Full Judgment Text
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CASE NO.:
Special Leave Petition (civil) 10281 of 2006
PETITIONER:
Ramchandra Mahadev Jagpat & Ors.
RESPONDENT:
Chief Executive Officer & Ors.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/11/2006
BENCH:
Dr. AR. Lakshmanan & Tarun Chatterjee
JUDGMENT:
J U D G M E N T
I.A. NOs. 2-5 & 8
IN
Special Leave Petition (C) No. 10281/2006
AND
I.A.No.1 in S.L.P. (C) No\005\005\005\005.of 2006 (CC 5527)
M/s Sigtia Construction Company Private Ltd. \005 Applicant
Vs.
Ram Chandra Mahadev Jagpat & Ors. \005.Respondents
Dr. AR. Lakshmanan, J.
I.A. No.1 for impleadment is ordered on 10.07.2006.
M/s Sigtia Construction Company Private Limited was
impleaded as respondent No.5 in Special Leave Petition No.
10281 of 2006.
I.A. No.3 of 2006 was filed by the applicant - M/s Sigtia
Construction Company Private Limited to recall the order
dated 27.06.2006 passed by this Court in Special Leave
Petition No. 10281 of 2006. The order passed by this Court in
Special Leave Petition No. 10281/2006 dated 27.06.2006
reads thus:
"O R D E R
Heard Mr.L.N.Rao, senior advocate for the petitioners.
Mr. Sanjay V. Khande, Mr.B.S.Rao and Ms. Indra Sawhney,
advocates accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos.1 to
3. We also heard their submissions.
By a prayer for interim relief, the petitioners seek
direction directing the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to
issue a letter of intent in favour of M/s Keya Developers and
Construction Company (P) Ltd. For undertaking re-
development work in the slum situated at Irla Tank, S.V.
Road, Vile Parle (West) Mumbai.
The grievance of the petitioners is that despite no legal
impediment, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority was not
issuing the letter of intent in favour of M/s Keya Developers
and Construction Company (P) Ltd. despite a request made
by the Society. According to them, it was merely a case of
replacement of previous developers M/s Sigtia Construction
Company Pvt. Ltd. who had not even started the project even
after almost eight years and whose agreement with the
Society had come to an end by efflux of time.
Mr. Sunil K.Varma, advocate, appears for the Chief
Executive Officer, Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Bandra (E),
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Mumbai (respondent No.1). The learned counsel submits
that the Slum Rehabilitation Authority will issue proper
orders within two weeks from today. In view of the
submission made by the learned counsel for respondent
No.1, we direct the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to issue
the letter of intent in favour of M/s Keya Developers and
Construction Company (P) Ltd. which is also represented by
Mr. Jaideep Gupta, learned senior counsel and the Society is
represented by Mr. P.K. Ghosh, learned senior counsel.
The Special Leave Petition is disposed of accordingly."
The reasons for recalling the order as stated in I.A.No.3 of
2006 are as under:-
The applicant Sigtia Construction Company Private
Limited (in short "Sigtia") was appointed as developer by the
Vile Parle Prem Nagar Co-operative Housing Society Limited
(hereinafter called "Society" the respondent No.2). The
applicant who is directly affected by an order appointing M/s
Keya Developers and Construction Private Limited (in short
"Keya") as Developer was not made a party respondent in Writ
Petition No. 1277 of 2006 and also in the Special Leave
Petition No. 10281 of 2006 although the applicant was a party
in the previous proceedings, namely, Writ Petition No. 988 of
2004 which was filed before the High Court and the Special
Leave Petition No. 11318 of 2005 and 19848 of 2005.
According to the applicant, the respondents in the Special
Leave Petition No. 10281 are not contesting respondents and
particularly respondent No.1 - the Slum Rehabilitation
Authority (in short "SRA") had taken a stand before this Court
in earlier round in Special Leave Petition No. 19848 of 2005 by
way of an affidavit that they will abide by any orders which
may be passed by this Court. Nobody appeared for Bombay
Municipal Corporation on 27.06.2006. Therefore, there was
nobody present who could have opposed the passing of the
order. The applicant, against whom allegations were made,
was not made a party to the special leave petition. It was the
duty of the petitioner in the special leave petition, to make the
applicant \026 Sigtia, who is directly affected, a party to the
special leave petition. However, instead of doing that this
Court was given the impression that all the affected parties
were before this Court.
Mr. Arun Jaitley, learned senior counsel appearing for
the applicant Sigtia made the following submissions as to why
the order dated 27.06.2006 in special leave petition No. 10281
of 2006 should be recalled.
a) M/s Sigtia was appointed as developers in respect of
Slum Rehabilitation Scheme of the property in the
Suburban district of Mumbai at Irla Tank by the
general body of the proposed Prem Nagar Housing
Society;
b) Sigtia submitted the proposal for re-development of
the slum known as Prem Nagar situated at Vile
Parle (W), CTS No. 439-442; 446-448; 451-1-15,
452, 453, 454A under Slum Rehabilitation Scheme
on 11.09.2002 with the consent of 1054 hutment
dwellers;
c) In all 1054 individual agreements and consent
affidavits were filed by slum dwellers in favour of
Sigtia before the SRA and approved by the
Additional Collector (Encroachment) by its order
dated 23.01.2003;
d) When the applicant was about to get the Letter of
Intent, the Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004 was filed
on 31.03.2004 before the High Court of Bombay by
Mr. Nazir Khan Yakub Khan and 8 others slum
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dwellers challenging the appointment of Sigtia as
developer to undertake the re-development of the
slum area on the ground that Sigtia was having
neither technical expertise nor financial capability
to complete the project.
e) In the above writ petition, the Chief Promoter of the
Society filed two affidavits before the High Court
dated 07.06.2004 and 29.06.2004 expressing
confidence and faith in the technical and financial
capability of Sigtia to execute the project. The Chief
Executive Officer, SRA also filed additional affidavit
on 11.02.2005 supporting the scheme in totality.
f) The High Court, while dismissing the Writ Petition
No. 988 of 2004 on 11.03.2005 directed the SRA to
put additional conditions as follows:-
a. Obtaining security deposit of Rs.2.5 crores from the
developer to safeguard the interests of the Slum
Dwellers.
b. Supervision by the Senior Engineer of Bombay
Municipal Corporation at the cost of the developer.
c. No construction of sale component till all the slum
dwellers are rehabilitated in the new buildings, and
d. Undertaking/ indemnity from the developer for fulfilling
the above three conditions.
