Full Text
NON
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION(C) NOS.1122511256 OF 2021
K. BALASUBRAMANI ETC. … PETITIONER(S)
REPRESENTED BY THE ADDITIONAL
CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
AND OTHERS ETC. … RESPONDENT(S)
J U DG M E N T
Sanjay Karol, J.
JUDGMENT
1. Briefly set out, the instant petitioners (hereinafter referred to as the “tenants”) were inducted as 1| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 tenants/licencees in different shops, vide different transactions, owned by the respondents herein (hereinafter referred to as the “landlords”). The respondentlandlords are managing the affairs of a temple, i.e., Arulmighu Dhandayuthpani Swamy Temple, Palani, under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”).
2. Posttermination of their original lease/licence period, the tenants stand declared as encroachers under the provisions of Section 78 of the Act. In terms of the impugned judgment and order dated 22.03.2021 passed in a batch of writ petitions initiated by the instant tenants, the High Court, while affirming the impugned action, directed the tenants to hand over the vacant and peaceful possession of the premises, individually occupied by each one of the tenants, to the landlord.
3. On 08.01.2024, when the matters came up for hearing, with an endeavor to have the dispute amicably resolved, putting an end to the protracted litigation, certain offers were exchanged between the parties through their respective 2| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 learned counsel. As such on a joint prayer, the matters were adjourned for today.
4. Appreciably, more so on account of the efforts put in by the learned counsel appearing for the respective parties, the lis inter se the parties stand resolved on the following mutually agreeable terms and on the basis of the instructions imparted to the learned counsel for the respective parties, as stated in the Court, these petitions are being disposed of in the following terms:
(i) The order of ejectment passed by the authorities under the provisions of the Act stands affirmed.
(ii) With respect to 19 tenants, particulars whereof are given herein below in a tabular chart, it shall be open for the landlord to forthwith initiate proceedings seeking possession in accordance with law. We are constrained to pass such an order for, despite opportunities afforded till date, they have not cleared arrears of rent/occupation charges.
S. NO.
NAME SHOP STATUS BEFORE THIS HON’BLE COURT
1. P. KANNAN S/D/W/Thru:- PARAMASIVAM THANDAPANI NILAYAM WEST, SHOP NO.2 PETITIONER NO.27
2. K. KUPPUSAMY S/D/W/Thru:- KARUPPANNAGOUNDER VELAN VAN VIDUTHI, SHOP NO.1 PETITIONER NO.37
3. A. BALAKRISHNAN S/D/W/Thru:- AZHAKUMARI VELAN VAN VIDUTHI SHOP NO.2 PETITIONER NO.38 3| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21
4. A. BALAKRISHNAN S/D/W/Thru:- AZHAKUMARI, SHOP NO.3 PETITIONER NO.38
5. R. MURUGANANTHAM S/D/W/Thru:- RAMASAMY SHOP NO.6 PETITIONER NO.39
6. R. MUTHUKUMAR S/D/W/Thru:- RAJIPILLAI PALAYAM VINAYAGAR KOIL SHOP NO.1 PETITIONER NO.40
7. S. LAKSHMANAN S/D/W/Thru:- SIVARAMA KOIL SHOP NO.2 PETITIONER NO.41
8. SUBBURAJ S/D/W/Thru:- PACHAMUTHU KOIL SHOP NO.3 PETITIONER NO.42
9. N. SHANMUGAM NATARAJACHETIER POONGA ROAD SHOP NO.2 PETITIONER NO.43
10.
P. ANGHULAKSHMI S/D/W/Thru:- SIVAPACKIAM SHOP NO.2 PETITIONER NO.44
11.
V. MARAGATHAM S/D/W/Thru:- VAIRAVAN SHOP NO.3 PETITIONER NO.45
12.
V. MARAGATHAM S/D/W/Thru:- VAIRAVAN SHOP NO.4 PETITIONER NO.45
13.
R. SUBRAMANIAN SHOP NO.5 PETITIONER NO.46
14.
G. THIRUGNANASAMBANDAM S/D/W/Thru:- GOVINDRAJ MATTAN THAMBIRAAN KOVIL SHOP NO.3 PETITIONER NO.51
15.
G. MATTAN SHOP NO.4
16.
G. MATTAN SHOP NO.5
17. S.R. VIJAYARAJAN S/D/W/Thru:- RASUPILLAI 2/121, VILPATTI, KODAIKANAL TALUK KOVIL SHOP NO.4 PETITIONER NO.85
18.
P. KANNAN S/D/W/Thru:- PARAMASIVAM THANDAPANI NILAYAM, SHOP NO.7 PETITIONER NO.27
19.
P. ANGHULAKSHMI S/D/W/Thru:- SIVAPACKIAM SIRUKUDIL SHOP NO.5 PETITIONER NO.44 4| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 NOTE: TOTAL S.NO 19 TOTAL SHOPS NO. 19
(iii) With respect to the remaining 51 tenants (total shops
65 in number) particulars whereof are given hereinbelow in a tabular chart, the petitions are disposed of on the following mutually agreed terms: S.NO.
