Madras High Court
M.Arun Kumar vs The General Manager on 19 August, 2020
Author: G.R.Swaminathan
Bench: G.R.Swaminathan
W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 19.08.2020
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN
W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020
and
W.M.P.(MD)Nos.7465 and 7467 of 2020
M.Arun Kumar ... Petitioner
Vs.
1. The General Manager,
The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.,
(Regional Office), Chennai,
Indian Oil Bhavan,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai – 600 034.
2. The Divisional Manager,
The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.,
Madurai Divisional Office,
No.2 Race Course Road,
Chokkilulam, Madurai – 625 002. ... Respondents
Prayer: Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records
relating to the impugned order passed by the 2nd respondent vide
Ref.15447854825273, dated 17.01.2020, quash the same, and further
direct the 2nd respondent to process forthwith the petitioner's application
in Ref.15447854825273, dated 14.12.2018 for award of petroleum Retail
outlet dealership at Melakrishnanputhoor to Puthoor on SH 179,
http://www.judis.nic.in
1/20
W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020
Kanyakumari District under Group-I (Dealer Owned sites).
For Petitioner : Mr.Isaac Mohanlal, Senior Counsel,
For M/s.Isaac Chambers.
For Respondents : Mr.Muralidharan
***
ORDER
Heard the learned senior counsel appearing for the writ petitioner and the learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents/Indian Oil Corporation.
2.The respondents/corporation issued tender notification dated 25.11.2018 inviting applications from eligible candidates for appointment of retail outlet dealers at various locations in the State of Tamilnadu and Union Territory of Pondicherry. The case on hand pertains to the location at Melakrishnanputhoor, Kanyakumari District. The petitioner submitted his application dated 14.12.2018 in response to the said notification. The petitioner wanted his case to be considered under what is known as Group-I category. The respondents conducted a local inspection on 23.12.2019. Thereafter, the impugned order dated 17.01.2020 was issued and the petitioner was informed that his http://www.judis.nic.in 2/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 candidature under Group-I was found ineligible and that he would be considered for selection along with Group-III applicants as per the guidelines. This communication is put to challenge in this writ petition.
3.The respondents have filed a detailed counter affidavit. The learned standing counsel reiterated all the contentions set out therein. The eligibility criteria for individual applicants had been set out in clause 4 of the brochure. Clause 4 (v) is relevant to the case on hand. It reads as follows:-
''(v) L a n d (A p p l i c a b l e to all cat e g o r i e s ) :
Th e ap plica nt s w o ul d be cla s s ifi e d into thre e gro u p s as m e n ti o n e d b el o w ba s e d on thela n d off er e d or land not off er e d by the m in the ap plicatio n for m:-
Gr o u p 1: Ap plic a nt s havin g suita bl e pie c e of land in the ad v e rti s e d locatio n/ar e a eith e r by wa y of o w n e r s h i p / long ter m lea s e for a p erio d of mini m u m 19 ye ar s 11 m o nth s or a s ad v e rti s e d by the OM C .
Gr o u p 2: Ap plic a nt s ha vin g Firm Off er for a suita bl e pie c e of land for pur c h a s e or lon g ter m lea s e for a p erio d of mini m u m 19 ye a r s 11 m o nth s or a s ad v e rti s e d by the OM C .
Gr o u p 3: Ap plic a nt s wh o hav e not off er e d land in the ap plic atio n.
Ap plic atio n s und e r Gr o u p 3 w o ul d b e pro c e s s e d/ a d vi s e d to off er land only in ca s e no eligibl e ap plica nt is foun d or no ap plic a nt g et s el e c t e d und e r Gr o u p 1 & 2.
In ca s e land off er e d by all the ap plic a nt s und e r Gr o u p 1 & Gr o u p 2 is fou n d not suita bl e/not m e e ti n g re q uir e m e n t s , the n http://www.judis.nic.in 3/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 the s e ap plica nt/s und e r Gr o u p 1 & Gr o u p 2 alon g with ap plic a nt s und e r Gr o u p 3 (wh o did not off er land alon g with ap plic atio n ) wo ul d b e ad vi s e d by the OM C s to pro vid e suita bl e land in the ad v e rti s e d locatio n / str et c h , within a p erio d of 3 m o nt h s fro m the dat e of is s u a n c e of intimatio n letter to the m throu g h S M S/ e- m ail. In ca s e the ap plica nt fails to pro vi d e suita bl e land within the pr e s c ri b e d p erio d or the land pro vi d e d is foun d not m e e ti n g the laid do w n criteria, the ap plicatio n w o ul d b e reje ct e d .
