Patna High Court
Broad Son Commodities Private Limited vs The State Of Bihar Through The ... on 14 December, 2021
Bench: Chief Justice, S. Kumar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3937 of 2021
======================================================
Broad Son Commodities Private Limited, a Company incorporated under the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 having its registered office at Dr.
Himanshu Complex, Block Road, Koilwar Chouk, P.S. Koilwar, District
Bhojpur (Ara), through its Director, Ashok Kumar aged about 65 years
(Male), Son of Ram Chandra Saw, resident of Village / Mohalla-Pareo, P.S.
Bihta, District-Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary,
Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Bihar, Vikas Bhawan,
Bailey Road, Patna 800001.
2. The Principal Secretary cum Commissioner Mines, Department of Mines
and Geology, Government of Bihar, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna
800001.
3. The Special Secretary cum Director, Mines and Geology Department,
Government of Bihar, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
4. The Assistant Director, Department of Mines and Geology, Government of
Bihar, Vikas Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
5. The District Magistrate-cum-Collector, Saran Chapra.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Suraj Samdarshi, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sunil Kumar Mandal, S.C. 3
Mr. Bipin Kumar, A.C. to S.C. 3
Mr. Arjun Prasad, A.C. to S.C. 3
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR
ORAL JUDGMENT
(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)
Date : 14-12-2021
Following question arises for consideration before this
Court:-
Does the conduct of the petitioner disentitle him
from making the claim that the action of the
Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021
2/15
State in granting extension of mining lease on an
amount slightly higher than the prevalent rate
amounts to unconscionable, illegal, arbitrariness
or unreasonable act?
2. Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s).
"(i) For issuance of a writ, order or
direction in the nature of mandamus
commanding the Respondents to levy and
charge royalty for the extended period of
settlement of the sand ghats in the "District
of Saran (Chapra), according to the terms
and conditions of the sand policy 2013, the
tender document for settlement for the
period 2015-2019 and the work orders.
(ii) Consequent to grant of relief no. (i) to
issue a further writ, order or direction in the
nature of mandamus commanding the
Respondents to refund the excess royalty
paid by the petitioner for the extended
period i.e. from 01.01.2020 till 31.10.2020
and from 01.11.2020 till 31.12.2020.
(iii) This Hon'ble Court may adjudicate and
hold that extensions granted to the petitioner
from 01.01.2020 till 31.10.2020 and from
01.11.2020till 31.12.2020, were extensions of the existing settlement for the years 2015- 2019 upon the same terms and conditions and therefore the Respondents could nto have varied the terms and conditions thereof, more particularly insofar as calculation of payable royalty for such extended period is concerned.
(iv) This Hon'ble Court may further adjudicate and hold that for the extended Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 3/15 period i.e. from 01.01.2020 till 31.10.2020 and 01.11.2020 till 31.12.2020, the petitioner was liable to pay royalty at the rate of 120% of the oryalty payable for the year 2019.
(v) This Hon'ble court may further adjudicate and hold that action of the Respondents in charging royalty for the extended period, at the rate of 150% of the royalty payable for the year 2019, is incorrect and illegal as the same amounts to modifying/altering of the terms and conditions of the existing settlement agreement, which is not permissible in the case of an extension.
(vi) This Hon'ble Court may further adjudicate and hold that import of memo no.
4948 dated 27.12.2019 and memo no. 4949 dated 27.12.2019 was merely to extend, enlarge and prolong the existing lease/settlement and therefore the respondents could not have modified the terms and conditions thereof, particularly insofar as calculation of royalty for such extended period is concerned.
(vii) This Hon'ble Court may adjudicate and hold that the action of the Respondents in this matter is completely unjustified and unwarranted.
(viii) To award any other relief or reliefs for which the petitioner is found entitled in the facts and the circumstances of the case."
3. It is not in dispute that vide in principle approval Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 4/15 dated 19.11.2014 and work order dated 31.12.2014, rights for mining the sand in accordance with the Bihar Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules) stood accorded to the petitioner. The grant, which is commonly termed as settlement, was for a period of five years commencing from the calendar year 2015 up to 2019. The settlement amount for calendar year 2015 is Rs. 2,62,90,680.00/-. The settlement amount for successive years as per clause 8 of the Tender document was 120% of the previous year.
4. In principle approval and work order did not contain any condition entitling the petitioner for either extension or renewal. It is also not in dispute that the grant, by virtue of Rule 34 of the Rules can be renewed on the application being filed by the lessee. But even this was not done.
