Bareilly Development Authority & Anr. v. Ajai Pal Singh & Ors.

1 I S. RATNAVEL PANDIAN, J. These five appeals by Special ~ E Leave under Article 136 of the Constitution of India are preferred against the Judgment and Order dated 6.2.86 passed by the Allahabad High Court in Civil Misc. _Writ Petition No. 2274/84 connected with Civil Misc. Writ Petition Nos. 2983/84, 3860/84, 4558/84 & 3202/84 directing the respondents (appellants herein) to re-determine the cost of the appellants' (respondents herein) flats and instalments payable . F by them after hearing their grievances. _ _,, _ "'i Since identical contentions are urged in all the appeals, we are rendering a common judgment. As it is said that Civil Appeal No, 2809/86 arising out of Civil G Misc. Writ Petition No. 2274/84 is more comprehensive and the facts alleged therein may be taken as representative in character, the facts relating to this appeal are briefly stated. l The Bareilly Development Authority (hereinafter referred as 'BDA'), the first appellant was constituted under Section 4 of the U .P. H Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 by the State Government + BAREILL Y DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY v. A.P. SINGH [PANDIAN, J.] 747 for the purposes of development in the District of Bareilly. With a view to easing the acute housing problem in the said District, the BOA A has undertaken construction of dwelling units for people belonging to different income groups styled as 'Lower Income Group', ·'Middle Income Group', 'High Income Group' and the 'Economically Weaker Sections' (herein'after referred as LIG, MIG, HIG and EWS respec­ tively). The BOA issued an advertisement offering to register names . B of intending applicants desirous of purchasing dwelling houses/flats in ally one of the different incom.e groups intended to be constructed by the BOA. In this appeal i.e. Civil Appeal No. 2809/86, the respon­ dents 1 to 17 and.20 got themselves'registered for allotment of flats in MIG scheme and respondents 18 and 19 in HIG scheme with the BOA in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the brochure issued by the Authority. The following table of the brochure shows the necessary details inclusive of the estimated cost for the different types of flats under various categories: Cost Initial Interest Approx Type of Rang0 of House Income payment· monthly D instalment MIG HIG "1 "" EWS Rs.1000 to Rs.64,000 Rs.5000. 12% Rs.1500 p.m. Rs.1500and Rs.1;15,000 Rs.7000 12%. abovep.m. · Rs.351 to Rs.35,000 Rs.2000 11% Rs.lOOOp.m. Rs.350 p.m. Rs.11,000 Rs.100 7% Rs.551 p.m. for 15 yrs. Rs.1440 p.m. for 10 yrs. Rs.345 p.m. for 15 yrs. Rs.89 p.m. for 20 yrs. ).- The note under the 'General Information Table' given in the said brochure states that the cost shown·therein is only estimated cost and it would increase or decrease according to the rise or fall in the price at the time of completion of the houses/flats. All the respondents registered their names for MIG, HIG and H EWS flats as the case may be and made the initial deposit. There­ after, the respondents in MIG group received indentical notices dated 19/20.1.84 from the Secretary, Bareilly Development Authority (second appellant) intimating that the· revised cost of .houses/flats of MIG group as well as the amount of monthly instalment would be as follows: l. No. of houses available 77 .. 2. · Cost of the house Rs.1,27,000 y.. •' i 3. Down payment to be made/ Rs.35,000 -~ paid on allotment 4. No. of monthly instalment 180 fixed for the payment of remaining amount 5. Rate of yearly interest 13.5% 6. Amount of monthly instalment Rs. l ,031.50 with interest. By the said notice, the respondents in MIG group were informed that 40% of the houses/flats mentioned in the notice would be given to the allottees who would deposit the entire cost in one cash payment and that the other allottees who intend to buy houses/flats on the above revised price/instalments must send by 28.1.84 their written acceptance on the annexed proforma to the Registration Section of the , ~ + - ' ~ office of the BDA otherwise their Claims would not be included in the------.~ lots to be drawn on 31.1.1984. Except the respondents Nos. 13, 17, 18 · and 20, all other respondents in reply to those notices gave their une- quivocal and unconditional written consent. Hence their names were included in the draw and on becing lucky in the draw, the respondents barring the above 4 were allotted their respective houses. After allot- ment, they were asked to complete the other formalities and make down payments in accordance with the notice dated 19/20.1:1984, by a further notice dated 3.2.1984 (Annexure 'F'). Similar notices were issued to all the registered allottees for all types of houses and the respondents were also intimated that in caseany of the registered persons does not want to purchase the house, his name would not be included in the draw but he would have his choice later on. BAREILLY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY v. A.P. SINGH [PANDIAN, J.] 749 At this .stage, all the respondents in these appeals approached A the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challeng- ing the revised terms and conditions of the BDA on the ground that the petitioners were estopped from changing the conditions subject to which the respondents-applicants had applied for registration and deposited tlfe·initial payment in the year 1980; that the enhancement of cost of the house/flat amounting almost double of the estimated B cost as shown in the brochure while .inviting the