Section 4 of the Mamlatdar's Court Act - & Civil Suit - blocking of traditional easementary access - alleged that on compromise alternative access was given - since it can not be ascertained in writ petition, the High court gave liberty to approach the Mamlatdar for ascertain of alternative access and for completion certificate - it was misunderstood as if the High court remanded to reopen the lis agreed to be withdrawn -Apex court held that High court not given any directions to reopen the lis and gave direction to give completion certificate and we set aside the judgment and order dated 18th November, 2013 with liberty to respondent to move before the Court of competent jurisdiction, if completion certificate has not been issued by the Village Panchayat, Calagute in terms of the order passed in Writ Petition No.422/2008 or if the respondent did not satisfy with such completion certificate.=
The respondent alleged the blocking of her traditional easementary
access by the appellant by constructing compound walls.
Initially, an
application under Section 4 of the Mamlatdar's Court Act (hereinafter
referred to as the “Act”) was filed by the respondent before the Mamlatdar
with regard to the said obstruction. which was dismissed for default and later restored =
The appellant filed a Revision Application before the Collector
against the order of restoration.
In the said Revision Application an ex
parte order was passed by the Additional Collector-I, Panaji on 11th July,
2008 directing the Mamlatdar, Bardez to open the gate and remove the
obstacles like the compound walls between Survey Nos.163/1 and 163/2 and
Survey Nos.164/1 and 163/10, 163/1,163/2 and 163/4, to make openings enough
for free movement of an ambulance to enable the respondent to take her
father-in-law for medical treatment. =
The appellant challenged the said order by filing Writ Petition
No.422/2008 before the High Court and obtained an order of stay.
The
respondent and her father-in-law filed an appeal from Order No.59/2008,
against the order dated 13th February, 2008 passed by the Civil Court at
Mapusa, whereby the application for temporary and mandatory injunction
filed by the respondent and her father-in-law in Civil Suit No.134/07/B was
dismissed. =
The said writ petition and appeal from order came to be disposed
of by an order dated 4th May, 2009 which is as under:
“Mr. Usgaonkar, learned Senior Counsel applies for withdrawal of the Appeal
from Order No.59/2008 as the appellants have been granted a satisfactory
alternate access by the Panchayat at Calangute.
The owner of the property
through which the access is now granted has also given no objetion to the
grant of access to the appellants as well as the other members.
Consequently, the petitioner's relief for setting aside the orders of the
Mamlatdar dated 7.3.2008 and 11.7.2008 is required to be granted.
The
appellants in Appeal from Order No.59/2008 concedes that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court's no longer remains.
Mr. Usgaonkar on behalf of the
appellants undertakes to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar's Court.
However, the office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute shall issue the
completion certificate requested by the appellants which could not be
issued due to the election. The completion certificate shall be issued on
or before 31.05.2009.
The Writ Petition No.422/2008 is disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 is allowed to be withdrawn.”=
filed a re open petition before the Mamlatdar - was dismissed and revision was also dismissed - writ filed -
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.4995 OF 2014
(ARISING OUT OF SLP(C) NO.36661 OF 2013)
ANTONETTO JOHN D’SOUZA @ JOHNNY
D'SOUZA … APPELLANT
VERUS
MRS. ALDILA BRAGANZA … RESPONDENT
J U D G M E N T
SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.
This appeal is directed against the judgement dated 18th November,
2013 passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa in Writ Petition No.622 of
2013. By the impugned judgment, the High Court quashed the order dated 28th
March, 2013 passed by the Mamlatdar, Bardez and order dated 20th September,
2013 passed by the Additional Collector-II, North Goad and remitted the
matter to Mamlatdar, Bardez to decide whether he has jurisdiction/powers to
re-open the proceedings in question and to pass appropriate orders.