Out of 9 petitioners in Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004, one
Nazir Khan Yakub Khan alone filed a Special Leave Petition
No. 11318 of 2005 challenging the order of the High Court
passed in Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004. Sigtia was impleaded
in the special leave petition as Respondent No.7. The Special
Leave Petition was withdrawn by the petitioner on 26.09.2005.
4 other petitioners out of original 9 filed Special Leave Petition
No. 19848 of 2005 challenging the order in Writ Petition No.
988 of 2004 and obtained interim stay on 19.09.2005 from
this Court. Due to the above said stay order, Sigtia could not
take any further steps towards the implementation of the
project. The stay order continued till 13.04.2006 on which
date this Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition No. 19848
of 2005 as withdrawn.
During the pendency of the Special Leave Petition No.
19848 of 2005, counsel of Prem Nagar Co-operative Housing
Society gave notices dated 26.04.2005 and 06.06.2005
purporting to revoke the development agreement and the
Power of Attorney executed in favour of Sigtia. By letter dated
15.06.2005, Sigtia gave reply questioning the authority of the
persons purporting to terminate and revoke the said
development agreement and Power of Attorney.
A public notice dated 05.09.2005 was issued by the Vile
Parle Society referring to the termination of the development
agreement and power of attorney by the Society. The
Management of the society also decided to appoint one \026 M/s
Keya Developers (in short "Keya") to execute the project and
intimation to this effect was sent to SRA by way of an
application.
In the above special leave petition, certain interlocutory
applications were filed by some hutment dwellers praying for
directions to SRA to examine and consider the proposed
scheme for rehabilitation submitted by M/s Keya. These IAs
were dismissed along with the special leave petition.
The very same slum dwellers filed Writ Petition No. 1277
of 2006 seeking the same prayer alleging that Sigtia did not
commenced re-development of the properties in terms of the
agreement entered into with SRA and was never interested in
re-development of the said property for the benefit of slum
dwellers. Sigtia was not made a party to this writ petition.
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Sigtia wrote a letter to the CEO, SRA on 25.04.2006
stating that Sigtia was keenly interested in developing the Vile
Parle Slum and would take immediate steps to deposit Rs. 2.5
crores by SRA in the matter and also would furnish indemnity
as required by SRA. On 04.05.2006, the High Court passed
an order in Writ Petition No. 1277 of 2006 directing the SRA to
call the parties in terms of the judgment of the Court.
On 02.06.2006, Sigtia wrote a letter to the SRA stating
that Keya had obtained the order dated 04.05.2006 from the
High Court in writ petition No. 1277 of 2006 and that the
applicant was not made a party to the writ petition and,
therefore, they were not heard at all and requested the SRA to
postpone the hearing fixed on 03.06.2006 to enable Sigtia to
move the High Court. However, there was no response from
the SRA.
On 02.06.2006, Sigtia wrote a letter to SRA enclosing a
cheque for a sum of Rs.2.5 crores towards the interest free
deposit with SRA as the performance related guarantee as
directed by the High Court in its judgment dated 11.03.2005.
The Law Officer of SRA conveyed to Sigtia that the cheque for
Rs.2.5 crores could not be accepted by SRA as there was no
specific order of the High Court to accept Rs.2.5 crores from
Sigtia. The Principal Secretary, Housing Department in
compliance with the order dated 11.03.2005 issued clear
directions to SRA to issue Letter of Intent in favour of Sigtia.
On 21.06.2006, the petitioners in the Writ Petition No. 1277 of
2006 filed special leave petition before this Court against the
order dated 04.05.2005 and by way of interim relief prayed
that SRA be directed to issue Letter of Intent in favour of Keya.
Sigtia was again not made a party in the special leave petition.
This Court, on 27.06.2006, passed an order directing
SRA to issue Letter of Intent in favour of Keya within two
weeks.
Mr. Arun Jaitley, learned senior counsel strenuously
contended that before issuance of the Letter of Intent certain
conditions ought to be fulfilled by a developer as per the rules
and regulations of SRA and as per the guidelines and
regulations of SRA, a developer needs to obtain Annexure-II
and Annexure-III from SRA. Annexure II is issued when the
developer shows that he has consent from atleast 70% eligible
hutment dwellers and Annexure III is issued when SRA is
satisfied about the financial and technical capability of the
developer. It is not disputed that the applicant has obtained
both the Annexures and therefore there is no reason for not
issuing LOI to the applicant. It is submitted that the Keya
Developer does not have consent of atleast 70% hutment
dwellers and therefore is not entitled to get LOI issued in its
favour for the said project. Moreover SRA having been set up
by the State in exercise of its powers under the Slum Act, it is
ultimately for it to decide as to who should be permitted to
undertake the redevelopment of slum and the SRA has shown
confidence in the applicant by filing affidavits before the
Bombay High Court in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004.
According to Mr. Arun Jaitley, the purported termination
of the development agreement with Sigtia by the society is
illegal, without authority of law as the society has no authority
to do so. It is further submitted that 1054 slum dwellers filed
consent affidavits in favour of the applicant in the year 2002
itself and therefore the Chief Promoter and few Committee
members of the Society cannot terminate the appointment of
the developer. In fact the original Writ Petitioner who filed
Writ Petition No. 988/2004, namely, Nazir Khan Yakub Khan
and others made serious allegations against the Chief
Promoter - Shri Vichare and few Managing Committee
members that they have manipulated the records and got the
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extra units to their family members.
He would further submit that as per Section 3(k) of the
Maharashtra Slum Area (Improvement, Clearance and Re-
development) Act, 1971, the SRA is bound to follow the
directions given by the Government of Maharashtra for the
implementation of provisions under the Act and that the
Government issued directions to SRA to issue letter of intent
to Sigtia way back on 20.06.2005 but those directions have
not been complied with. Mr. Jaitley further submitted that the
main grievance of the slum dwellers in the I.As filed in this
Court and in the Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 is that no
steps have been taken by Sigtia Constructions towards the
completion of the project. It is submitted that after obtaining
Annexure II and Annexure III from SRA, when the applicant
was about to get LOI the writ petition No. 988 of 2005 was
filed on 31.3.2004 challenging the technical and financial
capability of the applicant. After the said Writ Petition was
dismissed, the applicant approached SRA many times to get
LOI but it received no response and this fact has been
recorded by the Principal Secretary, Housing in its order dated
20.06.2005. Thereafter, stay order was passed by this Court
in SLP(C) No.19848 of 2005 staying the order of the High
Court dated 11.03.2005 passed in Writ Petition No. 988 of
2004. After the said SLP was dismissed by this Court on
13.04.2006 the applicant has written several letters to SRA to
issue LOI and also sent a cheque of Rs. 2.51 crores but the
same was not accepted by SRA. That there has been no delay
on the part of the applicant in the implementation of the
development work but it is due to frivolous litigations filed by
some slum dwellers who were put up by rival developers that
the project was stalled.
