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[Cites 10, Cited by 11]

Gujarat High Court

Ramanbhai Hargovinddas Limbachia & 45 vs State Of Gujarat & 2 on 8 March, 2016

Author: R.M.Chhaya

Bench: R.M.Chhaya

                 C/SCA/1089/2015                                            ORDER




                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                    SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 1089 of 2015

         ==========================================================
              RAMANBHAI HARGOVINDDAS LIMBACHIA & 45....Petitioner(s)
                                   Versus
                     STATE OF GUJARAT & 2....Respondent(s)
         ==========================================================
         Appearance:
         MR SP MAJMUDAR, ADVOCATE with MR N R DESAI, ADVOCATE for the
         Petitioner(s) No. 1 - 46
         MR MANAN MEHTA, ASSISTANT GOVERNMENT PLEADER for the
         Respondent(s) No. 1 and 3
         MR PRASHANT G DESAI, SENIOR ADVOCATE with MR KAUSHAL D
         PANDYA, ADVOCATE for the Respondent(s) No. 2
         ==========================================================

          CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.M.CHHAYA

                                   Date : 08/03/2016


                                    ORAL ORDER

1. By   way   of   this   petition   under   Article   226   of  the Constitution of India, the petitioners have  prayed for the following reliefs:­  "(A) YOUR   LORDSHIPS   may   be   pleased  to  issue a writ of mandamus or a writ in  the   nature   of   mandamus   or   any   other  appropriate writ, order or  directions  quashing   and   setting   aside  notification   dated   21.01.2000   of   the  State Government  in  sanctioning  Draft  Town   Planning   Scheme   No.33   (Dumbhal,  Surat) (at ANNEXURE­D hereto) as well  as   orders   dated   03.01.2015   passed   by  Page 1 of 29 HC-NIC Page 1 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER the   respondent   ­   Corporation   (at  ANNEXURE­K (Colly) hereto), as far as  it   relates   to   plots/lands   where   the  properties   of   the   petitioners   are  situated;

(B) During   the   pendency   and   final  disposal of the present petition, YOUR  LORDSHIPS   may   be   pleased   to   stay  further   operation,   implementation   and  execution   of   notification   dated  21.01.2000 of the State Government in  sanctioning Draft Town Planning Scheme  No.33 (Dumbhal,  Surat)  (at ANNEXURE­D  hereto)   as   well   as   orders   dated  03.01.2015 passed by the respondent ­  Corporation   (at   ANNEXURE­K   (Colly)  hereto),   as   far   as   it   relates   to  plots/lands   where   the   properties   of  the petitioners are situated;

(C) ... ... ..."

2. Facts which can be culled out from the record  of the petition are as under:­  That   the   petitioners   are   occupiers   of   land  bearing revenue survey No.53/1, block No.72 of  Village  Dhumbal which is now  within the local  limits   of   Surat   Municipal   Corporation   and   is  part   of   Town   Planning   Scheme   No.33,   Dhumbal­ Surat (hereinafter referred to as "the Scheme" 

for the sake of brevity). It appears from the  record   that   the   draft   scheme   came   to   be  Page 2 of 29 HC-NIC Page 2 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER sanctioned  under   Section   48(2)   of   the   Gujarat  Town   Planning   and   Urban   Development  Act,   1976  (hereinafter   referred   to   as   "the   Act")   vide  notification   dated   21.1.2000.   It   appears   that  thereafter, Town Planning Officer was appointed  who   prepared   and   published   the   preliminary  scheme. However, the said preliminary scheme so  submitted to the State Government and after its  scrutiny,   the   scheme   was   refused   to   be  sanctioned   as   preliminary   scheme   vide  notification dated 1.7.2010. As provided in the  said   notification,   it   was   provided   that   the  Town   Planning   Officer   shall   afresh   draw   the  preliminary   scheme   in   accordance   with   the  provisions  of  the Act and  observations of the  inquiry   report   as   well   as   the   representation  received also be considered. The lands occupied  by   the   petitioners   is   forming   part   of   Town  Planning   36   mtr.   road.   It   appears   that   the  respondent   -   Corporation,   as   an   implementing  authority,   issued   a   notice   to   each   of   the  petitioners  dated  27.5.2014  for  implementation  Page 3 of 29 HC-NIC Page 3 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER of the said scheme as provided under Sections  48­A,   67,   68   of   the   Act   and   Rule   33   of   the  Gujarat   Town   Planning   and   Urban   Development  Rules,   1979   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   "the  Rules").   The   record   also   indicates   that   the  petitioners   filed   reply   to   the   same   and  thereafter filed a writ petition being Special  Civil Application No.8760 of 2014 which came to  be   disposed   of   by   this   Court   (Coram:   K.M.  Thaker, J.) vide order dated 2.7.2014, wherein  this Court following the ratio laid down by the  Apex Court judgment in the case of M/s. Babulal  &   Co.   &   Ors.   Vs.   State   of   Gujarat   &   Ors.,  reported   in  1985   (2)   GLR   883  was   pleased   to  direct the respondent ­ Corporation to give an  opportunity of being heard and pass a reasoned  order.   It   further   appears   that   as   per   the  directions issued by this Court, the competent  authority   of   the   respondent   ­   Corporation  thereafter by an order dated 3.1.2015 has been  pleased   to   direct   the   petitioners   to   evict  themselves  for   implementation  of   36   mtr.   Town  Page 4 of 29 HC-NIC Page 4 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER Planning  Scheme  road.   Being   aggrieved  by   such  individual orders passed in the case of each of  the   petitioners   who   are   46   in   number,   the  present petition is filed. 