STATUS BEFORE THIS HON’BLE COURT NAME SHOP
1. PETITIONER NO.1
K. BALASUBRAMANI
S/D/W/Thru:- KALIAPPAN KUDAMULAKKU SHOP NO.36 & 35
2. PETITIONER NO.2 ALAGURAJA S/D/W/Thru:- ARUMUGAM NO. 32
3. PETITIONER NO.3 C.V. JEEVANANTHAM S/D/W/Thru:- C. VAITHIANATHAN NO. 07 AND 08,
4. PETITIONER NO.4
P. PANDIAN
BALANARAYANACHETTIAR NO. 29,
5. PETITIONER NO.5
R. MARIYAPPAN
6. PETITIONER NO.6
K. THANGARAJ
S/D/W/Thru:- KALIMUTHU NO. 31
7. PETITIONER NO.7
V. SUBRAMANIAN
S/D/W/Thru:- VENKATACHALAM CHETTIAR NO. 11
8. PETITIONER NO.8 SWAMINATHAN S/D/W/Thru:- A. ALAGAPA CHETTIAR NO. 14,
9. PETITIONER NO.9
K. UTHIRAM S/D/W/Thru:-
KARUPPANAPILAI NO. 2 AND 3,
10.
PETITIONER NO.10
K. KUMAR
S/D/W/Thru:- KARUPPASAMY NO. 33,
11.
PETITIONER NO.11
K. DHANDAPANI
S/D/W/Thru:- KARUPPANAPILAI NO. 27,
12.
PETITIONER NO.12
K. BALASUBRAMANI
S/D/W/Thru:- KALIAPPAN NO. 20,21 &22,
13.
PETITIONER NO.13
G. GANESH
S/D/W/Thru:- GOPALAKRISHNAN NO. 12,
14.
PETITIONER NO.14 SENTHILANDAVAN S/D/W/Thru:- ALAGAPPA NO. 13, 5| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 CHETTIAR
15.
PETITIONER NO.15
K. BALAMURUGAN
S/D/W/Thru:- KALIMUTHU NO. 34,
16.
PETITIONER NO.16
P. VENKATESAPANDIAN
S/D/W/Thru:- PANNEERSELVAM NO. 10,
17.
PETITIONER NO.17 PANDIYARAJAN S/D/W/Thru:- PANNEERSELVAM NO. 9,
18.
PETITIONER NO.18
S. SENTHILKUMAR
S/D/W/Thru:- SIVASANKARAN NO. 5,
19.
PETITIONER NO.19 MANJULA S/D/W/Thru:- PERUMAL NO. 23,
20.
PETITIONER NO.20
A. KRISHNAN
S/D/W/Thru:- ARUNACHALAM NO. 25,
21.
PETITIONER NO.21
K. GOPALSAMY
S/D/W/Thru:- KRISHNASAMY NO. 6,
22.
PETITIONER NO.22
R. SUNDARESAN
S/D/W/Thru:- RENGASAMY NO. 1,
23.
PETITIONER NO.23 NAMAGIRITHAYAR S/D/W/Thru:- V. NAGARAJ NO. 30,
24.
PETITIONER NO.24
K. BAKTHAN
S/D/W/Thru:- KUNJUKANNAN DHANDAPANI NILAYAM SHOP NO. 6, `
25.
PETITIONER NO.25
A. BALASUBRAMANIAN
S/D/W/Thru:- ANGAMUTHU NILAYAM SHOP NO. 5,
26.
PETITIONER NO.26
G. KANNAN S/D/W/Thru:-
GANAPATHY NILAYAM SHOP NO.4
27.
PETITIONER NO.28
S. MUNIAPPAN
S/D/W/Thru:- SINGARAELU NILAYAM WEST SHOP NO.12
28.
PETITIONER NO.29 SARASWATHY S/D/W/Thru:- SRISAILAM NILAYAM SHOP NO.1
29.
PETITIONER NO.30
S. RAMACHANDRAN
SUBRAMANIYAIYYER NILAYAM SHOP NO.2
30.
PETITIONER NO.31
S. USHA RANI S/D/W/Thru:-
SAKTHIVEL NILAYAM SHOP NO.3
31.
PETITIONER NO.32 R.D.K. THANGARAJ (R.T.K. THANGARAJ) S/D/W/Thru:- KANDASAMY NILAYAM SHOP NO.10
32.
PETITIONER NO.34
V. BANUMATHI
S/D/W/Thru:- VENKATHACHALAM NILAYAM SHOP NO.8.
33.
PETITIONER NO.36
A. KARUNANIDHI
S/D/W/Thru:- AMIRTHA NILAYAM SHOP NO.11,
34.
