Delhi District Court
M/S Texmaco Ltd. vs Banarsi Dass on 23 April, 2011
IN THE COURT OF SH. AJAY GUPTA ADDITIONAL CHIEF
METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE (SPL. ACTS): CENTRAL: TIS
HAZARI COURTS, DELHI
M/s Texmaco Ltd. vs Banarsi Dass
CC No.1371/03
U/s 630 of Companies Act, 1956
JUDGEMENT
(a) Serial no. of the case : 02401R6319472004
(b) Date of commission of offence: On and after 30.11.1996
continuously
(c) Name of complainant : M/s Texmaco Limited
Having its registered office
At: Balgheria Calcutta and
Regional office at:
508, Surya Kiran Building
Kastoorba Gandhi Marg,
New Delhi
(d) Name, parentage, residence: Banarsi Dass s/o Munna Lal
r/o Qr. No.61New Birla Lines
PO Birla Lines, Kamla Nagar
Delhi07
(e) Offence complained of/ proved : U/s 630 of Companies Act
(f) Plea of accused : Pleaded not guilty.
(g) Final order : Convicted u/s 630 of
Companies Act, 1956.
(h) Date of such order : 22.03.11
Date of Institution : 05.10.04
Date of Reservation of Judgment: 13.04.11.
Date of Pronouncement of Judgment: 23.04.11.
Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 1 Brief statement of the reasons for the decision:
1. The complainant company, M/s. Texmaco Ltd. filed the present complaint u/s. 630 of the Companies Act, 1956, against the accused, alleging that on 04.08.72 accused joined the services of erstwhile company M/s Birla Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd., and he was allotted one quarter bearing Qr. No. 61New Birla Lines, PO Birla Lines, Kamla Nagar, Delhi07 on 01.06.80 as a licensee, by virtue of his employment. It is further alleged, that by virtue of a scheme of arrangement dated 03.01.1983, arrived at between the present complainant and M/s Birla Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd. and pursuant to the order passed by Hon'ble Delhi High Court, the present complainant became the owner of the concerned Birla Mill Unit where the accused was working along with all its employees and the properties, including the property in question. Pursuant to the said arrangement, all the agreements, more particularly, licence agreement entered between M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. with third parties are deemed to be entered between the complainant company and those third parties. Complainant company also acquired all the rights, titles, interests in the properties of the mill and the housing Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 2 colonies of the mill unit of the said M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. and all the employees of the said mill unit of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd., became the employees of the present complainant company pursuant to the said scheme of arrangement. In terms of order of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Petition No.4677/1985, the working of the mill in Delhi was closed w.e.f. 30.11.96. as such, accused ceased to be in services of complainant company from 30.11.96. It is alleged that despite cessation of his services accused did not vacate the quarter allotted to him and is wrongfully withholding the quarter.
2. After summoning of the accused for the said offence, a notice for the offence U/s 630 of the Companies Act was given to the accused in terms of Section 251 Cr.P.C., to which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
3. In order to substantiate its allegation, the complainant examined its attorney Sh. R. S. Sharma as PW1. PW1 deposed that he is attorney of the complainant company and duly authorised to sign, verify the complaint and to depose in the present case vide Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 3 resolution Ex. PW 1/1 and power of attorney Ex. PW1/2. He also proved the certificate of incorporation Ex. PW1/3 and deposed that the accused was allotted the said quarter vide allotment letter Ex.
PW1/5. He also proved on record the scheme of arrangement and order of Hon'ble Delhi High Court in Company Petition No.59/1982 dated 03.1.1983, Ex PW1/4; through which all the rights, titles, interest, properties, assets and liabilities as well as the employees of the said mill unit of M/s. Birla Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd., became that of the complainant company. He further deposed that the accused ceased to be the employee of complainant company w.e.f. 30.11.1996, as such, he was liable to vacate the quarter but he failed to do so. This witness was cross examined at length on behalf of accused but nothing contradictory material has come on record which could impeach the credit worthiness of these witnesses or the case of the complainant.