Mr. Arun Jaitely further submitted that the applicant
was a necessary party in the Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006
and also to the above special leave petition as it was appointed
as developer by the society and is at having consent of more
than 70% of the slum dwellers in the area and therefore, any
order passed issuing Letter of Intent to some other developer
gravely injures the applicant and therefore no such order can
be passed without giving an opportunity to the applicant to be
heard.
Concluding his arguments, Mr. Jaitley submitted that
the order has been obtained behind the back of the applicant
Sigtia and that the order is contrary to the order of the High
Court dated 11.03.2005 passed in writ petition No. 988 of
2004 which has become final with the dismissal of Special
Leave Petition No. 11318 of 2005 and 19848 of 2005.
In this context, Mr. Arun Jaitley invited our attention to
the order dated 11.03.2005 passed in Writ Petition No. 988 of
2004.
At the time of hearing, Mr. Jaitley also invited our
attention to the order passed by the High Court in Writ
Petition No. 1277 of 2006 dated 04.05.2006. It is useful to
reproduce the said short order which reads thus:
"CORAM: F.I. REBELLO & ANOOP V. MOHTA, JJ.
DATE: 4th May,2006.
P.C.:
In the ordinary course, we would not have
entertained this petition when there is a society who is
responsible for the development. However, on behalf of
respondent No.2, their learned counsel makes a statement
that they had already communicated to Respondent No.1 to
appoint respondent No.3 as a developer and that the
application is pending before the Respondent No.1
pursuant to the termination of the first developer by
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Respondent No.2. The respondent No.1 to call the parties
in terms of the judgement of this court and after hearing
the parties, dispose of the application of Respondent No.2
according to law within the period of six weeks from today.
(F.I. REBELLO, J.) (ANOOP V. MOHTA, J.)"
He also drew our attention to para 12 of the order in Writ
Petition No. 988 of 2004 passed by the High Court which
reads thus:
"The SRA having been set up by the State in exercise of its
power under the Slum Act, it is ultimately, for it to decide as
to who should be permitted to undertake the redevelopment
of slum. In this behalf, perusal of the relevant statutory
provisions including Section 13 would make it abundantly
clear that the SRA is empowered to permit land holders of
occupants of an area which is declared as slum
rehabilitation area to undertake scheme of development of
such land and if they do not come forward with a scheme for
redevelopment within a reasonable time, the SRA may decide
to redevelop such land by entrusting it to any other Agency.
In the instant case, respondent No.7 has been selected by
respondent No.6. The SRA is satisfied that the requisite 70%
numbers/ occupiers of slum area have come forward and
reposed confidence in respondent no.7. Since petitioners
raised objections to the capacity and capability of respondent
No.7, this Court issued directions that these aspects be
scrutinized and verified once again. Even that exercise is
now complete and a report is submitted by the CEO of SRA.
In such circumstances, we are of the view that all aspects
have been considered by the SRA and its decision cannot be
faulted. More so, when the proposal is at a primary stage."
Our attention has also been drawn to the order of this
Court in Special Leave Petition No. 19848 of 2005 dated
13.04.2006 dismissing the writ petition as withdrawn filed by
Mr. Nilesh Wakadey and Ors. preferred against the judgment
and order dated 11.03.2005 in Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004.
Likewise, Special Leave Petition No. 11318 of 2005 filed
against the very same order in writ petition No. 988 of 2004
was also dismissed as withdrawn.
We may also usefully refer to the letter dated 02.06.2006
of Sigtia addressed to SRA, the relevant portion of which reads
thus:
"In this connection, we wish to submit that M/s. Sigtia
Construction Pvt. Limited is bound by the directive and
conditions in the High Court Judgment dt. 11.3.2005 and
also by the guidelines of the SRA for the development of the
Vile-Parle (W) Slum project. As such, the company will be
complying with all the conditions recommended by the SRA
and accepted by the Hon’ble High Court.
In pursuance of the said High Court order
dt.11.3.2005, M/s. Sigtia Construction Pvt. Ltd. is hereby
depositing a sum of Rs.2,50,00,000/- (Rupees Two Crores
Fifty Lakhs only) drawn on Standard Chartered Bank,
Santacruz (W) Branch, Mumbai vide Cheque No.991396 dt.
2.6.2006 towards the interest free deposit with SRA as the
performance related guarantee as directed by the Hon’ble
High Court in its landmark judgment dt.11.3.2005. The
SRA may put it in its fixed deposit account, as it may deem
fit.
Besides interest free deposit of Rs. 2.5 crocres, M/s.
Sigtia Construction Pvt. Ltd. will comply with and abide
other conditions such as \026
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(a) First we will construct Rehab portion in all respect and
then ask permission of sale portion.
(b) We accept the Supervision of B.M.C. Engineer who will
monitor the project.
(c) We will give required undertaking/indemnity bond etc.
as directed by Hon’ble High Court and as desired by
SRA."
We may also refer to the proceedings of the Principal
Secretary, Housing Department, Government of Maharashtra
on the representation received from Sigtia and the orders
passed thereunder. The relevant portion reads thus:-
"In view of the above, I, N. Rama Rao, Principal Secretary,
Housing Department, Government of Maharashtra, in the
capacity of the Administrative Head of the Department,
direct that
(1) LOI be issued in favour of Sigtia Constructions Pvt.Ltd.
who have a joint venture agreement with Spark
Developers as stated above and who had completed all
the formalities to ensure the implementation of the
project without permitting any further delay
(2) The CEO, SRA is further directed to comply with the other
directions and suggestions given by the Hon’ble High
Court in its order dated 11.03 2005.
