The State Of Mah And ANR v. Vithal Dadaba Surnar And ANR
{1}
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD 909 CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 11883 OF 2012 IN FAST/22903/2012 WITH CA/11887/2012 IN FAST/22985/2012 CA/11889/2012 IN FAST/22975/2012 WITH CA/11891/2012 IN FAST/22988/2012 THE STATE OF MAH AND ANR
VERSUS
VITHAL DADABA SURNAR AND ANR ...
AGP for Applicants : Mr. R.B. Bagul Adv for Respondents: Mr. C.K. Shinde CORAM : K.K. SONAWANE, J.
Order reserved on : 8th August, 2017 Order pronounced on : 23rd August, 2017.
PER COURT:
1] Heard learned AGP for the applicants and learned counsel for the respondent.
2] Perused the applications. Learned AGP submits that due to official procedure to present an appeal, delay has been caused. He submits that delay is not deliberate and intentional but caused owing to administrative compliance. As such, he prayed to condone the delay. 3] Learned counsel for the respondent/s raised objection and submits that the delay caused in the matter was only due to the negligence and lackadaisical attitude on the part of Government machinery. No special treatment be extended to the applicants being Government while condoning the delay. He submits that this court has no power to extend the period of
{2} limitation on equitable grounds and in case delay is condoned, it would lead to insecurity and uncertainty. Therefore, no leniency be shown to the applicant. The learned counsel relied upon the exposition of law delineated by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Civil Application No. 12315 of 2013 alongwith connected matters (State of Maharashtra Vs. Dattatraya Piraji Dhas and others) 4] I have heard the submission canvassed on behalf of both sides and perused the application as well as the impugned judgment and award against which the applicant State is intending to file an appeal. 5] The matter pertains to land acquisition proceedings. The learned Reference Court partly allowed the application of the respondent filed under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act.
The applicant State is intending to agitate the findings recorded by the learned Reference Court on the issue of market value arrived at by the learned Reference Court, which according to State, is exorbitant. It has been contended that after the impugned judgment and award of the Reference Court, the concerned Law Officer forwarded the proposal for filing an appeal against it to the concerned Law and Judiciary Department. The matter was scrutinized after efflux of colossal period by the concerned department and lateron, referred the proposal to the office of the Government Pleader High Court for further process. But, there were no relevant documents accompanied with the proposal for appeal. After procedural compliance, the appeal came to be filed at belated stage.
The learned AGP fervidly contends that the delay was not intentional and deliberate but owing to compliance of official process. Obviously, the circumstances adumbrate that the concerned officials did not deal with the matter with due diligence and reasonable precautions but the matter came to be handled in a very casual and lethargic manner. 7] At this juncture, it would be profitable to refer to the observations of Their Lordships of the Apex Court, in the case of State of Karnataka vs.
{3} 192, in para Nos. 19 and 22 as under :- "19.
On perusal of the explanation offered it is clear that the officials who were dealing with the matter have either deliberately or without understanding the implications dealt with the matter in a very casual and lethargic manner. It is a matter of concern that in very serious matters action is not taken as required under law and the appeals/petitions are filed after a long lapse of time. It is a common grievance that it is so done to protect unscrupulous litigants at the cost of public interest or public exchequer. This stand is more noticeable where vast tracts of land or large sums of revenue are involved. xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx 22.
The expression "sufficient cause" as appearing in Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 ( in short "the Limitation Act") must receive a liberal construction so as to advance substantial justice as was noted by this Court in G. Ramegowda vs. Special Land Acquisition Officer. Paras. 16-17 of the judgment reads as follows : (SCC pp. 148-79)"
"16. The law of limitation is, no doubt, the same for a private citizen as for governmental authorities. Government, like any other litigant must take responsibility for the acts or omissions of its officers. But a somewhat different complexion is imparted to the matter where Government makes out a case where public interest was shown to have suffered owing to acts of fraud or bad faith on the part of its officers or agents and where the officers were clearly at cross-purposes with it.
{4} 17.
Therefore, in assessing what, in a particular case, constitutes 'sufficient cause' for purposes of Section 5, it might, perhaps, be somewhat unrealistic to exclude from the considerations that go into the judicial verdict, these factors which are peculiar to and characteristic of the functioning of the Government.
Governmental decisions are proverbially slow encumbered, as they are, by a considerable degree of procedural red tape in the process of their making. A certain amount of latitude is, therefore, not impermissible. It is rightly said that those who bear responsibility of Government must have 'a little play at the joints'. Due recognition of these limitations on governmental functioning - of course, within reasonable limits - is necessary if the judicial approach is not to be rendered unrealistic. It would, perhaps, be unfair and unrealistic to put Government and private parties on the same footing in all respects in such matters. Implicit in the very nature of governmental functioning is procedural delay incidental to the decision-making process.
In the opinion of the High Court, the conduct of the law officers of the Government placed the government in a predicament and that it was one of those cases where the mala fides of the officers should not be imputed to Government. It relied upon and trusted its law officers. Lindley, M.R., in National Bank of Wales Ltd.
".... Business cannot be carried on upon principles of distrust. Men in responsible positions must be trusted by those above them, as well as by
{5} those below them, until there is reason to distrust them.' "
7] in the light of aforesaid exposition of law pertaining to Section 5 of the Limitation Act, I am of the considered opinion that reasonable opportunity needs to be given to the applicant State to ventilate its grievances in the appellate forum. it is to be noted that the matter pertains to the enhancement of compensation amount under the Land Acquisition Act. The appellant is the Government Agency I.e. Acquiring Body and in view of public interest, it is imperative to extend latitude while dealing with the condonation of delay, by adopting liberal and pragmatic approach. If the appeal/s of the appellant/State i.e. acquiring body is/are not allowed to be presented for further process on the ground of such default of delay, no person is individually affected but, ultimately, the public interest would be at stake.
Therefore, I do not find any impediment to allow the applicant/ State to present an appeal by condoning the delay. In view of attending circumstances in the matter in hand coupled with legal guidelines of Hon'ble Apex Court in Moideen's case (supra), the judicial pronouncement relied upon on behalf of the respondent do not advance the contentions propounded on behalf of the respondent. In case the delay is condoned, it would not cause any prejudice or injustice to the respondent. In contrast, it would sub-serve the purpose for substantial justice. Hence, the applications for condonation of delay deserve to be allowed. In sequel, the applications stand allowed in terms of prayer clause (B). Delay caused in filing appeal against the impugned judgment and award is hereby condoned.
Registry to take requisite steps for registration of appeals and list the matter for further process on 1st September, 2017.
[K.K. SONAWANE] JUDGE.
grt/-