JUDGEMENT
KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. -
(1.) THE present regular second appeal has been filed by defendants to the
suit. R.C.Gupta, plaintiff/respondent, through his general power of
attorney Harish Gupta, filed a suit for declaration praying that the
order of resumption bearing No. 8891 dated 11.1.2001, passed by
appellant/defendant No. 2-Estate Officer, Haryana Urban Development
Authority, Sector 12, Faridabad, (hereinafter referred to as "the HUDA")
be set aside being null and void. A further prayer for issuance of
permanent injunction was also made that the defendants be restrained from
interfering in his peaceful possession over the suit property. The
plaintiff had pleaded that he was allotted booth No. 65 situated at
Sector 8, Faridabad, in an open auction held on 15.11.1991 for a total
sale consideration of Rs. 1,43,000. On the fall of hammer, the plaintiff
had paid a sum of Rs. 14,300 as 10% of the total sale consideration and
another 15% amount i.e. Rs. 21,450 was paid on 26.12.1991. The allotment
letter was issued to the plaintiff on 16.11.1991. The remaining amount of
total sale consideration was to be paid either in lump sum without any
interest within a period of 60 days or in ten half yearly installments
with 15% interest. It was further stated that after the payment of 25% of
the sale consideration, the plaintiff had applied for delivery of
possession of booth site on 26.12.1991. The case set out in the plaint is
that the possession of booth was not delivered to the plaintiff. He had
addressed several letters. Reliance was placed upon the allotment letter
to show that the plaintiff was not liable to pay interest if the
possession is not delivered. It was further stated that no development
work had taken place in the area in view of letter dated 15.7.1992. A
grievance was made that the defendants were not justified to demand penal
interest and impose penalty upon the plaintiff without delivering
possession of the booth in dispute. It was stated that on 19.3.1995, a
letter was received wherein an offer to handover the possession was made
to the plaintiff. The plaintiff approached the defendants for handing
over the possession but the same was not delivered. Furthermore, the
plaintiff was forced to pay a sum of Rs. 20,000 on 19.11.1996, another
sum of Rs. 20,000 on 4.2.1997, Rs. 10,000 on 14.3.1997 and Rs. 60,000
on 2.9.1998. Thus, in all, the plaintiff had paid a sum of Rs. 1,45,750
against the original sale consideration of Rs. 1,43,000. The case of
plaintiff is that the possession was delivered on 3.9.1998, after a delay
of 6 years and 10 months. Reliance was placed upon Clauses 5 and 6 of the
allotment letter that interest would be paid only after the offer of
possession and furthermore the plaintiff was only to take possession
immediately after paying 15% of the sale consideration which was
paid on 26.12.1991. It was further stated that wrongly the booth in dispute was
resumed on 11.1.2001 and an appeal was filed by the plaintiff against the
impugned resumption order. At that time, Rs. 3,20,250 was found
outstanding against the plaintiff. The appeal, filed against the
resumption order, was also dismissed. Therefore, the suit was filed
praying that the appellants/defendants were not justified to raise demand
of Rs. 3,20,250 and also charge compound interest and additional interest
at the rate of 18% on the delayed instalment.
(2.) UPON notice, the defendants had caused appearance. They raised preliminary objections that in view of Section 50(2) of the Haryana Urban
Development Authority Act, 1977, the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to
try the suit and the suit filed by the plaintiff is not maintainable as
he had an alternative remedy. On merits, the defendants admitted the
averments made in the plaint regarding non delivery of possession
till 15.7.1992. However, it was stated that the plaintiff had failed to
deposit the instalments and furthermore the development work was
completed and the plaintiff was informed regarding it vide letter
dated 10.2.1993. The possession was offered calling upon the plaintiff to
deposit a sum of Rs. 40,560 due in respect of booth in question and only
then the possession was to be delivered. It was further stated that
instead of depositing the amount, the plaintiff continued to raise a
dispute that the defendants could not charge the interest. In paragraph 3
of the written statement, on merits, they denied the averments made by
the plaintiff that the defendants had refused to handover the possession.
It was further stated that since the amount of Rs. 3,20,250 was due,
therefore, the resumption order was passed.
After completion of the pleadings, the trial Court had drawn the following issues:-
"1. Whether the order of resumption dated 11.1.2001 passed by defendant is null and void? OPP 2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the relief of permanent injunction? OPP 3. Whether the jurisdiction of this Court is barred under section 50 (2) of HUDA Act, 1977? OPD 4. Whether the suit is not maintainable? OPD 5. Whether the plaintiff has concealed the true and material facts? OPD 6. Whether the plaintiff has no cause of action to file the present suit? OPD 7. Relief."
(3.) THE plaintiff examined Harish Gupta, General Power of Attorney, as PW.1, who had tendered into evidence his affidavit Ex.PW.1/A. Thereafter,
the plaintiff had closed his evidence. He had also proved documents Ex.P1
to Ex.P12. The defendants examined Kunwar Chand Rawat, Assistant, Office
of Estate Officer, HUDA, as DW.1 and proved documents Ex.D1 to Ex.D15.;