(3) The Developer also, hereby directed to comply with the
conditions imposed by the Hon’ble High Court in the said
order."
It is to be noted that this order was not challenged before
any forum.
Our attention was also drawn to the notice dated
26.04.2005 issued by Mr. Suresh P. Chaugule to Sigtia and
the further notice dated 06.06.2005 by the very same advocate
to the Chief Officer, Slum Rehabilitation Authority on
termination of appointment of developer. A copy of the same
was also marked to Sigtia Constructions. Our attention was
also drawn to the IA No. Nil of 2006 filed by Nilesh Wakade
and Ors. in Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19848 of 2005 in
which Babita Baliram Tambe & Ors. as applicants made the
following prayer in the above I.A. :
"P R A Y E R
Thus, in the facts and circumstances, it is most
respectfully prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be
pleased to:-
(a) Direct that the rehabilitation of the slum area in
question is carried out at the earliest;
(b) Direct M/s. Keya Developers & Construction Pvt.
Ltd. Developers & Construction (P) Ltd., Tardeo Air-
conditioned Market, Tardeo, Mumbai-34 to produce
its proposed Scheme for Rehabilitation;
(c) Direct the Respondent Authorities to forthwith
examine and consider the said proposed Scheme for
Rehabilitation submitted by M/s Keya Developers &
Construction Pvt. Ltd. Developers (P) Ltd; and
(d) If the above scheme is approved by the Respondent
No.2, then the Respondent Authorities and the
developer be directed to forthwith implement the
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Scheme in a time bound manner subject to such terms
and conditions as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and
proper."
It was also brought to our notice about the undertaking
given on the stamp paper by the Chief Promoter and Members
of the Managing Committee of Vile Parle Prem Nagar
Cooperative Housing Society who declared as under:-
"(1) That the General Body of the Vile Parle Prem Nagar
Co-operative Housing Society (Proposed) in their
meeting held on 8.9.2001 has confirmed the
appointment of M/s. Sigtia Construction Pvt. Ltd.
as our Developer and Shri Bipin Khatri as Architect
of the S.R.A. project to be undertaken by our
society.
(2) That in pursuance to the above appointments of the
Developer and the Architect, both agencies have
carried out voluminous work in connection with the
formulation of S.R.A proposal and to submit the
same to the office of S.R.A. For doing this they had
to obtain, the necessary undertakings from over
1000 hutment dwellers on Rs.20/- stamps paper,
surveying the area by appointing Surveyor,
preparation of plans and other relevant documents
for obtaining Annexure-II. The developer has
obtained Annexure-II and submitted the required
information in Annexure \026 I & III to the office of
S.R.A. for issuance of Letter of Intent to our S.R.A.
proposal in shortest possible time with active
support from the society and we are satisfied with
their performance in this regard.
(3) That we have not engaged any other Developers or
the Architect. This question did not arise since the
present Developer and the Architect have done their
duties to the expectation of the Society. While
carrying out the job by the Developer and the
Architect they have carried out the job with due
consultation with the Society and have kept us
informed of the progress of the work from time to
time.
(4) That the Society hereby confirm and undertake to
continue the Developer M/s. Sigtia Construction
Pvt.Ltd. and the Architect Mr. Bipin Khatri as our
Developer and Architect respectively till the
completion of the S.R.A. project under D.C.
Regulation 33(10) undertaken by our Vile Parle Prem
Nagar Co-operative Housing Society (Proposed)
For Vile-Parle Premnagar Co-operative
Housing Society. (Proposed)
Sd/-
Shamrao A. Vichare
Chief Promoter
Date:26.2.2004"
Mr. Goolam E. Vahanvati, learned Solicitor General
appeared for the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. He placed
before us the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement,
Clearance and Re-development) Act, 1971. He also invited our
attention to the procedure for submission, processing and
approval of Slum Rehabilitation Schemes which reads thus:-
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"1. All slums and pavements whose inhabitants’ names
and structures appear in the electoral roll prepared with
reference to 1st January, 1995 or a date prior thereto and
who are actual occupants of the hutments are eligible for the
slum rehabilitation scheme.
2. 70% or more of the eligible hutment-dwellers in a slum
or pavement in a viable stretch at one place have to show
their willingness to join slum rehabilitation scheme and
come together to form a co-operative housing society of all
eligible hutment-dwellers through a resolution to that effect.
The following resolution should be adopted:
(a) Resolution electing a chief Promoter.
(b) Resolution giving the chief promoter authority to apply
for reservation of name for co-operative housing
society.
(c) To collect share capital (Rs. 50/- per member for slum
societies) and Re. 1/- as entrance fee and to open
account in Mumbai District Central Co-
operative/Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Ltd
(any branch)
3. The chief promoter, office bearers and the members of
the proposed society should collect the documents such as
7/12 extract and the PR card of the plot on which the slum is
situate. They should then get the plot surveyed/measured
and prepare map of the plot showing slum structures therein
with the help of surveyors attached to the office of Additional
Collector (Encroachment) or the Deputy Collector
(Encroachment) or the Deputy Collector (Encroachment of the
zone.
4. While undertaking the survey, they should collect the
information of the proposed members/slum-dwellers and fill
up land occupied by the slum-dwellers, number and type of
structures such as residential, industrial, commercial,
amenity structures etc. and the list of eligible and ineligible
occupants and consent of the slum-dwellers to join the
scheme. Earlier the promoter/co-operative housing society
had to first approach the different Competent Authorities
namely Additional Collector for the slums on government and
private lands and the land owning authorities for the slums
on different public authority lands, for obtaining certified
Annexure-II, before they could put in application for slum
rehabilitation scheme SRA. As a simplification measure, this
procedure is now discontinued and Annexure-II format is now
required to be filled by the promoter/co-operative housing
society itself for submitting building proposal to SRA, so that
the scrutiny of the proposal and certification of Annexure-II
can start simultaneously. Annexure-II needs to be submitted
in duplicate. As a measure of further simplification,
Additional Collector (Encroachment) is being designated as
the sole Competent Authority for deciding eligibility and for
taking eviction action against non-participants in slum
rehabilitation schemes."
5. The chief promoter and the office bearers of the proposed
society should then apply for name reservation of the
proposed co-operative housing society along with the self-
prepared Annexure-II and the required resolutions to the
Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies. To facilitate
this, office of the Assistant Registrar has been started in SRA
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itself. It is no longer necessary to approach different offices of
the Co-operation Department for this purpose. The
assistant Registrar/SRA will issue a letter reserving the name
for the proposed co-operative housing society and permission
to open a bank account in the proposed society’s name.