2. The factual matrix of the case is as follows:
The respondent alleged the blocking of her traditional easementary
access by the appellant by constructing compound walls. Initially, an
application under Section 4 of the Mamlatdar's Court Act (hereinafter
referred to as the “Act”) was filed by the respondent before the Mamlatdar
with regard to the said obstruction. The application came to be dismissed
for default by order dated 7th January, 2008 and subsequently, the same was
restored. The appellant filed a Revision Application before the Collector
against the order of restoration. In the said Revision Application an ex
parte order was passed by the Additional Collector-I, Panaji on 11th July,
2008 directing the Mamlatdar, Bardez to open the gate and remove the
obstacles like the compound walls between Survey Nos.163/1 and 163/2 and
Survey Nos.164/1 and 163/10, 163/1,163/2 and 163/4, to make openings enough
for free movement of an ambulance to enable the respondent to take her
father-in-law for medical treatment.
3. The appellant challenged the said order by filing Writ Petition
No.422/2008 before the High Court and obtained an order of stay. The
respondent and her father-in-law filed an appeal from Order No.59/2008,
against the order dated 13th February, 2008 passed by the Civil Court at
Mapusa, whereby the application for temporary and mandatory injunction
filed by the respondent and her father-in-law in Civil Suit No.134/07/B was
dismissed. The said writ petition and appeal from order came to be disposed
of by an order dated 4th May, 2009 which is as under:
“Mr. Usgaonkar, learned Senior Counsel applies for withdrawal of the Appeal
from Order No.59/2008 as the appellants have been granted a satisfactory
alternate access by the Panchayat at Calangute. The owner of the property
through which the access is now granted has also given no objetion to the
grant of access to the appellants as well as the other members.
Consequently, the petitioner's relief for setting aside the orders of the
Mamlatdar dated 7.3.2008 and 11.7.2008 is required to be granted. The
appellants in Appeal from Order No.59/2008 concedes that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court's no longer remains. Mr. Usgaonkar on behalf of the
appellants undertakes to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar's Court.
However, the office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute shall issue the
completion certificate requested by the appellants which could not be
issued due to the election. The completion certificate shall be issued on
or before 31.05.2009. The Writ Petition No.422/2008 is disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 is allowed to be withdrawn.”
4. The respondent, thereafter, filed Miscellaneous Civil Application
No.348/2011 in the said writ petition for recall of the order dated 4th
May, 2009 passed in the writ petition, inter alia, on the ground that there
was a misrepresentation before the Court that there was a suitable
alternate access available to the respondent. By order dated 14th March,
2012, the High Court observed that according to the learned Senior Counsel
for respondent No.1 (appellant herein) the access having width of 1.5
metres is found at the site, but the said contention was disputed by the
respondent. The High Court to verify the situation at loco, directed the
Surveyor of the office of the Mamlatdar, Bardez to carry out the site
inspection and ascertain whether the said access of 1.5 metres as depicted
in the plan produced on record was available on the site. As the said order
was not complied with, by another order dated 18th April, 2012, passed in
M.C.A. No.348/2011, the High Court directed Mamlatdar, Bardez to inspect
and verify the width of alternate access provided to the respondent by the
Village Panchayat of Calangute. The Surveyor attached to the office of the
Mamlatdar conducted the inspection of the said alternate access on 24th
April, 2012 and prepared a report along with plan and submitted the same
before the High Court. The said plan revealed that the said alternate
access does not have a minimum uniform width of 1.5 metres and at some
places the width was not 1.5 metres and it varied at various other points.
5. Finally, by order dated 10th May, 2012, M.C.A. No.348/2011 came to be
disposed of with the following observations:
“5. The Court had directed the learned Mamlatdar to depute a surveyor to
ascertain as to whether such access is available at the site. The learned
Mamlatdar has filed an affidavit dated 10/05/2012 along with the report and
the sketch. On perusal of the sketch it appears that at some places the
width is not 1.5 metres. Considering such disputed questions, it is not for
this Court now to reconsider the matter in the Writ Petition which has
already been disposed of. But however, in case the basis on which the
petition has been disposed of is not found at loco as sought to be
contended by the appellant/petitioner such grievance will have to be raised
by the petitioner before the learned Mamlatdar in accordance with law.
