U.P.Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Vs Om Prakash Sharma

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 3908-3909 OF 2013 (Arising out of Special Leave Petiton (Civil) Nos. 20848-20849 of 2011)

U.P. AVAS EVAM VIKAS PARISHAD & ORS. … APPELLANTS

VS.

OM PRAKASH SHARMA … RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

V. Gopala Gowda, J.

Leave granted.

2. These appeals are directed against the judgment and orders dated 28.5.2010

and 18.4.2011 passed in Second Appeal No.113 of 2001 and CMRS

No.215947/2010 by the High Court of Allahabad in allowing the second appeal by

answering the substantial questions of law framed in favour of the respondent-

plaintiff and rejecting the CMRS No.215947/2010 in the aforesaid second appeal

urging relevant facts and legal contentions in support of the appellant-defendant’s

case. The brief facts are stated for the purpose of appreciating the factual and rival

legal contentions urged on behalf of the parties, in view to find out as to whether the

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impugned judgment and orders under challenge in these appeals are required to be

set aside by this Court in exercise of its jurisdiction.

3. The ranking of the parties is referred to in the judgment as has been assigned

before the 1st Additional Civil Judge, Bareilly for the sake of convenience.

4. The first defendant (appellant herein) is a statutory body created under the

Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965 for development of

colonies, residential plots, commercial plots and complexes in the State of Uttar

Pradesh. The first defendant on 4.3.1977 published in the local newspapers for

auction of nine shops and a plot earmarked for Cinema Hall measuring 3441.94 sq.

meters in Izzat Nagar, Scheme No.1, Block C and D in Bareilly District specifying

the date of auction and furnishing necessary information. According to the plaintiff,

the reserved price of the Cinema plot was fixed at Rs.1,80,200/- and the auction of

the property was conducted on 11.3.1977 under the supervision of one Mr. Raj

Kumar Singh Bisen, the then Assistant Housing Commissioner of the first defendant

Board. In the auction, the plaintiff (respondent herein) offered the highest bid of

Rs.1,31,500/- and as per the terms and conditions of the auction, he had deposited

Rs.26,300/- i.e. 20% of the bid amount, plus Rs.500/- as earnest money.

5. In response to the plaintiff’s representations made to the first defendant on

24.5.1977 and 1.6.1977 asking for issuance of the allotment letter in his favour, the

Assistant Housing Commissioner informed the plaintiff vide his letters dated

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26.5.1977 and 8.7.1977 stating that the third defendant Housing Commissioner of

the Board had rejected the bid amount deposited by the plaintiff and the same was

refunded by way of demand draft.

6. The plaintiff filed original suit bearing No.143 of 1977 in the Civil Court,

Bareilly challenging the action of the first defendant with regard to the allotment of

plot and in the said suit the first defendant filed written statement. The learned Civil

Judge, Bareilly after conducting the trial, answered the issues framed by it, on

proper appreciation of documentary and oral evidence in favour of the plaintiff and

passed its judgment and order dated 17.12.1977 decreeing the suit as prayed by the

plaintiff.

7. Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment and order passed by the trial court, the

first defendant filed First Appeal No.107 of 1978 before the High Court urging

various legal contentions. The High Court by its order dated 20th May, 1987 after

examining rival factual and legal contentions set aside the judgment and order of the

trial court and remanded the matter to the trial court for its reconsideration. After the

remand order passed by the High Court, the first defendant filed its additional

written statement before the trial court. The trial court considered the entire

pleadings, evidence on record and examined three more witnesses. Again it passed

the decree in favour of the plaintiff by order dated 24.9.1993. Against the said

judgment, the defendant filed first Appeal No.67 of 98 before the District Judge.

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The learned District Judge allowed the appeal with costs by setting aside the

impugned judgment and decree of the trial court by its order dated 2.2.2000.

8. On 10.2.2000, aggrieved by the impugned judgment and decree passed by the

first appellate court, the plaintiff filed Second Appeal No.113 of 2001 before the

High Court urging various legal contentions. The High Court on 28.5.2010 allowed

the appeal by answering the substantial questions of law framed by it in the Second

Appeal and set aside the judgment dated 2.2.2000 of the first appellate court.

9. While answering the substantial questions of law framed by it, the High Court

has held that the judgment of the first appellate court was contrary to record as the

same is passed without proper application of mind. It is the case of the defendants

that the High Court while passing the impugned judgment has completely ignored to

consider the provisions of Section 12 of the U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad

Adhiniyam, 1965 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). Section 12 of the Act, reads

as under:

“12. Delegation of powers.-

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, the Board may by general or special order delegate, either uncon- ditionally or subject to such conditions, including the condition of review by itself, as may be specified in the order, to any committee appointed by it or to the Housing Commissioner or any officer of the Board such of its powers and duties under this Act, as it may deem necessary.

