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Madras High CourtWP/5277/2021disposed of

Elayarasan v. The District Collector

2022-02-03Honourable Mr Justice S.M. Subramaniam3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 03.02.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM W.P.No.5277 of 2021 & W.M.P.No.5831 of 2021 Elayarasan

...Petitioner

Vs 1.The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

2.The Executive Officer, Killai Town Panchayat, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District.

...Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to extend the period of tender awarded to the petitioner in respect of collection of vehicle toll in Pichavaram Arignar Anna Tourism Complex, Pichavaram till 31.03.2022 by considering his representation dated 22.02.2021. For Petitioner : Mr.D.Baskar For Respondents : Mrs.V.Yamuna Devi Special Government Pleader

ORDER

The relief sought for in the present writ petition is to direct the respondents to extend the period of tender awarded to the petitioner in respect of collection of vehicle toll in Pichavaram Arignar Anna Tourism Complex, Pichavaram till 31.03.2022 by considering his representation dated 22.02.2021. 2.The petitioner participated in the tender and declared as a successful bidder and consequently permission was granted by the second respondent Town Panchayat for the year 2020-2021 granting license to collect toll charges commencing from 01.04.2020. The period of lease admittedly expired. The

grievances of the writ petitioner is that during Covid-19 period, the Government announced lock down and therefore, the petitioner could not able to collect toll charges as per the license conditions. The petitioner made several representations seeking extension of license and to grant waiver of lease amount. However, without considering the representation of the petitioner, the respondents issued the tender notification in respect of collection of toll charges.

3.Admittedly, the license period expired. The petitioner submitted a representation to consider his case for extension of license in view of pandemic situation.

4.This Court is of the considered opinion that the license/permission was granted based on terms and conditions agreed between the parties. Admittedly, the period of license expired. The Court cannot extend the period of lease in view of the fact that the terms and conditions are contractual obligations between the parties.

5.The pandemic situation caused many difficulties to several citizens of this great Nation. It was an extraordinary situation where the people suffered and therefore, everyone of this Court may have grievances on account of pandemic situation and more specifically, during lock down period. Several youth of this Country lost their job and even they were struggling for their livelihood. Even as per the statistics more than 31⁄2 Crores people list their job. Many small industries sustained huge monetary loss and even now they are struggling to restore the position. When the general lock down and Covid-19 caused disastrous consequences to the whole world, the case of the petitioner alone cannot be considered as a special case. However, the Government took note of all these factors and grating concessions to the needy people.

6.Under these circumstances, the Court cannot grant any extension of period. The license terms and conditions were agreed between the petitioner and the second respondent and the Courts cannot interfere with the contractual obligation between the parties. Once the period of license expired, the extension of period cannot be claimed as a matter of right and the authorities in the present case had issued the tender notification and therefore, the petitioner will get an opportunity to participate in the auction if he is otherwise eligible. This being the scope, the relief as such sought for in the present writ petition deserves no merit consideration.

7.With these observations, the writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar cse To

1. The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

2. The Executive Officer, Killai Town Panchayat, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District.

+1 CC to Mr.R.P. Pratap Singh, Advocate sr 7572. W.P.No.5277 of 2021 KSM(CO) SP(22/02/2022)