6. Shri Nigel Da Costa Frias, the learned Counsel appearing for the
applicant/ petitioner, upon instructions of the applicant who is present in
Court, points out that he will not press for the other contentions raised
in the above application, but however, he should be given an opportunity to
file an appropriate application before the leaned Mamlatdar to get his
grievances with regard to the alternative access adjudicated.
7. Without going into the correctness of the contentions of the Counsel
in respect of the alternative access on the basis of which the Writ
Petition came ot be disposed of by this Court, the petitioner is always at
liberty if she is so entitled to approach the learned Mamlatdar with regard
to her said claim of access to her property. In case any such application
is filed the learned Mamlatdar will have to decide the same after hearing
the concerned parties in accordance with law.”
6. Thereafter, the respondent filed an application dated 29th June,
2012, before the Mamlatdar, Bardez to reopen the proceedings. By the
judgment and order dated 28th March, 2013, the Mamlatdar, Bardez dismissed
the said application. The Revision Application against the same was also
dismissed on 20th September, 2013. Against the aforesaid order, the
respondent filed a writ petition before the High Court. After hearing the
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
7. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that in terms of the
order dated 27th April, 2009 of the Panchayat access has been provided
through property bearing Survey No.162/9 for the benefit of respondent and
other residents of the locality after the NOC of the owner of the property
was taken, the only issue that was being considered by the High Court was
that of alternative access. The grievance of the respondent that at some
points the minimum access of 1.5 metres was not available was also assured
to be made available by the Panchayat by removing the trees. Therefore, the
direction of the High Court to reopen the entire issue was uncalled for.
8. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondent submitted that
earlier the High Court was misrepresented in view of the order passed by
the Panchayat and the High Court rightly remitted the matter to decide the
issue.
9. The dispute between the appellant and the respondent reached finality
when the High Court disposed of the Writ Petition No.422/2008 by order
dated 4th May, 2009, therein the respondent conceded that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court’s no longer remains. Learned counsel on behalf of the
respondent undertook to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar’s Court.
The office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute was ordered to issue the
completion certificate as requested by the respondent which could not be
issued due to the election. The High Court directed to issue the completion
certificate on or before 31st May, 2009. The writ petition was disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 was allowed to be withdrawn.
10. The High Court considering the fact that disputed question of fact is
involved in the case by order dated 10th May, 2011 observed that it was not
for the High Court to reconsider the matter in the writ petition which has
already been disposed of. However, in case the basis on which the petition
has been disposed of is not found at loco as sought by the respondent such
grievance will have to be raised by the respondent before the Mamlatdar in
accordance with law. Therefore, without going into the correctness of the
contentions of the parties in respect of the alternative access, the
respondent was given liberty to approach the Mamlatdar, with regard to her
claim of access to her property, who was asked to decide the same after
hearing the concerned parties in accordance with law.
11. No direction was issued by the High Court to reopen the matter. The
High Court has also not directed the Mamlatdar, Bardez to consider the
question as to whether he has jurisdiction/powers to reopen the
proceedings. Such being the position, it was not open for the High Court in
a subsequent writ petition to pass any order enlarging the order and
direction issued by the High Court in the earlier Writ Petition
No.422/2008. At best, the High Court could have asked the Village
Panchayat, Calagute to issue completion certificate, if the same had not
been issued pursuant to the direction of the High Court dated 4th May, 2009
in Writ Petition No.422/2008. It is only after issuance of the completion
certificate, the respondent could have decided whether she is satisfied
with such completion certificate or not. The respondent having accepted and
given undertaking to withdraw the application before the Mamlatdar Court
there was no question of remitting the matter to the Mamlatdar.