6. While the above steps are being taken, the decision to
search a competent developer to act as a promoter has to be
taken up by the proposed co-operative housing society of
slum-dwellers. The society itself or an NGO/developer/owner
can take up slum rehabilitation scheme as a promoter.
7. The promoter so chosen has to enter into agreement with
every eligible slum-dweller while putting up slum
rehabilitation proposal to SRA for approval. SRA is in the
process of trying to evolve standard formats for the following
four types of agreements required in the scheme, with the
approval of the State Government.
a) Consent-cum-agreement between the promoter and the
slum-dwellers.
b) Development rights/Agreement to lease between the
promoter and the land owning authority.
c) Lease agreement between the land owning authority and
the co-operative society of slum-dwellers.
d) Lease agreement between the land owning authority and
the co-operative society of free-sale tenement buyers.
8. The promoter has also to appoint an architect in
consultation with the proposed co-operative housing society
of slum-dwellers to prepare the plans of development of the
slum area as per the DCR-33(10). It is expected that the
architect ensures community participation in preparation of
the building plans. All required documents such as building
plan, layout plan, PR Card etc. along with Annexure-I,
Annexure-II and Annexure-III are to be submitted to SRA by
the architect along with an application for the slum
rehabilitation scheme. A checklist of all such documents
required for submission is available in SRA office.
10. Annexure-III is prescribed to asses the financial capability
of the promoter. The items contained in Annexure-III are self
explanatory. Keeping in view the sensitivity of this
information, it is kept strictly confidential by SRA.
11. After a pre-security by a designated engineer of SRA, to
ensure completeness of the proposal submitted, so far as
documents are concerned, proposals are accepted. Then a
computerized file number is allotted to the scheme on
payment of scrutiny fees which are charged at half file
number is allotted to the scheme on payment of scrutiny fees
which are charged bat half the rate of the Municipal
Corporation’s general building permission fees. Upon
acceptance, the scrutiny of Annexures, I, II and III start
simultaneously in the building permission Wing, Eligibility
Certification Wing and Accounts & Finance Wing
respectively."
He also invited our attention to para 18 of the order in
Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004 dated 11.03.2005
"In the affidavit filed on 11th February, 2005 the SRA has
further pointed out that the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme
proposal is at primary scrutiny stage and not yet approved.
They have pointed out that eligibility of the members of
Managing Committee of respondent no.6 shall be thoroughly
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scrutinized by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority before
issuing LOI and in any case within eight weeks from the date
of this affidavit. Mr. Singh appearing for 7th respondent
makes a statement that the developer will file necessary
undertaking as per para No.7 of the affidavit dated 11th
February 2005 of SRA, within such time as is stipulated by
it. He has also agreed to file an undertaking in terms of para
7 of this affidavit in this Court in case the Letter of intent is
issued in favour of respondent no.7. He has also agreed to
furnish indemnity as insisted by SRA."
He also specifically drew our attention to the order dated
11.03.2005 in Writ Petition No. 988 of 2004 and the order
dated 04.05.2006 in Writ Petition No. 1277 of 2006 and also
the application for direction filed by Babita Baliram Tambey on
the prayer made by him in the IA in special leave petition No.
19848 of 2005. The said Babita Baliram was also petitioner
No. 10 in Writ Petition No. 1277 of 2006 which was verified in
April, 2006 whereas the final order in the said writ petition
was made on 04.05.2006. Concluding his arguments, the
learned Solicitor General submitted that as per the guidelines
there are several conditions to be fulfilled by the slum
dwellers/proposed society as well as by the proposed
developer and remarks required to be obtained on the proposal
from concerned authorities before issuing Letter of Intent. The
SRA also to verify the resolution passed by the general body of
the slum dwellers, proposed society by majority for appointing
or replacing the developer for the development of the scheme.
It is also necessary to verify by the SRA to see whether the plot
under the development is not affected by any reservation such
as playground or recreation ground in view of the interim stay
order in writ Petition No. 1152 of 2002 of the High Court. The
SRA has to verify whether the proposed appointed developer
has the financial capacity to undertake and complete the
same. Therefore, in the context of the submissions made
above by the learned Solicitor General further directions with
regard to this Court’s order dated 27.06.2006 should be given
to SRA. As already noticed, the writ petition No. 1277 of 2006
was filed by the very same petitioner in SLP No. 10281 of 2006
Sigtia was not made a party to the writ petition No. 1277 of
2006. However, the High Court, by order dated 04.05.2006 in
writ petition No. 1277 of 2006 has directed the SRA to call the
parties in terms of the judgment of the High Court dated
11.03.2005 in writ petition No. 988 of 2004 and after hearing
the parties disposed of the application of the society
respondent No.2 according to law within 6 weeks from
04.03.2006. It is also useful to refer to the direction given in
the order dated 11.03.2005 in para 20 in writ petition No. 988
of 2004. The High Court, by the said order, has observed that
it is not necessary to quash or set aside the Scheme or issue
further directions as sought and that final approval have not
been granted by SRA and if SRA decides not to issue the Letter
of Intent in favour of respondent No.7 (Sigtia), it will always be
open for the parties to submit a fresh development scheme. In
view of the order dated 11.03.2005 and 04.05.2006 of the
High Court, the learned Solicitor General submitted that the
SRA has to call both Sigtia and Keya in order to dispose of the
application of the society according to law.
Mr. Harish Salve appearing for the petitioner in special
leave petition Shri Ramchandra Mahadev Jagpat submitted
that SRA cannot decide any contractual dispute and that the
order dated 11.03.2005 put certain obligations on Sigtia and
that the Society in its general body meeting dated 29.05.2005
terminated the agreement with Sigtia and decided to invite
other builders. In this context, he drew our attention to the
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unanimous resolution passed by the Society in regard to the
appellant of Keya for the development of slum property at
Premnagar dated 10.06.2005. This letter dated 10.06.2005
was addressed to Keya Developer and Construction Company,
Mumbai. The letter reads as follows:
"We are informing hereof that the Managing Committee had
decided in the meeting held on 6th June, 2005 Monday at
8.00 p.m. vide Resolution No.6 to develop the property
bearing C.S. Nos. 439,439-1 & 2,440-1 to 6,441, 441-1 to
3,442,442-1 to 3,443,443-1 to 15,444,444-1 to
6,446,447,447-1 to 3,448,448-1 to 5,451-1 to 3,452-1 to
24,453,453-1 to 5,454(A), Irla, Vile-parle (West) in the
District of Mumbai, the area is 28200 sq. mtrs. And the
owner is the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. This land be
declared Slum as per Slum Act 1971 Sub-section 4 (1). You
are appointed to re-develop the said property as per
Maharashtra Government Rules and Regulations. In the
subject-matter we are enclosing herewith the true certified
copy to you. You are requested to intimate your consent in
this regards and co-operation.
