JUDGEMENT
AMITAVA LALA. J. -
(1.) This writ petition has been made by the
petitioner for the purpose of obtaining an appropriate order setting aside
the order dated 2nd July, 2002 passed by the Tribunal under the Calcutta
Municipal Corporation Act, 198O in B.T. Case No. 46 of 1995 and
incidental reliefe in connection therewith. Previously a writ petition was
filed by the respondent no. 5 herein being W. P. No. 1620(W) of 2001
whereunder the original order of the Tribunal in appeal was challenged
by any of the private respondents. Such appeal was protected under
Section 400(3) of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 against
an order passed by the concerned Special Officer dated 16th March, 1995
in demolition case no. 21-D of 1994-95 in respect of premises no. 18B,
Sambhu Babu Lane, Calcutta-700014. The Appellate Tribunal held that
the concerned Special Officer was pleased to direct retention of the
impugned unauthorized structure on payment of usual fees and charges
etc. The appellant took the plea that the order is not speaking about
the temporary structure. Therefore, the question of retention does not
rise. The respondent contended that the tarpaulin shelter is excluded
from the definition of the building. The Corporation supported the order.
The Appellate Tribunal observed that as per Section 2(5) of the Act
tarpaulin shelter is excluded from the definition of building. The case
is for the unauthorized construction of tarpaulin shelter. Therefore, as
it is excluded from the definition of building there is no, question of
retention of temporary structure. It is clear that the petitioner herein being
respondent therein by making such construction violated Rule 54 as ho
front space is left. He also infringed Rule 56 as no back space is also.
left. Under Section 402 of the Act the respondent therein can obtain
licence for the temporary structure. But no such permission has been
obtained. On the other hand, it is seen from the report submitted by
the appropriate authority dated 16th June, 1993 that the public utility
service such as drainage, sanitary, water supply system etc. were affected
by the alleged construction. Moreover, due to haphazard construction
the structure appears to be unsafe and may collapse at any moment
causing health hazards and casualties to the Inmates and public.
Thereafter. Appellate Tribunal inferred that in the proceeding under
Section 400(1) of the Act such order for retention of temporary structure
which is not included in the definition of the building cannot be given.
Therefore, the order passed by the Special Officer should not be supported.
In the circumstances, the order passed by the Special Officer is liable
to be set aside. Surprisingly, thereafter the appeal was recorded as
dismissed. Respondent no. 5 herein being writ petitioner therein
contended before the Court that the operative part and the inference of
such appellate authority are militating with each other. Therefore, an
appropriate order is needed to be passed by the Writ Court in respect
of such order. However, upon hearing the writ petitioner, the Calcutta
Municipal Corporation and the private respondents who were present at
that time this Court was pleased to hold that the order suffers from
infirmity. Therefore, without going into the merit the Tribunal was directed
to review the order on the basis of the formal application by the party
concerned. Such order of review by the appellate Tribunal in disposing
of the appropriate application is under challenge herein. In the order
impugned the Tribunal held that it is correct lo say lhat the order suffers
from contradictory inference apparent in the record. Therefore, the appeal
was treated to be allowed in the place and instead of recording dismissal
of the same.