applications and the increase of the monthly instalments are much beyond the means of the respondents and that this arbitrary and unilateral stand of the peti- • '): ·• tioners is to the prejudice of the respondents. On the above conten- ['- tions, the respondents prayed in their respective petitions for issue of writ of mandamus directing the petitioners to maintain the allotment C of the flats in th,efr favour on the original terms and conditions, to hand over the possession of the same and further to restrain the petitioners from cancelling the original allotment. The above plea was resisted by ). I the petitioners strongly relying on certain conditions contained in the brochure especially of clauses 12 and 13 as per which the BDA has reserved its discretion to change, alter or modify any of the terms D and/or conditions of the allotment given in the brochure; that its deci­ sion would be final with regard to any matter concerning the registra­ tion and allotment and that the BDA has right to relax any condition in -+ its discretion. It has been further contended that respondents barring 13, 17, 18 and 20 have given their written acceptance -to the changed conditions as mentioned in the notice dated 19/20.1.1984 and as such they are not entitled to the reliefs claimed in the writ petition. Accord­ ing to the petitioners the increase in the· cost and the , interest demanded froin the respondents is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable and the High Court is not the proper forum for examining in detail the . . ---~t~rms regarding payment of instalments in the ·circumstances of the ·-·-\' 1, present case, and if the respondents were not agreeable to the changed terms and "conditions, they could as well resile from their consent. Finally, it was contended that the respondents are es topped from chal­ lenging the varied terms and conditions of the allotment after ·having consented. )r The High Court though repelled the co.ntention of the respon- G dents (allottees) base,d on the principle of promissory estoppel, made the following observations with regard to the case of the respondents in the MIG category: " "In the circumstances of the present case the fixation of monthly instalment to the tune of Rs.1031.50 from the H 750 .. - • petitioners of MIG group whose income is hardly Rs.1500 per month appears to us smacking of arbitrariness ai1d un­ reasonableness on the part of the contesting opposite party (petitioners herein)"; "In the circumstances of the present case, 'we are not satisfied that the contesting opposite party has succeeded in establishing its demand of double the estimated cost . by facts and figures. The end of justice demands that the authority should refix the cost of the petitioner's flats after hearing their grievance." The High Court answered the objections taken by the petitioners herein that the respondents have consented for the changed terms and conditions observing, "We think that the consent obtained from the petitioners was also not reasonable act on the part of the contesting opposite parties (appellants herein)". Finally, the High Court adopt­ ing the above reasoning in respect of the cases of other respondents O also falling under various categories directed the appellants herein in all the writ petitions "to re-determine the cost of the petitiioners' (respondents herein) flats and instalments payable by them after hearing their grievances." Being aggrieved by the impugned judgment the appellants have E filed these appeals by special leave. Shri Rajinder Sachher, Sr. Adv. after taking us through the relevant documents and the additional affidavit filed by the second respondent and the reply affidavit assailed the reasonings given by the + High Court contending that the said Court has erroneously held that' l __ F the BOA has failed to justify the demand of the enhancement in the,. ""~ cost of houses/flats as well as the increase of the monthly instalments in disproportionate to their income, because the income of the appli- cant was relevant only to determine the category of the scheme in which the applicant had to be included for eligibility to get a house/flat under the scheme but not for enhancement of the cost of the houses/ G flats and monthly instalments. According to him since the declared policy of the BOA being 'No Profit No Loss', it. had fixed the cost of -.I_ the houses/flats and the rate of instalments after taking into considera- tion of the escalation of the building material, labour charges, cost of transport and the allied valuable factors which all enter into the price fixation, and as such the High Court is not correct in going into the H question of computation of cost of the construction of houses/flats and BAREILLY DEVELOPMENTAUTHORITY v. A.P. SINGH [PANDIAN, J.] 751 ' -"f- the. plea of clerical mistakes exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226. of the Constitution of India. He further submits that the High Court has gone wrong in importing the principle laid down in Ramana Dayaram Shetty v. The International Airport Authority of India & Ors., AIR 1979 Supreme Court 1628 to the present facts and circum­ stances of the case in view of the fact that in price fixation the execu- --"' )( tive has a wide discretion and it is only answerable provided there; is any statutory control over its policy of price fixation and it is not the function of the High Court to sit in judgment over such matters of economic policy. It has been vehemently urged that after the parties • ). · have entered into the field of ordinary contract, the relations