5. It is also not in dispute that the matter with regard to the issue of mining of sand in the area in issue, though in an unrelated matter, was pending consideration, before Hon'ble the Apex Court. In this backdrop, the State could not take any steps for auctioning the sand Ghats or grant any fresh mining lease. Our attention is also invited to the fact that such action was prompted also on account of the pendency of the matter before the National Green Tribunal. Resultantly, the State, took a Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 5/15 policy decision whereby the existing lessees were allowed to continue, by way of an extension, with the mining operation of the minor mineral, i.e., the sand, on certain terms and conditions. The notification and communication in this regard as contained in Annexures 8 and 9, which read as under:-
"fcgkj ljdkj [kku ,oa HkwrRo foHkkxA vf/klwpuk iVuk] fnukad-----------------------
02@,e0,e0&¼ck0½&59@19&------------------------------------------------@,e0 fcgkj [kfut ¼lekuqnku] voS/k [kuu] ifjogu ,oa HkMkj.k fuokj.k½ fu;ekoyh] 2019 ds fu;e 77 ¼2½ ds rgr~ fnukad & 31-12-2019 dks lekIr gks jgh ckyw cankscLr/kkfj;ksa dh cankscLrh vof/k dks fnukad & 31-10-2020 vFkok u;s ckyw cankscLr/kkfj;ksa dks i;kZoj.kh; Lohd`fr mijkar dk;kZns"k fuxZr djus dh frfFk tks igys gks] rd vof/k&foLrkj iapkx o"kZ 2019 dks cankscLrh jkf"k ij 50 izfr"kr o`f} ds lkFk Lohd`fr nh tkrh gSA 2- izLrko esa eaf=ifj"kn dh Lohd`fr izkIr gSA fcgkj jkT;iky ds vkns"k ls g0@& ¼v:.k izdk"k½ ljdkj ds fo"ks'k lfpo Kkikad & 02@ ,e0,e0&¼ck0½&59@19 ---------------------------------------@,e0] iVuk] fnukad--------------------------
Ikzfrfyfi %& voj lfpo] ¼bZ&xtV dks"kkax½] for foHkkx] fcgkj] iVuk dks lh0Mh0 lfgr izsf"kr djrs gq, vuqjks/k gS fd bldh 100 ¼,d lkS½ izfr;kW eqfnzr dj [kku ,oa HkwrRo foHkkx] fcgkj] iVuk dks miyC/k djk;h tk;A g0@& ljdkj ds fo"ks"k lfpo Kkikad & 02@ ,e0,e0&¼ck0½&59@19 --------------------@,e0] iVuk] fnukad----------------------- Ikzfrfyfi %& lHkh foHkkxksa ds vij eq[; lfpo@iz/kku lfpo@lfpo@foHkkxk/;
{[email protected]; vk;qDr@ ftyk inkf/kdkjh dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko";d dkjZokbZ gsrq izsf"kr A g0@& ljdkj ds fo"ks"k lfpo Kkikad & 02@ ,e0,e0&¼ck0½&59@19 --------------------@,e0] iVuk] fnukad----------------------- Ikzfrfyfi %& lnL; lfpo] jkT; i;kZoj.k lek?kkr fu/kkZj.k izkf/kdj.k] fcgkj] iVuk dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko";d dkjZokbZ gsrq izsf"kr A g0@& ljdkj ds fo"ks"k lfpo Kkikad & 02@ ,e0,e0&¼ck0½&59@19 -& 4948@,e0] iVuk] fnukad- 27@12@19 Ikzfrfyfi %& lHkh mi funs"kd@lgk;d funs"kd@[kfut fodkl inkf/kdkjh@[kku fujh{kd dkss lwpukFkZ ,oa vko";d dkjZokbZ gsrq izsf"kr A Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 6/15 g0@& ljdkj ds fo"ks"k lfpo"
"fcgkj ljdkj [kku ,oa HkwrRo foHkkxA la0la0 & 02@,e0,e0&¼ck0½&32@1----------------------------------------@,e0 ] iVuk] fnukad--- izs"kd ] v:.k izdk"k Hkk0izk0ls0 fo"ks"k lfpo&lg funs"kdA lsok esa] lHkh lekgrkZA fo"k; %& iapkax o"kZ 2015&19 ds fy, lapkfyr ckyw ?kkVksa dh cankscLrh ds vof/k foLrkj ds laca/k esaA izlax& foHkkxh; vf/klwpuk la0 & 4948@,e0] fnukad & 27-12-2019 egk"k; ] mi;qZDr fo'k;d laca/k esa vki voxr gS fd foHkkxh; vf/klwpuk la[;k & 4948@,e0] fnukad & 27-12-2019 }kjk fcgkj [kfut ¼lekuqnku] voS/k [kuu] ifjogu ,oa HkaMkj.k