3. Heard Mr. S.P. Majmudar, learned advocate with  Mr.   N.R.   Desai,   learned   advocate   for   the  petitioners, Mr. Manan Mehta, learned Assistant  Government  Pleader  for   respondent  Nos.1   and   3  and   Mr.   Prashant   G.   Desai,   learned   Senior  Advocate   with   Mr.   Kaushal   Pandya,   learned  advocate for respondent No.2. 

4. Mr.   S.P.   Majmudar,   learned   advocate   for   the  petitioners   has   taken   this   Court   through   the  impugned orders and the documents on record and  has made the following submissions:­ 4.1 That, the earlier preliminary scheme which was  submitted   by   the   Town   Planning   Officer   as  provided   under   Section   64   of   the   Act   was   not  sanctioned   and   the   Government   refused   to  sanction   the   preliminary   scheme.   The   very  action   of   the   respondent   ­   Corporation   in  Page 5 of 29 HC-NIC Page 5 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER issuing   impugned   notices   and   passing   of   the  orders   of   implementation   of   the   scheme   is  de  hors the provisions of the Act.

4.2 In such facts and circumstances, the respondent  ­   Corporation   is   therefore   required   to   again  follow the whole procedure and the Corporation  therefore   cannot   implement   the   draft   Town  Planning Scheme under Section 48­A of the Act. 4.3 It is contended that as far as the petitioners  are   concerned,   some   of   the   petitioners   have  purchased the land in question by a sale deed  and   that   some   petitioners   are   occupying   the  land   in   question   since   1985   and   there   are   5  schools   situated   therein   and   therefore,   the  implementation of the scheme  qua the lands of  the petitioners is not  in  consonance with the  provisions of the Act. 

4.4 It is submitted that the petitioners have made  construction   after   obtaining   permissions   from  the authority  and therefore,  as  the scheme is  still at large i.e. at the stage of Section 52  Page 6 of 29 HC-NIC Page 6 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER of   the   Act,   the   road   in   question   should   be  implemented   only   after   preliminary   scheme   is  sanctioned. 

4.5 It was also contended that the students would  be badly affected if the scheme is implemented.  4.6 There   is   no   justification   of   having   36   mtr. 

road as the present road which is available is  sufficient   enough   to   carter   the   needs   of   the  traffic. 

4.7 It   is   therefore   submitted   that   the   prayers  prayed   for   in   the   petition   require  consideration and the petition be allowed. 

