M/S Narayan Das Construction Private Limited v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.3815 of 2023 ====================================================== M/s Narayan Das Construction Private Limited through its authorized proprietor Gordhan Das Khushwani, male, about 62 years, S/o Late Haru Mal Khushwani, R/o- Power House Road, Binodpur, Katihar, Katihar, Bihar854105. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar through its Principal Secretary, Department of Industry, Govt. of Bihar.
2.
The Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Govt. of Bihar, Patna. 3.
The Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), 1st Floor Udyog Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna through its Managing Director. 4.
The Managing Director, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Udyog Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
5.
The Joint Managing Director, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Udyog Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna, 800004, Bihar. 6.
The Executive Director, North, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Udyog Bhawan, Gandhi Maidan, Patna, 800004, Bihar. 7.
The Deputy General Manager Cluster Officer, Purnea Cluster, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA). 8.
The Area Incharge, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), Industrial Area- Katihar, Katihar (Bihar).
... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Sachin Kumar, Adv.
For the Respondent/s :
Mr. Vivek Prasad ( Gp 7 ) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 25-07-2023 Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
2. This writ petition has been filed for the following reliefs:- "I. For quashing the order dated 28.01.2023 passed in "Appeal Case No. 247/2022 by the Respondent No. 2 whereby and where under
2/7 the appeal filed by the petitioner has been dismissed in a mechanical arbitrary, whimsical, pick and choose manner, whereas the similarly situated allottees have been given the benefits as are being by the Hon'ble Court in C.W.J.C. No. 6883/2020, M/s. Umesh Service Station vs. The State of Bihar and Ors. And in terms of Appeal No. 76/2022.
ii. For setting aside order bearing memo No. 70 dated 23.08.2022 passe by the Respondent No. 3 Joint Managing Director of Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as 'BIADA')) whereby the transferred land, admeasuring an area of 0.50 Acres within the Industrial Area-Katihar has been cancelled on non-est, non-sustainable ground in complete violation of the principles of natural justice and other judicial precedents laid down by Hon'ble High Court.
Iii. For declaration and to hold that the aforesaid impugned order dated 28.01.2023 passed in Appeal Case No. 247/2022 is illegal and in contravention to the settled principles of law i.e. Nemo Judex in Causa Sua (No one should be made a judge on his own cause) as the impugned order vide Memo No. 70 dated 23.09.2022 has been passed by Respondent No. 4 Managing Director and the order dated 28.01.2023 passed in Appeal Case No. 247/2022 has been passed by respondent no.2 Principal Secretary, Department of Industries whoi is colorably holding the same
3/7 post at same time and as such liable to be quashed on this ground itself.
Iv For a direction upon the Respondents to give the benefits as are being given to the similarly situated allottees in C.W.J.C. No. 13558/2022, C.W.J.C. No. 12560/2022, C.W.J.C. No. 6883/2020, C.W.J.C. No.
13037/2022 and other analogous cases.
v. For directing the respondents forthwith not to take any coeercive steps against the allotment of petitioner till disposal of this writ application.
vi. For any other relief or reliefs for which the petitioner be found entitled in the eye of law."
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has stated that due to unavoidable circumstances like Covid-19 etc., the petitioner could not start the commercial production and the same is not deliberate but for the reasons beyond the control of the petitioner.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has stated that under the similar circumstances, a Division Bench of this Hon'ble Court in C.W.J.C. No. 15567 of 2022 (M/s Maa Kali Food Products Industrial Growth Centre, Maranga Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors.) dated 02.12.2022 has set aside the order of Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as "the BIADA") based on the undertaking given by the petitioner
4/7 therein and an opportunity has been given to the industry to start its commercial production.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has stated that the petitioner has also filed an undertaking before this Court which reads as under:- "(i) That, I hereby give the undertaking that I will start commercial production in the unit within 60 days and start manufacturing plant or such other products as approved under the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy, 2016, if the possession of the unit is handed over by BIADA.
(ii) That also undertakes that I shall clear all upto-date dues payable to BIADA if any and shall be done within four weeks from the date of handing over possession/recall of order of cancellation.
(iii) That I further undertake that in the event of my said unit not being made operational and functional by me within 6 (Six) Months, I will hand over and the vacant and peaceful possession to BIADA. (iv) That I further undertake that I shall make compliant with all the statutory requirements including the once protecting the interest of the employees.
5/7 (v) That I further undertake that in the event of default I shall be liable for being prosecuted for having committed contempt of this Hon'ble Court".
6. Having regard to the above said undertakings which is reproduced above and also based on judgement of the Division Bench of this Hon'ble Court passed in C.W.J.C. No. 15567 of 2022 dated 02.12.2022. Wherein duly taking into account the undertaking given by the petitioner therein this Hon'ble Court has set aside the order of the appellate court as well as the order passed by the BIADA and granted an opportunity to the petitioner to start commercial production.
7. Having regard to the same and also the submissions made by the learned counsel for the BIADA, who stated that the present writ petition can be disposed off in terms of the undertaking so furnished. The undertaking is accepted and taken on record.
8. If the possession has been taken by the BIADA, the same shall be handed over to the petitioner and the petitioner shall start the commercial production within sixty days and start manufacturing plan as approved by the Bihar Industries Commercial Policy, 2016.
9. Consequence of breach thereof, including initiation of proceedings for contempt having violated the undertaking
6/7 furnished before this Court stands explained to the petitioner through the learned counsel.
10. As such, petition is disposed off in the following terms:- (a) Undertaking of the petitioner dated 02.02.2023 is accepted and taken on record.
(b) Petitioner has been made aware of the consequences of breach thereof, including initiation of proceedings for contempt; (c) In the event of default of the undertaking, petitioner shall hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the allotted property to BIADA within a period of two weeks; (d) It is made clear that, in case, the petitioner fails to start the commercial production within the stipulated time and also fails to hand over the vacant and peaceful possession of the allotted property to BIADA within a period of two weeks thereof. The authorities of the BIADA are free to take possession of the premises in question.
(e) Order dated 28.01.2023 passed by respondent no. 2 namely, the Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, Patna in Appeal Case No. 247 of 2022 (Annexure-4) and order dated 23.09.2022 in Memo No. 70 passed by the respondent no. 7, namely, the Deputy General Manager
7/7 Cluster Office, Purnea Cluster, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA), (Annexure-3) are accordingly quashed and set aside.
11. The writ petition stands disposed off in terms of the above order.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J) gauravkr/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N/A Uploading Date 31.07.2023 Transmission Date N/A