4. Statement of accused was recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. in which he denied the allegations and submitted that complainant is not the owner of the quarter in question. However, he stated that the quarter in question was allotted to him by M/s Birla Cottons Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 4 Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. In his statement accused has not specifically denied that his service came to an end on 30.11.96 after closure of mill at Delhi and endeavoured to say that he is still in the service because neither appointment letter nor the termination letter has been brought on record. Despite opportunities accused did not lead any defence witness.
5. I have heard the Ld. Counsel for the complainant company as well as accused and gone through the record of the case. I have also gone through the written arguments as well as citations filed on behalf of parties.
6. While dealing with the case U/s 630 of Companies Act, this court is to go by the following guidelines which are laid down by the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the following case: "1993 CRI. L.J. 2791 " K.G.K. Nair v. P.C. Juneja"
The provisions of S.630 are intended to provide speedy and efficacious redress in cases where company's property i9s wrongfully withheld and therefore the following guidelines are required to be observed:
(a) That the complaints be taken up and disposed of on a priority basis, the accent being on the avoidance of any unwarranted delay.
(b) That the trial Courts should address themselves to the fact that Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 5 the scope of the enquiry in a proceeding under Section 630 is extremely restricted in law and, consequently, the parties be confined within those narrow ambits without being permitted to dilate or protract the proceeding through extraneous avenues.
(c) That no frivolous application for adjournment, stay of proceedings, etc., should be permitted by the trial Courts because the history of those proceedings indicate that each of such states is responsible for further litigation and years of delay. The pendency of other civil proceedings is no bar to the decision of an application under S. 630 which fact should be taken cognizance of in such situations.
(d) That the appeal, i.e., Court of Session, in the first instance, must judiciously scrutinize and vigorously examine the revision applications and appeal before granting stay orders.
(e) That applications for discharge on frivolous and untenable pleas are required to be speedily and effectively disposed of and are not to be used as handles for protracting the litigation".
7. For proving the offence u/s 630 of Companies Act, complainant company was required to establish on record the following ingredients:
(a) That the complainant company is registered under the Companies Act;
(b) That the complainant company is the owner of quarter in question and there exists/existed the relationship of employer and employee between the complainant company and accused;
(c) That the accused was allotted quarter in question on licence basis;
(d) That the accused was ceased to be employee of the complainant company and
(e) That the accused has wrongfully withheld the quarter in question. Point (a) "That the complainant company is registered under the Companies Act"
8. It is clear from the ex. PW1/1 that the Complainant company the registered under the Companies Act. Even otherwise factum of Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 6 complainant company's incorporation is not in dispute. Point(b) That the complainant company is the owner of quarter in question and there exists/existed the relationship of employer and employee between the complainant company and accused;
9. In his statement recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C accused admitted that he joined M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills on 04.08.72. Ld. counsel for accused also argued that complainant is not the owner of the quarter in question, therefore, complainant has no locus standi to file the present complaint against the accused. He further argued that in pursuance to the aforesaid order the complainant was required to do certain acts and a certified copy of the order of Hon'ble Delhi High Court was to be submitted with ROC, Calcutta. However, they have not fulfilled these requirements, therefore, this order has no application and complainant company cannot claim ownership by virtue of this order. This court does not find any substance in the submissions of Ld. counsel for accused. It is clear from the perusal of order the Hon'ble High Court that no further act was required even otherwise. This scheme of arrangement has not been challenged hence it became final. This formality was procedural which was to Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 7 be complied with and accused cannot be allowed to take advantage of these technicalities. Relevant para of the order of Hon'ble High Court reads as under which clarifies that the complainant company had become the owner of the i.e. M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Textiles as well as quarter in question.