5. Per   contra,   Mr.   Prashant   G.   Desai,   learned  Senior   Advocate   with   Mr.   Kaushal   Pandya,  learned   advocate   for   respondent   No.2­  Corporation   has   relied   upon   the   affidavit­in­ reply   filed   by   the   Corporation.   Mr.   Desai  submitted   that   the   very   scheme   was   challenged  before this Court and the draft scheme which is  sanctioned   by   the   State   Government   vide  Page 7 of 29 HC-NIC Page 7 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER notification   dated   21.1.2000  has   been   held   to  be   valid   and   therefore,   the   contention   raised  by   the   learned   advocate   for   the   petitioners  that  the draft Town  Planning  Scheme cannot be  implemented under Section 48­A of the Act read  with Section 68 of the Act read with Rule 33 of  the   Rules   deserves   to   be   negatived.   It   is  submitted that as per the directions issued by  this  Court  in  its order dated 2.7.2014 passed  in   Special   Civil  Application   No.8760   of   2014,  the petitioners were heard and thereafter, the  orders   impugned  dated   3.1.2015  are   passed.  It  is   contended   that   the   petitioners   have   made  construction   without   any   permission.   It   is  further   contended   that   majority   of   the  petitioners have not even purchased the land in  question   as   provided   under   the   provisions   of  the   Transfer   of   Property   Act,   1882   and   are  occupiers   on   the   strength   of   the   possession  receipt.   It   is   further   contended   that   the  permission granted by the Panchayat relied upon  by the petitioners were in fact not even valid  Page 8 of 29 HC-NIC Page 8 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER and no permission from the competent authority  under the provisions of the Act is obtained by  the   petitioners   and   in   fact,   the   petitioners  have raised unauthorized construction upon the  land in question, which was already part of the  Town Planning road. Mr. Desai relying upon the  judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in  the case of Narshibhai Raghavbhai Savani & Ors.  Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors., reported in  2012  (2)   GLH   95  and   has   submitted   that   the   very  scheme   in   question   was   subject   matter   of   the  Letters   Patent   Appeal,   wherein   Division   Bench  of   this   Court   has   held   that   the   scheme   in  question i.e. draft Town Planning Scheme No.33  is   legal   and   valid.   It   is   further   submitted  that   the   land   in   question   is   needed   for   the  purpose   of   laying   down   Town   Planning   road   as  per   the   sanctioned   scheme   and   therefore,   the  respondent   -   Corporation,   as   an   implementing  authority,   is   well   within   its   right   to  implement   the   same   and   the   respondent   -  Corporation, while implementing the scheme, has  Page 9 of 29 HC-NIC Page 9 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER followed   the   provisions   of   the   Act   and   the  Rules.   It   is   contended   that   the   petition   is  misconceived and the same is only to delay the  implementation of the Town Planning Scheme. 5.1 Mr. Desai has also relied upon  the judgment of  the   Apex   Court   in   the   case   of  Babulal  Badriprasad   Varma   Vs.   Surat   Municipal  Corporation   &   Ors.,   reported   in  2008   (3)   GLH  137 and has contended that the petitioners have  not   filed   any   objections   against   the   draft  scheme   and   therefore,   now   by   this   petition,  they cannot raise an objection as in fact the  petitioners have waived their right to file the  objections. Mr. Desai has also relied upon the  Apex   Court   judgment   in   the   case   of  S.N.  Mukherjee   Vs.   Union   of   India    reported   in  (1990) 4 SCC 594 to buttress his arguments.  5.2 It is therefore contended  that this Court may  not   exercise   its   extraordinary   jurisdiction  under Article 226 of the Constitution of India  and   the   petition   deserves   to   be   dismissed   in  Page 10 of 29 HC-NIC Page 10 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER limine. 

6. Mr.   Manan   Mehta,   learned   Assistant   Government  Pleader   for   the   State   Government   authorities  has adopted the arguments made by Mr. Prashant  G.   Desai,   learned   Senior   Advocate   for  respondent No.2 - Corporation. 

7. No   other   or   further   contentions   and/or  submissions  are   made   by   the   learned   advocates  appearing for the respective parties.