fuokj.k½ fu;ekoyh] 2019 ds fu;e & 77 ¼2½ ds rgr fnukad 31-12-2019 dks lekIr gks jgh ckyw canksoLr/kkfj;ksa dh cnkscLrh vof/k dks fnukad 31-10-2020 vFkok u;s ckyw cankscLr/kkfj;ksa dks i;kZoj.k Lohd`fr mijkar dk;kZns"k fuxZr djus dh frfFk tks igys gks] rd vof/k&foLrkj iapkax o"kZ 2019 ds cankscLrh jkf"k ij 50 izfr"kr o`f} ds lkFk Lohd`fr nh xbZ gSA rnkyksd esa iapkx o"kZ 2019 dh cankscLrh jkf"k esa 50 izfr"kr dh o`f} djrs gq, ekg vDVwcj 2020 rd 10 ekg dh lekuqikfrd jkf"k dks 4 leku fdLrksa esa cUnkscLr/kkfj;ksa ls fuEuor~ izkIr fd;k tkuk gS %&
(i) izFke fdLr & 31-12-2019 rd vFkok ¼dk;kZns"k fuxZr ds iwoZ½
(ii) f}rh; fdLr & 31-01-2020 ds iwoZ
(iii) r`rh; fdLr & 29-02-2020 ds iwoZ
(iv) prqFkZ fdLr & 20-03-2020 ds iwoZ 2- cankscLrh vof/k ds foLrkj ds Øe esa ;g vko";d gSa fd foLrkfjr vof/k ds fy, cankscLr/kkjh ls fu/kkZfjr izi= esa ,djkjukek Hkh djk fy;k tk,A lkFk gh cankscLr/kkjh ls ns; fdLr ds lkFk vU; enksa esa fu;ekuqlkj DMF, GST, INCOME TAX bR;kfn gsrq Hkqxrs; jkf"k Hkh izkIr dj fy;k tk,A fo"oklHkktu g0@& ¼v:.k izdk"k½ fo'ks"k lfpo&lg&funs"kd i=kad %& 4949 @ ,e0] iVuk] fnukad %& 27-12-19 Ikzfrfyfi %& lHkh mifuns"kd@lHkh lgk;d funs"kd@lHkh [kfut fodkl inkf/kdkjh@lHkh [kku fujh{kd dks lwpukFkZ ,oa vko";d dkjZokbZ gsrq izsf"kr A Sd/-vLi"V fo'ks"k lfpo&lg&funs"kd""
Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 7/15
6. The grant was extended with an enhanced amount of 150% instead of 120%.
7. It is also not in dispute that pursuant thereto, petitioner continued with the mining operation on the aforesaid terms and conditions and never ever objected to the same.
8. It is argued that the decision of the State Government (Annexure- 8) is in the nature of an extension and not renewal of a fresh lease and, as such, extension cannot be at variance with the terms of the original grant.
9. In support, learned counsel for the petitioner places reliance on paragraph 14 of a decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Provash Chandra Dalui v. Bisawanath Banerjee, 1989 Supp (1) SCC 487 which reads as under:-
"14. It is pertinent to note that the word used is "extension" and not "renewal". To extend means to enlarge, expand, lengthen, prolong to carry out further than its original limit. Extension, according to Black's Law Dictionary, means enlargement of the main body addition of something smaller than that to which it is attached; to lengthen or prolong. Thus extension ordinarily implies the continued existence of something to be extended. The distinction between "extension"
and "renewal" is chiefly that in the case of renewal, a new lease is required, while in the case of extension the same lease continues in force during additional period by the performance of the stipulate act. In other words, the word "extension" when used in its proper and usual sense in connection with a lease means a prolongation of the lease. Construction of this stipulation in the lease Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 8/15 in the above manner will also be consistent when the lease is taken as a whole...."
10. Learned counsel for the petitioner further relies on a decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in State of Gujarat & Ors. v. Nirmalaben S. Mehta and Ors., (2016) 9 SCC 240, which reiterates the view taken in Provash Chandra Dalui (supra).
