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2022 DIGILAW 109 (GUJ)

Manoj Kumar Jayantibhai Patel v. Indian Oil Corporation Limited

2022-01-19

ASHOKKUMAR C.JOSHI

body2022
JUDGMENT : Ashokkumar C. Joshi, J. 1. Rule. 2. This petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India is preferred by the petitioners-original appellants praying for to issue appropriate writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside the impugned order dated 16.03.2021, passed by the learned Appellant Authority and Principal District Judge, Sabarkantha @ Himmatnagar in Regular Civil Appeal No. 24/2015, whereby, the learned Appellate Judge was pleased to confirm the order dated 07.04.2015, passed by the Estate officer , Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Competent Authority) in Proceedings No. RAK/EVC/2014(7)/Salal and further prayed to dismiss the Eviction Petition filed by the respondent No. 1 herein. 3. Heard, learned advocate Mr. Vikram Thakor for the petitioners and learned senior advocate Mr. M.R. Bhatt with learned advocate Mr. Munjal M. Bhatt for the respondent. 3.1. The learned advocate for the petitioners has submitted that eviction proceedings were initiated at the instance of respondent No. 1 on the basis of right of IBP, original lessee to respondent No. 1-IOC in pursuance to the merger of IBP in IOC by amalgamation scheme dated 02.05.2007. However, no such amalgamation scheme or any order of merger and/or transferring the leasehold right of IBP to the respondent No. 1-IOC is there and accordingly, in the absence of any order or amalgamation scheme on record of the case, no proceedings at the instance of respondent No. 1 can be initiated since the subject property does not satisfy the requirement of "public premises", more particularly, the words "taken on lease" as defined in Section 2(e) of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 (herein after referred to as "the Public Premises Act"). It does not satisfy the requirements of Section 394(2) of the Companies Act, 1956 since, indisputably IBP has not transferred its right to IOC as per clause (h) of the lease deed dated 04.10.2002. 3.2. It is further submitted that the Estate officer , who is an employee of the respondent No. 1-IOC, has acted as a competent authority under the Public Premises Act in pursuance to the Gazette of India, Department of Petroleum dated 23.01.2008 published on 02.02.2008. However, no such notification is produced on record of the case as per the knowledge of the petitioners nor any copy of such notification is provided to the petitioners. However, no such notification is produced on record of the case as per the knowledge of the petitioners nor any copy of such notification is provided to the petitioners. Thus, in the absence of any notification on record, the Estate officer of the respondent No. 1 cannot be said to be the competent authority under the Public Premises Act. 3.3. It is further stated that as per the Lease Deed, monthly rent is more than Rs. 8,000/- but the agreed rent as per the lease deed is not paid nor any evidence in respect of payment of rent is produced. Further, no rent is paid since 2013 and therefore, in the absence of evidence showing the continuous payment rent, no eviction proceedings of the petitioner Nos. 1 and 2, the original owner can be initiated on the ground of subsistence of lease deed. 3.4. The learned advocate for the petitioners further submitted that the possession of the subject property sought by the respondent No.1 to run petrol pump by appointing some other third party, however, the petitioner Nos.1 and 2 are also willing to run the said petrol pump. Therefore, instead of evicting the petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 from their own land, if they are allowed to run the petrol pump, the controversy can come to an end and the grievance of both the side can be resolved. 3.5. The learned advocate for the petitioners, relying upon the decision of the Apex Court in IOC Ltd. v. Shashi Prabha Sukla, (2018) 12 SCC 85 (paragraphs 21 and 22), submitted that, after the cancellation of dealership, lease does not subsist between the parties. 3.6. It is further submitted that in view of arbitration clause in M&H Contract, eviction proceedings under the Public Premises Act is not maintainable against the petitioner No. 3 also. Further, since the petitioner No. 3 is not in possession, for that reason also the eviction proceedings are not maintainable. 3.7. Making above submissions, it is urged that present petition may be allowed and the impugned orders may be set aside. 3.8. In support, the learned advocate for the petitioners has further relied upon the decisions in Delhi Development Authority v. Nalwa Sons Investment Ltd., Laws (SC) 2019 4 102 and in Sudhi S. Mehta v. Custodian, Laws (SC) 2008 533 4. Per contra, learned senior advocate Mr. 3.8. In support, the learned advocate for the petitioners has further relied upon the decisions in Delhi Development Authority v. Nalwa Sons Investment Ltd., Laws (SC) 2019 4 102 and in Sudhi S. Mehta v. Custodian, Laws (SC) 2008 533 4. Per contra, learned senior advocate Mr. M.R. Bhatt for the respondent submitted that the issue is squarely covered by the decision of this Court in Satpalsinh Harbhanslal Arora v. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., 2020 (4) GLH (NOC) 1, which is confirmed by the Apex Court in Special Leave Petition Nos. 7239-7241/2020 by order dated 09.06.2020. The learned senior advocate for the respondent has also, referring to the decision of the Apex Court in Rahul Yadav and Another v. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and Others, (2015) 9 SCC 447 submitted that, as held in the said decision, lease agreement and dealership agreement are independent of each other and have no connection with one another. Thus, making such submissions, he submitted that the petition being devoid of any merits, requires to be dismissed. 5. The Court has considered the rival submissions as also perused the material on record vis-a-vis perused the decisions relied upon by the learned advocates for the respective parties. 5.1. At the outset, it may not be out of place to mention here that the issue raised in the present petition is squarely covered by the decision of this Court in Satpalsinh Harbhanslal Arora v. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (supra), which is confirmed by the Apex Court in Special Leave Petition Nos. 7239-7241/2020 by order dated 09.06.2020 and accordingly, the Court deems it not to elaborate on merits of the case on hand and dispose this petition. 6. In aforesaid view of the matter, the petition fails in view of the decision of this Court in Satpalsinh Harbhanslal Arora v. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., 2020 (4) GLH (NOC) 1, which is confirmed by the Apex Court in Special Leave Petition Nos. 7239-7241/2020 by order dated 09.06.2020, in terms of the said decision. Rule is discharged. No order as costs.