(2.) The moot point of the petitioner is that the private respondent not
being a party to the original order cannot have any right lo make the
application for revision of review before the appellate authority. He relied
upon a Judgment reported in AIR 2002 Rajasthan 274 (Pujya Sindhi
Panchayat vs. Prof. C.L. Mishra & Ors.). A Division Bench of Rajasthan
High Court held that by the general principles of law, a person not being
a party to the original proceeding cannot ordinarily have a legal grievance
against the decree or order and consequently cannot apply for review
of the decree or order under Order 47 Role I of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Therefore, without going into further discussion it can be said that there
cannot be an absolute bar for a third party to go before a forum and
challenge the same if such situation arises. In the instant case, the
respondent no. 5, who was writ petitioner on the earlier occasion
categorically stated that he is a resident of adjacent premises along with
many others. The Respondent no. 4 lodged complaint in 1993. Various
residents of the neighbouring buildings lodged complaints in 1993. The
respondent no. 5 also made complaint in 1994. A proceeding was drawn
up on the basis of the complaint of respondent no. 4 but neither any
proceeding was drawn up in the name of respondent no. 5 nor he was
made co-complainant in respect of the case. But this cannot be said that
no complaint was made by the petitioner nor it can be said that he is
not an affected party. All the complaints were made against the illegal
or unauthorized structure of making temporary structure by one of the
purported tenants Sri Gouram Pal who is carrying business of electrical
decoration and repair under the name 'Paul Electric' upon obtaining trade
licence. An application for cancellation of licence was also made by the
petitioner. Hence all are parties to a common cause. Therefore, when
the case is not similar to any suit or proceeding in between two private
parties on the basis of their rival contentions can it be said that the
private respondent herein is neither an unaffected party nor inclined to
get any order. Moreover, in the presence of said Sri Goutam Pal an order
was passed in favour of the respondent no. 5. petitioner therein, for the
purpose of review on the basis of the apparent mistake in the order.
No appeal was preferred from such order passed by the Writ Court The
review application was proceeded before the Tribunal and the order
impugned was passed. Therefore, by now, the private respondent is not
only an affected party but the necessary party for the purpose of
determination of the issue. Further the Writ Court neither interfered with
the merit of the matter in the earlier occasion nor inclined to do so in
this writ petition. Both are arising out of technicalities of the order passed
by the Appellate Tribunal. The Appellate Tribunal accepted the point and
corrected the mistake. It has not altered the position which was inferred
by the erstwhile Tribunal. The only recording is that appeal which was
recorded as 'dismissed' now corrected as "allowed". Even if such correction
is not made, the petitioner herein cannot get any relief on the basis of
the order of the Tribunal which was existing prior to filing of the erstwhile
writ petition. Therefore, the petitioner cannot be said to be adversely
affected for such correction necessitated by the Tribunal and as such
in merit such ratio of the judgment as aforesaid i.e. AIR 2002 Rajasthan
274 (supra) cannot help the petitioner.
(3.) Learned Counsel appearing for the respondent no. 5 cited various
judgments in support of his contentions. By showing paragraph 84 of
AIR 1974 SC 994 [State of Punjab (now Haryana) & Ors. vs. Amor Singh
& Anr.] he said that such three Judges Bench of the Supreme Court
following (1894)2 Ch. 410. In re-Securities Insurance Company held that
a person who is not a party to a decree or order may, with the leave
of the Court, prefer an appeal from such decree or order if he is either
bound by the order or is aggrieved by it or is prejudicially affected by
it. As a rule, leave to appeal will not be refused to a person who might
have been made a party. Again he relied upon paragraph 3 of AIR 1971
SC 374 (Smt Jatan Kanwar Gotcha us. M/s. Golcha Properties Private Ltd,
(In Liquidation) where also the three Judges Bench held that it would
be a travesty of Justice if a party is driven to file a suit which would
involve long and cumbersome procedure when an order has been made
directly affecting the party and redress can be had by filing an appeal
which is permitted by law. It is well-settled that a person who is not
a party to the suit may prefer an appeal with the leave of the Appellate
Court and such leave should be "granted if he would be prejudicially
affected by the judgment. He further cited paragraphs 15 and 16 of
AIR 1985 Calcutta 96 (United Commercial Bank vs. Hanuman Synthetics
Ltd. & Ors.) whereunder the Division Bench of this Court followed the
ratio of one of the referred judgments of the Supreme Court. There, it
was held that the Supreme Court was not restricted in the Act but well-settled
law of the land. In allowing an appeal. Court held that the same
cannot be dismissed in limine as not maintainable. In the five Judges
Bench judgment reported in AIR 1963 SC 1909 (Shivdeo Singh & Ors
vs. State of Punjab & Ors.) Supreme Court held that there is nothing
in Article 226 of the Constitution to preclude a High Court from exercising
the power of review which inheres in every Court of plenary jurisdiction
to prevent the miscarriage of justice or to correct grave and palpable
errors committed by it.;
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