12. For the reason aforesaid, we set aside the judgment and order dated
18th November, 2013 with liberty to respondent to move before the Court of
competent jurisdiction, if completion certificate has not been issued by
the Village Panchayat, Calagute in terms of the order passed in Writ
Petition No.422/2008 or if the respondent did not satisfy with such
completion certificate.
13. The appeal is allowed with the aforesaid observations. No costs.
…………………………………………J.
(SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA)
…………………………………………J.
(R.K. AGRAWAL)
NEW DELHI,
JULY 2, 2014.
The respondent alleged the blocking of her traditional easementary
access by the appellant by constructing compound walls.
Initially, an
application under Section 4 of the Mamlatdar's Court Act (hereinafter
referred to as the “Act”) was filed by the respondent before the Mamlatdar
with regard to the said obstruction. which was dismissed for default and later restored =
The appellant filed a Revision Application before the Collector
against the order of restoration.
In the said Revision Application an ex
parte order was passed by the Additional Collector-I, Panaji on 11th July,
2008 directing the Mamlatdar, Bardez to open the gate and remove the
obstacles like the compound walls between Survey Nos.163/1 and 163/2 and
Survey Nos.164/1 and 163/10, 163/1,163/2 and 163/4, to make openings enough
for free movement of an ambulance to enable the respondent to take her
father-in-law for medical treatment. =
The appellant challenged the said order by filing Writ Petition
No.422/2008 before the High Court and obtained an order of stay.
The
respondent and her father-in-law filed an appeal from Order No.59/2008,
against the order dated 13th February, 2008 passed by the Civil Court at
Mapusa, whereby the application for temporary and mandatory injunction
filed by the respondent and her father-in-law in Civil Suit No.134/07/B was
dismissed. =
The said writ petition and appeal from order came to be disposed
of by an order dated 4th May, 2009 which is as under:
“Mr. Usgaonkar, learned Senior Counsel applies for withdrawal of the Appeal
from Order No.59/2008 as the appellants have been granted a satisfactory
alternate access by the Panchayat at Calangute.
The owner of the property
through which the access is now granted has also given no objetion to the
grant of access to the appellants as well as the other members.
Consequently, the petitioner's relief for setting aside the orders of the
Mamlatdar dated 7.3.2008 and 11.7.2008 is required to be granted.
The
appellants in Appeal from Order No.59/2008 concedes that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court's no longer remains.
Mr. Usgaonkar on behalf of the
appellants undertakes to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar's Court.
However, the office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute shall issue the
completion certificate requested by the appellants which could not be
issued due to the election. The completion certificate shall be issued on
or before 31.05.2009.
The Writ Petition No.422/2008 is disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 is allowed to be withdrawn.”=
filed a re open petition before the Mamlatdar - was dismissed and revision was also dismissed - writ filed -
After hearing the
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
After hearing the
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
No direction was issued by the High Court to reopen the matter. The
High Court has also not directed the Mamlatdar, Bardez to consider the
question as to whether he has jurisdiction/powers to reopen the
proceedings. Such being the position, it was not open for the High Court in
a subsequent writ petition to pass any order enlarging the order and
direction issued by the High Court in the earlier Writ Petition
No.422/2008. At best, the High Court could have asked the Village
Panchayat, Calagute to issue completion certificate, if the same had not
been issued pursuant to the direction of the High Court dated 4th May, 2009
in Writ Petition No.422/2008. It is only after issuance of the completion
certificate, the respondent could have decided whether she is satisfied
with such completion certificate or not. The respondent having accepted and
given undertaking to withdraw the application before the Mamlatdar Court
there was no question of remitting the matter to the Mamlatdar.
12. For the reason aforesaid, we set aside the judgment and order dated
18th November, 2013 with liberty to respondent to move before the Court of
competent jurisdiction, if completion certificate has not been issued by
the Village Panchayat, Calagute in terms of the order passed in Writ
Petition No.422/2008 or if the respondent did not satisfy with such
completion certificate.