are no r'·longer covered by the constitutional provisions but by the legally valid co.ntract which determines the rights and obligations of the parties inter-Se- The fact that all respondents had applied for registration only on acceptance of terms and conditions contained in the brochure inclusive of Clauses 12 & 13 as well as the conditions mentioned in the Notes 1 and 2 of the 'General Information Table' of the said brochure, and D further the respondents barring respondents Nos. 13, 17, 18 and 20 in MIG group gave their reply accepting the changed terms and condi­ tions as per letter dated 19/20.1.1984 cannot be challenged in view of ·+ the· unassailable documentary evidence namely Annexures 'A', 'D', 'E' and 'F-'. Now, we shall reproduce some of the relevant conditions of the brochure as well as the changed conditions contained in the letter dajed 19/20.1.1984. Clauses 12 and 13 of the brochure issued by the BDA and the notes 1 and 2 of the General Information Table thereto . kead thus: ·--~ - F \ Clause 12 For allotment by lottery all the above-mentioned terms and rules given in the booklet would ordinarily be followed but the Development Authority will have the right to change, enhance or amend any of the terms and/or condition as and when it thinks necessary and at its discretion. G Clause 13 The ·decision of the Development Authority in regard to any matter in rela_tion to the registration application will be final. It would have the right to relax any of the conditions at its discretion': The right to sell by auction the Middle H ,. 752 . SUPREME COURT REPORTS ·~ [19S9) I S.C.R. Income Group and Higher Income Group plots/houses or ->r-­ any portion thereof, of the various schemes, will also vest in the Development Authority. General Information Table * * * Note: (1) The cost shown in the column 4 is only estimated cost. It will increase or decrease according to the rise or fall in the price at the time of completion of the property. - c • Note: (2) The data given in the above mentioned table can ~ be amended as felt necessary. The last paragraph of the letter dated 19/20.1.84 (Annexure 'D') D reads thus: "If you want to buy the house on the above price/instal­ ment then you must send by 28.1.1984 your written accept- ance on the annexed proforma to the Registration Section + of this office." It may be mentioned here that in this letter (Annexure 'D'), the BDA has informed the allottees of MIG about the enhancement of the cost of the houses/flats as well as the increase of the monthly instal­ ment and the rate of yearly interest etc. and requested the allottees to give their written acceptance so that their names could be included in· F the list. .o;- --+--~ The respondents except the four above have sent their written acceptance to the letter (Annexure 'D'). For a better appreciation of the case of the appellants, we think that as an example the letter (Annexure 'E') of the first respondent in this case namely Shri Ajay G Pal Singh may be reproduced: "I, Ajay Pal Singh, S/o Shri Sujan Singh want to take a M;iddle Income Group house in the Housing Scheme No. 2 situated at Tibrinath of the Bareilly Development Autho­ rity on payment by instalment. I have seen the house and am satisfied. I accept the rules of.the Bareilly Development Authority." ' l " BAREILL Y DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY v. A.P. SINGH [PANDIAN, J.J 753 ' + Only on the basis of the writtn acceptance, the name of the first respondent was included in the draw and he has successful in getting the allotment of House No. 37 in.MIG type which fact if clearly borne out by the letter from the second respondent (Annexure 'F'). In this connection, it is worthwhile to note that the first respondent, Shri Ajay Pal Singh is the Principal of Shri Gur.u Govind Singh Inter ~. :;( College and his educational qualifications are M.A. (Econ. & Hist.), B.Sc., B.Ed., LLB. From the above, it is clear that all the respon­ dents who have sent their applications for registration with initial pay­ ment only after having fully understood the terms and conditions of - ··. the brochure inclusive of the Clauses 12 and 13 and Notes 1 and 2 of 1'. the General Information Table as per which the BDA has reserved its right to change, enhance or amend any of the terms and/or conditions as and when felt necessary, and also the right to relax any of the 'f-- conditions at its discretion, and that the cost shown .in the column 4 of ' the brochure was only estimated cost subject to increase or decrease according to the rise or fall in the price at the time of completion of the property. This is not only the case of the applicants of MIG scheme but also of the other applicants falling under the other categories i.e. HIG, LIG and EWS .. So it cannot be said that there was a mis-statemennt or incorrect statement or an fraudulent concealment in the information supplied in the brochure published by the BDA on the strength of + which all the applicants falling under the various categories applied and got their names registered. In such a circumstance the respon­ dents cannot be heard to say that the BDA has arbitrarily and un- E reasonably changed the terms and conditions of the brochure to the prejudice of the respondents. More so, the respondents barring respondent Nos. 13, 17, 18 and .