8. Before reverting to the submissions made by the  learned advocates appearing for the respective  parties,   it   would   be   appropriate   to   refer   to  the status of the petitioners over the land in  question.   It   appears   from   the   record   of   the  petition which has been provided by the learned  advocate for the  petitioner in a tabular  form  para­wise as under:­  petiti Name of petitioners  Sale deeds/  Date oners  possession  receipts 1 Ramanbhai Hargovinddas  Sale deed 31.03.08 Limbachia (plot No.12) 2 Kiritbhai Mangubhai  Sale deed 31.03.08 Page 11 of 29 HC-NIC Page 11 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER Patel (plot No.7) 3 Ramrajbhai Ramprasad  Sale deed 31.03.08 Yadav (plot No.8­9) 4 Dalichand Harkishandas  Possession  24.12.88 Rana (plot No.10­11) receipt 5 Narendrabhai Bhavanlal  Possession  1989 Sharma (plot No.13­15) receipt 6 Sumanben Ishwarsinh  Possession  05.04.89 Thakor (plot No.16) receipt 7 Vijaybhai Atmaram Patil  Possession  13.12.86 (plot No.17) receipt 8 Rajendrabhai Atmaram  Possession  13.12.86 Patil (plot No.18) receipt 9 Chandravadan Chhotalal  Possession  24.12.88 Modi (plot No.19) receipt 10 Hemaliben Dipakkumar  Possession  12.01.90 Modi (plot No.20) receipt 11 Jesinghbhai Khimibhai  Possession  24.12.88 Rajpurohit (plot No.21) receipt 12 Jitendra Arunbhai Patil  Possession  1986 (plot No.22­23) receipt 13 Ushaben Ratilal  Possession  1986 Rajpurohit (plot No.24) receipt 14 Dhanaram Manaram Suthar  Possession  1988 (plot No.25­26) receipt 15 Vijaybhai Chhotalal  Possession  1989 Dalal (plot No.27) receipt 16 Pravinbhai Uttamram  Possession  24.02.87 Chapadia (plot No.29) receipt 17 Dhansukhbhai Uttamram  Possession  24.02.87 Chapadia (plot No.28) receipt 18 Chetankumar Jamiyatram  Possession  1986 Rana (plot No.30­31) receipt 19 Bimalkumar Gyanchand  Possession  1989 Jain (plot No.32) receipt 20 Ravindra Kashiram Kale  Possession  1985 (plot No.34­35) receipt 21 Bhagwanbhai Sajanbhai  Possession  24.02.89 Patil (plot No.36) receipt 22 Hanshaben Rameshchandra  Possession  24.02.89 Jariwala (plot No.36­A) receipt Page 12 of 29 HC-NIC Page 12 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER 23 Sandipbhai Laxmanbhai  Possession  24.02.89 Patil (plot No.37) receipt 24 Pravinbhai Jamiyatram  Possession  15.05.90 Sherdiwala (plot No.38) receipt 25 Vivekbhai Suryakant  Possession  15.05.90 Katiya (plot No.39) receipt 26 Kalaben Mohanbhai  Possession  Rodawala (plot No.40) receipt 27 Pravatiben Nareshbhai  Possession  Rodawala (plot No.41) receipt 28 Tusharbhai Rameshbhai  Sale deed  31.03.08 Bhandari (plot No.42­

43) 29 Minaxiben Chandrakant  Possession  15.03.98 Modi (plot No.44) receipt 30 Geetaben Sureshchandra  Possession  15.03.98 Dudhwala (plot No.45) receipt 31 Sureshbhai Satyanarayan  Possession  24.12.88 Sharmar (plot No.48­52) receipt 32 Hemantbhai  Possession  1990 Pravinchandra Dalal  receipt (plot No.52A) 33 Vivek Namdev Pawar  Sale deed  31.03.08 (plot No.53) 34 Vinodbhai Uttamram  Sale deed  31.03.08 Rodawala (plot No.55) 35 Dalpatbhai Ratilal  Sale deed  31.03.08 Rodawala (plot No.56) 36 Farshuram Raitlal  Sale deed  31.03.08 Rodawala (plot No.57) 37 Dipakbhai Dayaljibhai  Sale deed  31.03.08 Patel (plot No.61) 38 Vikrambhai  Possession  24.12.88 Bhaichandbhai Joshi  receipt (plot No.62) 39 Mukeshbhai  Sale deed  31.03.08 Bhaichandbhai Joshi  (plot No.63A) 40 Chhayaben Mukeshbhai  Sale deed  31.03.08 Joshi (plot No.63B) 41 Hirabhai Hukamram  Possession  24.12.88 Page 13 of 29 HC-NIC Page 13 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER Chaudhary (plot No.63­ receipt

64) 42 Ashokbhai Kesaram  Possession  24.12.88 Chaudhary (plot No.65) receipt 43 Jayvadan Babulal Mehta  Sale deed  31.03.08 (plot No.66) 44 Gahnshyam Ramjibhai  Possession  24.12.88 Navadia (plot No.67) receipt 45 Veenaben Dineshchandra  Possession  24.12.88 Goswala (plot No.68) receipt 46 Sarojben Manharlal  Possession  24.12.88 Gandhi (plot No.69) receipt

9. It deserves to be noted that petitioner Nos.1,  2,   3,   28,   33,   34,   35,   36,   37,   39,   40   and   43  have purchased the land in question by a sale  deed   dated   31.3.2008,   whereas   rest   of   the  petitioners   claim   possession   on   the   basis   of  the possession receipts which are of different  dates   and   years   ranging   from   1985   to   1998   as  enumerated hereinabove. 

