.P. V. Parent of student of Medical College
Ajaib Singh V. Sirhind Coop. Marketing-cum-Processing Service Society Ltd.
Union of India V. Assn. For Democratic Reforms
District Mining Officer V.TISCO
Supreme Court Employees' Welfare Assn., V. Union of India
Union of India V. Prakash P.Singh P.Hinduja
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