Karthick Ganapathy v. The Commissioner Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 21.11.2019

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE P.D. AUDIKESAVALU W.P. No. 29872 of 2019 and W.M.P. No. 29785 of 2019 Karthick Ganapathy, Proprietor of Aroma Hospitality, No. 20, Huzur Road, Race Course, Coimbatore - 641 018.

... Petitioner -vs1. The Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, No. 62, Old Post Office Road, Near Railway Station, Gopalapuram, Coimbatore - 641 018.

2. The Inspector of Police, C2, Race Course Road, Gopalapuram, Coimbatore - 641 018.

3. The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore - 641 001.

... Respondents (R3 impleaded vide order dated 01.11.2019 in W.M.P. No. 30970 of 2019) Prayer:

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the Respondents from in anyway interfering with the business of the Petitioner namely 'Spring Spa' at No. 20, Huzur Road, Race Course, Coimbatore - 641 018.

For Petitioner : Mr. B. Arvind Srevatsa, For Respondents: Mr. M. Karthikeyan, Additional Government Pleader (for R1 and R2) K. Mahesh, Standing Counsel (for R3)

O R D E R

Heard Mr. B. Arvind Srevatsa, Learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. M. Karthikeyan, Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the First and Second Respondents and Mr. K. Mahesh, Learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Third Respondent and perused the materials placed on record, apart from the pleadings of the parties.

2.

The Writ Petition has been filed to forbear the Respondents from in anyway interfering with the business of the Petitioner, viz., Spring Spa situated at No. 20, Huzur Road, Race Course, Coimbatore - 641018.

3.

In support of the aforesaid relief claimed, reliance was placed by the Learned Counsel for the Petitioner on the decision of this Court in M/s. Masti Health and Beauty Private Limited -vs- Commissioner of Police, Chennai (order dated 09.12.2014 in W.P. No. 24629 of 2014 etc., batch). In that decision, this Court has held as follows:- "67. In the light of the above, all the Writ Petitions are disposed of to the following effect:- (i) The Respondents shall not, as a matter of routine and without any basis, conduct any raids and interfere with the business carried on by the Petitioners.

(ii) In specific cases where the police have reasonable grounds to believe that an offence punishable under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act has been or is being committed, it is open to the police to take action, after scrupulously following all the steps indicated in Section 15 of the said Act.

Corporation Act or the Chennai City Police Act, so that public order, decency and morality, which can form the basis for a regulatory law under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, are taken care of. The Government shall file a report on or before 31.03.2015, before this Court, about the decision taken. No costs. Consequently, all connected pending MPs are closed." 4.

In response to that contention, Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the First and Second Respondents submitted that accepting the suggestions made by this Court in the aforesaid decision, amendments have been made to the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, as well as in the laws relating to other urban local bodies in the State of Tamil Nadu, which have come into force with effect from 01.02.2019 as per which licence is required to be obtained by the Petitioner for carrying on business of spa in any premises within the territorial limits of the respective local bodies. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner has not obtained the requisite licence under the relevant enactment for carrying on business of spa in the premises of the Petitioner.

5.

It is well settled legal position that a mere contemplation or possibility that a right may be infringed without any legitimate basis for that right, would not give rise to a cause of action. In such circumstances, the question of granting the relief sought by the Petitioner in the Writ Petition does not arise for consideration.

6.

In view of the aforesaid legal position coupled with the facts of this case, Learned Counsel for the Petitioner seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the Writ Petition with liberty to the Petitioner to apply and obtain such licence for carrying on business of spa in the premises of the Petitioner and leave it open to the Petitioner to work out his remedies in that regard and he has made an endorsement to that effect. 7.

Recording the same, the Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn granting such liberty. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-VI) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar

vjt To

1. The Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, No. 62, Old Post Office Road, Near Railway Station, Gopalapuram, Coimbatore - 641 018.

2. The Inspector of Police, C2, Race Course Road, Gopalapuram, Coimbatore - 641 018.

3. The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore - 641 001.

+1cc to Mr.B.Arvind Srevatsa, Advocate SR.97416 +1cc to Mr.K.Magesh, Advocate SR.96992 +1cc to the Government Pleader SR.98042 W.P. No. 29872 of 2019 PA(CO) CB(08/01/2020)