10. At   this   juncture,   it   would   be   appropriate   to  refer   to   the   provisions   of   Section   49   of   the  Act, which provides as under:­ "49. Restrictions   on   use   and  development of land after declaration  of a scheme:­ (1)(a) On or after the date on which  Page 14 of 29 HC-NIC Page 14 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER a   draft   scheme   is   published   under  section   41,   no   person   shall,   within  the area included in the scheme, carry  out any development unless such person  has   applied   for   and   obtained   the  necessary permission for doing so from  the   appropriate   authority   in  prescribed form and on payment of such  scrutiny fees as may be prescribed by  regulations;

(b) where   an   application   for  permission   under   clause   (a)   is  received by the appropriate authority,  it   shall   send   to   the   applicant   a  written acknowledgment of its receipt  and   after   making   such   inquiry   as   it  deems fit and in consultation with the  Town   Planning   Officer,   if   any,   may  either grant or refuse such permission  or grant it subject to such conditions  as it may think fit to impose;

(c) if the appropriate authority does  not   communicate   its   decision   to   the  applicant within three months from the  date   of   acknowledgments   of   its  receipt,   such   permission   shall   be  deemed   to   have   been   granted   to   the  applicant;

(d) if   any   person   contravenes   the  provisions   of   clause   (a)   or   of   any  condition   imposed   under   clause   (b),  the   appropriate   authority   may   direct  such   person   by   notice   in   writing   to  stop any development in progress, and  after   making   an   inquiry   in   the  prescribed   manner   remove,   pull   down,  or   alter   any   building   or   other  development   or   restore   the   land   or  building   in   respect   of   which   such  contravention is made to its original  condition;

Page 15 of 29 HC-NIC Page 15 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER

(e) any   expenses   incurred   by   the  appropriate authority under clause (d)  shall   be   a   sum   due   to   it   under   this  Act from the person in default;

(f) the   provisions   of   section   35  shall   so   far   as   may   be,   apply   in  relation   to   the   unauthorised  development or use of land included in  a town planning scheme;

(g) the   restrictions   imposed   by   this  section shall cease to operate in the  event of the State Government refusing  to   sanction   the   draft   scheme   or   the  preliminary scheme or in the event of  the   withdrawal   of   the   scheme   under  section   66   or   in   the   event   of   the  declaration of intention lapsing under  sub­section (3) of section 42;

(h) any diminution in the value of an  original   plot   occasioned   by   any  contravention   of   the   provisions   of  clause (a) or of any condition imposed  under   clause   (b)   shall,  notwithstanding   anything   contained   in  sections 77, 78 and 79 be taken into  account in fixing the market value of  such plot.

(2)   No   person   shall   be   entitled   to  compensation in respect of any damage,  loss   or   injury   resulting   from   any  action   taken   by   the   appropriate  authority under the sub­section (1) of  section   70   except   in   respect   of   a  building   or   work   begun   or   contract  entered into before the date on which  a   declaration  of  intention to  make  a  scheme   is   published   under   section   41  or the publication of the draft scheme  under sub­section (1) of section 42 : Page 16 of 29

HC-NIC Page 16 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER Provided   that   where   any   person   is  entitled   to   any   compensation   in  respect of any building or work under  this   sub­section,   he   shall   be   so  entitled   only   in   so   far   as   such  building or work has proceeded at the  time   of   the   declaration   of   intention  or   publication,   as   the   case   may   be,  and  subject to  the  conditions of  any  agreement   entered   into   between   such  person and the appropriate authority. (3) On and after the date referred to  in clause (a) of sub­section (1), the  appropriate   authority   intending   to  carry out development of land, within  the  area included in  the  scheme, for  its   own   purpose   in   exercise   of   its  powers   under   any   law   for   the   time  being   in   force   shall   carry   out   such  development   in   conformity   with   the  provisions of such scheme, and of the  bye­laws   and   regulations   relating   to  construction of buildings.
(4) The   provisions   of   this   section  shall   not   apply   to   any   operational  construction undertaken by the Central  Government or a State Government."