-J., 20 after having given their written consent accepting the changed and · --+ \varied terms and conditions as shown in the letter dated 19/20.1.84 are F not justified in contending that the BDA has gone back on its original terms and conditions and has substituted new conditions to their detri­ ment. It is quite un-understandable that the persons like the first respondent who is highly educated, occupying the post of the Principal of a College and who has accepted the changed terms and conditions by his letter is making these allegations against the BDA. G The respondents were under no obligation to seek allotment of houses/flats even after they had registered themselves. Notwithstand­ ing, they voluntarily registered themselves as applicants, only after fully understanding the terms and conditions of the brochure inclusive of Clauses 12 and 13 and Notes 1 and 2 of the General Information H ' ' 754 :SUPREME COURT REPORTS I 1989] 1 S.C.R. Table which we have reproduced above, they are now trying to obtain + - A .the houses/flats at the price indicated in the brochure at the initial stage conveniently ignoring the other express conditions by and under which the BOA has reserved its right to change the terms and condi­ tions as and when felt necessary, evidently depending upon the escala­ tion of the prices. One should not loose sight of the fact that the BOA B did not compel anyone of the applicants to purchase the flat at the ): . . r· rates subsequently_ fixed by it and pay the increased monthly instal- ments. On the contrary, the option was left over only to the allottees. In fact, the respondents in Civil Appeal No. 2809 of 1986 except the four above mentioned have unconditionally accepted the changed J: ,.. terms and conditions. /)_ Thus the factual position in this case clearly and unambiguously reveals that the respondents after voluntarily accepting the conditions imposed by the BOA have entered into the realm of concluded con­ tract pure and simple with the BOA and hence the respondents can only claim the right conferred upon them by the said contract and are D bound by the terms of the contract unless some statute steps in and confers some special statutory obligations on the part of the BOA in the contractual field. In the case before us, the contract between the respondents and the BOA does not contain any statutory terms and/or conditions. When the factual position is so, the High Court placing reliance on the decision in Ramana Dayaram Shetty case (AIR 1979 SC 1628) has erroneously held: "It has not been disputed that the contesting opposite party is included within the term 'other authority' mentioned under Article 12 of the Constitution. Therefore, the con-. testing opposite parties cannot be permitted to act arbiti:ai rily with the principle which meets the test of reason ancp ~ relevance. Where an authority appears acting unreason- ably this Court is not powerless and a writ of mandamus can be issued for performing its duty free from arbitrariness or unreasonableness." G This finding, in our view, is not correct in the light of the facts and circumstances of this case because in Ramana Dayaram Shetty case 1' there was no concluded contract as in this case. Even conceding that the BOA has the trappings of a State or would be compreh<:nded in 'other authority' for the purpose of Article 12 of the Constitution, while determining price of the houses/flats constructed by it and the H rate of monthly instalments to be paid, the 'authority' or its agent after ·:.. BAREILLY DEVELOPMENT AUTifORITY v. A.P. SINGH (PANDIAN,J.I 755 ·-·~----- ·-- .. --~~ - .entering into the field ·of ordinary contract acts purely 1n its executive A capacity. Thereafter the relations are no longer governed by the con­ stitutional provisions but by the legally valid contract. which deter­ mines the rights and obligations of the parties inter-se. In this sphere, they can only claim rights conferred upon them by the con.tract in the absence of any statutory obligations on the part of the authority (i.e. B.D.A. in this case) in the said contractual field. B There is a line of decisions where the contract entered into i between the State and the persons aggrieved is non-statutory and 1 , purely contractual and the rights are governed only by the terms of the I, ·"\ . • 1- contract, no writ or order can be issued under Article 226 of the I' ' Constitution of India so as to compel the authorities to remedy a .J breach of contract pure and simple Radhakrishna Agarwal & Ors. v. ' State of Bil:ar & Ors., [1977] 3 SCR 249; Premji Bhai Parmar & Ors. etc. v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors, [1980] 2 SCR 704 and D.F.O. v. Biswanath Tea Company Ltd., [1981] 3 SCR 662. · In view of the authoritative judicial pronouneements of this _ D Court in the series of cases dealing with the scope of interference of a High Court while exercising its writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in cases of non-statutory concluded contracts fike the one in hand, we are constrained to hold that the High Court in the present case has gone wrong in its finding that there is arbitrariness ·and unreasonableness on the part of the appellants herein in increasing E the cost of the houses/flats and the rate of monthly instalments and giving directions in the writ petitions as prayed for. For the reasons hereinbefore stated, we set aside the judgment ,/ '-of the High Court and accordingly allow all the appeals. There will be • no order as to costs. . · , . Before parting with the judgment, we would like to observe that it is open to the respondents to approach the appellants for correction of any clerical mistakes in the calculation, if any and they are at liberty to move any proper authority for any remedy if they are otherwise legally entitled to. ' '(. P.S.S. Appeals allowed.