P. Sathasivam, J. - (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) This appeal is directed against the judgment and final order dated 12.08.2008 passed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla in O.S.A. No. 13 of 2002 whereby the Division Bench of the High Court while affirming the judgment dated 02.07.2002 in Civil Suit No. 36 of 1998 passed by the learned Single Judge dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant herein.
(3.) Brief facts: (a) Kutlehar was a small princely State in Kangra Hills having 16 Tapas (Tikas) as forests which were known as Kutlehar Forests. These forests were managed by the Raja of Kutlehar subject to the terms and conditions specified by the then Government. Such management continued generation after generation. The appellant was appointed as a Forest Officer in the capacity of Superintendent of Kutlehar Forests under Section 2(2) of the Forest Act by Notification dated 01.10.1958 issued by the then Government of Punjab before the formation of the State of Himachal Pradesh. The said forests were under the charge and management of the appellant and he was entitled to dispose of the forest produce such as resin, timber, bamboo, grass etc. in accordance with the working plans prepared by the Forest Department. As per the terms and conditions of the management, he was entitled to retain 3/4th share of the total income from the said forests and 1/4th share of the gross income was payable to the Government. The entire expenditure on the management and exploitation of the forests were to be incurred by the appellant. In the year 1992, the State Legislative Assembly passed the Himachal Pradesh Kutlehar Forests (Acquisition of Management) Act, 1992 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the said Act, the management of these forests was taken over by the State Government. Challenging the constitutionality of the Act, the appellant filed Civil Writ Petition No. 707 of 1992 in the High Court whereby the High Court, by judgment dated 09.05.1994, upheld the constitutional validity of the aforesaid Act except Section 5. (b) During the year 1995, when the management of the Kutlehar Forests was with the appellant, he offered 1,33,591 resin blazes to Divisional Manager, H.P. State Forest Corporation Ltd., Una (hereinafter referred to as the State Corporation)-respondent No. 3 herein, for resin tapping, but on 14.02.1995, the State Corporation took over the resin blazes so offered and invited tenders for undertaking the work of tapping. On 10.03.1995, the State of H.P. issued the notification and enforced the provisions of the Act w.e.f. 11.03.1995 and asked the appellant to hand over the management of the Kutlehar Forests. On 16.03.1995, the appellant filed Civil Writ Petition No. 127 of 1995 challenging the notification dated 10.03.1995 in the High Court. The High Court passed the interim order to the effect that the appellant would continue with the management of the forests. (c) On 25.04.1995, the Pricing Committee of the State Corporation decided the prices of resin blazes @ Rs. 25/- per blaze for the season 1995. On 09.08.1995, the High Court dismissed the writ petition observing that the disputed questions of fact could not be gone into in exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India and the appellant was given liberty to resort to appropriate proceedings before the appropriate forum. On 05.01.1996, the appellant filed a Special Leave Petition before this Court which became Civil Appeal No. 239 of 1996 and was dismissed by order dated 22.08.2000. (d) On 07.02.1996, the management of the Kutlehar Forests was taken over by the State Corporation in absentia. In the year 1998, the appellant filed a suit being Civil Suit No. 36 of 1998 for recovery of Rs. 35,67,722/- along with interest @ 16.5% per annum with costs in respect of 1,33,591 resin blazes offered to Divisional Manager, Himachal Pradesh for resin tapping when the management of the Kutlehar Forests was with him in the 1995 season. (e) By order dated 02.07.2002, the learned Single Judge of the High Court dismissed the Civil Suit No. 36 of 1998 stating that all rights, liabilities and obligations of the appellant in relation to the grant or management under any contract entered into before the appointed day and properties and rights stood vested in the Government w.e.f. 11.03.1995. Questioning the said order, the appellant filed Original Side Appeal No. 13 of 2002 before the Division Bench of the High Court which was dismissed by the impugned order dated 12.08.2008. Aggrieved by the said order, the appellant preferred this appeal by way of special leave petition before this Court. ;