11. The aforesaid provision clearly indicates that  the date on which the draft scheme is published  under Section 41 of the Act, the restriction on  use of development of land shall apply, which  would   mean   that   when   the   land   in   question   is  earmarked   for   Town   Planning  road   purpose,   the  Page 17 of 29 HC-NIC Page 17 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER same cannot be used for any other purpose. It  deserves to be noted that as noted hereinabove,  out   of   46   petitioners,   only   petitioner   Nos.1,  2,   3,   28,   33,   34,   35,   36,   37,   39,   40   and   43  have a sale deed in their favour which is dated  31.3.2008.   It   is   an   admitted   position   that  intention to prepare the scheme was declared on  21.4.1997   and   the   draft   scheme   came   to   be  sanctioned under Section 48(2) of the Act vide  notification dated 21.1.2000, whereas as far as  the   petitioners,   who   claimed   ownership  on   the  basis   of   the   sale   deed   dated   31.3.2008   are  admittedly after the sanction of the draft Town  Planning Scheme. 

12. It   would   also   be   necessary   to   refer   to   the  provisions   of   Section   48­A   of   the   Act,   which  reads as under:­ "48­A. Vesting of land in appropriate  authority (1) Where   a   draft   scheme   has   been  sanctioned   by   the   State   Government  under   sub­section   (2)   of   section   48,  (hereinafter in this section, referred  to as 'the sanctioned draft scheme'),  Page 18 of 29 HC-NIC Page 18 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER all lands required by the appropriate  authority   for   the   purposes   specified  in   clause   (c),   (f),   (g),   or   (h)   of  sub­section   (3)   of   section   40   shall  vest   absolutely   in   the   appropriate  authority free from all encumbrances. (2) Nothing   in   sub­section   (1)   shall  affect any right of the owner of the  land   vesting   in   the   appropriate  authority under that sub­section. (3) The provisions of sections 68 and  69 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the  sanctioned draft scheme as if,­

(i)   sanctioned   draft   scheme   were   a  preliminary scheme, and

(ii) in sub­section (1), for the words  "comes   into   force",   the   words,  brackets   and   figures   "the   date   on  which   the   daft   scheme   is   sanctioned  under   sub­section   (2)   of   section   48" 

were substituted."