True Extract of Resolution No. 6 of General lBody meeting
held on 8th June 2005 at 8.00p.m. Committee Office
RESOLUTION NO.6.
Resolved that M/s Keya Developer and Construction Pvt.Ltd.
Having its office at 302, Tardeo Air \026 Condition Market,
Tardeo Road, Mumbai-400024 is and be appointed as
Developer to develop the slum property by providing
permanent alternate accommodation of 225 sq.ft. Carpet
Area to all eligible Slum dwellers and to sell balance from
sale component in open market as per O.C.R.33 (10) of 1991.
Also power care given to said developer to enable him to
exercise the powers for the development of the said property.
This appointment will remaining in force and valid till entire
Project is successfully completed in all respect as tenant are
handed over to all slum dwellers. No an y Manaaging
Committee, existing or forth coming, shall have any right to
change the developer under any circumstances whatsoever
may be the nature.
Proposed By: Mrs.Sandhaya Ketemkar
Seconded By: Mr. Sanjay Kadam
RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
Sd/-
(Mr. Shamrao Vicharee)
Chief Promoter"
He also drew our attention to the subsequent events in
the appointment of Keya Developers and the letter dated
10.06.2005 issued to Keya Developers made in the I.A. in
19848 of 2005 filed by Babita Baliram. He also invited our
attention to the second round of litigation on the non-deposit
of the amount by Sigtia. He also submitted that Sigtia have
acted on termination and have not challenged the termination
of the agreement.
Mr. Salve also submitted that there is no question of
fraud having played upon by this Court as alleged or told and
that the applicant Sigita has conveniently not mentioned that
his agreement with the society had come to an end by efflux of
time and stood cancelled on 24.04.2005 and that the society
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had also unanimously terminated the appointment of Sigtia as
the developer and that the prayer in writ petition No. 1277 of
2006 was directed against the SRA and that there was no
prayer or relief sought against the Sigtia and, therefore, Sigtia
was not arrayed as a party in the said writ petition and that
there was also no reason to make Sigtia as a party as they had
been replaced by a new developer as far back as June, 2005 of
which the Sigtia had notice. Mr. Salve further submitted that
it is incorrect to say that the parties before this Court in
special leave petition (C) No. 10281 of 2006 were not the
affected parties. In fact all the parties are affected parties
excepting the Sigtia who has undertaken no development work
from 1997 and even after agreement dated 2002 was entered
into with the society and therefore, Sigtia has no subsisting
legal or other rights whatsoever and the present I.A. to recall
the order deserves to be dismissed.
I.A.No. 9 of 2006
Mr. Dushyant Dave, learned senior counsel filed an
application for impleadment in I.A. No. 9 of 2006 on behalf of
Nazeer Khan Yakub Khan who is also slum dweller. Learned
senior counsel submitted even that in 1997 Sigtia was
appointed by the Society as a developer for the slum and the
appointment was approved by SRA. However, no efforts were
taken by Sigtia for development. As per the agreement Sigtia
the agreement has to complete the entire development work
within 3 years and if the development work was not so
completed the agreement was to be treated as cancelled
automatically. It is further argued that Sigtia had taken no
efforts for development of the slum and in fact had no
financial or technical capability to carry out the development.
Sigtia had also not deposited the 2.5 crores as interest free
deposit and, therefore, the applicant in I.A. No. 9 of 2006 filed
special leave petition No. 11318 of 2005 before this Court
challenging the order dated 11.03.2005 and in the meantime,
the agreement of Sigtia with the society to develop the slum
itself came to an end on the expiry of 3 years from the date of
agreement and, thereafter, the Society at a general body
meeting dated 29.05.2005 resolved to terminate the
appointment of Sigtia as the developer and the SRA was also
informed of such decision since the appointment of Sigtia
stood terminated and a new developer had been appointed the
applicant Nazeer Khan Yakub Khan had no further grievance
as it was apparent that the development work of the slum
would finally commence and in these circumstances the
applicant withdraw special leave petition (C) No. 11318 of
2005 on 26.09.2005.
Mr. Dave further submitted that the applicant in IA No. 9
of 2006 had always opposed the appointment of Sigtia as
developers as they had no technical capability to carry out the
development work and in fact undertook no work whatsoever
for over 8 years to the department of the slum dwellers and
other similar situate slum dwellers. It is further submitted the
order in special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006 is fair and
just and in the interest of the slum dwellers who will finally be
able to see the development work of their slum being
undertaken and that the Sigtia have no legal right for
undertaking the development of the slum in view of the
termination and automatic cancellation of their agreement
with the Society.
I.A. No. 8 of 2006
The applicant is a Zuveriya Developer. Their application
for intervention is allowed and Mr. Shekhar Naphade,
advocate was heard on his behalf. I.A. No. 8 of 2006 was filed
to recall the order dated 27.06.2006 in special leave petition
No. 10281 of 2006 and allow the applicant to file a reply to the
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above special leave petition. We have perused the intervention
application. The applicant was not a party to the earlier writ
petition. The applicant put up a proposal to the Municipal
Corporation of Greater Bombay being the competent authority
under the act expressing its willingness to re-accommodate
the hutment dwellers and offered to give certain portion of plot
of land to Municipal Corporation free from encumbrances as
per the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. The Managing
Committee of the original society have executed an agreement
dated 16.07.1997 that the applicant and gave development
rights in favour of the applicant for the development of the
property. They have also issued general Power of Attorney in
favour of the applicant. The Addl. Collector (Encroachment)
has fixed the hearing for the purpose of issuance of Annexure-
2 when one M/s Sigtia Construction Pvt. Ltd. intervened in the
matter by representing that another society by name Ville
Parle Premnagar Cooperative Society (proposed) had appointed
the said Sigtia as developer. The applicant was not a party to
the writ petition No. 988 of 2004 filed by some of the hutment
dwellers not to issue annexure-3 and Letter of Intent in favour
of Sigtia. The applicant or the original society was not a party
to the said writ petition upon knowledge the applicant has
taken out chamber summons in the petition to intervene in
the matter. The High Court dismissed the writ petition and
also the chamber summons as it was too late for the applicant
to apply to joint as party to the said writ petition. The
applicant again made a representation to the SRA. The
applicants are agreeable to obtain similar agreement from
slum dwellers in support of the said proposal with a view to
develop the property.