(1)That all the property, rights, and powers of the said transferor company specified in the first, second and third parts of the Schedule II hereto and all the other property, rights and powers of the said transferor company be transferred without further act or deed to the said transferee company and accordingly the same shall, pursuant to section 394(2) of the Companies Act, 1956, be transferred to and vest in the said transferee company for all the estate and interest of the said transferor company for all the estate and interest of the said transferor company therein but subject nevertheless to all charges now affecting the same, and (2) That all the liabilities and duties of the said transferor company by transferred without further act or deed to the said transferee company and accordingly the same shall, pursuant to section 394 (2) of the Companies Act, 1956, be transferred to and become the liabilities and duties of the said transferee company: and (3) That all proceedings now pending by or against the said transferor company be continued by or against the said transferee company; and (4) all contracts, deeds, bonds, agreements and instruments of whatever kind or nature relating to the said units of M/s Birla Cottons shall continue to be in full force and effect against or in favour of Texmaco as the case may be and enforced as fully and effectively as if Texmaco instead of Birla Cotton had been a party thereto.
10.Thus, it is clear from the perusal of the order passed by Hon'ble Delhi High Court that complainant company has become the owner Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 8 of all the properties of the unit of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. without any further Act or Deed and said quarter stood transferred and vested with the complainant company for all the estate and interests. Thus, complainant company has become the owner of the property in question and has got every right to prosecute with this complaint.
11.Moreover, in "AIR 2007 Delhi 147, Kamla Rani and Ors vs M/s Texmaco Ltd." Hon'ble High Court has relied on the same scheme of arrangement Ex. PW1/4 and hold that the entire assets of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. stood transferred to M/s Texmaco Ltd. and therefore said company was the successorininterest of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd.. Thus, it is clear that the complainant company became owner of all the property, rights and powers in the mill unit of transferee company without any further act or deed and by virtue of scheme of arrangement Ex. PW1/4, complainant company became owner of the property in question, therefore, they have every right to prosecute this complaint. Ld. defence counsel Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 9 submitted that complainant has failed to prove their ownership as they have not proved on record the title document of property in question. It is clear from the aforesaid discussions that complainant company has become owner of premises in question by virtue of a scheme of arrangement, in such circumstances, title document was not required to be proved.
12.The complainant company was further required to establish on record that accused was an employee of the complainant company. Ld. counsel for accused argued that accused is not employee of the complainant company, however this court does not find any substance in it. It is clear from the scheme of arrange ex. PW1/4 that the complainant company become the owner of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Textiles (which was earlier a unit of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills) as well as quarter in question. It is further clear from perusal of this scheme of arrangement that all the employees of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills has become the employees of complainant company i.e. M/s Texmaco Ltd. Relevant portion of the judgment reads as under: Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 10 "2.(b)(i) All the employees of the said Units of Birla Cotton in service on the date immediately preceding the Effective Date shall become the employee of Texmaco without interruption in service and on terms no loss fevourable to them those applicable to them on the day immediately preceding the effective date".
Thus, it is clear that accused had also become the employee of the complainant company i.e. M/s Texmaco Ltd.. In his statement accused has not disputed that he joined the services of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. on 04.08.72. It is also crystal clear from his statement that till 30.11.96 accused worked with the present complainant only but nonelse. It is clear from the aforesaid discussions that as to how the present complainant stepped into the shoes of M/s Birla Cottons Spinning and Weaving Mills and it became owner of quarter in question and employer of accused w.e.f. 03.01.83.
Point(c) "That the accused was allotted quarter in question on licence basis"
13.Complainant company was required to establish on record that accused is the licensee of the complainant company. PW1 has deposed that the accused was allotted quarter in question on licence basis through letter Ex. PW1/5 which bears signature of accused at point A. Accused has not denied this fact in his Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 11 statement as well as in the cross examination of PW1, however he stated that quarter was not alloted by present complainant. Once the quarter in question was allotted to the accused on licence basis by the erstwhile owner, the status of the accused shall always remain as of a licensee. Moreover, it is crystal clear from the terms and conditions of allotment letter Ex. PW1/5 that quarter in question was allotted to the accused on licence basis. The terms and conditions contained in ex. PW1/5 are very clear and specific that accused was nothing but licensee. In view of the aforesaid discussion it is held that accused is a licensee and complainant is the licensor.