13. The appeal is allowed with the aforesaid observations. No costs.
High Court has also not directed the Mamlatdar, Bardez to consider the
question as to whether he has jurisdiction/powers to reopen the
proceedings. Such being the position, it was not open for the High Court in
a subsequent writ petition to pass any order enlarging the order and
direction issued by the High Court in the earlier Writ Petition
No.422/2008. At best, the High Court could have asked the Village
Panchayat, Calagute to issue completion certificate, if the same had not
been issued pursuant to the direction of the High Court dated 4th May, 2009
in Writ Petition No.422/2008. It is only after issuance of the completion
certificate, the respondent could have decided whether she is satisfied
with such completion certificate or not. The respondent having accepted and
given undertaking to withdraw the application before the Mamlatdar Court
there was no question of remitting the matter to the Mamlatdar.
12. For the reason aforesaid, we set aside the judgment and order dated
18th November, 2013 with liberty to respondent to move before the Court of
competent jurisdiction, if completion certificate has not been issued by
the Village Panchayat, Calagute in terms of the order passed in Writ
Petition No.422/2008 or if the respondent did not satisfy with such
completion certificate.
13. The appeal is allowed with the aforesaid observations. No costs.
2014 – July. Part – http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/filename=41728
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.4995 OF 2014
(ARISING OUT OF SLP(C) NO.36661 OF 2013)
ANTONETTO JOHN D’SOUZA @ JOHNNY
D'SOUZA … APPELLANT
VERUS
MRS. ALDILA BRAGANZA … RESPONDENT
J U D G M E N T
SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA, J.
This appeal is directed against the judgement dated 18th November,
2013 passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa in Writ Petition No.622 of
2013. By the impugned judgment, the High Court quashed the order dated 28th
March, 2013 passed by the Mamlatdar, Bardez and order dated 20th September,
2013 passed by the Additional Collector-II, North Goad and remitted the
matter to Mamlatdar, Bardez to decide whether he has jurisdiction/powers to
re-open the proceedings in question and to pass appropriate orders.
2. The factual matrix of the case is as follows:
The respondent alleged the blocking of her traditional easementary
access by the appellant by constructing compound walls. Initially, an
application under Section 4 of the Mamlatdar's Court Act (hereinafter
referred to as the “Act”) was filed by the respondent before the Mamlatdar
with regard to the said obstruction. The application came to be dismissed
for default by order dated 7th January, 2008 and subsequently, the same was
restored. The appellant filed a Revision Application before the Collector
against the order of restoration. In the said Revision Application an ex
parte order was passed by the Additional Collector-I, Panaji on 11th July,
2008 directing the Mamlatdar, Bardez to open the gate and remove the
obstacles like the compound walls between Survey Nos.163/1 and 163/2 and
Survey Nos.164/1 and 163/10, 163/1,163/2 and 163/4, to make openings enough
for free movement of an ambulance to enable the respondent to take her
father-in-law for medical treatment.
3. The appellant challenged the said order by filing Writ Petition
No.422/2008 before the High Court and obtained an order of stay. The
respondent and her father-in-law filed an appeal from Order No.59/2008,
against the order dated 13th February, 2008 passed by the Civil Court at
Mapusa, whereby the application for temporary and mandatory injunction
filed by the respondent and her father-in-law in Civil Suit No.134/07/B was
dismissed. The said writ petition and appeal from order came to be disposed
of by an order dated 4th May, 2009 which is as under:
“Mr. Usgaonkar, learned Senior Counsel applies for withdrawal of the Appeal
from Order No.59/2008 as the appellants have been granted a satisfactory
alternate access by the Panchayat at Calangute. The owner of the property
through which the access is now granted has also given no objetion to the
grant of access to the appellants as well as the other members.
Consequently, the petitioner's relief for setting aside the orders of the
Mamlatdar dated 7.3.2008 and 11.7.2008 is required to be granted. The
appellants in Appeal from Order No.59/2008 concedes that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court's no longer remains. Mr. Usgaonkar on behalf of the
appellants undertakes to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar's Court.