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(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules, the Housing Commissioner may by general or special order dele- gate, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions, in- cluding the condition of review by himself, as may be specified in the order, to any officer of the Board such of his powers and duties under this Act, not being powers and duties delegated to him under sub-section (1), as he may deem necessary.”

Section 12 provides powers to the Board for delegation of its powers to the Housing

Committee or to the Housing Commissioner or any officer of the Board.

10. The defendants aggrieved by the said judgment filed a review application

challenging the findings and reasons recorded in the impugned judgment contending

that there was an error apparent on the face of the record and therefore prayed for

review of the said judgment and order, which was dismissed by the High Court after

hearing the parties vide its order dated 18.4.2011. Therefore, the defendants have

filed these appeals urging the following legal questions and grounds:-

a. Whether the High Court was correct in ignoring the fact

that the Housing Commissioner had never made any

delegation of power with regard to accept/reject the bid in

favour of the Assistant Housing Commissioner, hence the

question of producing any order of delegation by first

defendant Parishad never arose and as it was the plaintiff

who based his contention that the power to accept the

highest bid was delegated by the Housing Commissioner to

the Asstt. Housing Commissioner, therefore, he ought to

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have produced such delegation power in support of his

claim?

b. Whether the High Court was correct in ignoring that as per

the terms and conditions of the auction of the properties

mentioned in the booklet/printed format, the auction was

subject to the approval of the Housing Commissioner and,

therefore, the conclusion of the High Court in this regard is

contrary to the facts and the same is sustainable in law?

c. Whether the High Court was correct in ignoring that the

then Assistant Housing Commissioner was deputed only to

supervise and conduct the auction as a ministerial officer

and had neither any authority to accept the bid nor did he

accept the said bid at any stage?

d. Whether the High Court was correct in ignoring that the

Housing Commissioner was the only Competent authority

to accept or reject the bid and the bid of the plaintiff was

rejected by him and consequently, there was no concluded

contract of sale of the property in his favour as claimed by

him and no allotment letter was ever issued to him?

e. Whether the High Court was correct in ignoring that as per

the maxim “delegatum non protest delegare”, the statutory

power must be exercised only by the body and office to

whom it has been conferred and none else can discharge

the function entrusted to it by law?

f. Whether the Hon’ble High Court was correct in ignoring

the judgment of this Hon’ble Court in the case of Pradyat

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Kumar vs. Chief Justice of Calcutta1 wherein the

Supreme Court observed that “it is well recognized that

the statutory functionaries exercising the power of

delegation cannot be said to have delegated such functions

merely by deputing responsible and competent officials to

enquire and report. This is the ordinary mode of exercise

of any administrative power”?

11. Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, learned senior counsel on behalf of the defendants

submitted that the High Court was not correct in ignoring the fact that the Housing

Commissioner had never made any delegation of power in favour of the then

Assistant Housing Commissioner of the Board, in regard to accept or reject the bid

of the plaintiff, therefore, the question of producing the order of delegation of his

power said to have been given by the first defendant in his favour did not arise and it

was the plaintiff who based his claim contending that power to accept the highest

bid was delegated by the Housing Commissioner to the then Assistant Housing

Commissioner though there is no such specific plea in the plaint presented by the

him except pleading the averments at paragraph 5 that as per the terms and

conditions of acceptance of bid it was final and binding on the fall of hammer and

the same did not require the acceptance or rejection by defendants or any authority

what so ever. Therefore, the High Court has committed serious error in law in

1 AIR 1956 SC 285

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framing the substantial question of law in this aspect and answered the same in

favour of the plaintiff, by concurring with the findings of the trial court in drawing

an adverse inference under Section 114 of the Evidence Act with regard to non-

production of the order of delegation purported to have passed by the Housing

Board in favour of the then Assistant Housing Commissioner or the Housing

Commissioner delegating his power to the then Assistant Housing Commissioner.

In the absence of such pleading, and also in the absence of evidence and contentions

urged on behalf of the plaintiff, neither the trial court nor the High Court should

have accepted it and it could not have framed the substantial question of law in this

regard and answered the same in favour of the plaintiff.

12. It is further contended by the learned senior counsel that the High Court was

not right in ignoring the terms and conditions of the public auction mentioned in the

booklet/printed format particularly Condition No.5 by which the auction of the

property in question was subject to the approval of the Housing Commissioner. The

High Court has recorded the finding of fact while answering the substantial

questions of law framed at (c) in favour of the plaintiff by placing reliance upon

Section 106 of the Indian Evidence Act. Therefore, the finding recorded by the High

Court is erroneous in law and the same is liable to be set aside.

13. Further, it is urged by the learned senior counsel that the High Court has

committed an error both on facts and in law and also that it has ignored the fact that

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the then Assistant Housing Commissioner was deputed only to supervise and

conduct auction of the property as ministerial officer and he had neither any

authority to accept the bid nor he had accepted the bid at any stage.

