AJIT SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for quashing the notice Annexure P2 dated 24.7.1991 issued by the Assistant Estate Officer (exercising the powers of the Estate Officer, Union Territory, Chandigarh) under Rule 12(3) of the Chandigarh Lease Hold of Sites and Buildings Rules, 1973 (for short, the 'Rules'); the orders Annexure P3 dated 1.7.1992 passed by the Assistant Estate Officer, Annexure P-4 dated 14.9.1993 passed by the Chief Administrator and Annexure P5 dated 13.7.1994 passed by the Advisor to the Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh under the Rules for resumption of the site and payment of dues of instalments, ground rent, penalty etc. He also prayed for quashing of the order Annexure P6 dated 16.11.1992 passed by the Land Acquisition Officer exercising the powers of Estate Officer under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 (for short, the Rs.1971 Act') and the appellate order Annexure P7 dated 7.5.1994 passed by the District Judge, Chandigarh.

(2.) A perusal of the record shows that the commercial site No. 392, measuring 96.25 square yards, Sector 44-D, Chandigarh for the premium of Rs. 11,55,000/- was allotted to the petitioner in 1990 subject to the conditions embodied in the allotment letter Annexure P1 dated 24.4.1990. By virtue of clause 4 of the allotment letter, the amount already deposited by the petitioner was adjusted against 25% of the premium and in terms of clause 5, he was required to pay the remaining 75% price in three equated instalments with interest at the rate of 7% per annum with an option to pay the entire amount without interest within a period of 30 days. The petitioner did not opt for lum-sum payment of balance price. Therefore, he was required to pay the remaining amount in these instalments with interest at the stipulated rate. The petitioner took possession of the site, raised construction over it and leased out portions of the building to different tenants, but did not pay first instalment which fell due on 25.2.1991. This led to the initiation of proceedings under Rule 12 of the Rules. After issuing notice Annexure P2, the Assistant Estate Officer passed the order for resumption of the site and forfeiture of a part of the premium. The Chief Administrator, Chandigarh did not disturb the findings recorded by the Assistant Estate Officer on the issue of default in the payment of instalments of price and the ground rent together with interest, but he accepted the petitioner's prayer for grant of an opportunity to pay the outstanding dues and restored the site subject to the condition of payment of the outstanding dues along with 10% forfeiture. The operative part of the appellate order dated 14.9.1993 reads as under :

(3.) IN the meanwhile, the proceedings under the 1971 Act were initiated and by an order dated 16.11.1992, the Land Acquisition Officer exercising the powers of the Estate Officer under the said Act ordered the petitioner's eviction from the site in question. The appeal filed by the petitioner against that order was dismissed by the learned District Judge, Chandigarh on 7.5.1994.