13. It   is   an   admitted   position   that   the   land   in  question is forming part of Town Planning road  of 36 mtr. and therefore, by virtue of Section  48­A(1)   of   the   Act,   the   said   land   shall   vest  absolutely   in   appropriate   authority   free   from  all encumbrances on the date on which the draft  scheme   is   sanctioned  under   Section  48­A(2)   of  the   Act   and   therefore,   the   petitioners,   by   a  sale  deed in their favour, have  purchased the  Page 19 of 29 HC-NIC Page 19 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER land   which,   in   fact,   had   vested   in   the  Corporation  under   Section  48­A(1)   of   the   Act.  Similarly,   the   petitioners   who   have   only  possession   receipts   in   their   favour   are  occupying   the   land   which   has   vested   in   the  Corporation   as   above.   In   order   to   verify   the  contentions of the learned advocates appearing  for the respective parties, this Court has also  undertaken exercise of referring to the copy of  the sale deed of petitioner No.1 in particular  which is at Annexure­A Colly (Pages 36 to 48 of  the paper book). It is no doubt true that the  said   sale   deed   is   registered.   However,   on  perusal of the contents of the said sale deed,  the   same   refers   to   the   plot   and   there   is   no  mention that there is any construction over it.  The other sale deeds which are relied upon by  the   respective   petitioners   and   the   possession  receipts   of   different   dates   as   observed  hereinabove   are   also   of   similar   nature   and  therefore,  the   reliance  placed  by   the   learned  advocate   for   the   petitioners   on   Raja   Chitthi  Page 20 of 29 HC-NIC Page 20 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER granted   by   Dhumbal   Gram   Panchayat   dated  18.3.1983 which is at Annexure­C Colly to the  petition is misconceived and therefore, such a  contention   deserves   to   be   negatived   outright.  It   also   deserves   to   be   noted   that   such   Raja  Chitthi granted by the Gram Panchayat are 9 in  number relating to plots no.12, 13, 14, 15, 17,  18, 19 and 20, out of which the so­called Raja  Chitthi of plot No.13 is in duplicate. There is  no   other   evidence   to   show   that   any   of   the  petitioners   have   obtained   any   permission   from  respondent   No.2   authority   or   Surat   Urban  development Authority,  as  the case  may be and  considering the provisions of Section 49 of the  Act, as the land in question was already part  of the Town Planning road, even otherwise, the  restrictions   would   have   applied.   As   contended  by the learned advocate for the petitioners and  as contended in the petition, there is no iota  of   any   evidence   to   show   that   any   of   the  petitioners  raised  objections  at   the   stage   of  draft   scheme,   more   particularly,   at   the   stage  Page 21 of 29 HC-NIC Page 21 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER of   Section  42  read  with  Rule  17  of  the  Rules  for which public meeting was held on 30.9.1997.  The learned advocate for the petitioners is not  in a position to controvert the said fact and  therefore, applying the ratio laid down in the  case of  Babulal Badriprasad Varma  (supra), the  petitioners   have   waived   the   right.   As   is  indicative from the dates which are enumerated  in   the   chart   of   the   petitioners   hereinabove,  the   petitioners   who   become   occupiers   or   have  executed sale deeds after sanction of the draft  Town   Planning   Scheme,   cannot   be   permitted   to  raise   such   a   question.   The   contentions   raised  by   the   learned   advocate   for   the   petitioners  that   as   the   preliminary   scheme   was   refused,  earlier authorities cannot implement the draft  Town   Planning   Scheme   without   afresh  declaration,   is   squarely   covered   by   the  Division   Bench   judgment   in   the   case   of  Narshibhai   Raghavbhai   Savani  (supra),   wherein  in Paragraphs 9 and 10, it is observed thus:­ "9.   In   our   view,   when,   after  Page 22 of 29 HC-NIC Page 22 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER considering   the   objections,   if   any,  the draft scheme is sent for approval  to the government under Section­47 of  the   Act   and   if   the   same   is   approved  under Section 48(2) of the Act, there  is no need to proceed with the scheme  de   novo,  that   means,   to   start   from  Section ­ 41 of the Act. It would be a  futile exercise in the  case when the  Government   has   sanctioned   the   draft  scheme   submitted   by   the   appropriate  authority, to start the same de novo,  which is not envisaged in the Act. It  is   presumed   that   when   appropriate  authority   sends   its   draft   scheme   for  approval   to   the   State   Government,   it  has considered the objections received  under section 47 of the Act. Moreover,  when the State Government approves the  draft   scheme,   it   has   accepted   the  draft   scheme   with   its   contents,   the  objections   (under   section   47   of   the  Act),   the   modification   (it   made  pursuant   to   objections).   Upto   this  this   stage,   an   objector   is   not  required to be called upon to support  his objections. In view of this legal  aspect, in  our opinion, once a draft  scheme   is   sanctioned   by   the   State  Government, the stage of reopening the  proceedings from the stage of section  41 would not be necessary, unless by  judicial   pronoucement,   the   action   of  the   State   Government   of   sanctioning  the scheme  is quashed and set aside.  As   provided   under   Section­48   of   the  Act   itself   that   the   Government   can  refuse   to   sanction   the   draft   scheme.  If   the   State   Government   does   not  sanction   the   draft   scheme,   only   in  that case, the proceedings would start  de   novo  i.e.   from   Section­40   of   the  Act   and   not   in   case   of   refusing   to  sanction   the   preliminary   scheme.   In  Page 23 of 29 HC-NIC Page 23 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER the present case, the draft scheme is  sanctioned by the government and since  the   government   has   directed   to  commence   to   proceed   with   the   scheme  from   the   stage   where   the   preliminary  scheme is to be framed, the appellants  shall have all rights available under  the Act.

10. In view of what is stated here­in­ above, we are of the opinion that the  Town Planning Officer shall prepare a  preliminary scheme afresh taking into  consideration   the   direction   given   by  the State Government contained in the  schedule   to   the   order   dated   1.7.2010  and not  from the  stage of  Section­40  of the Act."

Hence, the said contention also fails. 