14. Another ground urged by the learned senior counsel on behalf of the

defendant is that the High Court has ignored the fact that Housing Commissioner of

the Board was the only competent authority to accept or reject the bid of the

plaintiff and in fact he had rejected the offer and there was no concluded contract of

sale of the plot in favour of the plaintiff as claimed by him. No allotment letter was

ever issued in his favour and in the absence of the same, the prayer of the plaintiff

that the auction of the property was held in relation to the plot in question under

Scheme No.1 at Bareilly in favour of the plaintiff, is final and binding and non-

acceptance of the same by the third defendant-Housing Commissioner who has

rejected the bid of the plaintiff and communicated the same vide its letters dated

26.5.77 and 8.7.77 by the then Assistant Housing Commissioner in relation to

Cinema Hall was illegal and void and the same has no effect on the status of plaintiff

as owner/allottee thereof is wholly untenable in law. Another contention urged by

the learned senior counsel is that the third defendant-Housing Commissioner has no

power to delegate his authority to another officer in exercise of authority under

Section 12(2) of the Act. Section 12(2) provides for a statutory bar upon him from

further delegation of the functions and powers which have been delegated upon him

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by the Board. He has placed reliance on the decisions of this Court in Sahni Silk

Mills (P) Ltd. vs. ESI Corpn.2, Director General, ESI vs. T. Abdul Razak3 and

The Barium Chemicals Ltd. vs. The Company Law Board & Ors.4.

15. Further, the learned senior counsel placed reliance upon the judgment of this

Court in State of Orissa vs. Commissioner of Land Records and Settlement5, in

support of the proposition of law that a principal does not lose his powers merely

because those powers have been delegated to another body.

Also, placing reliance upon the aforesaid proposition of law laid down by this

Court in the decision referred to above, it is urged by the learned senior counsel that

nothing prevents the third defendant from reviewing the order passed by the

delegatee, that is, the then Assistant Housing Commissioner which becomes evident

from bare reading of Section 12(2) of the Act. Further, he has placed reliance upon

Section 11 of the Act which provides that Housing Commissioner shall exercise

supervision and control over all officers and servants of the Board.

16. The power of supervision and control has been interpreted by this Court to

include power of supervision, management or authority to direct, restrict or regulate.

Learned senior counsel placed reliance on the judgments of this Court in support of

2 1994 (5) SCC 346 Para 6-8), 3 1996 (4) SCC 708 (para 14-15) 4 AIR 1967 SC 295 5 1998 (7) SCC 162 (para 34)

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the above legal submissions in CESC vs. Subhash Chandra Bose6 and Hassan

Co-operative Milk Producers’s Union Ltd. vs. ESI7.

17. Further, the learned senior counsel placed strong reliance on the judgments of

this Court in Meerut Development Authority vs. Association of Management

Studies8, and State of U.P. vs. Vijay Bahadur Singh9, regarding rights of the

bidder in participating in auction process and contended that though the bidders can

participate in the tender process, they will not have any other right except the right

to equality and fair treatment in the matter of evaluation of competitive bids offered

by interested persons in response to notice inviting tenders in a transparent manner

and free from hidden agenda.

18. Further, the learned senior counsel placed reliance on the law laid down by

this Court in Rajasthan Housing Board vs. G.S. Investments & Anr10 in support

of his submissions that bidder has no vested interest in relation to the auctioned

property unless the bid is accepted, even though the auction is concluded in his

favour and the auction proceedings can always be cancelled by the competent

authority of the first defendant.

19. Further the learned senior counsel placed reliance upon the judgment of this

Court in Laxmikant vs. Satyawan11 in support of his legal contention that this 6 1992 (1) SCC 441 7 2010 (11) SCC 537 8 2009 (6) SCC 171 9 1982 (2) SCC 365 10 2007 (1) SCC 477 11 1996 (4) SCC 208

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Court has repeatedly pointed out that ‘State’ or the authority which can be held to

be ‘State’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution is not bound to

accept the highest tender or bid and the Government authority could validly retain

its power either to accept or reject the highest bid in the interest of public revenue.

In support of this legal contention, learned senior counsel placed reliance upon

another decision of this Court in State of Orissa v. Harinarayan Jaiswal12 and

submitted that the High Court could have noticed that the trial court has proceeded

under impression that the then Assistant Housing Commissioner had been

authorized to supervise and conduct the auction in relation to the plot in question

and that power automatically carried with him the authority to accept the highest bid

to conclude the contract. In this regard the learned senior counsel referred to the

decision of this Court in Pradyat Kumar vs. Chief Justice, Calcutta, wherein this

Court has observed that no delegation is involved where the statutory authority

requires another person exercising ministerial function to retain the decision and

responsibility of it in its hands.