Th e oth e r co n ditio n s with re s p e c t to off erin g of land ar e a s und e r:-
a) Th e land sh o ul d b e availa bl e with the ap plic a nt a s on the dat e of ap plic atio n an d sh o ul d ha v e mini m u m lea s e of 19 ye a r s an d 11 m o nt h s (a s adv e rti s e d by re s p e c ti v e oil co m p a n y ) fro m the dat e or after the dat e of ad v e rti s e m e n t but not later than the dat e of ap plic atio n.
b) If the off er e d land is on Lo n g ter m lea s e , the n the L e a s e agr e e m e n t sh o ul d ha v e a pro vi si o n to su b- lea s e the land wh e r e v e r the locatio n s ar e ad v e rti s e d und e r C or p u s Fu n d Sch e m e (C F S ), Oth e r C or p o r a ti o n O w n e d Site s (“A”/ “C C ” site s ).
In ca s e it is o b s e r v e d that the lea s e agr e e m e n t for the land off er e d by the s el e c t e d ap plic a nt do e s not ha v e a pro vi si o n to su b - lea s e the land, in su c h ca s e s the s el e c t e d ap plica nt wo ul d b e pro vid e d 21 day s’ tim e fro m the dat e of intim atio n throu g h S M S/e- m ail to m a k e suita bl e a m e n d m e n t / ad d e n d u m to the lea s e agr e e m e n t an d s u b m it the sa m e to the co n c e r n e d OM C .
c) For De al e r o w n e d site s (“B”/“DC” site s ), the ap plic a nt sh o ul d ensur e that the land arran g e d by the ap plica nt is eith er regi st e r e d in the ap plica nt’ s na m e or lea s e d in favo u r of the ap plic a nt for a mini m u m p erio d of 19 ye a r s an d 11 m o nth s (a s ad v e rti s e d by re s p e c ti v e oil co m p a n y ), b ef o r e iss u a n c e of LO A http://www.judis.nic.in 4/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 a s p er the co n ditio n s of LOI.
d) Th e ap plica nt( s ) und e r Gr o u p- 1 sh o ul d ha v e do c u m e n t s to e st a bli s h o w n e r s h i p of land off er e d for the De al e r s h i p as on d at e of ap p l i c a t i o n , su c h a s:-
● Kha s r a / Khata u ni or any e q ui v al e n t rev e n u e do c u m e n t or c ertificat e fro m rev e n u e official co nfir min g statu s of the o w n e r s h i p of the land ● R e gi s t e r e d S al e d e e d/R e gi s t e r e d Gift d e e d . ● R e gi st e r e d Lea s e d e e d for a mini m u m p erio d of 19 ye a r s and 11 m o nt h s (a s ad v e rti s e d by re s p e c ti v e oil co m p a n y ) .
● Any oth e r typ e of o w n e r s h i p / tran sf e r d e e d do c u m e n t ● Le a s e agr e e m e n t or firm allotm e n t letter is s u e d by G o v e r n m e n t / S e m i G o v e r n m e n t b o di e s
e) Th e land o w n e d by the family m e m b e r ( s ) will als o be co n s i d e r e d a s b el o n gi n g to the ap plic a nt (Gr o u p - 1) su bj e c t to pro d u ci n g the co n s e n t letter in the for m of affida vit (A p p e n d i x III A) fro m the co n c e r n e d family m e m b e r ( s ) . F or this purp o s e family m e m b e r s wo ul d co m p ri s e of:-
(i) S elf
(ii) S p o u s e
(iii) Fath e r/Moth e r inclu din g St e p Fath e r/St e p Moth e r
(iv) Broth e r/Si st e r/St e p Br oth e r/St e p Si st e r
(v) S o n/Da u g h t e r/St e p S o n/St e p Dau g ht e r
(vi) S o n- in-law / Dau g ht e r- in-law
(vii) P ar e n t s - in-law
(viii) Gra n d P ar e n t s (b oth m at e r n al & pat e r n al)
f) For Gr o u p 2 ap plica nt s , the “firm off er” of land will includ e land off er fro m third party ba s e d on Agr e e m e n t to pur c h a s e/lo n g ter m lea s e (a s p er ter m s an d co n ditio n s of the OM C s ) . Off er letter sh o ul d b e in the for m of an Affida vit (A p p e n d i x III A) alon g with do c u m e n t s , m e n ti o n e d in http://www.judis.nic.in 5/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 Clau s e (d) ab o v e , to e s t a b li s h the o w n e r s h i p of land off er e d for the De al e r s h i p.