Writ petition No. 1277 of 2006 was also filed by the
petitioners without impleading the applicant before the High
Court. It is submitted without making the applicant a party
the petitioner has obtained an order dated 27.06.20906
whereby this Court has directed the SRA to issue a Letter of
Intent in favour of Keya Developers. Hence the applicant is
making the present intervention application for recalling the
said order dated 27.06.2006. In our opinion, the above I.A.
has no merits and is belated. No relief can, therefore, be
granted to the applicant. I.A. No. 8 of 2006 stands dismissed.
Dr. Abhishek Singhvi, learned senior counsel appearing
for Keya Developers submitted that Sigtia did not take any
recourse to any legal proceedings to challenge the termination
and by letter dated 10.06.2005 Keya was informed of the
resolution appointing it as developer to develop the property
on the terms and conditions mentioned therein. In view of the
termination of Sigtia as developer two groups of slum dwellers
who had filed special leave petition before this Court against
the order of the High Court dated 11.03.2005 withdrew the
special leave petition on 26.09.2005 and 13.04.2005
respectively. Sigtia was represented in the proceedings and
did not represent the factum of expiry/termination of the
agreement between Sigtia and the society. Keyas since the
intimation of the resolution of the society has been taking all
steps within its power to prepare for the development of the
property including the appointment of M/s Anil Chawla and
Associates as architects and made arrangements for a transit
camp for residence of the members of the society during the
period of re-development. The Keya’s has also made
arrangements with HDFC Bank Ltd. for provision of loan of
over Rs. 12 crores towards the implementation of the project
and is also ready and willing to deposit such amount as this
Court may determine by way of security deposit. Keyas has
also approached the SRA for grant of Letter of Intent in its
favour for the purpose of transit accommodation and has also
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already incurred an expenditure of Rs.45,56,720/- Keyas has
also not been served with any notice or order of any Court
with respect to any challenge to the termination of the Sigtia
or appointment of the Keyas as developer of the property. In
these circumstances, Dr. Singhvi submitted that the SRA was
bound to consider the application for issue of Letter of Intent
to Keyas and Keyas has also been approached from time to
time by the society and its members for taking further steps to
commence the actual work of re-development of the property.
However, Keyas was unable to commence the actual work of
re-development for want of Letter of Intent from the authority
in the present special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006. This
Court passed the order in the presence of the counsel for all
the parties and deny that any fraud has been played upon this
Court as alleged. It is further submitted Sigtia has been
terminated as developer of the property long before the writ
petition was filed in the High Court. According to learned
senior counsel Sigtia is not a necessary party to the special
leave petition and that it had the consent of more than 70% of
the slum dwellers and that the same is in any event irrelevant
after the termination of the contract with the society.
Concluding his submission, learned senior counsel submitted
that the applicant has failed to make out any good ground for
the recall of the order dated 27.06.2006 and, therefore, the
said application is liable to be dismissed.
Mr. T.L. Nageswara Rao, learned senior counsel
appearing for Vile Parle Premnagar Society submitted that in
view of the termination of the agreement given to Sigtia, Sigtia
is not a necessary party to the special leave petition 10281
and that the SRA should be directed to consider only the
application made by Keyas.
We have given our anxious and careful consideration to
the lengthy submissions made by all the learned senior
counsel appearing for the respective parties with reference to
the pleadings, annexures etc. The applicant Sigtia have
explained to this Court as to how the deposit of Rs.2.5 crores
was not be deposited with SRA. It also denied that the
agreement entered into between Sigtia and the society came to
an end on 25.04.2005 by efflux of time. In this context,
Clause 22 of the agreement must be read as a whole and when
so read, it would be clear that the developer was to start the
actual construction after the issuance of the commencement
certificate by the authority. Therefore, the period of 3 years
must be construed to begin from the date when
commencement certificate is issued and not from the date of
execution of the agreement. It was also submitted that the
letters dated 25.04.2005 and 06.06.2005 were issued by 2 or
3 members of the society who were acting with ulterior motive
and in collusion with the rival developer. Even the SRA to
whom the letter dated 06.06.2005 was addressed in its
counter affidavit filed before this Court in the present
proceedings has stated that they did not take notice of the said
letter of termination as the letter was not supported by the
relevant resolution of the society. After 11.03.2005, Sigtia
approached the SRA on several occasions requesting for the
issuance of the Letter of Intent but since no response was
coming from the Housing Department of Government of
Maharashtra on 10.06.1995. In our view after the dismissal of
the special leave petition No. 19848 of 2005, the order of the
High Court dated 11.03.2005 attained finality and there was
no proposal of M/s Keya Developers before the SRA on
13.04.2006 and, therefore, there was no question of SRA
considering the proposal made by the new developer. In our
view, Sigtia was a necessary party to the writ petition and to
the special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006 as it directly
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affected by any order appointing Keya as developer. The
society has also entered into an agreement and also executed
an irrevocable general Power of Attorney dated 19.03.2004
wherein expressed its satisfaction with the progress in the
work made by the Sigtia and also by the undertaking dated
26.02.2004 where the society undertook to continue with
Sigtia as developer till the completion of the SRA project.