11. It is further argued that this is a case of unjust enrichment and of the State being in a dominating position as compared to the petitioner.
12. The instant petition was filed only on 29th January, 2021, much after the petitioner accepted the terms and conditions, extending the grant (settlement). Petitioner's right of extension flows only from the decision taken by the State, Annexure-8, reproduced supra. Neither from the tender nor from the Rules. It was open for him to have either accepted or rejected the terms of extension. He could have conveniently handed over the site back to the State, had the terms not been acceptable to him. Conveniently, he continued with the mining operation and after reaping benefits in terms of the Cabinet decision, as an afterthought, has now filed the present petition and the act being nothing short of dishonesty.
13. In our considered view, petitioner is bound by the Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 9/15 terms and conditions of the decision of the State Government (Annexure 8). He has not only impliedly accepted the change in terms but has also taken considerable action in furtherance thereof. Section 8 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 reads as under:-
"8. Acceptance by performing conditions, or receiving consideration.--Performance of the conditions of a proposal, or the acceptance of any consideration for a reciprocal promise which may be offered with a proposal, is an acceptance of the proposal."
14. In Bharat Petroleum Corpn. Ltd. v. Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd., (2008) 1 SCC 503, Hon'ble the Apex Court held as under:-
"19. It is, no doubt, true that the general rule is that an offer is not accepted by mere silence on the part of the offeree, yet it does not mean that an acceptance always has to be given in so many words. Under certain circumstances, offeree's silence, coupled with his conduct, which takes the form of a positive act, may constitute an acceptance--an agreement sub silentio. Therefore, the terms of a contract between the parties can be proved not only by their words but also by their conduct."
15. In the case of M.P. Mittal Vs. State of Haryana & Ors. (1984) 4 SCC 371, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held as follows:-
"The appeal arises out of a writ petition, and it is well settled that when a petitioner invokes the Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 10/15 jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution, it is open to the High Court to consider whether, in the exercise of its undoubted discretionary jurisdiction, it should decline relief to such petitioner if the grant of relief would defeat the interests of justice. The Court always has power to refuse relief where the petitioner seeks to invoke its writ jurisdiction in order to secure a dishonest advantage or perpetuate an unjust gain. This is a case where the High Court was fully justified in refusing relief."
16. We notice from Annexure 8 (reproduced supra) that the decision taken by the Government emanates from Rule 77 (2) of the Bihar Minerals (Concession, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation & Storage) Rules, 2019 which is reproduced below:-
"77. Power of Government to relax the operation of any provision of these Rules. - xxxxx (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the State Government, in such case as it deems proper in public interest, may grant a mining lease/mining settlement and may also authorize the grant of a quarrying permit or movement permit to any person on terms and conditions other than those prescribed in these rules for reasons to be recorded in writing:
Provided that the State Government may grant a mining lease/settlement/in any area under its jurisdiction Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 11/15 to any Government Department or State owned Corporation on terms and conditions other than those prescribed in these Rules."
17. Rule 77 (2) clearly empowers the State Government to grant a mining lease or settlement on terms and conditions other than those prescribed in the Rules and, therefore, a grant which is outside the stipulated condition, as in the present case, is permitted so long as the reasons for doing so are recorded in writing.
18. In the instant case, only on account of the pendency of proceedings before the Hon'ble Apex Court as also the National Green Tribunal, the State could not take any decision for putting the settlement to auction under the Rules. It is under these peculiar circumstances that the State, left with no option, came out with a policy of granting continuance of the mining operations, subject to payment of certain amount. Under the original lease, the lessee was entitled to pay an enhanced amount of rupees 120% of the previous calendar year, whereas under the policy in question, he is required to pay 150%. The enhancement by 30%, in our considered view, cannot be said to be grossly disproportionate or on the higher side.
19. The petitioner has relied on a decision of the Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 12/15 Hon'ble Apex Court in Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Limited v. Brojo Nath Ganguly & Ors., (1986) 3 SCC 156 to make a case for the decision of the State Government as being against public policy. We find it prudent to reproduce below relevant portion, clarifying what such a finding would entail.
"76. Under which head would an unconscionable bargain fall? If it falls under the head of undue influence, it would be voidable but if it falls under the head of being opposed to public policy, it would be void. No case of the type before us appears to have fallen for decision under the law of contracts before any court in India nor has any case on all fours of a court in any other country been pointed out to us. The word "unconscionable" is defined in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd Edn., Vol. II, p. 2288, when used with reference to actions etc. as "showing no regard for conscience; irreconcilable with what is right or reasonable". An unconscionable bargain would, therefore, be one which is irreconcilable with what is right or reasonable.