g) In ca s e off er letter is fro m Pow er of Attorn e y hold e r (R e gi s t e r e d ) , Off er letter sh o ul d b e in the for m of an Affida vit alon g with co p y of P O A and alon g with do c u m e n t s , m e n ti o n e d in Cla u s e (d) ab o v e , to e st a bli s h the o w n e r s h i p of land off er e d for the De al e r s h i p.
h) Th e eligibility of ap plic a nt with re g a r d to the La n d (Gr o u p 1 or Gr o u p 2) will b e d e ci d e d by Oil C o m p a n y with ref er e n c e to a co nfir m a t o r y letter fro m an ad v o c a t e (A p p e n d i x III B) to b e arra n g e d by the ap plica nt.
i) In ca s e the ap plica nt or fa mily m e m b e r ( s ) o w n the land jointly with third p er s o n , the co n s e n t letter in the for m of an Affida vit (A p p e n d i x III A) or P o w e r Of Attorn e y (R e gi st e r e d ) cle arly auth o rizin g the ap plic a nt for su c h us e of land fro m third p er s o n is als o re q uir e d .
j) Vario u s situatio n s of o w n e r s h i p for d efinin g o w n e d / firm off er ar e a s und e r:-
S. Situ a ti o n of Sh ar e Addition al Ev alu
No own er s h i p of docu m e n t s ation
appli c a required as
nt in
land
Group 1
1 Self Full Nil Owned
2 Self with Part/Nil Consent letter in the ned
members of form of affidavit
family or from members of
owned family – Appen dix
exclusively by III A
family
members
http://www.judis.nic.in
6/20
W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020
3. Part If the sh ar e of Owned
Self with other
the applic a n t
owners
and/or family
me m e b r s is
mor e than equ al
Family to land required
members with by the
other owner(s) Nil co m p a n y .
Consent letter on
stamp paper or an
affidavit or Power of
Self with Attorney froma ll
family Part Co-owner(s) should
members &
be provided –
other owners
App endix- XII A.
4 Full Allotment Letter Owned
Land owned from the
by Government / Semi-
Government/ Government bodies
Semi- in the name of Self
Government with specific
bodies mention for use of
petrol pump
Group 2
5 Part/Nil Consent letter in the Firm
Land owned form of affidavit / Offer
by third party Power of Attorney
in part or full from other owner(s)
– App endix III A
k) Ea c h ap plica nt will ha v e to d e cl ar e , in the ap plic atio n for m, the cat e g o r y und e r whi c h off er e d land falls. S u p p o rtin g the ab o v e , co nfir m a t o r y letter fro m an ad v o c a t e (A p p e n d i x III B ) givin g d etail s of the curr e n t o w n e r s h i p , do c u m e n t s relie d up o n and the cat e g o r y und e r whi c h the land falls (Gr o u p 1 or Gr o u p 2), a s on dat e of ap plicatio n , is als o to b e furnis h e d a s an d wh e n ad vi s e d . Th e Gr o u p und e r whic h the ap plica nt’ s land http://www.judis.nic.in 7/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 falls, wo ul d b e d et e r mi n e d ba s e d on the d e cl ar atio n giv e n in the ap plic atio n an d co nfir m a t o r y letter fro m the ad v o c a t e reg ar di n g the sa m e .
l) It sh o ul d b e the re s p o n s i b ility of the ap plic a nt to en s u r e that a s on dat e of ap plic atio n:-
i. Off er e d land is of req uir e d dim e n s i o n an d ab utting the Ro a d b o u n d a r y, after lea vin g Right of Wa y (RO W ) line of the roa d. ii. Th e off er e d land is als o not notifie d for ac q ui sitio n. iii. Lan d o w n e r is in P o s s e s s i o n of the land fro m the b e gi n nin g / e d g e of R O W line.
iv. Th e r e is no oth e r land inclu din g G o vt. land b et w e e n RO W an d off er e d plot.
