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Writ Petitions for Occupancy Certificates

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23 views69 pages

Writ Petitions for Occupancy Certificates

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pritishbhoye
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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17-ASWP-1383-2023+.

DOC

Ashwini

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY


CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 1383 OF 2023

Aaiji Group …Petitioner


Versus
The Additional Town Planning Officer (CIDCO) …Respondents
& Ors

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 1384 OF 2023

Kamdhenu Devkrupa Realtors LLP through ...Petitioner


Partner Karan Surinder Sabholk
Versus
The Additional Town Planning Officer & Ors ...Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 1385 OF 2023

Girraj Corporation & Anr ...Petitioners


Versus
The Additional Town Planning Officer (CIDCO) ...Respondents
& Ors

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO. 1386 OF 2023

Meghna Infra Project ...Petitioner


Versus
The Additional Town Planning Officer & Ors ...Respondents

Page 1 of 6
6th February 2023
17-ASWP-1383-2023+.DOC

Mr Suresh Sabrad, with Jeetenndra Sachhdev, Amey Sawant, Gracy


Saldana & Abubakar Patel, i/b JS Legal, for the Petitioners in all
Writ Petitions.
Mr Siddharth Shitole, i/b Ashutosh Kulkarni, for the Respondent-
CIDCO.
Mrs PN Diwan, AGP, for the Respondent-State.

CORAM G.S. Patel &


Dr Neela Gokhale, JJ.
DATED: 6th February 2023
PC:-

1. In all these matters, the Petitioners seek an order against


CIDCO to issue an Occupancy Certificate. We are told that these
Occupancy Certificates have been delayed (not refused) because of
the pendency of some PILs. Our attention is drawn to a previous
order dated 8th December 2022. A copy of that order is at page 68
of Writ Petition No. 12452 of 2022. We reproduce that from pages
68 to 69.
“The Petitioner seeks occupancy certificate.”
2 We have heard learned Counsel for the Petitioner
and Respondents.
3 Reference is made to the orde3r dated 20th January,
2019 in Writ Petition (St.) No.251 of 2020 passed by the
coordinate Bench of this Court in similar matter.
4 In light of that, we adopt the same course and pass
the similar order.
5 The Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 shall consider the
application of the Petitioner and grant of occupancy

Page 2 of 6
6th February 2023
17-ASWP-1383-2023+.DOC

certificate in respect of construction of Plot No.100, Sector


No.18, Ulwe Node (12.5% scheme), Navi Mumbai on its
own merit. The said decision shall be taken preferably
within two months from today.
6 In case of Occupancy Certificate is granted in favour
of the Petitioner by CIDCO, then the same shall be subject
to final outcome of PIL No. 154 of 2016 and PIL No121 and
122 of 2019. It is further made clear that the Petitioner
herein or any other person claiming through the Petitioner
shall not be entitled to claim any equity in the event the
orders in PIL No.154 of 2016 and/or PIL No.121 and 122 of
2019 are adverse to the interest of the Petitioner herein or
the person claiming through the Petitioner.
7 We have passed the order in view of the fact that the
coordinate Bench has already taken the similar view and
decide the matter.
8 Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.”

2. There is a similar order of 2nd January 2023 at page 70 which


reads thus:
“Rule. [Link], waives service for Respondent Nos.1
and 2-CIDCO. Ms.K.N. Solunke, AGP for State-
Respondent No.3. Rule is made returnable forthwith.
2 By this Petition filed under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India, the Petitioner seeks a writ of
Mandamus directing the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to grant
Occupancy Certificate for the building situate at Plot No.
97, admeasuring 1949.64 sq. meters at Section 18 Pt., Ulwe
Node Tal. Panvel, Dist. Raigad.
3 It is not in dispute that the application for
Occupancy Certificate is pending on the ground that Public
Interest Litigation relating to the subject matter is still

Page 3 of 6
6th February 2023
17-ASWP-1383-2023+.DOC

pending before this Court.


4 We have perused the judgment delivered by this
Court on 29.01.2020 in Writ Petition (St.) No.251 of 2020
in case of Pankaj Shankarlal Bhanushali & Ors. Vs. The
Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of
City of Panvel & Ors. And also order dated 21.10.2022
passed by Division Bench of this Court in Writ Petition
No.11359 of 2022 in case of Reddy’s Infrastructure Pvt.
Ltd. & Anr. Vs. The City and Industrial Development
Corporation of Maharashtra Limited & Ors. Directing
the authority to grant Occupancy Certificate in respect of
the subject property on its own merits within a period of
two months from the date of order subject to the final out
come of PIL No.154 of 2016 and PIL Nos.121 and 122 of
2019.
5 We adopt the same course and pass the following
order:
a) CIDCO shall consider the application of the
Petitioner for grant of Occupancy Certificate on its
own merits, in respect of property described in
prayer Clause (a) of the petition within two months
from today.
b) In case, the Occupancy Certificate is granted
in favour of the Petitioner by the CIDCO, the same
shall be subject to final out come of PIL No.154 of
2016 and PIL Nos.121 and 122 of 2019.
c) It is made clear that the Petitioner or any
other persons claiming through petitioner shall not
be entitled to claim any equity in the event the order
or proceedings are adverse to the interest of the
Petitioner or a person claiming through the
Petitioner.
d) We have passed this order in view of the fact