77. Although certain types of contracts were illegal or void, as the case may be, at common law, for instance, those contrary to public policy or to commit a legal wrong such as a crime or a tort, the general rule was of freedom of contract. This rule was given full play in the nineteenth century on the ground that the parties were the best judges of their own interests, and if they freely and voluntarily entered into a contract, the only function of the court was to enforce it. It was considered immaterial that one party was economically in a stronger bargaining position than the other; and if such a party introduced qualifications and exceptions to his liability in clauses which are today known as "exemption clauses"
and the other party accepted them, then full effect would be given to what the parties agreed. Equity, however, interfered in many Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 13/15 cases of harsh or unconscionable bargains, such as, in the law relating to penalties, forfeitures and mortgages. It also interfered to set aside harsh or unconscionable contracts for salvage services rendered to a vessel in distress, or unconscionable contracts with expectant heirs in which a person, usually a money lender, gave ready cash to the heir in return for the property which he expects to inherit and thus to get such property at a gross undervalue. It also interfered with harsh or unconscionable contracts entered into with poor and ignorant persons who had not received independent advice (See Chitty on Contracts, 25th Edn., Vol. I, paras 4 and
516).
"93. The normal rule of Common Law has been that a party who seeks to enforce an agreement which is opposed to public policy will be non-suited. The case of A. Schroeder Music Publishing Co. Ltd. v. Macaulay [(1974) 1 WLR 1308] however, establishes that where a contract is vitiated as being contrary to public policy, the party adversely affected by it can sue to have it declared void. The case may be different where the purpose of the contract is illegal or immoral. In Kedar Nath Motani v. Prahlad Rai [AIR 1960 SC 213 : (1960) 1 SCR 861] reversing the High Court and restoring the decree passed by the trial court declaring the appellants' title to the lands in suit and directing the respondents who were the appellants' benamidars to restore possession, this Court, after discussing the English and Indian law on the subject, said: (at p. 873) "The correct position in law, in our opinion, is that what one has to see is whether the illegality goes so much to the root of the matter that the plaintiff cannot bring his action without relying upon the illegal transaction into which he had entered. If the illegality be trivial or venial, as stated by Williston and the plaintiff is not required to rest his case upon that illegality, then public policy demands that the defendant should not be allowed to take advantage of the position. A strict view, of course, must be taken of the plaintiff's conduct, and he should not be allowed to circumvent the illegality by resorting to some subterfuge or by Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 14/15 misstating the facts. If, however, the matter is clear and the illegality is not required to be pleaded or proved as part of the cause of action and the plaintiff recanted before the illegal purpose was achieved, then, unless it be of such a gross nature as to outrage the conscience of the court, the plea of the defendant should not prevail."
The types of contracts to which the principle formulated by us above applies are not contracts which are tainted with illegality but are contracts which contain terms which are so unfair and unreasonable that they shock the conscience of the court. They are opposed to public policy and require to be adjudged void."
(Emphasis supplied)
20. Hence, in these attending circumstances, there cannot be any issue of unjust enrichment by the State or the State being in a superior dominating position as is so argued before us. There is nothing on record to support the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner.
21. It also cannot be said that the decision of the State Government (Annexure 8) is against public interest for it would enhance the retail price of the sand. This contention only merits rejection, more so, in view of absence of any grievance vented out by the retailer. Also it being a policy decision taken by the State which cannot be said to be arbitrary, capricious, illegal or unreasonable.
22. The petitioner's case, in the considered view of this Court, does not meet the threshold set out in the Brojo Nath Patna High Court CWJC No.3937 of 2021 dt.14-12-2021 15/15 Ganguly (supra), is within the confines of the power of the State Government as per the Rule 77(2) of the 2019 Rules and does not violate public policy in any manner.
23. No other point argued.
24. Hence, we do not find any reason to interfere with the decision of the State Government dated 27.12.2019 (Annexure-8) and the communication dated 27.12.2019(Annexure-9), inter alia, the conduct of the petitioner in terms of the delay in approaching this Court precludes him from doing so after having taken full advantage of the very mining lease of which, the price he seeks to challenge.
25. The question raised is answered accordingly.
26. The present petition stands dismissed.
27. Interlocutory application, if any, shall stand dismissed.
(Sanjay Karol, CJ) ( S. Kumar, J) veena/rajiv-
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