20. Further, learned senior counsel contended that the High Court while

remanding the case in the earlier first appeal proceedings vide its judgment dated

20th May, 1987 to the trial court after setting aside the impugned judgment of the

trial court, it had given specific directions to it for deciding the case afresh in the

12 1972 (2) SCC 36 (para 13)

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light of certain observations. The following observations were made with reference

to Section 11, which reads as under:

“The Housing Commissioner is thus an overall controlling authority over all officers and servants of the Board. In the provisions referred to earlier, the officers of the Board including the authority and functions. The officers of the Board (which include the Assistant Commissioner) are required under the Act to discharge such functions as are delegated to them.”

21. The High Court has also directed the trial court to trace out the source of

power stated to have been delegated by the Housing Commissioner to the then

Assistant Housing Commissioner under Section 12 since there must be an order of

delegation in favour of another and it is implied that delegation must be in express

terms and it cannot be by implication. Further, the High Court also directed the

trial court to find out as to whether the Commissioner, the third defendant

authorized the then Assistant Housing Commissioner to conduct an auction of the

plot in question in writing or oral. Whether in the face of the record, it could be said

that it was a case of seeking assistance only or a case of delegation in favour of the

then Assistant Housing Commissioner and that finding recorded by the trial court on

the basis of mis-reading of statement of evidence of DW-1, the then Assistant

Housing Commissioner. Further, the case of the plaintiff was that the auction officer

carried with him the authority to conclude the contract, whether such entrustment of

authority was by an oral order or in writing. There is no pleading in the plaint

regarding the same and therefore, the plaintiff should have been directed to prove

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the same and the evidence of DW1 could not have been accepted by the trial court

to prove the negative fact that no such order was made in writing in favour of the

then Assistant Housing Commissioner either by the Board or third defendant as

provided under Section 12(1) of the Act. Further, the High Court has noted in its

remand order the term of condition No.5 which enunciated that the power of final

approval by an authority other than the auction officer and issuance of the allotment

order in favour of the plaintiff was a condition precedent to the contract. The trial

court has neither adverted to the aforesaid aspect of the case nor has referred to the

conditions in its judgment. It is contended by the learned senior counsel while

answering the contentious issue that the aforesaid observations made by the High

Court in the earlier remand order by allowing the first appeal of the defendants

which was binding on the trial court, the said directions have not been complied

with. Therefore, the High Court could not have exercised its appellate jurisdiction

and set aside the judgment of the first appellate court. Learned senior counsel

further placed reliance upon the judgment of this Court in Sahni Silk Mills (P)

Ltd.’s case (supra) regarding the scope of Section 100 of CPC to exercise its

jurisdiction. It could not have disturbed the findings of fact recorded by the first

appellate court after the judgment was passed by the trial court on remand and set

aside the said findings holding that the grant of decree in favour of the plaintiff is

erroneous in law, and therefore, the exercise of jurisdiction under Section 100 CPC

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by the High Court is contrary to the judgment of this Court in Sahni Silk Mills (P)

Ltd.’s case (supra).

22. On the other hand, the learned senior counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Ranjit

Kumar sought to justify the impugned judgment contending that DW1, the then

Assistant Housing Commissioner has admitted that he has got the authority to

auction, therefore the finding of fact on the contentious issue is rightly recorded by

the trial court, which was erroneously set aside by the first appellate Court. That

finding of the first appellate court was found fault with by the High Court and

therefore rightly framed the substantial questions of law and answered the same in

favour of the plaintiff. The learned senior counsel also placed reliance upon the

scheme of the first defendant which does not enumerate the condition for approval

of the present bid of the plaintiff by the Housing Commissioner in relation to the

plot in question. In the absence of the same the Housing Commissioner was ahead

of authority in not accepting the bid and it was only a formal allotment letter which

was required to be issued by him. The same has not been issued, but on the other

hand the third defendant-Housing Commissioner has rejected the bid of the plaintiff

which was communicated vide its letters dated 26.5.77 and 8.7.77 by the then

Assistant Housing Commissioner and also 20% of the bid amount with earnest

money was refunded which is erroneous in law.

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23. Further, the learned senior counsel submits that the trial court has recorded

the finding of fact in the impugned judgment regarding non-production of the file by

the first defendant in relation to the delegation of power in favour of the then

Assistant Housing Commissioner for conducting auction and accepting the bid in

favour of the plaintiff and rightly adverse inference was drawn against it under

Section 114 of the Evidence Act by not accepting the explanation given by the first

defendant through its officer that the file was misplaced in transit from Bareilly to

Lucknow stating that it is untenable. The burden of proof is on the first defendant

by producing record to show that the then Assistant Housing Commissioner was

only deputed to supervise and conduct auction of the plot as ministerial officer and

did not have any authority to accept the bid. Further, it is stated by the learned

senior counsel that three other shops, auction of which was held by the Assistant

Housing Commissioner on 11.3.1977, were allotted in favour of the highest bidders

by accepting their offer and executing necessary documents. It would clearly go to

show that the findings recorded by the trial court accepted by the High Court in

exercise of its second appellate jurisdiction and answering the substantial questions

of law in favour of the plaintiff in the impugned judgment is based on the pleadings

and the legal evidence on record. Therefore, this Court need not interfere with the

concurrent findings of fact recorded by the High Court and the findings recorded on

the substantial questions of law in the impugned judgment particularly in view of the

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pleadings at paragraph 5 of the plaint which has been referred to in the earlier

portion of the judgment while narrating the legal contentions urged on behalf of the

defendants. Therefore, he has prayed for dismissal of the appeals.

