V.I.D.C. Thr. Exe. Engineer Medium Project Division (Now Yavatmal Proj. Construction) v. Deola Ramji Rathod (Dead) Thr. Lrs. Smt. Yamunabai Deola Rathod And Others
2024:BHC-NAG:5107 1 17-CAF No.2107.2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.
CIVIL APPLICATION (CAF) NO. 2107 OF 2023 IN FIRST APPEAL (ST.) NO. 8111 OF 2021 The Executive Engineer, Medium Project Division, (Now Yavatmal Project Construction Division, Yavatmal) .VS.
Deola Ramji Rathod (Dead) through L.Rs. Smt. Yamunabai Deola Rathod and others _______________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.
and Registrar's Orders.
Mr. C.J. Dhumane, Advocate for the appellant. Mr. Jafar Ali Malnas, Advocate for respondent Nos.1(a) to 1(f) and 2. Ms. Prachi Joshi, AGP for respondent Nos.3 and 4. CORAM :
G.A. SANAP, J.
DATE :
APRIL 29, 2024.
Heard.
2.
Learned Advocate for respondent Nos. 1(a) to 1(f) and 2 is absent. Learned AGP appears on behalf of respondent Nos.3 and 4.
3.
This is an application for condonation of 247 days delay caused in filing the appeal against the impugned judgment and award.
4.
The reasons for delay have been set out in the application. It is stated that due to administrative procedural delay, the appeal could not be filed within time. It is further stated that there was lack of communication between the
2 17-CAF No.2107.2023 officials. The opinion of the superiors was required for filing the appeal. By the time the opinion was received, the period of limitation was over.
5.
Learned AGP for respondent Nos.3 and 4 submits that Court may pass an appropriate order.
6.
In view of the reasons stated in the application, I am of the view that a case is made out to condone the delay subject to certain conditions. The appellant is an Acquiring Body. In my view, in such cases, saddling the public undertaking only with cost, may not serve larger public interest. In such cases, other options need to be explored and made available to the party. Issuing direction to the public undertaking or other Government Bodies to plant particular number of trees in each case, could be the best available option. Plantation of trees would be beneficial to one and all. In my view, therefore, by way of a condition for condonation of delay, the appellant can be given an option. Accordingly, in this case, delay is condoned. It is subject to condition that the appellant shall plant twenty-five trees or pay costs of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) and deposit the said cost in this Court within one month. Learned advocate for the appellant shall file a pursis and exercise the option within 10 days from the date of uploading of the order.
3 17-CAF No.2107.2023 7.
As far as the mechanism for implementation of this direction is concerned, the same shall be identical to the one set out in para Nos.7 and 9 of the order dated 25.09.2023 passed in CAF No.130 of 2020. Para Nos.7 and 9 are extracted below :
"7.
Concerned acquiring body, Government office or the appellant, as and when directed to plant trees, shall comply the said order and make a report of the same to the District Forest Officer of the concerned district. The District Forest Officer of the concerned district from Vidarbha Region, on receipt of the report, as above, shall depute a responsible officer to the spot for inspection. The District Forest Officer shall maintain record of the same for two years. The District Forest Officer of the concerned district, after inspection, shall forward the compliance report to the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Nagpur. The Secretary of High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Nagpur shall maintain case-wise record and as and when required, shall place the same before this Court. The Secretary, High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Nagpur can take help of the Secretary of the District Legal Aid Services Authority of the concerned district from Vidarbha Region for the purpose of verification and report.
9.
The appellant/authority concerned on exercising option of plantation of trees, will be responsible to maintain the planted trees for two years from the date of plantation. The appellant/authority, in all such cases, shall first utilize the land available with it. In case, the land is
4 17-CAF No.2107.2023 not available, the concerned appellant/ body/authority shall make a request to the incharge of the Social Forestry Department of the concerned district as well as to the Collector or the Tahsildar of the concerned district/taluka for making the Government land available for plantation. The officer of Social Forestry Department/Collector/ Tahsildar shall do the needful as and when such request is received." 8.
The concerned party or authority, on exercise of the option to plant the trees, shall ensure the plantation of trees in the month of July, 2024. In case of the exercise of the option of payment of costs, it shall be paid within one month. The Registry shall register the appeal on filing pursis by the appellant exercising the option.
9.
In case the appellant exercises the option of plantation of trees, a copy of this order be forwarded to the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Nagpur and the District Forest Officer, Yavatmal for information.
10.
The Appeal be registered.
11.
The application stands disposed of, accordingly. FIRST APPEAL ST. NO.8111 OF 2021 12.
Heard.
13.
ADMIT.
5 17-CAF No.2107.2023 14.
Learned AGP waives service of notice on behalf of respondent Nos.3 and 4.
15.
Issue notice to respondent No. 1(a) to 1(f) and 2, returnable within eight weeks.
16.
Call for record and proceedings.
17.
Private paper book be filed within twelve weeks from the date of receipt of record and proceedings. (G. A. SANAP, J.) Kirtak