14. It appears from the record of the petition that  respondent   No.2   authority   was   therefore   right  in   issuing   notices   dated   27.5.2014   and   after  hearing   the   petitioners,   has   passed   the  impugned   orders   dated   3.1.2015   at   Annexure­K  Colly. to the petition. It deserves to be noted  that   the   authority   of   the   respondent   ­  Corporation   has   considered   the   provisions   of  the   Act   and   the   Rules   and   the  submissions/objections   raised   by   the  petitioners.   The   impugned   orders   clearly  Page 24 of 29 HC-NIC Page 24 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER mention   that   36   mtr.   road   is   provided   in   the  revised  final  development  plan of SUDA of the  year   2004   which,   as   informed   by   the   learned  advocates appearing for the respective parties,  was   sanctioned   by   the   State   Government   vide  notification   dated  2.9.2004  and   the   revised  development   plan   has   come   into   force   from  15.9.2004.   This   clearly   establishes   the   fact  that what is provided in the macro planning of  the   area  by   way   of   a   development  plan  is  now  being planned  at  the micro level by providing  36 mtr. road in the Town Planning Scheme which  is   sanctioned   at   the   stage   of   draft   Town  Planning   Scheme   and   the   same   is   now   being  implemented as provided under Section 48­A read  with  Sections  67  and  68   read  with  Rule  33   of  the Rules. The provisions of a development plan  does   not   take   into   consideration   the   present  need,   but   it   plans   out   for   a   longer   period  keeping  in  mind the  necessity and exigency of  the   future   also   and   therefore,   the   Town  Planning Scheme is in a way micro planning of  Page 25 of 29 HC-NIC Page 25 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER what   is   provided   in   the   macro   planning.  Therefore, the contention raised by the learned  advocate   for   the   petitioners   that   30   mtr.   is  enough is made without any basis and the same  deserves   to   be   negatived   outright.   It   also  appears   from   the   record   that   the   land   in  question i.e. block No.72 of Village Dhumbal is  allotted   original   plot   No.38   and   in   lieu   of  that, the owners of the said original plot is  to be allotted Final Plots No.38/A and 38/B in  the scheme which, as pointed out by the learned  Senior Advocate for the Corporation, has carved  out   in   the  same  original  plot.  As   far  as  the  contention raised by the petitioners that there  are   schools   which   also   would   be   affected   is  concerned,   firstly,   the   petition   does   not  recite   that   any   of   the   petitioners   run   the  school. There is nothing on record to show that  such   schools   which   are   private   schools   were  constructed after permission from the competent  authority.   The   land   in   question   which   is  subject matter of the notice for implementation  Page 26 of 29 HC-NIC Page 26 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER and the impugned order relates to 36 mtr. Town  Planning   road   and   therefore,   even   considering  the   public   interest   and   private   interest  aspect,   the   public   interest   is   to   be   given  prominence.  As   stated   in   the   impugned   orders,  even  before laying down 36 mtr.  Town Planning  road,   the   Corporation   has   to   provide   utility  services   for   which   the   lines   are   to   be   laid  down   and   the   authority   has   come   to   the  conclusion   that   the   suggestion   of   the  petitioners to change the  alignment is not in  public interest. It appears from the record of  the petition that having purchased the plots in  question   which   were   already   part   of   the   Town  Planning   road,   the   petitioners   who   have   sale  deed   in   their   favour   are   now   asserting   their  right.   It   appears   that   when   the   property   had  already   vested   in   the   Corporation   as   Town  Planning road  by  virtue of Section  48­A(1) of  the   Act,   such   sale   in   favour   of   petitioner  Nos.1, 2, 3, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40 and  43 would be of no consequences. It appears that  Page 27 of 29 HC-NIC Page 27 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER the   petitioners   have   in   fact   raised   an  unauthorized construction and are now objecting  to   laying   down   a   Town   Planning   road   which   is  sanctioned   by   the   authorities   including   the  State Government. None of the contentions which  are raised in the petition as well as raised by  the   learned   advocate   for   the   petitioners  deserve any consideration of this Court in its  extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of  the   Constitution   of   India.   It   goes   without  saying   that   the   observations   made   in   this  judgment   and   order   is   only   qua   36   mtr.   Town  Planning road which is being implemented by the  impugned notices as well as the impugned orders  dated 3.1.2015. None of the grounds raised in  this   petition   require   any   interference   as  regards   the   validity   of   the   sanctioned   draft  Town Planning Scheme which has been sanctioned  by the State Government under Section 48(2) of  the Act and considering the ratio laid down by  the   Division   Bench   in   the   case   of  Narshibhai  Raghavbhai Savani  (supra), the said draft Town  Page 28 of 29 HC-NIC Page 28 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016 C/SCA/1089/2015 ORDER Planning Scheme is legal and valid. Similarly,  the   orders   dated   3.1.2015   are   also   legal   and  proper   and   no   interference   is   called   for   by  this Court. 

15. Resultantly,   the   petition  fails   and   is   hereby  dismissed. However, There shall be no order as  to costs. 

(R.M.CHHAYA, J.) mrp Page 29 of 29 HC-NIC Page 29 of 29 Created On Thu Mar 10 01:27:40 IST 2016