Not e : In cas e it is fou n d at late r sta g e that the offe r e d pl ot is not m e e t i n g an y of the ab o v e co n d i t i o n s the n in su c h cas e the offe r e d lan d w o u l d be rej e c t e d an d ca n d i d a t e will be giv e n op p o r t u n i t y al o n g with ap p l i c a n t s un d e r Gr o u p 3 b y inti m a t i o n thr o u g h S M S / e - m a i l .
m) V erificatio n of the su p p o rtin g do c u m e n t s su b m itt e d by the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e , po st s el e c ti o n, will b e carri e d out at the tim e of S cr utin y / Field V erificatio n of Cr e d e n ti al s (F V C ). Note 1 :
a. “O w n’ m e a n s ha vin g o w n e r s h i p by wa y of R e gi st e r e d S al e d e e d , R e gi st e r e d Gift d e e d , etc. or title of the pro p e rt y or regi st e r e d lon g lea s e (a s p er individu al OM C nor m s ) in the na m e of ap plic a nt / fa mily m e m b e r/s a s d efin e d in 4 (v)- e ab o v e .
b. If an ap plica nt off er s m or e than on e land the n, a co nfir m ati o n in writing will b e o btain e d by Lan d Ev alu ati o n C o m m i tt e e (L E C ) http://www.judis.nic.in 8/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 fro m the ap plic a nt with re g a r d to the plot of land to b e co n s i d e r e d for e v al u ati o n.
c. Th e sa m e pie c e of land ca n n o t b e off er e d by m or e than on e ap plic a nt for a particular R O locatio n ag ain s t an ad v e rti s e m e n t . In ca s e m or e than on e ap plic atio n is re c e i v e d off erin g the sa m e pie c e of land all su c h ap plic atio n s wo ul d b e rej e ct e d an d allotm e n t, if m a d e , w o ul d b e liabl e for ca n c e ll atio n. d. Th e s el e c t e d ca n di d at e ha s to m a k e availa bl e the off er e d land duly d e v e l o p e d up to the roa d lev el by cutting/filling (a s ap plic a bl e ), with go o d e arth/ m urru m , lay er wi s e co m p a c t e d a s p er sta n d a r d en gin e e ri n g pra cti c e s to the sati sf a cti o n of the co n c e r n e d OM C . Th e s el e c t e d ca n di d at e is als o re q uir e d to pro vid e retainin g wall an d co m p o u n d wall of min. heig ht 1.5 m et e r s , d e si g n e d a s p er site co n ditio n s a s p er ap pr o v a l of OM C .
e. Th er e is no co m m it m e n t by the Oil C o m p a n y for takin g the off er e d land fro m the ap plic a nt. If an ap plic a nt, after s el e c ti o n, is una bl e to pro vi d e the land indicat e d in the ap plic atio n within a p erio d of 2 m o nth s (for Gr o u p 1) an d 4 m o nt h s (for Gr o u p 2) fro m the dat e of L ett er of Inte nt (L OI), Oil C o m p a n y will ha v e the right to ca n c e l / withdr a w the LOI iss u e d in favo u r of the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e for allotm e n t of d e al e r s h i p.
Note 2 In ca s e of locatio n s wh e r e the ap plica nt ha s not off er e d the land in the ap plic atio n (Gr o u p 3 ) or if the off er e d land of all ap plic a nt s un d e r Gr o u p 1 & Gro u p 2 got rej e ct e d du e to not m e e ti n g the laid do w n criteria, the n all su c h ap plic a nt s sh all b e giv e n an op p o rtu nity to off er land or altern at e land (a s the ca s e m a y b e ) in the ad v e rti s e d locatio n/str et c h pro vi d e d the ap plic a nt m e e t all oth e r eligibility criteria. A co m m u n i c a ti o n throu g h S M S/e- m ail wo ul d b e s e n t to the s e http://www.judis.nic.in 9/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 ap plic a nt s to off er land/ altern at e land within a p erio d of 3 m o nt h s fro m the dat e of off er letter.