Point(d) & (e) "That the accused was ceased to be employee of the complainant company"
"That the accused has wrongfully withheld the quarter in question"
14.The main stand taken by the accused is that he is still in the service of the company as neither the appointment letter nor the termination letter has been brought on record. PW1 has clearly deposed in his statement that service of the accused came to an end w.e.f 30.11.96 after closure of mill at Delhi. It is not denied that the mill at Delhi (where accused was working) was closed down Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 12 w.e.f 30.11.96, thus, his service stood ended after closure of mill.
15.Now let us see whether complainant company has established that accused is wrongfully withholding the quarter. As per contents of allotment letter, the accused was to remain in possession of the quarter till he was in the services of the company and after cessation of his service accused was to vacate and hand over the quarter to the complainant company. It is stated that accused ceased to be employee of the complainant company on 30.11.96 and after that he has been unauthorizedly and illegally withholding the quarter. Thus, after cessation of his service accused was under obligation to vacate and hand over the possession of quarter in question which he failed to do so. Accused has not denied that he is still occupying the quarter. Since, he did not vacate and hand over the possession of the quarter in question after cessation of his service thus, it is held that accused has been wrongfully withholding the quarter. Moreover, it is also not disputed during cross examination that complainant company did not request lastly on 10.07.03 seeking vacation of the quarter.
Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 13
16.Ld. defence counsel further argued that the power of attorney and resolution in favour of the complainant is not proved in accordance with law and it does not comply with the provisions of Power of Attorney Act. The persons who delegated his power to the alleged attorney did not file his power to delegate. It is also argued that the resolution regarding power of attorney in favour of complainant has not been proved. The complainant is stranger to the company, therefore, no resolution could have been passed in favour of the complainant. However, this court does not find any force in his submissions. Accused has objected this power of attorney for the first time at the fagend of the trial and has not raised objection at the time of exhibiting this power of attorney i.e Ex. PW1/2. Perusal of power of attorney placed on record shows that it has been perfectly and legally notarized and it fulfills all the ingredients of section 85 of Indian Evidence Act. Section 85 of the Indian Evidence Act clearly provides that once there is a duly notarized power of attorney then it shall be presumed to be true unless the contrary is proved. Accused has not produced any ingredients to disprove the power of attorney.
Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 14
17.This court is supported with the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "AIR 1971, SC 761, Jugraj Singh vs Jaswant Singh". This court is further supported with the case law "AIR, 1982 Delhi 4897, Citibank N.A., New Delhi vs Juggilal Kamlapat Jute Mills ©. Ltd." in which it has been held that execution of power of attorney by a Bank's Executive Officer and Cashier delegating certain powers to one employee and documents bearing Bank's seal and attested by Notary Public raises presumption that power of attorney is executed by the bank. Word "person" in section 85 includes legal person. It is further held by the Hon'ble High Court in "AIR 1981 Delhi 222" and "AIR 1972 Allahabad 219" that a power of attorney along with verifications are to be presumed to be true u/s 85 of Evidence Act. This court is further supported with the case law laid down by the Hon'ble High Court in "AIR 2007 Delhi 147, Kamla Rani and Ors vs M/s Texmaco" which was a case of the present complainant on the same facts. It was contended by the employee before Hon'ble High Court that eviction case was not filed by a properly authorized person and Hon'ble High Court held that ...Once a document is Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 15 authenticated by a notary public, it will be presumed that the document was duly executed and was in order. As observed in AIR 1984 (363( (sic) M/s E.C. and E.Co. Ltd. v. M/s J. E. Works, if two conditions are satisfied, firstly the power of attorney being executed before a notary public and secondly it being authenticated by a notary public, a presumption would arise under section 85 about the executant of the power of attorney. ...Decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported as "AIR 1997 SC 3 Union of India vs Gresham Kumar"
is additionally relied upon by me. The said decision states that where a suit has been filed on behalf of a corporate body and is duly prosecuted by the person who had filed the suit, a presumption would arise that the person concerned was authorized to do so".