Page 4 of 6
6th February 2023
17-ASWP-1383-2023+.DOC

that our co-ordinate bench has also already taken


similar view and decided the matter more
particularly in Writ Petition (St.) No.251 of 2020.
e) Rule is made absolute in the aforesaid terms.
Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs.
Parties to act on the authenticated copy of this
order.”

3. In all four Petitions, we adopt the same course. We issue Rule.


Rule is made returnable forthwith. Rule is made absolute to the
following terms:

(a) CIDCO shall consider the application of the Petitioners


for an Occupancy Certificate on merits in respect of the
properties described in the respective Petitions within
sixty days from today.

(b) If the Occupancy Certificate is granted to the Petitioner


by CIDCO, this will be subject to the final outcome of
PIL No. 154 of 2016, PIL No. 121 of 2019 and PIL No.
122 of 2019.

(c) The grant of an Occupancy Certificate will not entitle


the Petitioners to claim any equities if the order in the
PILs is adverse to the interest of the Petitioners.

4. This order is passed since coordinate Benches of our Court


have taken an identical view.

5. The Writ Petitions are disposed of in these terms.

Page 5 of 6
6th February 2023
17-ASWP-1383-2023+.DOC

6. There will be no order as to costs.

(Dr Neela Gokhale, J) (G. S. Patel, J)

Page 6 of 6
6th February 2023

Common questions

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The court's decision ensures uniformity by adopting the same legal considerations and directives for all related petitions, thus treating them with the same principles and legal reasoning. This approach not only expedites judicial processes but also minimizes discrepancies in individual case outcomes, emphasizing the application of equitable treatment across similar legal scenarios, as reflected by past decisions .

The court's statement means that even if the occupancy certificates are granted, they do not bestow any lasting beneficial legal rights upon the recipients or third parties if the pending PILs' findings are against their interests. This condition protects the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring that temporary administrative measures—like granting certificates—do not undermine potential judicial findings that might necessitate different outcomes. This implies a recognition that the outcome of PILs has supremacy over conditional administrative approvals .

The court stipulated that granting an occupancy certificate does not entitle petitioners to claim any equities if the outcomes of the pending PILs are adverse to their interests. This means that even if the occupancy certificates are issued, they could potentially be nullified depending on the final results of the PIL proceedings .

The delay in the issuance of occupancy certificates is directly related to the pendency of public interest litigations (PILs). The court documents indicate that the issuance of the certificates is being held pending the final outcomes of PIL No. 154 of 2016 and PIL Nos. 121 and 122 of 2019, which impact the legal standing of these certificates .

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plays a pivotal role as its pending status acts as a legal barrier, delaying the issuance of occupancy certificates. The court has mandated that the granting of these certificates should be contingent upon the final outcomes of the PILs. This indicates the potential impact of these PILs on the legality and enforceability of the occupancy certificates, demonstrating how PILs can influence regulatory actions pending their resolution .

The High Court relied on the principle of judicial consistency, whereby it adopted similar courses of action as decided by coordinate Benches in previous cases. The court chose to follow the precedent set in other writ petitions by directing CIDCO to consider the applications for occupancy certificates on their merits and subject to the outcomes of pending PILs, thus ensuring uniformity in judicial decisions .

The significance of the previous order on January 20, 2019, lies in its use as a precedent that guides the current judicial decision-making process. By leveraging this past order, the court is able to justify similar directives in the present cases, thereby upholding the principle of stare decisis to ensure continuity and predictability in legal reasoning .

The court ruled that there would be no order as to costs for the writ petitions. This reflects a decision to not impose legal costs on any party involved in the petitions, which is a common practice in many judicial cases to reduce financial burdens .

The court directed CIDCO to consider the applications for occupancy certificates within sixty days from the date of the order. This timeframe was set to ensure a prompt administrative process while still allowing for the necessary evaluations .

The petition for a writ of Mandamus was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. This article empowers High Courts to issue certain writs, including Mandamus, to any person or authority within their jurisdictions to enforce the rights conferred under Part III of the Constitution and for any other purpose .

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