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1992 Supreme(All) 251

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
B.L. YADAV, K.K. BIRLA, JJ.
Jagdish Prasad Dubey - Appellant
Versus
Allahabad Vikas Pradhikaran Allahabad - Respondent
Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 18418 of 1986
Decided on : Apr 22, 1992

Advocates:
Advocate appeared:
S.N. Srivastava

A quasi-judicial authority does not have the inherent power to review its earlier order in the absence of a specific provision conferring such power.

Headnote:

U. P. URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTS ACT, 1973 - SECTIONS 14, 15 - REVIEW OF EARLIER ORDER - POWER OF QUASI-JUDICIAL AUTHORITY - NO PROVISION FOR REVIEW - NO APPEAL AGAINST ORDER GRANTING PERMISSION TO RAISE CONSTRUCTION OR APPROVAL OF MAP - INHERENT POWER OF REVIEW - CANNOT BE EXERCISED IN ABSENCE OF FRAUD OR CONCEALMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS - NOTICES ISSUED TO PETITIONERS DIRECTING THEM NOT TO RAISE CONSTRUCTION AND CANCELLATION OF MAP - WITHOUT AUTHORITY, JUSTIFICATION OR JURISDICTION - QUASHED.

Fact of the Case:

Petitioners, tenure holders and owners of a plot in Allahabad, obtained permission from the Allahabad Development Authority (ADA) to raise construction and approval of the map under sections 14 and 15 of the U. P. Urban Planning and Developments Act, 1973 (the Act). Subsequently, the ADA issued notices to the petitioners directing them not to raise construction and cancelled the approved map. The petitioners challenged these actions by filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus and certiorari.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the ADA did not have the power to review its earlier order granting permission to raise construction and approving the map, as there was no provision for review under the Act. The court also held that the notices issued to the petitioners and the cancellation of the map were without authority, justification, or jurisdiction, as there was no fraud or concealment of material facts on the part of the petitioners.

Issues: 1. Whether a quasi-judicial authority has the power to review its earlier order sanctioning the plan and approving the map under sections 14 read with section 15 of the Act, even though the said power is not provided under the provisions of the Act. 2. Whether the notices issued to the petitioners directing them not to raise construction and the cancellation of the map were valid.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. A quasi-judicial authority does not have the power to review its earlier order in the absence of a specific provision conferring such power. 2. The notices issued to the petitioners and the cancellation of the map were without authority, justification, or jurisdiction, as there was no fraud or concealment of material facts on the part of the petitioners.

Final Decision: The court allowed the petition, quashed the impugned notices, the order cancelling the map, and the report of the Estate Officer, and restrained the respondents from interfering with the petitioners' raising of construction on the basis of the permission granted to them.

JUDGMENT

B. L. Yadav, J.

1. Whether a quasi-judicial authority has got power to review its earlier order sanctioning the plan and approving the map under sections 14 read with section 15 of the U. P. Urban Planning and Developments Act, 1973 (for short the Act), even though the said power is not provided under the provisions of the Act. is the short but significant question for our determination in the present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, filed by the petitioners, seeking the relief for a writ of Mandamus directing the respondent, the Allahabad Development Authority not to initiate any proceeding against the petitioners for cancellation of the approved map and plan on the basis of two notices (Annexures 3 and 4 to the petition), served on the petitioners, and also for a writ of certiorari quashing the order dated 22-10-86 cancelling the map and order dated 21-10-86.

2. The facts of the case lie in a narrow compass and are almost admitted. The petitioners were tenure holders and owners of plot no. 63/1 area 2 biswa situate in village Beli Mustkharja Tehsil Chail, district Allahabad, within the limits of Municipal Corporation Allahabad In respect of the area where the plot in dispute is situate a declaration 'as a development area', has already been made under section 3 of the Act. A permission in writing from the Vice-Chairman of the Allahabad Development Authority was required as contemplated under section 14 of the Act. The petitioners made an application for permission referred to in section 14 of the Act, as provided under section 15 of the Act and for approval of the map. After making requisite enquiries contemplated under the Act, permission to raise construction was granted and the map was approved, by order dated 25-6- 86 (Annexure-1) Thereafter even though under the Act there was no provision for review of the order granting permission to raise construction, after approving the map, nor there was any provision for appeal against the order granting such permission, but nevertheless the Allahabad Development Authority sent notices to petitioners through letters dated 1-9-86 and 24-9- 86 (Annexures 3 and 4), directing them not to raise construction on the basis of permission granted or the map approved and in case any such construction was raised that would be unauthorised and petitioners shall be liable for prosecution as contemplated under section 27 of the Act. The petitioners filed objection to those notices on 16-10-86 (Annexure-5) that they did not conceal any material fact in respect of their title nor there was any provision for review nor any power to reconsider the order granting permission or approving the map. But in view of the order dated 21-10-86 and 22-10-86 the map was cancelled. It was further stated that the petitioner's father Ram Sunder Dubey was recorded over the land in dispute since prior to 1358 Fasli and was continuously so recorded. Just in one year without any notice to petitioners there was an entry showing it to be 'nazul-land'. Neither prior to that, nor subsequent to that, there was any such entry. In fact, the plot in dispute was not nazul land and all enquiries were made before granting permission for raising the construction (vide Annexure-1). Petitioners filed the aforesaid writ petition in this Court, against the aforesaid letters and notices.

A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondent stating that notices were legally served on the petitioners for not raising the construction and alleging that the permission obtained by the petitioners was not correct hence notices were served on them directing not to raise any construction (vide Annexures 3 and 4), As the counter and rejoinder affidavits have been filed, learned counsel for the parties suggested that the petition may be disposed of on merits. Consequently the present petition is being disposed of on merits.

3. Sri C. L. Pandey, learned counsel for the petitioners urged that there was no p




















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