PANKAJ SAMNOTRA Vs. DESIGNATED AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE facts of the case in brief are that the petitioner had filed declaration under Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme, 1998 (KVSS) on 30th Dec., 1998, before the designated authority under the KVSS. One of the conditions for the application of the KVSS was that an appeal against the order, which falls for determination under the KVSS, should be pending. The declaration filed by the petitioner was rejected by the designated authority on 8th March, 1999, on the ground that no appeal was pending on the date declaration was filed. The petitioner again approached designated authority for rectification of the order in view of the fact that the appeal filed by him had been restored by the Tribunal, Amritsar Bench, by order dt. 21st Dec., 1998, and therefore, the same was pending on the date declaration was filed. This plea was, however, rejected by the authority by its order dt. 25th March, 1999, informing the petitioner that although the order of dismissal at the appeal has been recalled, but since the time to take action under the KVSS had by that time expired, therefore, no action could be taken.

(2.) THE only question involved for determination is that whether the designated authority was justified in rejecting the request of the petitioner for rectification on the plea advanced by it. The letter dt. 25th March, 1999 (Annex A) written by the designated authority reads as under :

(3.) MOREOVER , the maxim actus curiae neminem gravabit, i.e., an act of Court shall prejudice no man or where a delay in an action is the act of the Court, neither party shall suffer for it, is applicable to the authorities discharging quasi-judicial functions as well. The moment designated authority received communication from the Tribunal, it should have taken up the case and decided the same according to the KVSS because it cannot be gainsaid that copy of the order must have been received within couple of days, as both the offices were located in the same building. The petitioner cannot be made to suffer for the administrative lapse or lack of communication.