24. With reference to the aforesaid rival factual and legal contentions urged on

behalf of the parties, the following points would arise for consideration of this

Court:

a. What are the rights of the plaintiff/bidder participating in the

auction process in relation to the plot in question?

b. Whether there is any vested right upon the plaintiff/bidder

until the bid is accepted by the competent authority in relation

to the property in question? Merely because the plaintiff is

the highest bidder by depositing 20% of the bid amount

without there being approval of the same by the competent

authority and it amounts to a concluded contract in relation to

the plot in question?

c. Whether the plaintiff could have maintained the suit in the

absence of a concluded contract?

d. Whether the plaintiff proves that the Assistant Housing

Commissioner had the authority to accept the bid in relation

to the plot in question which was put to auction and was

empowered to allot the plot in favour of the plaintiff being the

highest bidder?

e. Whether the trial court is right in holding that non-issuance of

notice to the first defendant as provided under Section 88(2)

of the Act for institution of the suit and not taking the plea in

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this regard by the defendant in the initial stage rather taking

the plea subsequently amounts to a waiver of the defence of

the defendants?

f. Whether the suit for declaratory relief on the basis of the

cause of action as pleaded by the plaintiff, in the absence of

allotment letter issued by the competent authority in relation

to the plot in question as provided under Section 12(1) of the

Act, is maintainable?

g. Whether the substantial questions of law framed by the High

Court in the second appeal would arise for its consideration

and whether the findings in the second appeal are erroneous

in law?

25. The points (a) to (d) are required to be answered against the plaintiff by

assigning the following reasons:-

It is an undisputed fact that public auction was held in relation to the property

of the first defendant vide public notice dated 4.3.1977 published in the local

newspapers by the Parishad for auction of nine shops and the plot earmarked for

cinema hall measuring 3441 sq. meters. The auction was supervised and conducted

on 11.3.1977 by one Mr. Ram Kumar Singh Bisen the then Assistant Housing

Commissioner. It was also an admitted fact that the plaintiff was the highest bidder

as he had quoted Rs.1,31,500/- in relation to the plot and he has deposited a sum of

Rs.26,500/- that is 20% of the amount of bid plus Rs.500/- as earnest money.

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26. It is also an undisputed fact that the offer of the plaintiff is highest as per the

terms and conditions of the sale of plot in question by public auction are concerned,

20% of the bid amount deposited by him that by itself does not amount to accepting

his bid by the competent authority for grant of lease hold rights of plot in his favour.

27. This Court in the case of Meerut Development Authority case (supra) has

laid down the legal principle that the bidder who has participated in tender process

have no other right except the right to equality and fair treatment in the matter of

evaluation of competitive bids offered by interested persons in response to the

notice inviting tenders in a transparent manner and free from hidden agenda. The

relevant paragraphs are extracted hereunder:

“27. The bidders participating in the tender process have no other right except the right to equality and fair treatment in the matter of evaluation of competitive bids offered by interested persons in re- sponse to notice inviting tenders in a transparent manner and free from hidden agenda. One cannot challenge the terms and conditions of the tender except on the abovestated ground, the reason being the terms of the invitation to tender are in the realm of the contract. No bidder is en- titled as a matter of right to insist the authority inviting tenders to enter into further negotiations unless the terms and conditions of notice so provided for such negotiations.

……. ….. …..

29. The Authority has the right not to accept the highest bid and even to prefer a tender other than the highest bidder, if there exist good and sufficient reasons, such as, the highest bid not representing the market price but there cannot be any doubt that the Authority's action in accepting or refusing the bid must be free from arbitrariness or favouritism.”

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28. In support of the said proposition, learned senior counsel for the defendant,

Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi has also placed reliance upon another decision of this Court in

State of U.P vs. Vijay Bahadur Singh (supra). The learned senior counsel has

rightly placed reliance upon the judgment of this Court in Rajasthan Housing

Board case (supra) which reads as under:

“9. This being the settled legal position, the respondent acquired no right to claim that the auction be concluded in its favour and the High Court clearly erred in entertaining the writ petition and in not only issu- ing a direction for consideration of the representation but also issuing a further direction to the appellant to issue a demand note of the balance amount. The direction relating to issuance of the demand note for bal- ance amount virtually amounted to confirmation of the auction in favour of the respondent which was not the function of the High Court.”