On re c e i pt of ad vi c e to off er land fro m OM C s the ap plic a nt sh o ul d su b m it land off er onlin e and indicat e the cat e g o r y und e r whic h the land falls (Gr o u p 1 or Gr o u p 2) on the ba si s of the co nfir m a t o r y letter fro m an ad v o c a t e (A p p e n d i x III B). Up o n s el e c ti o n, the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e wo ul d b e re q uir e d to su b m it all the rel e v a n t do c u m e n t s p ertainin g to the land off er e d alon g with co n s e n t letter in the for m of affida vit (A p p e n d i x III A) and/or P o w e r of Attorn e y (R e gi st e r e d ), if ap plica bl e , alon g with co nfir m a t o r y letter fro m an ad v o c a t e (A p p e n d i x III B). Th e ap plic a nt s w o ul d b e cla s s ifi e d into two gro u p s i.e. Gr o u p 1 & Gr o u p 2 ba s e d on the land off er e d by the m .
In ca s e the ap plica nt( s ) fail to off er altern at e land within the sp e c ifi e d p erio d, the off er w o ul d b e withdr a w n and ap plic atio n rej e ct e d und e r intim atio n to the ap plic a nt( s ) throu g h S M S/e- m ail .
Only on e op p o rtu nity w o ul d b e giv e n to the ap plic a nt, eith er for off erin g land (if ap plica nt ha s not off er e d any land alon g with ap plic atio n for m ) or for off erin g altern at e land (if the land off er e d by the ap plic a nt is foun d to b e not m e e ti n g the laid do w n criteria during S cr utin y/land e v alu atio n/ reje cti o n of land after s el e c ti o n, for ap plic a nt s wh o ha v e off er e d land alon g with the ap plicatio n).
Note 3 : Op p o r t u n i t y to offe r alte r n a t e lan d afte r F V C / i s s u a n c e of L O I Th er e m a y b e a situatio n, wh e r e the land off er e d by the ca n di d at e in the ap plic atio n (includin g land/altern at e land off er e d by Gr o u p 3/Gro u p 1 & Gr o u p 2 ap plica nt s ) m e e t s all http://www.judis.nic.in 10/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 the sp e c ific ati o n s a s laid do w n in the ad v e rti s e m e n t an d on the ba si s of whi c h LOI ha s b e e n iss u e d or pro p o s e d to b e is s u e d an d the LOI hold e r or the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e to wh o m LOI is pro p o s e d to b e is s u e d wo ul d like to off er an altern at e land, du e to wh at s o e v e r rea s o n , su c h land m a y b e co n s i d e r e d by OM C su bj e c t to the altern at e land m e e ti n g all sp e c ific ati o n s an d is within the ad v e rti s e d locatio n/str et c h . In ca s e ap plica nt is s el e c t e d an d LOI ha s not b e e n iss u e d the n on re c e i pt of ap plicatio n fro m the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e off erin g altern at e land, Lan d e v alu atio n of the altern at e land will b e do n e an d if the land is foun d suita bl e, the n LOI will b e iss u e d m e n ti o ni n g the ch a n g e in off er e d land.
In ca s e altern at e land is off er e d after iss u a n c e of LOI, a letter w o ul d b e iss u e d indicatin g ac c e p t a n c e of the altern at e land off er e d , after Lan d e v alu ati o n (on land b ein g fou n d suita bl e ) an d this w o ul d b e treat e d a s ad d e n d u m to LOI. In ca s e the altern at e land off er e d by the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e/L OI hold e r is ac c e p t e d by the OM C an d LOI/add e n d u m to LOI is iss u e d to the ca n di d at e , the altern at e land ac c e p t e d by OM C wo ul d b e treat e d a s final and no furth er ch a n g e s sh all b e ac c e p t e d (inclu din g the original site off er e d ). In ca s e the altern at e land off er e d by the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e is foun d not m e e ti n g the laid do w n criteria, the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e w o ul d b e intimat e d on the sa m e (thro u g h LOI) an d LOI w o ul d b e iss u e d to the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e ref errin g to the origin ally off er e d land. In ca s e the altern at e land off er e d by the LOI hold e r is foun d not m e e ti n g the laid do w n criteria, the LOI hold e r wo ul d b e intim at e d on the sa m e thro u g h ad d e n d u m to LOI. In su c h ca s e , the tim e p erio d to m a k e availa bl e the land (original site off er e d alon g with the ap plicatio n) wo ul d re m ai n valid a s m e n ti o n e d in the LOI fro m the dat e of iss u a n c e of letter (ad d e n d u m to LOI) intim atin g reje cti o n of altern at e land. http://www.judis.nic.in 11/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 This op p o rtu nity wo ul d b e availa bl e to the LOI hold e r up to 90 day s fro m the iss u a n c e of LOI.
