The Competent Authority v. V.P. Ranganathan

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11.07.2023

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI The Competent Authority SAFEM (FOP) and NDPS Acts, "UTSAV", No.64/1, G.N.Chetty Road, T.Nagar, Chennai 600 017 ... Appellant W.A.Nos.1696 of 2011 & 371 of 2012 versus 1.V.P.Ranganathan ... first respondent in W.A.No.1696 of 2011 2.R.Ramakrishanan ... first respondent in W.A.No.371 of 2012

3. The Registrar The Appellate Tribunal for Forfeited Property, 4th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi.

... second respondent in W.A.Nos.1696 of 2011 & 371 of 2012 1/4

PRAYER in W.A.Nos.1696 of 2011 & 371 of 2012:

Writ Appeals filed under Clause 15 of the Letter Patent against the order dated 05.08.2010 and 08.04.2011 respectively passed in W.P. Nos.16313 of 2001 and 26466 of 2001 and consequently to dismiss the writ petitions with costs.

For Appellant : Mr.V.T.Balaji Senior Panel Counsel For Respondents : Mr.N.Suryanarayanan for Mr.Raghul Balaji for first respondent R2- Tribunal COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.) It is brought to the notice of this Court that both V.P.Ranganathan, first respondent in W.A. No.1696 of 2011 and his son, R.Ramakrishnan, first respondent in W.A. No.371 of 2012 have expired.

2. On 23.03.2022, this Court has directed the appellant to bring on record the legal heirs of the deceased first respondent in both appeals. It was also made clear that if the appellant has not taken steps to bring the legal heirs on records, these appeal will stand dismissed.

3. Today, when the matter came before this Court for hearing, 2/4

learned counsel for the appellant in both writ appeals submitted that the appellant is not in a position to file appropriate application to bring on record the legal heirs of the deceased first respondent in W.A.Nos.1696 of 2011 & 371 of 2012. Therefore, the appeals stand abated. However, learned counsel for the appellant seeks liberty to file appropriate application to bring on record the legal representatives of the deceased respondents herein, at a later stage.

4. In view of the above submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant, the writ appeals are dismissed as abated. However, liberty is given to the appellant that if any application is filed to bring on record the legal representatives of the deceased respondents herein at a later stage, at that time, this Court will consider the said application on merit. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected M.P.Nos.1 of 2011 and 1 of 2012 are closed. [D.K.K., J.] [P.B.B., J.] 11.07.2023 Index : Yes/No mrn 3/4

D.KRISHNAKUMAR, J.

and P.B. BALAJI, J.

(mrn) To The Registrar The Appellate Tribunal for Forfeited Property, 4th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi.

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