Chattisgarh High Court
Raj Kumar Agrawal vs Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur 18 ... on 30 August, 2019
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR
Reserved on 8-8-201
Passed on 30-8-2019
MCC No. 792 of 2018
• Raj Kumar Agrawal S/o Late Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, Aged
About 44 Years R/o Sao Bagicha, Behind Laxmi Talkies,
Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District : Bilaspur,
Chhattisgarh
----Applicant/ Petitioner
Versus
1. Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur Through Its Commissioner,
Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, District :
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
2. Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur, (Bilaspur
Development Authority Office), Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh, District : Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
3. Chief Executive Officer (At Present Commissioner), Municipal
Corporation, (Bilaspur Development Authority Office),
Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh., District :
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
4. Shri Harish Kumar (Harish Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
5. Shri Alok Chaudhari (Alok Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
6. Shri Ramesh Modhwani (Annapurna Traders) R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh..
7. Shri Tarachand Wadhwani (Jatin Traders) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.,
8. Shri Omprakash Jaiswani (Varun Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
9. Shri Shyam Premani (Premani Stores), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.,
10. Shri Anand Wamani (Anand Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
11.Shri Santosh Bhojwani (Santosh Bhojwani), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
12. Shri Alok Jain (Mahavir Salt), R/o Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka,
Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
2
13. Shri Rajesh Wadhwani (Chandra Sugar), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
14. Shri Gopal Agrawal (M.P.Alu), R/o Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka,
Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
15. Shri Dilip Moolchandani (Sainath Traders) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
16. Shri Sunil Gupta (Aman Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
17. Shri Vijay Wadhwani (Vijay Wadhwani), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
18. Shri Bhagwan Raikesh (Shri Laxmi Traders), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
19. Shri Jai Prakash Mittal (Jai Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
20. Shri Rajesh Bajaj (Basant Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
21. Shri Pradeep Wadhwani (Yash Trading Comp.) R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.,
22. Shri Narendra Agrawal (Dhiraj Oils), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.,
23. Smt. Kiran Agrawal (Sharda Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
24. Shri Nirmal Jaiswani (Jaiswani Tea Co.) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
25. Shri Ramesh Lalchandani (New Laxman Tea Centre), R/o
Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh.
26. Shri Vinod Dewangan (Vinod Soap), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
27. Shri Murlidhar Bhojwani (Jai Radheswami Traders), R/o
Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh.
28. Shri Anoopchand Meghani (Anup Stores) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
29. Shri Roopchand (Holaram Jiwanani), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
30. Shri Manohar Savlani (Aapki Kripa Traders), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
3
31. Shri Vinod Ojha (Shashank Traders) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
32. Shri Ramesh Wadhwani (Shri Ram Alu Bhandar), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
33. Shri Jagdish Santani (Radha Swami Sugar), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
34. Shri Tulsidas Poptani (Nand Stores), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
35. Shri Suresh Gidwani (Jyoti Trading Comp.), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
36. Smt. Kamlesh Chabra (Nishma Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
37. Shri Rakesh Chabra (Chabra And Comp.), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
38. Shri Ramavtar Sonthalia, R/o Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka,
Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
39. Shri Piyush Agrawal (Pawan Trading Comp.), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
40. Shri Murli Peswani (Murari Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
41. Shri Ashok Lal Prem Kumar Maldhani (Ashok Traders), R/o
Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh.
42. Shri Gajanand Agrawal (Shiv Trading Company), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
43. Shri Bhagchand Maldhani (Sunil Agency), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
44. Shri Murli Lalchandani (Vijay Traders) R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
45. Shri Vinod Kumar Gupta (Vinod Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
46. Shri Mahesh Kriplani (Jai Durga Biscut), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
47. Shri Narendra Meghani (Kailash Trading Company), R/o
Vyapar Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh.
48. Shri Kishore Motwani (Motwani Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
4
49. Shri Khanchand Chugani (Murli Alu Bhandar), R/o Vyapar
Vihar, Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
50. Shri Pradeep Wadhwani (Laxmi Traders), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
51. Shri Holaram Nemani (Tinu Agency), R/o Vyapar Vihar,
Maldhakka, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh.
---- Non-applicants/Respondents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For appellant : Mr. Ravindra Agrawal, Advocate. For respondents : Mr. Abhijeet Mishra, Advocate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB: Hon'ble Shri Justice Ram Prasanna Sharma CAV ORDER
1. The instant petition has been filed for restoration of Writ Petition No. 2671 of 2002 which was dismissed for want of prosecution on 5-10-2010.
2. As per the applicant, he was due diligent and interested in prosecuting the case. Counsel for the applicant had assured him taking care of his case but he did not inform regarding dismissal of the case. The applicant suffered from disease and admitted in hospital for five months. On 3-9-2018 an advertisement was published in the Dainik Bhaskar, daily news paper of Bilaspur Edition at page No.15 which is published by Bilaspur Merchant Association, Bilaspur in which vote of thanks has been given in lieu of handing over the possession of plots in the Vyapar Vihar Yojna. The applicant was also a candidate for allotment of the same 5 scheme of Vypar Vihar Yojna. Thereafter, he enquired from his counsel and other sources about the status of his writ petition, then he came to know that his writ petition is dismissed on 5-10-2010 for want of prosecution. The mistake is bona fide and it should be condoned and the petition be restored to its original number. He placed reliance in the matter of Smt. Jyoti w/o. Shri Narayan Kumarvs. General Manager, Canara Bank, Staff Selection (Workmen) decided by this court on 13-12-2016 in M.C.C.No. 591 of 2016.
3. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the respondents would submit that sufficient cause has not been explained for delay of about eight years, therefore, it is not a case where the petition can be restored.
4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
5. Perusal of the record goes to show that writ petition was filed in the year 2002 and it was listed on 5-10-2010 and it was dismissed for want of prosecution. The reason assigned in the application would reveal that the applicant was assured by his counsel. The writ petition was dismissed in the year 2010. The applicant was admitted in hospital in the year 2013 for five months, but application is filed after five years of admission in the hospital. When the applicant was in good health condition, he could not 6 have contacted his counsel regarding status of the said petition. The counsel assurance cannot be an appropriate ground for explaining substantial delay of approximately eight years. It is the obligation on the part of the counsel to appear before the court but it is equally important for the applicant to be vigilant in his case as well. It is the duty of the applicant to know about status of his case.
6. In the matter of Balwant Singh (dead) vs. Jagdish Singh and others, reported in 2010 8 SC 685, Hon'ble the Supreme Court has held as under:
"36. We find it unnecessary to discuss the instances which would fall under either of these classes of cases. The party should show that besides acting bona fide, it had taken all possible steps within its power and control and had approached the Court without any unnecessary delay. The test is whether or not a cause is sufficient to see whether it could have been avoided by the party by the exercise of due care and attention.
7. In the present case, applicant has failed to explain the delay prior to ailment i.e., from the year 2010 to 2013 and after improving his health condition in the year 2013 to 2018 which comes out about more than seven years. Therefore, it is not a case where the applicant has paid due care and attention to the petition. It is not a case where the case should be restored.
7
8. Accordingly, the instant petition is liable to be and is hereby dismissed.
9. Parties to bear their own costs.
Sd/-
(Ram Prasanna Sharma) JUDGE Raju