Madras High Court
P.A. Ayyaswami vs The Excise Officer, Coimbatore, The ... on 8 February, 2002
JUDGMENT P. Shanmugam, J.
1. The unsuccessful plaintiff before the courts below is the appellant.
2. The appellant filed the suit for recovery of Rs.19,300/= representing the Earnest Money Deposit and expenses incurred by him to locate the alternative toddy shop. The suit was resisted by the respondents herein and ultimately the suit came to be dismissed and confirmed in appeal as well.
3. The facts are that the appellant was the successful bidder for running a toddy shop in Thondamuthur Village in Coim the period from July 1983 to first July 1984. However the location of the said shop was objected to by the public and theref authorities directed the appellant not to locate the shop. On the representation of the plaintiff the authorities permitted the appellant to find out and locate alternative place for running the toddy shop. The appellant also made preparations to locate his shop in S.F.No.272 of the same village. However, in the meanwhile a neighbouring toddy shop owner raised an objection and filed Writ Petition. In legal proceedings, the Revenue Divisional Officer directed the appellant to shift his shop to some other unobjectionable place. However the appellant could not locate the shop and after issuance of lawyer's notice dated 11.3.1984 filed the above suit for recov 0/=. In the meanwhile the respondents had also issued a notice directing the appellant to pay a sum of Rs.28,340/= for the notional loss of kist and on his failure, to invoke the Revenue Recovery Proceedings. Therefore the above suit came to be filed.
4. The respondents opposed the suit inter alia contending that the suit is barred by Section 56.B of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act and the Rules made thereunder inasmuch as the civil court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The respondents also claimed a sum of Rs.28,340/= being the notional loss due to the failure to select the suitable and unobjectionable site in the notified area and run the shop. Both the courts concurrently found that Section 56.B of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act bars the Civil Courts to entertain the suit. The Government Order issued in G.O.Ms.101, dated 16 Revision Rules 1983". As per this provision for an appeal has been made to the Collector against any order of the Revenue Department, subordinate to the Collector. The Rules provide a further appeal to the to the Joint Commissioner. The Rules provide for a period of limitation and the fees payable for an appeal. The procedure for hearing of the appeal has also been set out in the above said Rules.
5. In the light of the clear mandate contained under Section 56.B, no Civil Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any which a Commissioner or other officer has got authority to determine. Section 9 bars trial of civil suits, the cognizance is either expressly or impliedly barred. Hence, I do not find any ground to interfere with the confirming judgment. No question of law appeal. The second appeal fails and it is dismissed. No costs.