BOMBAY HIGH COURT - BENCH AT GOA
LAXMAN VISHRAM KANDOLKAR AND ANR., REP. BY THEIR POA MR. BHARAT L. KANDOLKAR – Appellant
Versus
M/S. RAJ BUILDERS THROUGH ITS PROPRIETOR MR. RUI A GAMA AND 3 ORS – Respondent
SA 59/2012
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA
SECOND APPEAL NO. 59 OF 2012
LAXMAN VISHRAM KANDOLKAR AND ANR.,
REP. BY THEIR POA MR. BHARAT L.
KANDOLKAR
... Appellant
Versus
M/S. RAJ BUILDERS THROUGH ITS
PROPRIETOR MR. RUI A GAMA AND 3
ORS.,
... Respondents
Mr. Nigel Da Costa Frias, Advocate for the Appellants.
Mr. S. Karpe, Advocate for the Respondents.
Coram:- F. M. REIS, J.
Date:-
13th December, 2012
ORAL ORDER
Heard Shri Nigel Da Costa Frias, learned Counsel appearing for
the Appellants and Shri S. Karpe, learned Counsel appearing for the
Respondents.
2. The above Second Appeal challenges the Judgments passed by
the Courts below whereby the suit filed by the Petitioners was partly
decreed and the Respondents were directed to give an access to the
Appellants through the property surveyed under no.128/4 and 128/6
on the southern side of property surveyed under no. 128/4 and 128/6.
The remaining prayer of the Appellant to restore the demolished
structure came to be rejected. Besides the claim, on account of
damages was also decreed in favour of the Appellants herein.
3. Shri Nigel Da Costa Frias, learned Counsel appearing for the
Appellants, has assailed the impugned Judgment essentially on the
ground that though an access has been reserved in favour of the
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Appellants, nevertheless, the permanent injunction sought by the
Appellants has not been granted by the Courts below. Learned
Counsel further pointed out that though the Appellants have been
reserved a right of access, nevertheless not granting such permanent
injunction would lead to multiplicity of proceedings as, according to
him, any interference by the Respondents, would force the Appellants
to file a fresh suit. Learned Counsel further pointed out that a
structure which belongs to the Appellants was illegally demolished
by the Respondents and, consequently, the Courts below were not
justified to refuse the relief of restoration of the said structure.
Learned Counsel further pointed out that once the Court came to the
conclusion that the disputed structure belonged to the Appellants, the
question of refusing such relief to the Appellants was not justified.
Learned Counsel has also raised a grievance with regard to the
quantum of damages as, according to him, the learned Trial Judge
had awarded damages to the tune of Rs.70,000/- and which came to
be reduced by the Lower Appellate Court to a sum of Rs.40,000/-
without any reasons. Learned Counsel has taken me through the
impugned Judgments as well as the material on record and pointed
out that there are substantial questions of law which arise in the
present Appeal which require consideration by this Court.
4. On the other hand, Shri Karpe, learned Counsel appearing for the
Respondents, has supported the impugned Judgments. Learned
Counsel further pointed out that once the Respondents have been
directed to provide an access as per the impugned Judgments, the
alleged apprehension of the Appellants to the effect that the
Respondents may further interfere in such access is totally without
any foundation. Learned Counsel further pointed out that according
to the Respondents, the access as directed in the impugned Judgment
is available at the site. The learned Counsel further pointed out that
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the alleged disputed structure was in a dilapidated condition and was
only a temporary structure and, as such, the amount of compensation
directed by the Courts below is justified. The learned Counsel
further pointed out that with regard to the relief sought by the
Appellants for restoration of the demolished structure, the Courts
below have rightly fixed the compensation and, consequently, the
question of any interference in the impugned Judgment on that count
would not arise. Learned Counsel further pointed out that there are
no substantial questions of law which arise in the present Appeal and,
consequently, the Appeal deserves to be rejected.
5. I have considered the submissions of the learned Cou