The law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid paragraph in support of the propo-

sition of law that so long as an order regarding final acceptance of the bid had not

been passed by the Chairman of the Housing Board, the highest bidder acquire no

vested right to have the auction concluded in his favour and the auction proceedings

could always be cancelled. Further, he has placed reliance on another decision of

this Court in the case of Laxmikant referred to supra . In support of the proposi-

tion of law this Court has rightly pointed out that the ‘State’ or the Authority, which

can be held to be a ‘State’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, is

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not bound to accept the highest tender/offer or bid and the Government could

validly retain its power to accept or reject the highest bid in the interest of public

revenue. In support of this contention, he has placed reliance on the State of

Orissa vs. Harinarayan Jaiswal case (supra), relevant paragraph of which reads

as under:

“13. Even apart from the power conferred on the Government under Sections 22 and 29, we fail to see how the power retained by the Gov- ernment under clause (6) of its order, dated January 6, 1971, can be considered as unconstitutional. As held by this Court in Cooverjee B. Bharucha case, one of the important purpose of selling the exclusive right to sell liquor in wholesale or retail is to raise revenue. Excise rev- enue forms an important part of every State's revenue. The Government is the guardian of the finances of the State. It is expected to protect the financial interest of the State. Hence quite naturally, the Legislature has empowered the Government to see that there is no leakage in its rev- enue. It is for the Government to decide whether the price offered in an auction sale is adequate. While accepting or rejecting a bid, it is merely performing an executive function. The correctness of its conclusion is not open to judicial review. We fail to see how the plea of contraven- tion of Article 19(1)(g) or Article 14 can arise in these cases. The Gov- ernment's power to sell the exclusive privileges set out in Section 22 was not denied. It was also not disputed that those privileges could be sold by public auction. Public auctions are held to get the best possible price.

Once these aspects are recognised, there appears to be no basis for contending that the owner of the privileges in question who had offered to sell them cannot decline to accept the highest bid if he thinks that the price offered is inadequate. There is no concluded contract till the bid is accepted. Before there was a concluded contract, it was open to the bidders to withdraw their bids — see Union of India v. Bhimsen Walaiti Ram 13 . By merely giving bids, the bidders had not acquired any vested rights. The fact that the Government was the seller does not change the legal position once its exclusive right to deal with those

13 1969(3) SCC 146

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privileges is conceded. If the Government is the exclusive owner of those privileges, reliance on Article 19(1)(g) or Article 14 becomes ir- relevant. Citizens cannot have any fundamental right to trade or carry on business in the properties or rights belonging to the Government— nor can there be any infringement of Article 14, if the Government tries to get the best available price for its valuable rights. The High Court was wholly wrong in thinking that purpose of Sections 22 and 29 of the Act was not to raise revenue. Raising revenue as held by this Court in Cooverjee B. Bharucha vs.The Excise Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner, Ajmer & Ors’ case was one of the important purposes of such provisions. The fact that the price fetched by the sale of coun- try liquor is an excise revenue does not change the nature of the right. The sale in question is but a mode of raising revenue. Assuming that the question of arbitrary or unguided power can arise in a case of this nature, it should not be forgotten that the power to accept or reject the highest bid is given to the highest authority in the State i.e. the Govern- ment which is expected to safeguard the finances of the State. Such a power cannot be considered as an arbitrary power. If that power is ex- ercised for any collateral purposes, the exercise of the power will be struck down. It may also be remembered that herein we are not dealing with a delegated power but with a power conferred by the Legislature.

The High Court erroneously thought that the Government was bound to satisfy the Court that there was collusion between the bid- ders. The High Court was not sitting on appeal against the order made by the Government. The inference of the Government that there was a collusion among the bidders may be right or wrong. But that was not open to judicial review so long as it is not proved that it was a make- believe one. The real opinion formed by the Government was that the price fetched was not adequate. That conclusion is taken on the basis of Government expectations. The conclusion reached by the Govern- ment does not affect any one's rights. Hence, in our opinion, the High Court misapplied the ratio of the decision of this Court in Barium Chemicals Ltd. & Anr. v. Company Law Board and Rohtas Industries Ltd. v. S.T. Agarwal.”

(emphasis supplied)

29. In view of the law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid decisions, learned

senior counsel Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi has rightly placed reliance upon the same in

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support of the case of the first defendant, which would clearly go to show that the

plaintiff had not acquired any right and no vested right has been accrued in his

favour in respect of the plot in question merely because his bid amount is highest

and he had deposited 20% of the highest bid amount along with earnest money with

the Board. In the absence of acceptance of bid offered by the plaintiff to the com-

petent authority of the first defendant, there is no concluded contract in respect of

the plot in question, which is evident from letters dated 26.5.1977 and 8.7.1977

wherein the third defendant had rejected the bid amount deposited by the plaintiff

and the same was refunded to him by way of demand draft, which is an undisputed

fact and it is also not his case that the then Assistant Housing Commissioner who

has conducted the public auction had accepted the bid of the plaintiff.