Th e ab o v e m e n ti o n e d op p o rtu nity ca n be availe d by the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e (after cle a rin g FV C ) / LOI hold e r only on c e . Note 4 :
i. In ca s e the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e (after cl e arin g F V C ) avail s the op p o rtu nity to off er altern at e land b ef o r e iss u a n c e of LOI, the op p o rtu nity will not b e availa bl e to the ca n di d at e po st is s u a n c e of LOI.
ii. On e tim e op p o rtu nity to off er altern at e land als o will b e availa bl e in ca s e of failure of rental ne g o tiatio n. Ho w e v e r , in this ca s e , LOI hold e r ca n off er altern at e land within 90 day s of failed ne g o ti atio n. Furth e r, this op p o rtu nity will not b e availa bl e to the LOI hold e r in ca s e he/sh e ha s availe d the op p o rtu nity b ef o r e is s u a n c e of LOI/po st is s u a n c e of LOI. iii. Op p o rtu nity for off erin g altern at e land after s el e c ti o n (po st F V C ) / is s u a n c e of LOI w o ul d als o b e giv e n to tho s e ap plica nt s wh o m a y ha v e availe d su c h an op p o rtu nity e arlier (Prior to F V C ).
iv. In ca s e after s el e c ti o n, if it is ob s e r v e d that the off er e d land is co- o w n e d by m ultipl e p er s o n s and the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e did not pro vid e co n s e n t of all the co- o w n e r s , the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e wo ul d b e giv e n 21 day s’ tim e to g et co n s e n t of all the co- o w n e r s for the off er e d land failing whi c h the s el e c ti o n of the ca n di d at e will g et reje ct e d an d the ca n di d at e will g et op p o rtu nity alon g with Gr o u p 3 ap plica nt s . v. In ca s e after s el e c ti o n, if it is o b s e r v e d that the off er e d land do e s not co nt ain su bl e a s e a s re q uir e d by OM C (for C F S / C C site s ) the s el e c t e d ca n di d at e w o ul d b e giv e n 21 day s’ tim e to m a k e suita bl e a m e n d m e n t / ad d e n d u m to the lea s e agr e e m e n t failing whic h the s el e c ti o n of the ca n di d at e will get reje ct e d an d the ca n di d at e will g et op p o rtu nity alon g with Gr o u p 3 http://www.judis.nic.in 12/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 ap plic a nt s. ''
4.The learned standing counsel pointed out that the dimensions of land required was 30m/30m. The petitioner herein has claimed that he fulfills the eligibility criteria by placing reliance on two documents. The first document is the one dated 26.11.2018 entered into between him and one S.Velappan Pillai. It is an agreement of sale. The said sale agreement fructified into a sale deed on 15.11.2019. The second document relied on by the petitioner is a lease agreement dated 10.12.2018. It is between the petitioner and his own father. The learned standing counsel would contend that the sale agreement by itself will not meet the requirements set out in the notification. Likewise the lease agreement dated 10.12.2018 also by itself will not meet the eligibility requirements. Only if the subsequent sale deed dated 15.11.2019 is taken into account, the petitioner will be able to fulfill the eligibility requirements.
5.The core argument of the learned standing counsel is that the material date would be the last date for submission of application. In this case, the last date was 24.12.2018. Therefore, the position that obtained as on 24.12.2018 alone would be the governing consideration http://www.judis.nic.in 13/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 and that this Court should ignore all the subsequent developments. In this regard, he places reliance on the order dated 03.06.2019 made in W.A.(MD)Nos.540 and 541 of 2019 (P.Kumaran V. The Manager L.P.G.(s), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.,).
6.I carefully considered the rival contentions and went through the materials on record. One cannot dispute that the position that obtained as on 24.12.2018 alone will have to be taken into account and that one will have to ignore subsequent accrual of rights. But this Court will have to carefully see what is intended by the terms set out in the notification. The learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner would point out that what was required for qualification was possession or an extent of land having dimensions of not less than 30 m/30 m. In this case, the petitioner had stated in his application that he is in possession of 931.04 sq. m. of land in Survey No.770/1 in Melakrishnanputhoor village.
