Allowed

M/S Mallikarjun Cotton Company v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC8 Jul 2024WP/100400/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition against a forfeiture notice issued by an Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee. The Court allowed the petition, quashed the notice, and directed the committee to issue a completion certificate and execute the sale deed for a P-type site.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition allowed; impugned forfeiture notice quashed; Respondent No. 3 directed to issue completion certificate and execute sale deed within eight weeks.

M/S Mallikarjun Cotton Company Vs the State of Karnataka — Landlord and Tenant | Karnataka HC (2024)

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NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 8^TH DAY OF JULY, 2024 BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 100400 OF 2022 (APMC-)

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BETWEEN:

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M/S MALLIKARJUN COTTON COMPANY, P-16, APMC YARD, AMARGOL, HUBBALLI-580025, REPTD. BY ITS PARTNER, SRI RAJKUMAR S/O. DEVENDRA DALBANJAN, AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS, R/O. NO.34, PRASANNA COLONY, BASAVESHWAR NAGAR, GOKUL ROAD, HUBBALLI-580030.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. MAHESH WODEYAR, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560001, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.

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YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Digitally signed byYASHAVANTNARAYANKARLocation: HighCourt of Karnataka,Dharwad BenchDate: 2024.07.2316:24:55 +0530

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THE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING, NO.16, 2^ND RAJBHAVAN ROAD, BENGALURU-560001.

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THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCE MARKETING COMMITTEE, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, AMARGOL MARKET YARD, HUBBALLI-580025.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. V.S. KALASURMATH, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. C.S. PATIL, ADV. FOR R3; R2-SERVED)

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2 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 05.10.2021 PASSED BY THE 3^RD RESPONDENT IN FILE NO.KRUMAHI:KRUUMASA (HU); MUGO; 723:2021-22 VIDE ANNEXURE-A TO THE WRIT PETITION; ISSUE A WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTION TO THE 3^RD RESPONDENT TO ISSUE CC AND EXECUTE THE SALE DEED IN RESPECT OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN P- TYPE SITE BEARING NO.16 SITUATED AT APMC MARKET YARD AMARGOL HUBBALLI.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:

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ORDER

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The petitioner was allotted an P-type site, bearing No.16, situated at APMC Market Yard, Amargol, Hubballi. This allotment was formalized through a lease-cum-sale agreement executed by Respondent No.3 on 08.01.2010. Following the execution of the agreement, the petitioner submitted a construction plan to the authorities, seeking permission to erect a building on the allotted site. This plan was subsequently approved by Respondent No. 3 on 24.11.2011, paving the way for the petitioner to commence construction activities.

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3 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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2. According to the terms of the lease-cum-sale

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agreement, the petitioner was required to complete the construction of an industrial building within a two-year period from the date of the agreement. This stipulation was aimed at ensuring timely development and utilization of the allotted site for its intended purpose, reflecting the commitments of the petitioner under the agreement.

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The petitioner claims to have adhered to these terms by completing the construction within the stipulated timeframe. Despite this, the petitioner received a showcause notice from Respondent No. 3, indicating that the site allotted to the petitioner would be forfeited due to the alleged non-completion of construction as per the conditions of the lease-cum-sale agreement. This action by Respondent No. 3 forms the basis of the petitioner's grievance, prompting the present legal challenge.

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The matter was heard, with representations made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned HCGP appearing for Respondent No. 1, and the learned counsel for

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4 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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Respondent Nos. 2 and 3. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the construction had indeed been completed by 26.06.2015, in compliance with the lease-cum-sale agreement. To substantiate this claim, the petitioner submitted photographs, documented at Annexure-G & G1, showing the completed construction on the site.

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Upon careful consideration of similar cases previously adjudicated by this Court, it is observed that a lenient approach has often been adopted. In analogous cases, this Court has quashed forfeiture notices issued by Respondent No. 3, even where there were minor violations of the lease-cum-sale agreement. The rationale in those cases was that substantial completion of construction warranted a favorable view, leading to the issuance of completion certificates and the execution of sale deeds by the committee.

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In the current case, although there appears to be some delay in completing the construction, the representation submitted by the petitioner on 26.06.2015, along with the photographs at Annexure-G & G1, indicates

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5 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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that the construction was ultimately completed. This suggests that the petitioner has made significant efforts and investments in developing the site. Therefore, the Court is inclined to adopt a lenient stance, similar to its approach in previous cases, and set aside the forfeiture notice issued by Respondent No. 3.

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Given these considerations, this Court finds that the equities favor the petitioner. The substantial investment made by the petitioner and the completion of the construction, even if delayed, justify setting aside the impugned notice to prevent irreparable loss to the petitioner. Accordingly, the Court issues the following order:

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ORDER

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(i) The writ petition is allowed.

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(ii) The impugned notice dated 05.10.2021, issued by Respondent No. 3-committee, as per AnnexureA, is hereby quashed.

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(iii) Respondent No. 3-committee is directed to issue a completion certificate and execute the sale

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deed in respect of the P-type site, bearing No.16,

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NC: 2024:KHC-D:9384 WP No. 100400 of 2022

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situated at APMC Yard, Amargol, Hubli, in terms of

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Rule 20 of the Rules, by levying any penalty specified under the rules.

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(iv) This exercise shall be completed by Respondent

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No. 3 within eight weeks from the date of receipt of the certified copy of this order.

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Sd/JUDGE

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SVH

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List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0

M/S Mallikarjun Cotton Company v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M/S Mallikarjun Cotton Company v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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