30. Therefore, points (a) to (d) are answered in favour of the defendants. In fact,

these aspects have not been dealt with either by the trial court or by the second ap-

pellate court in the impugned judgments.

Answer to Point No. (e)

31. To institute a suit against the first defendant, the plaintiff was required to is-

sue notice under Section 88(2) of the Act which is mandatory in law. Undisputedly,

no such notice was issued to the first defendant. The plea taken by the plaintiff that

the defendants have waived their right in urging their plea that the suit is not main-

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tainable for non-issuance of notice under Section 88(2) to the first defendant for in-

stitution of suit by the plaintiff is wholly untenable in law and the finding recorded

by the trial court while answering the issue Nos. 5 and 6 in the impugned judgment

of the trial court dated 24.9.1993 that defendants did not take this plea in its original

written submissions is also wholly untenable in law. Also the plea that after the re-

mand order the said plea was taken belatedly by the first defendant, therefore, it has

waived its right, is erroneous finding recorded by the trial court. The said finding of

the trial court, which has been accepted by the second appellate court, also suffers

from error in law. The maintainability of the suit on the ground of non issuance of a

statutory notice to the first defendant prior to institution of the suit is a legal ground,

which can be raised at any point of time, even in the second appeal; this is well es-

tablished principle of law. This aspect of the matter has not been considered by the

trial court while answering the relevant contentious issue Nos. 5 and 6. The second

appellate court too did not consider this important legal aspect of the case. There-

fore, we have to answer the said point against the plaintiff holding that the plaintiff

has no right to institute a suit in absence of the notice under Section 88(2) of the

Act, which is mandatory in law.

Answer to Point (f):

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32. The declaratory relief sought by the plaintiff in the original suit is not main-

tainable in law as the plaintiff did not acquire legal right in respect of the plot in

question.

The prayer at para 12 (a) of the plaint is extracted below for consideration of

this Court:

“12 (a). That the auction held on 11.3.1977 in respect of the Cinema Plot in Izzatnagar (Scheme No.2) Bareilly in favour of the plaintiff is fi- nal and binding on the defendants and the non-acceptance thereof by the Housing Commissioner (defendant No.3) as communicated to the plaintiff by the defendant no.1 by letter No.8851/S.P. 3/6 Bareilly/Cin- ema plot dated 26.5.1977 is illegal and void and has no effect on the status of the plaintiff as owner/allottee thereof.”

33. In this regard, it is also necessary to extract Section 34 of the Specific Relief

Act, 1963 for the purpose of appreciating the tenability of the above prayer of the

plaintiff, which reads as under:

“34. Discretion of court as to declaration of status or right.- Any per- son entitled to any legal character, or to any right as to any property, may institute a suit against any person denying, or interested to deny, his title to such character or right, and the court may in its discretion make therein a declaration that he is so entitled, and the plaintiff need not in such suit ask for any further relief:

Provided that no court shall make any such declaration where the plain- tiff, being able to seek further relief than a mere declaration of title, omits to do so. Explanation.- A trustee of property is a" person inter- ested to deny" a title adverse to the title of some one who is not in exis- tence, and for whom, if in existence, he would be a trustee.”

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It is an undisputed fact that the final bid has not been accepted by the third

defendant. This is borne out from the letters dated 26.5.1977 and 8.7.1977. Further,

even assuming that the Assistant Housing Commissioner had the authority to super-

vise and conduct the public auction and the authority to accept the final bid of the

plaintiff in relation to the plot which was auctioned on 11.3.1977, it is also an undis-

puted fact that he did not accept the bid of the plaintiff in writing and communicated

the same to him. Therefore, there is no concluded contract in favour of the plaintiff

in relation to the offer made by him, whose offer is highest in public auction held on

11.3.1977. Hence, the suit filed by the plaintiff seeking for declaratory relief as

prayed in the plaint is wholly misconceived and is not maintainable in law. Thus,

the judgment and order passed by the second appellate court is wholly unsustainable

in law and is liable to be set aside.

34. It is an undisputed fact that Section 16 of the Act confers power upon the

Board to dispose of its property as per Rule 3 of the U.P. Avas Avam Vikas

Parishad (Delegation of Powers by the Board and the Housing Commissioner)

Rules, 1968. The Board has power under Section 12(1) of the Act to delegate its

power either to a Committee or the Housing Commissioner or any other officer in

exercise of its power to discharge its functions. It is the case of the defendants that

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the Assistant Housing Commissioner was not delegated this power by the Board. In

this regard, there is no pleading of the plaintiff except the averments made at para 5

of the plaint, the relevant para is noted in the submissions made by the learned se-

nior counsel on behalf of the defendants. Further there is no communication by the

first defendant regarding acceptance of the proposal of the highest bid of the plain-

tiff as required under Section 3 of the Contract Act, 1872. This principle of law is

well settled as per the decision of the Queen’s Bench in Pharmaceutical Society of

Great Britain v. Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd14.

