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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION CONMT.PET.(C) No. 277 OF 2012

IN  SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) No. 26541 OF 2005

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF PORT OF MUMBAI         Petitioner(s)                                 VERSUS

NIKHIL N GUPTA & ANR                        Respondent(s) J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. 1. Delay in filing the petition is condoned.   2. The contemnor - Nikhil N. Gupta is present in  Court.  It is seen that the respondents and other  obstructionists have surrendered the vacant possesion  of the building in question to the petitioner.   3. On  23.04.2015,  this  Court  had  passed  the  following order :-

"Heard.

Mr  Shyam  Divan,  learned  senior  counsel  

appearing for the respondents-contemnors,  

has  filed  a  list  of  occupants  in  the  

disputed  property  which  is  taken  on  

record.   He  further  submits  that  the  

respondents-contemnors  has  already  

deposited  an  amount  of  Rs.  82,37,958.11  

before  this  Court  which  fact  is  not  

disputed by counsel opposite who submits

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that the matter is now awaiting further  

direction  from  the  Executing  Court,  in  

view  of  certain  obstructions  which  the  

bailiff  had  noted  in  the  matter  of  

delivering vacant and peaceful possession  

of the property to the decree holder.  He  

further submits that the Executing Court  

has issued notices to the obstructionists,  

some of whom have already been served but  

some of them remain to be served and that  

the matter is now coming up for hearing  

before  the  Executing  Court  on  Thursday,  

the 7th May, 2015.   

In the circumstances, we adjourn this  

matter  till  after  7th  May,  2015,  to  be  

posted on Wednesday, the 15th July, 2015.  

The Executing Court shall submit a report  

as to the progress made in the execution  

proceedings in the meantime."  

4. The  contemnor  -  respondent,  who  is  present  in  Court, has tendered an unconditional apology before  the Court.  Having regard tothe affidavits filed and  the background of the various orders passed by this  Court, we are inclined to accept the apology and drop  the proceedings in contempt against the respondents.  Ordered accordingly.  

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5. It  is  seen  that  pursuant  to  order  dated  10.10.2014, the respondents have deposited an amount  of Rs. 82,37,958.11 before this Court and the same,  it  is  reported,  is  lying  in  the  interest  bearing  account.   6. The  learned  counsel  for  the  petitioner  has  submitted  that  pursuant  to  the  order  dated  01.12.2015,  the  petitioner  has  already  filed  an  application  before  the  Court  of  Small  Causes  at  Mumbai regarding mesne profits.  Though, Mr. Shyam  Divan,  learned  senior  counsel  appearing  for  the  respondents, pursuasively submitted that the amount  deposited may be returned to the respondents and the  enquiry of mesne profits may take its own course, we  are not inclined to accept this submission.   7. We are informed by the learned counsel for the  petitioner  that  the  application  now  filed  for  the  mesne profits is for more than Re. One Crore.  Be  that as it may, the amount lying in deposit before  the Registry of this Court shall be transferred to  the  Court  of  Small  Causes,  Mumbai  together  with  interest  in case No. LE & C Suit No. 355/481/1978.  However, it would be open to the respondents to file  an application, if so advised, regarding release or  otherwise of the amount ordered to be transferred to  the said Court.

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8. With the above observations and directions, the  contempt  proceedings  against  the  respondents  are  dropped.  9. We make it clear that all contentions regarding  the mesne profits are left open to the parties to be  addressed before the Small Causes Court, Mumbai in  the pending proceedings.  We also direct the Small  Causes Court, Mumbai to dispose of the proceedings  expeditiously and preferably within a period of one  year.   10. In view of the above, the Contempt Petition is  disposed of.          

.......................J.               [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN ]  New Delhi; February 02, 2016.