P.Boominathan, v. The Commissioner,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 29.11.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN W.P(MD) Nos.20902 to 20909 of 2017 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.17203 to 17214 of 2017 P.Boominathan ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20902 of 2017 G.Deneeswaran ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20903 of 2017 K.K.Kalanchiyam ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20904 of 2017 and WP(MD)No.20905 of 2017 S.Jeevenantham ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20906 of 2017 S.Karuppiah ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20907 of 2017 RM.Lakshmanan ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20908 of 2017 VR.Suresh ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.20909 of 2017 -vsThe Commissioner, Karaikudi Municipality, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.
... Respondent in All Cases COMMON PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned notice in Na.Ka.No.5236/2016/A1 dated 26.09.2017 on the file of the respondent pertaining to the petitioner Shop Nos.13, 5, 8, 9, 21, 6, 12, 23 and Assessment Nos.17, 63, 66, 67, 79, 64, 70, 81 respectively at Subramaniyapuram, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District and quash the same as illegal and pass such further or other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.
For all Petitioners : Mr.T.Lajapathi Roy (in all cases) For Respondent : Mr.P.Mahendran, Standing Counsel (in all petitions) C O M M O N O R D E R The issue involved in all these writ petitions is one and the same and therefore, all these matters are taken up together for final disposal by way of this common order.
2. The petitioners in W.P(MD) Nos.20902 to 20908 of 2017 are admittedly lease holders of the respondent Municipality and the petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.20909 of 2017, pursuant to the death of his father / original allottee, has filed the petition for consideration of allotment. All the petitioners seek to quash the impugned notices, by which they were asked to pay the enhanced monthly rent, which was sought to be revised as per G.O.Ms.No.92 Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department dated 03.07.2007.
3. Heard the learned Senior counsel for the petitioners and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent.
4. This Court, while dealing with the similar issue of enhancement of rent as per G.O.Ms.No.92 dated 03.07.2007, had considered all the aspects, given anxious consideration, perused the material documents and passed a detailed order in the case of M.Muthusamy and others vs. The Commissioner, Palani Municipality, Palani, Dindigul District [W.P(MD)Nos.17966 to 17968 of 2017] decided on 29.11.2017, which is extracted hereunder: " 7. It is no doubt true and there is no second opinion that there is no automatic extension of lease and it cannot be renewed on its every expiry, but at the same
time, it is to be remembered that any decision in respect of enhancement of rent should be only after following due process of law. In the given case on hand, the principles of audi alteram partem, has not been followed. Though the State is under obligation to secure the best market price available in a market economy, it should be fair and reasonable and revision should be only after proper notice / communication to the lease holders and after receipt of their objections and the unexpected hike on one fine morning is unheard of under law, that too with retrospective effect.
8. It was also brought to the attention of this Court that the State has issued a circular dated 02.02.2009, by which suitable instructions have been issued to the authorities to give an opportunity to the tenants before the rent is finally fixed, based on which, a Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court has passed an order dated 06.02.2009 in the case of Arulmigu Angala Parameswari and Kasivishwanathaswami Temple Adimanaiveal House Owners Association, reported in 2009 (6) CTC 512, vide which, the authorities were directed to fix or refix the lease rent in accordance with law after notice to the respective tenants.
9. In view of the foregoing discussions and also taking into account the proceedings issued by the State dated 02.02.2009, the following directions are issued in these writ petitions:
i) the respondent Municipality is directed to provide a copy of the report of the Committee as well as the calculation sheet to the petitioners forthwith, if not already given;
ii) This Court, normally while granting interim orders, would uniformly direct the petitioners / lease holders to deposit 50% of the enhanced rent immediately and in view of final disposal of all these writ petitions, the petitioners shall at the first instance, deposit 50% of the enhanced amount, if not already remitted and thereafter file their objections supported by whatever documents they have in their possession within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order to the concerned authorities; and iii) the authorities, upon satisfaction of the remittance of the 50% of the amount by the petitioners, on scrutiny of the documents produced by the petitioners and upon considering their objections, shall fix or refix the lease rent in accordance with law, within a period of two weeks thereafter."
5. Following the above judgment and also considering the fact that the said judgment is squarely applicable to the facts of the present cases on hand, these writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions:
i) the respondent Municipality is directed to provide a copy of the report of the Committee as well as the calculation sheet to the petitioners forthwith, if not already given; ii) This Court, normally while granting interim orders, would uniformly direct the petitioners / lease holders to deposit 50% of the enhanced rent immediately and in view of final disposal of all these writ petitions, the petitioners shall at the first instance, deposit 50% of the enhanced amount, if not already remitted and thereafter file their objections supported by whatever documents they have in their possession within a period of two weeks
from the date of receipt of a copy of this order to the concerned authorities; and iii) the authorities, upon satisfaction of the remittance of the 50% of the amount by the petitioners, on scrutiny of the documents produced by the petitioners and upon considering their objections, shall fix or refix the lease rent in accordance with law, within a period of two weeks thereafter. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (RTI) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To:
The Commissioner, Karaikudi Municipality, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.
+1cc to M/S.T.LAJAPATHI ROY, Advocate SR.No.90298. +1cc to M/S.P.MAHENDRAN, Advocate SR.No.90208. W.P(MD) Nos.20902 to 20909 of 2017 29.11.2017 ar SDS/SV:MMS/SAR 4/19.12.2017/5P/4C