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2007 DIGILAW 2561 (MAD)

R. Uma v. The Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Dept.

2007-08-14

K.SUGUNA, SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA

body2007
Judgment :- S.J. Mukhopadhaya, J. The writ petition has been preferred by the petitioner against the proceedings contained in letter No: Aa.Va.B. 8/23472/2002 dated 28th July 2004 by which the petitioner has been asked to deposit the rent for quarters No: J 29 for the period from 29.05.2002 to 210. 2003. As the case may be disposed of on a short point, it is not necessary to discuss all the facts except the relevant one. 2. Petitioner, who is a Government servant, was allotted quarters No: X 22 in Fore Short Estate, Pattinapakkam, Chennai – 600 028, under TNGRHS Scheme. The petitioner occupied the said quarters. But being not satisfied with it, she requested for change of quarters. Having accepted such prayer, the respondent State re-allotted Apartment No: J – 29 by Government Letter No: 14762/HB3(1)/2002-I dated 29th May, 2002. The following conditions were stipulated therein: "1. Petitioner to pay the rent for the quarters allotted under this order from the date of allotment of the said order i.e. 29.05.2002; 2. Petitioner will immediately vacate the quarters which she was occupying; Till she vacates the earlier quarters, she will not only pay the rent of the quarters subsequently allotted, but also pay the rent of the quarters already under occupation and 3. In case, she is not inclined to accept the re-allotment, then she will have to pay rent till the said quarters is re-allotted to some other person; " By the said order, some other quarters were also allotted in favour of one or the other employee, with the same conditions. 3. The petitioner, having not satisfied with the allotment of Quarters No: J 29, requested for re-allotment of another quarters. The State Government accepted such prayer and by an order dated 4th July, 2002, it changed the allotment and re-allotted the quarters RD No: 16 to the petitioner. The Tamil Nadu Housing Board, vide their letter No: Aa.Va.B.3-4/35039/2001 dated 16th July, 2002 communicated the said order to the petitioner with the following conditions: " 1. Petitioner must vacate quarters No: X - 22 within 22.07.2002; 2. She will pay the rent for Quarters No: RD 16 with effect from 04.07.2002 i.e. the date on which the Government Order is issued. .3. For the quarters which was in her occupation, she must pay rent till it is re-allotted to other person. ...." .There are some other conditions also. She will pay the rent for Quarters No: RD 16 with effect from 04.07.2002 i.e. the date on which the Government Order is issued. .3. For the quarters which was in her occupation, she must pay rent till it is re-allotted to other person. ...." .There are some other conditions also. But they are irrelevant for determination of the present case. .4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that charging of rent for the same period in respect of two quarters is illegal particularly when the petitioner has not occupied Quarters No: J 29 at any point of time. In the writ petition, it is also alleged that the living condition at Quarters No: X 22 as also at Quarters No: J 29 was not upto the standard. But, the respondents have disputed the same. 5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board referred to different letters of allotment and the conditions prescribed therein and submitted that the petitioner is bound to obey the condition of allotment, it having been mentioned that the petitioner was asked to pay the rent for Quarters No: J 29 from the date of allotment i.e. 29.05.2002 till the said quarters is re-allotted in favour of some other person. In the present case, the quarters No: J 29 having been allotted to other person on 210. 2003, the petitioner is liable to pay rent for the period from 29.05.2002 to 27.07.2003 apart from 36 months rent for Quarters No: X 22, which was in his occupation. 6. We have noticed the rival contentions made by the parties and perused the relevant order issued by the State Government and Housing Board from time to time. 7. The petitioner having actually occupied the Quarters No: X 22 for a period of about 36 months and having vacated the said quarters and taken possession of Quarters No: RD 16 on 16th July, 2002, she is liable to pay rent of Quarters No: X 22 for such 36 months on and from 16th July, 2002. She having taken possession of Quarters No: RD 16 is also liable to pay rent of the said flat. She having taken possession of Quarters No: RD 16 is also liable to pay rent of the said flat. So far as Quarters No: J 29 is concerned, it was allotted in favour of petitioner on 29th May, 2002 and as per the terms and conditions, she is liable to pay the rent of the said quarters from 29.05.2002 even if she has not occupied the same. However, the question arises whether she is liable to pay rent for the subsequent period from 04.07.2002 onwards, petitioner having allotted Quarters No: RD 16 and having asked to pay rent for RD 16 from 4th July 2002. As evident from the impugned order dated 28th July, 2004 that the petitioner has been asked to deposit the rent not only form 29.05.2002 to 03.07.2002, i.e. till the date of allotment of quarters No: RD 16 was made in her favour, but also for the subsequent period on the ground that the quarters is allotted to other person on 210. 2003, we are of the opinion that the respondent cannot take advantage of their latches by asking for the rent for the period when the petitioner was admittedly put in possession of Quarters No: RD-16 with effect from 4th July 2002. If the respondent failed to allot the quarters No: J-29 in favour of some other person though it was known to them that the allotment of J-29 in favour of the petitioner stood cancelled on re-allotment of Quarters No: RD 16, the petitioner cannot suffer for the same. 8. Having regard to the facts that the allotment of Quarters No: J-29, in favour of some other Government employee since 4th July 2002, was not in the hands of the petitioner, the respondents cannot ask for payment of rent from the petitioner for the subsequent period i.e. from 7. 2002 to 210. 2003, in respect of Quarters No: J-29. For the reasons aforesaid, we set aside that part of the impugned order dated 28th July 2004 by which the petitioner has been asked to pay rent for Quarters No: J-29 for the period from 4th July, 2002 to 210. 2003. 9. 2002 to 210. 2003, in respect of Quarters No: J-29. For the reasons aforesaid, we set aside that part of the impugned order dated 28th July 2004 by which the petitioner has been asked to pay rent for Quarters No: J-29 for the period from 4th July, 2002 to 210. 2003. 9. For proper appreciation, we make it clear that the petitioner will be liable to pay rent, in respect of different periods, as follows : .(i) rent of 36 months in respect of Quarters No: X 22 which was in her actual occupation; .(ii) rent of Quarters No: J 29, for the period from 29.05.2002 to 03.07.2002 and (iii) rent of Quarters No: RD 16 from 04.07.2002 onwards till she vacates the said quarters. We direct the petitioner to pay the rent as aforesaid, if not yet paid, within a period of four weeks failing which it will be open to the respondents to charge interest in accordance with law. With the above said observations and directions, this writ petition stands allowed in part. However, there shall be no orders as to the costs.