D.C.M. Ltd. and Anr. v. Union of India and Anr.

K. VENKATASWAMI, J. The short point that arises for our con­ sideration is whether the Principle of Promissory Estoppel applies to the facts of this case. The facts are as under : - H 592 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] SUPP. 4 S.C.R. The appellants owned two sugar factories at Daurala and Mawana (Meerut) and at both these factories the business of manufacturing and selling of sugar by vacuum pan process was carried on. The Central Government promulgated the Sugar (Control) Order on 10.6.66 under which the sale of sugar by producers was controlled. In order to mitigate the hardship caused to the sugar industry in the establishment of new sugar factories and for effecting substantial expansions in the existing sugar factories, the Government sanctioned a scheme in November, 1975 provid­ ing incentives to the new sugar factories and also to those sugar factories who had applied for and completed their expansior, projects during the period 1.11.75 to 20.10.80. The incentives consisted partly of higher per- centage .of levy-free sugar quota and partly of concessions in the excise duty. It was also announced that the eligible sugar factories will be entitled for the above-said incentives for a period of five years from the date of their completion of licenced expansions. In the year 1978, there was a major change in the sugar policy i.e. the control and the price, distribution, release and movement of sugar was lifted w.e.f. August 16, 1978. As a result D of this decontrol, the classification - levy and levy-free sugar - no longer existed and consequently the benefits under the incentive scheme were no longer required/available. While so, the Central Government w.e.f Decem­ ber 17, 1979 agains modified the sugar policy to provide for partial control with dual pricing as was the situation prior to August 16, 1978. The Government after examioing the various altered parameters for revising the scheme announced a revised scheme to provide incentives to the new sugar factories and expansion projects. This revised scheme came into effect from the sugar year 1980-81. At this juncture, it must be noted that the percentage of levy-free sugar announced io the 1975 scheme is higher than the percentage announced in the 1980 scheme. The new scheme of the year 19SO was made applicable even to those industries who were otherwise entitled to the benefit of the scheme announced in the year 1975. The appellants after completing the expansion projects at the two places on 6.8.80 and 13.8.80 applied for necessary eligibility certificate for additional free-sale sugar entitlt:menls as per the incentives announced. The respon­ dents allowed the incentives as per the revised 1980 scheme. However, the G appellants asserted that the incentives as per the scheme announced in the years 1975 must be giver. to them. The respondents did not accede to this claim of the appellants. Aggrieved by that they moved the High Court for the i~sue of a writ H of mandamus directing the first respondent to issue a supplementary .. D.C.M. LTD. v. U.0.1. [K. VENKATASWAMI,J.] 593 eligibility certificate for 1.63 lakh quintals of additional free-sale sugar A entitlement over and above the entitlement declared by the Central Government on the basis of revised 1980 scheme for the year 1980-81 to 1982-83. In addition to that, the appellants also prayed for a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent to issue a further eligibility cer­ tificate determining the amount of additional free-sale entitlement to the B appellants' sugar factory for the year 1983-84 and 1984-85 under the incentive scheme of the year 1975. The High Court rejecting the claim of the appellants dismissed the writ petition. Mr. Shanti Bhushan, learned senior counsel appearing for the appel­ lants contended that the principle of Promissory Estoppel squarely applies to the facts of this case. According to him, the new scheme announced in the year 1980 cannot be applied to the appellants merely because there was no control for the sale of sugar by the producers for a short period. It is D further contended that the appellants had spent huge amounts towards the expansion of sugar factories at two places on the incentives announced in the year 1975 and therefore, they cannot be denied on account of the decontrol of the sugar for a short period. In support of that argument, he placed heavy reliance on a judgment of this Court in Union of India and Ors. v.Godfrey Philips India Ltd., [1985] 4 SCC 369. On the other hand, E learned counsel appearing for the respondents placing reliance on the decontrol order submitted that during the period when there was no control of sale of sugar by the producers, the producers were enabled to sell their hundred per cent of that production in the open marke.t and the benefit flowing from such decontrol changed the whole complex and, F therefore, the appellants cannot be allowed to contend that the Govern­ ment cannot change the scheme. We have considered the rival submissions. It is well-settled that the doctrine of promissory estoppel represents a principle evolved by equity to avoid injustice and, though commonly named promissory estoppel, it is G neither in the realm of contract nor in the realm of estoppel. The basis of this doctrine is the inter-position of equity which has always, proved to its form, stepped in to ~itigate the rigour of strict law. It is equally true that the doctrine of promissory estoppel is not limited in its application only to defence but it can also found a cause of action. This doctrine is applicable H 594 ·• sµPREMECOURTREPORTS [1996]SUPP.4S.C.R. A against the Government in the exercise of its governmental public or executive functions and the doctrine of executive necessity or freedom of future executive action, cannot be invoked to defeat the applicability of this doctrine. It is further well-established that the doctrine of promissory estoppel must yield when the equity so require. If it can be shown by the Government or public authority that having regard to the facts as they have transpired, it would be unequitable to hold the Government or public authority to the promise or representation made by it, the court would not raise an equity in favour of the person to whom the promise or repre­ sentation is made and enforce the promise or representation against the Government or public authority. The doctrine of promissory estoppel would be di.<placed in such a case because on the facts, equity would not require that the Government or public authority should be held bound by the promise or representation made by it [vide 1985 4 sec 369 (supra)]. In this case we have found that the Government before refusing the D incentive scheme of the year 1975 have taken into account various factors including the decontrol of sale of sugar for the period from 16.8.78 to 17.12.79. Further if the prayer of the appellants were to be allowed, several lakhs of quintals of sugar will have to be released as incentive levy-free sugar which otherwise meant for public distribution system. We agree with E the learned Judges of the High Court when they observed that the 'petitioners who availed of the resulting benefit due to decontrol cannot in all fairness lay claim to be restored the benefit of the incentives in full now over again though the basic premise became non-existent. The benefit under the subsequent scheme in force from November 15, 1980 has already F been accorded to them in full measure'. The High Court also noticed another important factor to decline the relief prayed for by the appellants, namely that the appellant company had applied for a grant of the licence in the year 1975, had mentioned in the licence application that the entire expansion would be done by the said G company at its own expense. The company was granted licence in February, 1975 and that time nobody could imagine about the incentive scheme which. was announced on December 6, 1975. The appellants, therefore, cannot argue that the scheme announced induced them to undertake the expan­ sion of which the licence had been received by it on February, 1975. The H expansion carried out by the appellants in pursuance of the licence issued D.C.M. LTD. v. U.0.1. [K VENKATASWAMl,J.] 595 in February, 1975 was independent and had nothing to do with the incen- A tive announced in December, 1975 as observed by the High Court. Taking all these factors into consideration, we have no doubt that on the facts of this case, the Principle of Promissory Estoppel has no applica- tion at all. The judgment relied on by the learned Senior counsel for the appellants, namely, Godfrey Philips case supports the case of the respon- B dents on facts. In the result the appeal fails and is accordingly dismissed. No costs. S.S. Appeal dismissed.