7.Of course, as rightly conceded by the learned senior counsel for the petitioner, the application contains a factual error. The applicant had made it appear as if the documents from which he is deriving his http://www.judis.nic.in 14/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 rights are dated 14.12.2018.
8.In fact, the petitioner is basing his entire case on the strength of two documents namely., the sale agreement dated 26.11.2018 and the lease agreement dated 10.12.2018. The sale agreement dated 26.11.2018 was between the petitioner and one S.Velappan Pillai. The subject matter of the sale agreement is situated in Survey No.770/1. The dimensions of the land are 30 m./10 m. In the said sale agreement, it has been mentioned that the vendor namely., S.Velappan Pillai had received 92% of the sale consideration. The vender/Velappan Pillai had also stated that he had handed over the land in question to the writ petitioner/Arul Kumar. The parties had agreed that after receipt of the balance amount, the sale deed can be registered.
9.The other document is the lease deed dated 10.12.2018. It is only between the petitioner and his own father. It is also in respect of the very same survey number namely., S.No.770/1. The petitioner has enclosed a rough sketch and the learned senior counsel would confirm that the land that is the subject matter of the sale agreement dated 26.11.2018 and the one that is the subject matter or the lease deed dated 10.12.2018 are comprised in one and the very same survey number and http://www.judis.nic.in 15/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 that they are contiguous.
10.The order impugned in the writ petition states that the petitioner had not been found eligible under Group-I category as he was not in possession of the required land as on the date of application.
11.It is obvious that the reason set out the in the impugned order is erroneous. The last date of application was 24.12.2018. By then, both these documents namely., sale agreement dated 26.11.2018 and the lease agreement dated 10.12.2018 had been executed in favour of the petitioner. The petitioner was very much in possession of required land as on the date of application. Therefore, I have no hesitation to reject the reason set out in the impugned order as erroneous. But then, the learned standing counsel would want me to go by the terms of the brochure. I am of the view that the terms of the brochure cannot be interpreted as if they are statutory provisions. A reading of clause 4(v) of the brochure as a whole leads to the conclusion that the applicant should be having the required land available with him as on the date of the application. That is why, the learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner would lay much stress on clause 4(v)(c). It states that for the dealer owned sites, the applicant should ensure that the land arranged by http://www.judis.nic.in 16/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 him is either registered in his name or leased in his favor before issuance of letter of appointment as per the conditions of letter of intent. The various terms set out in the brochure cannot be read as separate components. They are to be integrally read and understood.
12.The learned Standing counsel specifically took me to sub-clause (d) in particular. The expression “as on date of application” has been set out in bold letters. The said clause contains various categories of documents. One such category is “any other type of ownership / transfer deed document”. In this case, the petitioner places reliance on the sale agreement dated 26.11.2018. By this document, there has been a transfer of possession from the said Velappan Pillai to the petitioner herein.
13.It is not in dispute that when the inspection took place, the parameters were fully satisfied even according to the respondent/corporation. The only dispute which the respondent raises is that this happened subsequent to the date of application and that it did not obtain on the date of application.
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14.As I already noted, a reading of the impugned communication, one can come to the safe conclusion that the authorities were under the erroneous impression that the petitioner was not in possession of the required land on the date of application. The materials enclosed by the petitioner would more than substantiate that the petitioner was very much in possession of the required land well before the last date of application. The brochure obviously permits a lease arrangement also. In this case, the possession of the petitioner was in a kind of intermediate category. It was slightly less than full ownership but it was definitely above the lease category. The petitioner had paid 92% of the sale consideration and he had also taken physical possession in full. Subsequently, the said agreement had also blossomed into full fledged ownership.
15.Since the petitioner's category was at an intermediate level that is above that of lessee but below that of full fledged owner, I am of the view that the respondents ought to consider the petitioner as fulfilling the eligibility criteria set out in their brochure. In this view of the matter, the order impugned in the writ petition is quashed. The writ petition is http://www.judis.nic.in 18/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 allowed. The respondents are directed to consider the petitioner as if he falls under Group-I category. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed.
19.08.2020
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes/ No
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Note : 1.Issue order copy on 25.08.2020.
2. In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate/litigant concerned.
http://www.judis.nic.in 19/20 W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.
ias W.P.(MD)No.8032 of 2020 19.08.2020 http://www.judis.nic.in 20/20