18.Ld. counsel for accused further argued that the complainant has filed only photo copies of documents and originals were not produced. However, perusal of record shows that Ex. PW1/3 and Ex. PW1/4 are certified copies, while the letter Ex. PW1/5 is original. So far as Ex. PW1/1 and Ex. PWA1/2 are concerned its Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 16 copies are filed on record. Admittedly there are number of cases filed by the complainant company, thus, complainant cannot be expected to file originals in one case. Even otherwise accused cannot raise this objection at the fagend of the case. It is well settled law that once the exhibiting of the documents not opposed at the time of its proof during the evidence, objection cannot be entertained. In this regard this court is supported by the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "(2003) 8 SCC 752B". It is most respectfully observed that the case law cited by the Ld. defence counsel is not applicable to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the present case.
19.Ld. counsel for accused further argued that the service of the accused has not been terminated. He further submitted that no notice of termination and notice to vacate the quarter was ever served upon the accused. These arguments of the Ld. defence counsel does not carry much weight as for maintaining the proceeding u/s 630 of Companies Act, aforesaid notice is not required to be served upon the accused. The proceedings u/s 630 of Companies Act are distinct proceedings from the civil eviction Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 17 proceedings and an incorporated company has got right to prosecute its employee/officer who is wrongfully withholding the property of the company and even if some civil proceedings are pending qua the same property. It has been held by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in "1990(2) C.C. Cases 298, M/s Texmaco Ltd. vs. Arun Kumar Sharma & Another" that the proceedings u/s 630 of Companies Act can continue even if some civil proceedings in regard to the same premises are pending. While making the aforesaid observation, Hon'ble Delhi High Court has relied upon the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "J.D. 1989(3) S.C. 350".
20.Ld. defence counsel also submitted that complainant has got no right to institute the present complaint as suit property does not belongs to them. This court again does not find any substance in it. It is already discussed as to how the complainant company became owner of the quarter in question as well as employer of the accused. Furthermore, as per section 116 of Evidence Act, accused cannot challenge the title of complainant and allege that Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 18 suit property is a public property. It has been held by the Hon'ble High Court in "AIR 1915 Privy Council 98" that a licensed tenant has got no right to challenge the title of his licensor/landlord though it may be defective.
21.Ld. counsel for complainant submitted that other accused persons were also convicted by the Ld. Predecessor Courts of Ld. ACMM on the basis on similar complaints filed by the present complainant. He further submitted that these orders have been upheld by the Hon'ble High Court and Hon'ble Apex Court in the following cases: "Crl. Rev. P. No. 233/2010, as Lakhan Singh vs Texmaco No. 2057/06, as Kanta Devi vs Texmaco.
"SLP (Crl.) 5216/06"
2006[3] JCC 1964, Mohan Singh vs M/s Texmaco & Anr. Crl.Rev. Petition No.21/2011, Khajan Singh vs State & Anr. CRL.M.C.80/2011, Kusum Lata vs Texmaco Ltd.
CRL.REV.P.380/2010Bhura Mal Thr. Its LR's Chander Kant vs State & Anr. CRL.REV.P.789/2006 & CRL.REV.P.790/2006
22.Thus, in view of these discussions it is held that complainant has established that the accused was allotted the aforesaid quarter on licence basis by virtue of his employment. It is further held services of the accused came to an end w.e.f 30.11.96 and after cessation of his service accused failed to vacate and hand over the Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 19 possession of the quarter in dispute to the complainant. In such, circumstances it is held that the accused is wrongfully withholding the quarter of the complainant company after cessation of his services. Thus, it is held that complainant has been successful in proving its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, accused is held guilty and convicted for the offence u/s 630 of The Companies Act 1956.
(AJAY GUPTA) ACMM(SPECIAL) ACTS, CENTRAL, TIS HAZARI COURTS DELHI Announced in open court on 23.04.11.
Texmaco vs Banarsi Dass 20