FAZAL ELAHI Vs. CORPORATION OF CALCUTTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS rule is directed against an order of demolition made by a Municipal Mag. at the instance of the Corporation of Calcutta Under Section 363, Calcutta Municipal Act.

(2.) THE case of the Corporation is that the petnr. built three structures in premises 28B, Eden Hospital Road without the sanction of the Corporation in violation of building rules framed by the Corporation under the provisions of the Calcutta Municipal Act. The defence of the petnr. was that he had not been served with the notice Under Section 363 and that the proceeding was barred by limitation. The learned Mag. found that the notice Under Section 363 had been duly served. With regard to two of the structures the learned Mag. refused to make an order of demolition on the ground that there was no evidence that they were built within five years from the commencement of the proceeding, but with regard to one structure which consists of cement asbestos rooms and varandas with masonry walls in the third storey the learned Mag. has made an order of demolition on the ground that it was built without sanction and that the construction was completed within five years.

(3.) MR . Mookerjee appearing for the Corporation has placed before us the decision in Shamlal Khetry v. Corporation of Calcutta : AIR1929Cal781 and argued that the decision in Chunilal Dutt's case, 11 C.W.N. 30:(4 Cr.L.J. 408) was not followed in this case. On going through Shamlal Khetry's case, : AIR1929Cal781 we have come to the conclusion that it does not support the point urged by Mr. Mookerjee. In this case Suhrawardy J. followed the decision in Chunilal Dutt, 11 C. W. N. 30 : (4 Cr. L. J. 408) and was in favour of setting aside the order of demolition made by the Municipal Mag. whereas Graham J. expressed a doubt on the question whether a person who had deliberately violated the law could invoke the aid of equitable principles as laid down therein ; but Graham J. ultimately observed that even if those principles applied he was not prepared to interfere with the discretion exercised by the Municipal Mag. The case was then placed before Buckland J. who, without referring to the principles of Chunilal Dutt's case, 11 C. W. N. 30 : (4 Cr. L. J. 408) agreed with Graham J. In this state of things we are not prepared to hold that Chunilal Dutt's case, 11 C.W.N. 30 : (4 Cr. L. J. 408) : was dissented from in the case of Shamlal Khettry : AIR1929Cal781 . 6. The Calcutta Municipal Act gives two alternative remedies to the Corporation in case of violation of Building Rules. Section 493 of the Act provides for a fine for unlawfully commencing, carrying on or completing a building and Under Section 363 the Corporation has a right to apply for an order of demolition. Under the provisions of Section 363 no appln. for an order of demolition will lie if the Corporation has instituted a proceeding Under Section 493. The existence of two alternative remedies implies that the more drastic remedy of demolition should not be restored to in every case of violation of building rules. 6. For these reasons we follow the decision in Chunilal Dutt's case, 11 C. W. N. 30 : (4 Cr. L. J. 408) and hold that the findings arrived at by the learned Municipal Mag. are not sufficient in law to justify an order of demolition. But as this point was not raised before him we direct that the case should be sent back for retrial for a consideration of the question whether the circumstances of the present case are such as would justify an order of demolition upon the principles laid down in the case of Chunilal Dutt v. Corporation of Calcutta, 11 C.W.N. 30 : (4 Cr. L. J. 408). No other question will be allowed to be reagitated. Parties will be entitled to adduce such further evidence as they may be advised to adduce. 7. This rule is accordingly made absolute. The order of the Municipal Mag. is set aside and the case sent back to him for retrial in the light of the observations made above.