However, the office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute shall issue the
completion certificate requested by the appellants which could not be
issued due to the election. The completion certificate shall be issued on
or before 31.05.2009. The Writ Petition No.422/2008 is disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 is allowed to be withdrawn.”
4. The respondent, thereafter, filed Miscellaneous Civil Application
No.348/2011 in the said writ petition for recall of the order dated 4th
May, 2009 passed in the writ petition, inter alia, on the ground that there
was a misrepresentation before the Court that there was a suitable
alternate access available to the respondent. By order dated 14th March,
2012, the High Court observed that according to the learned Senior Counsel
for respondent No.1 (appellant herein) the access having width of 1.5
metres is found at the site, but the said contention was disputed by the
respondent. The High Court to verify the situation at loco, directed the
Surveyor of the office of the Mamlatdar, Bardez to carry out the site
inspection and ascertain whether the said access of 1.5 metres as depicted
in the plan produced on record was available on the site. As the said order
was not complied with, by another order dated 18th April, 2012, passed in
M.C.A. No.348/2011, the High Court directed Mamlatdar, Bardez to inspect
and verify the width of alternate access provided to the respondent by the
Village Panchayat of Calangute. The Surveyor attached to the office of the
Mamlatdar conducted the inspection of the said alternate access on 24th
April, 2012 and prepared a report along with plan and submitted the same
before the High Court. The said plan revealed that the said alternate
access does not have a minimum uniform width of 1.5 metres and at some
places the width was not 1.5 metres and it varied at various other points.
5. Finally, by order dated 10th May, 2012, M.C.A. No.348/2011 came to be
disposed of with the following observations:
“5. The Court had directed the learned Mamlatdar to depute a surveyor to
ascertain as to whether such access is available at the site. The learned
Mamlatdar has filed an affidavit dated 10/05/2012 along with the report and
the sketch. On perusal of the sketch it appears that at some places the
width is not 1.5 metres. Considering such disputed questions, it is not for
this Court now to reconsider the matter in the Writ Petition which has
already been disposed of. But however, in case the basis on which the
petition has been disposed of is not found at loco as sought to be
contended by the appellant/petitioner such grievance will have to be raised
by the petitioner before the learned Mamlatdar in accordance with law.
6. Shri Nigel Da Costa Frias, the learned Counsel appearing for the
applicant/ petitioner, upon instructions of the applicant who is present in
Court, points out that he will not press for the other contentions raised
in the above application, but however, he should be given an opportunity to
file an appropriate application before the leaned Mamlatdar to get his
grievances with regard to the alternative access adjudicated.
7. Without going into the correctness of the contentions of the Counsel
in respect of the alternative access on the basis of which the Writ
Petition came ot be disposed of by this Court, the petitioner is always at
liberty if she is so entitled to approach the learned Mamlatdar with regard
to her said claim of access to her property. In case any such application
is filed the learned Mamlatdar will have to decide the same after hearing
the concerned parties in accordance with law.”
6. Thereafter, the respondent filed an application dated 29th June,
2012, before the Mamlatdar, Bardez to reopen the proceedings. By the
judgment and order dated 28th March, 2013, the Mamlatdar, Bardez dismissed
the said application. The Revision Application against the same was also
dismissed on 20th September, 2013. Against the aforesaid order, the
respondent filed a writ petition before the High Court. After hearing the
parties by the impugned judgment, the High Court while setting aside the
order passed by the Mamlatdar and the Revisional Authority passed the
following order:
“25. In the result, the petition partly succeeds.
(a) The impugned orders dated 28/03/2013 passed by the Mamlatdar of
Bardez and 20/09/2013 passed by the Additional Collector- II, North Goa,
are quashed and set aside.
