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2007 Supreme(All) 2027

[2007(7) ADJ 696 (DB)]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : ANJANI KUMAR AND SABHAJEET YADAV, JJ.
Smt. SHANTI SINGHAL ........Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS .......Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 24325 of 1999, decided on 1st August, 2007)

Headnote:U.P. Municipalities Act, 1961, Sections 116, 124, 189, 190, 191, 209 and 236—Useless Formality Theory—Applicability of—It applies where High Court finds that by quashing an order on ground of violation of principles of natural justice, i.e., violation of “audi alteram partem” rule—An illegal order would be restored—In the instant case, Nagar Palika Parishad allotted a land of Nala to petitioner and approved construction of shops over it—This entire action of Nagar Palika Parishad was found to be against provisions of law and also against Public Trust doctrine—Order of allotment, therefore, was cancelled and petitioner was asked to vacate that land and remove her constructions made over that land—High Court, although found that order for cancellation and vacating of land etc. was passed without giving any opportunity of hearing to petitioner, i.e., it was passed in violation of principles of natural justice and against “audi alteram partem” rule—But refused to quash it because by quashing it, an illegal order will be restored—Constitution of India, Article 226—Public Trust doctrine—Principles of Natural Justice—”Audi Alteram Partem” Rule]. [Paras 15 to 20 and 22]

       

JUDGMENT

By the Court.—The petitioner by means of this writ petition has sought relief for issue of a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the order of the respondent No. 1 dated 29.4.1999 (Annexure-10) whereby the allotment of land in dispute in favour of the petitioner has been cancelled and for quashing the order of the respondent No. 3 dated 11.5.1999 (Annexure-11) whereby the petitioner has been directed to vacate the allotted land and to remove her constructions thereon forthwith, further relief for issue of a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents not to interfere with the possession of the petitioner from the shop in question and respondents be restrained from demolition of the petitioner’s shop on the piece of land allotted to her on 19.2.1998 has also been sought for.

2. The reliefs sought in the writ petition rests on the assertion that on 15.6.1996 the Nagar Palika Parishad had passed a resolution (Annexure-1 of the writ petition) for letting out waste and unused land of the Parishad on rent in public auction after eviction of unauthorised occupants there from. The said resolution also has sanction contemplated in G.O. dated 15.2.1997 (Annexure-2 of the writ petition). In pursuance of the said resolution the respondents No. 2 and 3 took a decision to let out the land over a public drain to the petitioner. The petitioner was allotted an Arazi of Nala admeasuring 22 ft. x 8.5 ft. at Patwai Road by order of respondent No. 2 dated 19.2.1998 on a premium of Rs. 5000/- and monthly rent of Rs. 50/- (Annexure-3 of the writ petition) in pursuance of public auction held on 15.2.1998. The petitioner has deposited the aforesaid premium on 19.2.1998 and thereafter has obtained permission for making construction over the land allotted to her and for that purpose she has deposited a sum of Rs. 150/- on 9.3.98 and her site plan has also been approved by Nagar Palika Parishad. Thereafter the petitioner has constructed three pakka shops over the said land costing about a sum of Rs. 2.00 lacs and that petitioner is paying regular monthly rent, but all of sudden the impugned order dated 29.4.1999 has been passed cancelling the said allotment on incorrect facts and on irrelevant grounds without affording any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and thereafter consequential order dated 11th May, 1999 has also been passed directing the petitioner to remove her construction, if any, made over the land and vacate the same, hence this petition.

3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the aforesaid allotment order has been cancelled without affording any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner to have her say in the matter, therefore, the same is nullity and non-est on account of utter violation of principles of natural justice. He further submitted that after allotment of the aforesaid land the petitioner has constructed three pakka rooms and shops by expending over Rs. 2.00 lacs in the aforesaid construction by placing the slab over the drain/nala in question after obtaining permission from Nagar Palika Parishad. Thus, the impugned action of respondents have caused material and pecuniary loss of the petitioner. It is also submitted that recital contained in the impugned order dated 29.4.1999 is based on incorrect statement of facts and in any view of the matter since the petitioner has altered her position by investing substantial amount of money towards the aforesaid construction, therefore, the Nagar Palika Parishad cannot be permitted to change its earlier stand and resile therefrom, thus the respondent is estopped from changing its earlier stand on principle of estoppel operating against it, accordingly, the impugned order and consequential order dated 11.5.1999 could not have been passed in given facts and circumstances of the case. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has also placed reliance upon a decision of Division Bench of this Court rendered in














































































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