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2023 Supreme(P&H) 2673

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH, HARPREET SINGH BRAR, JJ.
Som Nath & Ors. – Petitioners
Versus
State of U.T. & Ors. – Respondents
CWP NO. 4675 of 2023 (O&M)
Decided On : 03-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Maninder Singh Saini, Advocate; For the Petitioners
Ms. Amrita Garg, Advocate and Mr. Madhu Dayal, Advocate for the respondent(s)-U.T.

Headnote:(A) Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 - Cancellation of license - Petitioners sought to quash orders pertaining to the cancellation of license and eviction for unauthorized occupation - The court found that the petitioners were negligent in invoking writ jurisdiction and delayed in their claims - Orders upheld as they were passed legally and in accordance with relevant provisions. (Paras 8-15)

(B) Doctrine of Laches - Delay and laches are significant in exercising writ jurisdiction - A party that sleeps over its rights may be denied relief. (Paras 8 and 10)

(C) Constructive Res Judicata - The petitioners are barred from challenging issues already determined in prior civil proceedings. (Paras 11-15)

Facts of the case:
Petitioners, as heirs of original allottee Faquir Chand, contested the cancellation of license and eviction orders which were issued in his lifetime due to allegations of unauthorized sub-letting. The petitioners had, despite knowing about the orders, delayed their challenge.

Findings of Court:
The court found no merit in the petition as the petitioners delayed their legal recourse and failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for relief based on acute laches.

Issues: The key issues included the validity of the eviction orders, the proper invocation of writ jurisdiction, and the applicability of laches and res judicata.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that delay in seeking legal redress undermines a claim and that constructive res judicata prohibits re-litigation of decided issues.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. petitioners seek to quash eviction orders. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5)
2. petitioners argue invalidity of earlier orders. (Para 6)
3. court finds petition lacks merit. (Para 7 , 8)
4. court discusses delays in seeking writ relief. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12)
5. constructive res judicata bars current claims. (Para 13 , 14)
6. writ petition dismissed; orders upheld. (Para 15)
7. final order issued without costs. (Para 16)

JUDGMENT

Harpreet Singh Brar, J.

The petitioners have approached this Court for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing the order dated 15.05.2003 (Annexure P-6) passed by Chief Administrator, U.T., Chandigarh-respondent No.1 whereby the appeal against the order dated 28.02.1996 (Annexure P-4) directing cancellation of license in respect of allotment bearing SCR No.88, Karsan, Phase II, Chandigarh was dismissed and the order of eviction dated 17.05.1999 (Annexure P-5), passed by the Estate Officer, Chandigarh- respondent No.2 under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, were upheld. The petitioners have prayed for setting aside the above orders impugned in the present writ petition in view of the liberty granted by the learned District Judge on 02.05.2022 (Annexure P-8) while disposing of the Civil Appeal No.349 of 2017.

2. The facts of the case are that one Faquir Chand was allotted the site i.e. SCR No.88, Karsan Colony, Phase-II, Ram Darbar, Chandigarh by respondent No.2 and a licence was issued on 04.07.1985 (Annexure P-I). Faquir Chand had executed a Registered Will dated 19.02.1996 and he had bequeathed his estate to the petitioners in equal shares. Faquir Chand after raising construction started his business in the said plot. Vide partnership agreement dated 05.01.1988, one Devki Nandan joined his business as a partner. After gaining confidence of Faquir Chand, Devki Nandan obtained the thumb impression of Faquir Chand on certain documents/ blank papers. Faquir Chand found out that Devki Nandan had treacherously got executed Power of Attorney in his favour on 30.12.1988. Accordingly, on 25.09.1989, Faquir Chand revoked the Power of Attorney in the favour of Devki Nandan. Ultimately, when Devki Nandan died in the month of December, 1995, Faquir Chand tried to take possession of the premises but the wife of Devki Nandan refused to vacate the site.

3. On 03.04.1996, the competent Authority under the Licensing of Tenement and Sites and Services in Chandigarh Scheme, 1979, issued a show cause notice to the allottee on the allegation of under-hand sale in the contravention of the condition No.5 of the allotment letter. The order of cancellation was passed on 28.02.1996 (Annexure P-4) by the competent Authority. After the death of Faquir Chand on 17.10.1998, the petitioners claimed to have become the owner of the property on the basis of the registered Will dated 19.02.1996 and immediately thereafter, the petitioners applied to respondent No.2 for the transfer of the ownership in their names.

4. The petitioners, on attaining majority, impugned the order dated 28.02.1996 (Annexure P-4) by filing an appeal bearing No.367 of 2002 and also challenged the order dated 17.05.1999 passed by respondent No.2 under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. The respondent No.1 dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioners vide order dated 15.05.2003 (Annexure P-6).

5. Thereafter, the petitioners filed a Civil Suit bearing C.S. No.376 of 2000 titled as "Mothu Ram and others v. Pushpa Devi and others", seeking a declaration that they are owners of the site in question. The learned trial Court dismissed the suit filed by the petitioners vide judgment dated 31.08.2015. Subsequently, the petitioners challenged the same in the Court of learned Additional District Judge, Chandigarh by filing appeal bearing CA No.349 of 2017. Vide order dated 02.05.2022 (Annexure P-8), the learned Additional District Judge, Chandigarh permitted the petitioners to withdr

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