(b) The matter is remanded to the respondent No.2 to decide whether for
reasons stated in the application and in accordance with law, he has
jurisdiction/powers to re-open the said proceedings bearing
No.MAM/BAR/MCA/4/2007 and if he comes to the conclusion that he has such
powers, then to adjudicate on the grievance of the petitioner with regard
to the altenate access.
(c) If the respondent No.2 finds that the said grievance of the petitioner
is true and on account of the same and for other reasons, he can re-open
the proceedings, then he shall proceed to dispose of the said case
No.MAM/BAR /MCA/4/2007, in accordance with law, expeditiously.
(d) The contentions of the parties are kept open for being made before
the respondent No.2.
(e) Parties to appear before the respondent No.2 on 09/12/2013 at 3.00
p.m.”
7. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that in terms of the
order dated 27th April, 2009 of the Panchayat access has been provided
through property bearing Survey No.162/9 for the benefit of respondent and
other residents of the locality after the NOC of the owner of the property
was taken, the only issue that was being considered by the High Court was
that of alternative access. The grievance of the respondent that at some
points the minimum access of 1.5 metres was not available was also assured
to be made available by the Panchayat by removing the trees. Therefore, the
direction of the High Court to reopen the entire issue was uncalled for.
8. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondent submitted that
earlier the High Court was misrepresented in view of the order passed by
the Panchayat and the High Court rightly remitted the matter to decide the
issue.
9. The dispute between the appellant and the respondent reached finality
when the High Court disposed of the Writ Petition No.422/2008 by order
dated 4th May, 2009, therein the respondent conceded that the lis in the
Mamlatdar Court’s no longer remains. Learned counsel on behalf of the
respondent undertook to withdraw the application in the Mamlatdar’s Court.
The office of the Village Panchayat, Calangute was ordered to issue the
completion certificate as requested by the respondent which could not be
issued due to the election. The High Court directed to issue the completion
certificate on or before 31st May, 2009. The writ petition was disposed of
accordingly and Appeal from Order No.59/2008 was allowed to be withdrawn.
10. The High Court considering the fact that disputed question of fact is
involved in the case by order dated 10th May, 2011 observed that it was not
for the High Court to reconsider the matter in the writ petition which has
already been disposed of. However, in case the basis on which the petition
has been disposed of is not found at loco as sought by the respondent such
grievance will have to be raised by the respondent before the Mamlatdar in
accordance with law. Therefore, without going into the correctness of the
contentions of the parties in respect of the alternative access, the
respondent was given liberty to approach the Mamlatdar, with regard to her
claim of access to her property, who was asked to decide the same after
hearing the concerned parties in accordance with law.
11. No direction was issued by the High Court to reopen the matter. The
High Court has also not directed the Mamlatdar, Bardez to consider the
question as to whether he has jurisdiction/powers to reopen the
proceedings. Such being the position, it was not open for the High Court in
a subsequent writ petition to pass any order enlarging the order and
direction issued by the High Court in the earlier Writ Petition
No.422/2008. At best, the High Court could have asked the Village
Panchayat, Calagute to issue completion certificate, if the same had not
been issued pursuant to the direction of the High Court dated 4th May, 2009
in Writ Petition No.422/2008. It is only after issuance of the completion
certificate, the respondent could have decided whether she is satisfied
with such completion certificate or not. The respondent having accepted and
given undertaking to withdraw the application before the Mamlatdar Court
there was no question of remitting the matter to the Mamlatdar.
12. For the reason aforesaid, we set aside the judgment and order dated
18th November, 2013 with liberty to respondent to move before the Court of
competent jurisdiction, if completion certificate has not been issued by
the Village Panchayat, Calagute in terms of the order passed in Writ
Petition No.422/2008 or if the respondent did not satisfy with such
completion certificate.
13. The appeal is allowed with the aforesaid observations. No costs.
…………………………………………J.
(SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA)
…………………………………………J.
(R.K. AGRAWAL)
NEW DELHI,
JULY 2, 2014.