Though it is contended by Sigtia that the termination by the
society on 29.04.2005 was illegal and without authority, the
Sigtia has not so far challenged the order of termination by the
society. This important factor has also to be taken note off by
the SRA at the time of considering the case of Sigtia along with
Keya Developers. It is also stated that the consent affidavits of
more than 70% of the slum dwellers had already been
obtained by Sigtia. It is also submitted in the rejoinder
affidavit that Sigtia did have the technical expertise and
financial capability to complete the work and that all these
issues were decided in favour of Sigita by the High Court in
writ petition No. 988 of 2004 by order dated 11.03.2005 which
order has attained finality in view of the dismissal of special
leave petition Nos. 11318 of 2005 and 19848 of 2005. Sigtia,
after receiving the copy of the letters dated 24.05.2006 and
06.06.2005 sent a reply dated 15.06.2005 wherein the Sigtia
submitted that the purported termination is illegal and
without any authority and no further reply was sent by the
society to the said letter. Moreover, in the hearing held before
the Principal Secretary dated 20.06.2005, the representative of
the society made no arguments with regard to the purported
termination of the agreement. Therefore, it is contended that
the society has not acted on the letter of termination and that
the matter has come to an end and, therefore, Sigtia did not
file any petition to challenge the purported termination. It is
also argued that the prayer in the writ petition No. 1277 of
2006 adversely affects the interests of the Sigtia. It is stated
that with the dismissal of special leave petition No. 19848 of
2005 all the applications filed in the said petition also stood
dismissed and, therefore, the petitioners in the special leave
petition had no right to approach this Court by way of writ
petition making the same prayer which was made in the
application for directions filed in special leave petition No.
19848 of 2005 and that the effect of the order dated
13.04.2006 is that the order of the High Court dated
11.03.2005 which was not challenged in the special leave
petition attained finality and that in the application for
directions filed in the special leave petition No. 19848 of 2005
the society had raised the issue of termination of agreement of
Sigtia and appointment of Keya developers and the same stood
dismissed with the dismissal of the said special leave petition.
Therefore, as rightly pointed out by Mr. Arun Jaitley in any
subsequent proceedings where the termination of the
agreement of applicant Sigtia with the society and replacement
of Sigtia a new developer is a subject-matter, Sigtia is a
proper and necessary party to it. We see much force and
substance in the said argument. In our view, the applicant
Sigtia has also the right to have a hearing before the SRA
along with Keya Developers, the new appointee. It must also
be seen that the relief sought in the special leave petition No.
10281 of 2006 though only against SRA but in effect against
the applicant Sigtia and, therefore, Sigtia is the necessary
party to any proceedings wherein the replacement of the Sigtia
with a new developer and the termination of the agreement
with the Sigtia is in issue and, therefore, Sigtia should have
been made a party respondent in the writ petition No. 1277 of
2004 as well as special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006. It is
also not in dispute that Sigtia was impleaded as party
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respondent No. 7 in the special leave petition which came to
be withdrawn by the petitioner therein on 26.09.2005 on
which date Sigtia appeared through their advocate in this
Court. As rightly submitted by the learned Solicitor General
after the withdrawal of special leave petition No. 11318 of
2005 by the petitioner \026 Nazeer Khan Yakub Khan both the
developers i.e. M/s Sigtia and Keya Developers kept on
submitting applications with the SRA. However, due to
pendency of the special leave petition in this Court, SRA was
not able to take any decision on the representations of the
developers as well as the society. At the time of hearing, our
attention was also drawn to the guidelines and the several
conditions to be fulfilled by the slum dwellers/the society/ as
well as the developers and the remarks required to be obtained
on the proposal from the concerned authorities before issuing
Letter of Intent. The SRA has also to verify the resolution as
passed by the general body of the slum dwellers proposed
society by majority for appointing or replacing the developers
for the development of the scheme. It is also necessary for
SRA to verify and to see whether the plot under the
development is not affected by any reservation such as
playground or recreation ground in view of the stay granted by
the High Court in writ petition No. 1152 of 2002 and also to
verify whether the proposed appointed developer has the
financial capacity to undertake and complete the scheme.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, we hold that Sigtia is a
necessary and proper party to the special leave petition No.
10281 of 2006 filed by Ramchandra Mahadev Jagpat & Ors.
We say that the order dated 27.06.2006 was passed in S.L.P.
No. 10281/2006 on the basis of representation made by all
the respective senior counsel appearing at that time. The
order was not obtained as playing fraud on Court as alleged by
the applicant herein. Now, it is brought to our notice and
made out a clear case as to why Sigtia was a necessary party
to the special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006 and in the light
of the directions given by the High Court dated 11.03.2005 in
writ petition No. 988 of 2004 and of the order dated
04.05.2006 in writ petition No. 77 of 2006. We have,
therefore, no hesitation to recall our order dated 27.06.2006 in
special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006. Since the entire
matter was argued at length now by all the respective senior
counsel, there is no necessity to rehear special leave petition
No. 10281 of 2006. This apart in the concluding portion of
our order dated 27.06.2006 in special leave petition No. 10281
of 2006, this Court directed the SRA to issue proper orders
within two weeks from 27.06.2006. The said direction is also
not correct. This Court ought to have directed the SRA, if at
all, to consider issuing of the Letter of Intent in favour of Keya
Developers in view of the replacement of previous Developers
M/s Sigtia.
We, therefore, allow the application I.A. No. 3 of 2006
filed by the applicant Sigtia and recall our order dated
27.06.2006 passed in special leave petition No. 10281 of 2006
and pass the following order:-
As directed by the order in writ petition No. 988 of 2004
dated 11.03.2005 and order dated 04.05.2006 in writ petition
No. 1277 of 2006 the SRA is directed to call the two
developers, namely, M/s Keya and M/s Sigtia and dispose of
their application for issuing the Letter of Intent and to pass
appropriate orders and in accordance with the Maharashtra
Slum Areas Improvement, Clearance and Re-development Act,
1971 and also strictly following the procedure for submission
processing and approval of Slum Rehabilitation Scheme and to
Award the Letter of Intent to the developer who satisfies the
required qualifications and conditions and regulations and the
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provision of the Act, 1971.
The SRA is also directed to consider as to whether the
guidelines and other conditions are fulfilled by the slum
dwellers/the society/as well by the developers and issue
notice to the society also and hear them and pass appropriate
speaking order within 3 months from today. The above
direction is issued in the larger interest of the slum dwellers
and in order to rehabilitate the poor slum dwellers and needy
slum dwellers at the earliest. We place on record the very
valuable assistance and guidance of all the learned senior
counsel rendered to this Court and, in particular, the learned
Solicitor General inviting our attention to the proper
procedure, guidelines and conditions to be followed by SRA
while granting the Letter of Intent to the Developer.
All the IAs are disposed off as above. No costs.