PETITIONER NO.47
N. DHANSEKARAN
S/D/W/Thru:- NATRAYAN MANGAMMAL MANDAPAM SHOP 6| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 NO.1 35 PETITIONER NO.48
V. SHARADHA
S/D/W/Thru:- VELMURUGAN MANGAMMAL NO.3 36 PETITIONER NO.49
A. NAGARAJAN S/D/W/Thru:-
ANGUSAMY MANGAMMAL NO.4,[5] AND 6
37.
PETITIONER NO.50
V. PUSHPAVALLI
S/D/W/Thru:- VIJAYAKUMAR MANGAMMAL NO.7
38.
PETITIONER NO.52
C. KANNIAMMAL
S/D/W/Thru:- CHINNAPPA GOUNDER KAL MANDAPAM SHOP NO.1,
39.
PETITIONER NO.53
C. THANGAVEL S/D/W/Thru:-
CHELLAPPA KAL MANDAPAM SHOP NO.2
40.
PETITIONER NO.54
A. CHANDRAKALA
S/D/W/Thru:- ANGUSAMY SIRUKUDIL SHOP NO.2, 41 PETITIONER NO.55
N. GOPAL
S/D/W/Thru:- NITHYANANDHAM SIRUKUDIL SHOP NO.3 & 4
42.
PETITIONER NO.56
G. KULATHAIVELU
S/D/W/Thru:- GURUNATHAN SIRUKUDIL SHOP NO.6
43.
PETITIONER NO.57
D. KARTHIKEYAN
S/D/W/Thru:- DHANDAPANI OLD HEAD OFFICE SHOP NO.1 & 4 KUDAMULAKKU, SHOP NO.15 & 16
44.
PETITIONER NO.58
V. PERIYASAMY
S/D/W/Thru:- VILANGADIAN SHOP NO.2
45.
PETITIONER NO.59
P. MANIKANDAN
S/D/W/Thru:- PALANISAMY SHOP NO.3
46.
PETITIONER NO.69
G. GANESH
S/D/W/Thru:- GOGULAKRISHNAN NO.28
47.
PETITIONER NO.72
C. LAKSHMIPATHYRAJU
S/D/W/Thru:- CHELLAMUTHU NO.18 & 19
48.
PETITIONER NO.75
S. KARUPASAMY
S/D/W/Thru:- SOMASUNDARAM NO.24 & 26
49.
PETITIONER NO.84
M. VELUMANI S/D/W/Thru:-
MURUGAN SIRUKUDIL SHOP NO.1
50.
RESPONDENT NO.6
J. IYYAPPAN S/D/W/THRU.GOPAL
51.
RESPONDENT NO.5
V. SURESH BABU (RESPONDENT
NO.5) NILAYAM SHOP NO.9 NOTE: TOTAL S.NO 51 TOTAL SHOPS NO. 65 a) The order of ejectment qua all these 51 tenants stand affirmed. However, as mutually agreed, they are 7| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 allowed to occupy the premises for a further period of six months. These tenants, through their respective counsel have undertaken to hand over the vacant and peaceful possession of the respective demised premises under their occupation to the landlord on or before 31st July, 2024. These tenants shall be liable to pay rent as it stood revised in the year 2015 and not in the year 2018. As such, not only shall they clear all arrears of rent/damages/mesne profit, if any, within a period of four months from today, but also continue to pay the same at the rates revised in the year 2015 for such period they shall continue to occupy the premises. b)These tenants shall not cause any damage to the properties, create any encumbrance, or transfer possession, in any manner, of the demised premises. c) These tenants shall continue to use and occupy the property and enjoy the same strictly in terms of the municipal bylaws. No further construction, more so unauthorized in nature, shall be carried out by them. d) Before handing over the possession of the demised premises, these tenants shall clear all statutory dues as mutually agreed inter se the parties. e) For the period of 280 days for which the petitioners could not fully utilize the demised premises during the pandemic COVID19, they shall be liable to pay agreed rent/charges only @50%. Clarifying further, the rent/charges shall be paid at the rates 8| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21 revised in the year 2015 and not in 2018 and the period of 280 days shall be computed commencing from 20.03.2020. f) It is clearly understood inter se parties that the landlords intend to develop the property, providing better facilities to the pilgrims. However, should the landlord ever carry out development, by constructing shops, in that event these tenants (51 in number) shall be given preferential treatment, subject of course, to their participating in the process of allotment and matching the price bid of the highest bidder. g) In the event the tenant(s) violating any of these terms, it shall be open to the landlord(s) to initiate the proceedings for obtaining possession in terms of the order of ejectment and also initiate proceedings for contempt, if so advised. h) Needless to add, the landlord(s) shall not cause any hindrance in the peaceful occupation and enjoyment of the demised premises by these tenants. i) All pending litigation(s), if any, inter se the parties in relation to the demised premises shall stand closed. j) These tenants shall file an undertaking before this Court agreeing to the aforesaid terms, within a period of three weeks from today. 9| SLP(C)NO.11225-56/21
5. The petitions shall stand disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. ……………..…………J. (J.K. MAHESHWARI) …………….…………J. (SANJAY KAROL) New Delhi; February 23, 2024.