35. Further, unaccepted offer of the plaintiff does not create any right or any obli-

gation on the part of the defendant to execute the lease deed. In fact, this principle

is well settled by this Court in the case of Bhagwan Das Goverdhan Das Kedia v.

Girdhari Lal & Co.15 wherein this Court has held that mere making of an offer

does not form part of the cause of action for claiming damages for breach of con-

tract. In the case in hand, the aforesaid principle, without recourse, is applicable in

the fact situation for the reason that the plaintiff was the highest bidder and his offer

was merely accepted but no communication was sent to him as required under Sec-

tion 3 of the Contract Act. Therefore, no legal right accrued in favour of the plain-

14 (1952) 2 QB 795. 15 AIR 1966 SC 543

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tiff to invoke remedy available under Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, seeking

declaratory relief as prayed in the original suit filed by the plaintiff.

36. Further, the communication under Section 4 of the Contract Act speaks of

when the communication will complete. It says:

“4. Communication when complete. - The communication of a pro- posal is complete when it comes to the knowledge of the person to whom it is made. The communication of an acceptance is complete,--

as against the proposer, when it is put in a course of transmission to him so as to be out of the power of the acceptor; as against the acceptor, when it comes to the knowledge of the proposer.”

The proposal is said to have been completed when the same is accepted by the com-

petent authority, which has not been done in the instant case. Neither the Housing

Commissioner nor the Assistant Housing Commissioner accepted the proposal in

writing; therefore, there is no communication of acceptance of the offer of the plain-

tiff. In this regard, this court in Haridwar Singh v. Begum Sumbrui16 has held

that the communication of acceptance of the highest bid is necessary for concluding

the contract. In view of the aforesaid factual and legal proposition of law and the

highest bid offered to take the property on lease for a period of 90 years with re-

newal for further 20 years for construction of the cinema hall, the same was neither

accepted by the competent authority nor was the same communicated. Therefore,

16 AIR 1972 SC 1942

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there is no concluded contract in favour of the plaintiff in respect of the plot in ques-

tion and the plaintiff cannot claim any legal right and question of enforcement of the

said right as provided under Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act seeking declara-

tory relief by the plaintiff the same did not arise in the case in hand. The above im-

portant factual and legal aspects have not been examined in proper and constructive

manner either by the trial court or by the second appellate court. Therefore, the im-

pugned judgment, order and decree are liable to be set aside.

Answer to point (g)

37. The substantial questions framed by the court in the second appeal did not

arise for its consideration. The High Court ought to have noticed that the legal right

claimed by the plaintiff seeking relief under Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act on

the basis of the pleadings is wholly untenable in law. In view of the fact that no le-

gal right accrued in his favour in the absence of a concluded contract which was

said to have existed by mere offering of highest bid in relation to the property in

question to obtain the property on lease for a period of 90 years amounting to dis-

posal of the property of the first defendant being an authority under Article 12 of the

Constitution, no right was accrued upon the bidder in relation to the property in

question. Therefore, the suit itself is not maintainable and the suit filed on the basis

of the alleged cause of action did not arise. Hence, the trial court could not have

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granted any relief by not framing the relevant and proper issue and answering the

same. This aspect of the matter is not considered by the trial court. Therefore, the

impugned judgment is set aside by the first appellate court by recording reasons. It

also did not address and examine the points that arose for consideration as framed

by this Court in this judgment. However, the conclusion arrived at by the first ap-

pellate court in setting aside the impugned judgment and dismissing the suit is per-

fectly legal and valid. The said judgment has been erroneously interfered with by

the High Court by framing substantial questions of law. In fact and in law, the

aforesaid substantial questions do not arise for its consideration and answer the

same in favour of the plaintiff, which are erroneous in law.

38. We are of the view that the findings recorded by the trial court and the second

appellate court are totally erroneous both on facts and in law and therefore required

to be interfered with by this Court and hence the appeals must succeed. The im-

pugned judgment, decree and orders of the High Court are hereby set aside and the

original suit No.143 of 1977 filed by the plaintiff is also dismissed. The appeals are

allowed, with no order as to costs.

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…………..……………………………..J. [ CHANDRAMAULI KR. PRASAD ]

……………………………….………..J. [ V. GOPALA GOWDA ]

New Delhi, April 18, 2013.

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CORRIGENDUM DATED 22.04.2013

In Para No. 38 read “original suit No. 143 of 1977” for “original suit No. 143

of 2001.

32

U.P.AVAS EVAM VIKAS PARISHAD Vs OM PRAKASH SHARMA

U.P.AVAS EVAM VIKAS PARISHAD Vs OM PRAKASH SHARMA