Full Judgment Text
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PETITIONER:
MAHABIR SUGAR MILLS LTD. & ORS. ETC.
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
STATE OF U.P. & ORS. ETC.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 27/08/1996
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
HANSARIA B.L. (J)
MAJMUDAR S.B. (J)
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 347, 1292-94/86,2578/81, WRIT
PETITION NOS. 7535-36/85, 378 AND 391/86
AND
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 11732-33 OF 1996
(Arising out of SLP (C) No. 9931-32 of 1991)
AND
CAMP NO. 18628-86 IN C.A. NO. 1292/86
O R D E R
IN C.A. Nos. 2576-77/81, 347/86, W.P. No. 7535-36/85
AND CMP NO. 18628/86 IN C.A. NO. 1292/86
These matters are disposed of together. We need not
elaborately mention the fact leading to filling of these
appeals and writ Petitions. Suffice it to state that the
validity of U.P. Sugar Undertaking (Acquisition) Act, 1971
was upheld by this Court in The Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills
(P) Ltd. & Anr. etc. vs. The State of Utter Pradesh & Ors.
etc. [(1980) 3 SCR 331]. However, proceedings before the
BIFR are pending to streamline the working of sick industry,
namely, U.P. State Sugar Corporation. Shri H.N. Salve, the
learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants and Writ
Petitioner in these cases, submitted that he had discussion
with his clients after the case was last adjourned. He
suggested that the appellants are proposing to make a
representation to the BIFR for consideration of their cases
and so it was not necessary to argue the case on merits. In
that view, we need not decide the case on merits. It would
be open to the appellants to make representation to the BIFR
and it would be open to the BIFR to entertain the
representation and dispose it of.
The appeals and Writ Petitions are accordingly
dismissed as withdrawn with the above observation. We make
it clear that no issue of law or fact is left open in these
cases.
Pending appeal, the appellant mede an application in
CMP No. 18628/86 for directions as regards the possession of
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the bungalow occupied by the Director of the appellant
Company. When there was conflicting claim as regards the
possession, this court had called for a report from the
District Judge, Bulandshehar. In furtherance thereof, the
District Judge submitted the report. Or consideration of the
report by prcceedings dated January O9,199O this Court
passed the order as under :
"In, this case, a report has been
received from the learned District
Judge as to the persons who are in
possession of the property as on
May 9, l936. These are clearly
prima facie Findings in order to
enable this Court to pass an
interim order. We direct that the
status quo regarding the
possession, as reported by the
District Judge will continue till
the disposal of the case.
We may make it clear that we do not
pronounce regarding the title to
the property in question and also
regarding any question of mense
profits which the appellants may be
entitled to. The appellants, if
they so desire, may takethe
appropriate proceeding in the
matter."
In view of the fact that we are now dismissing the
appeals as withdrawn we make it clear that the order and the
status quo order stand discharged. Whoever seeks any
positive direction. as regards the possession of the
bungalow, it would be open to the appropriate party to take
such procedure as is available at law. We give eight weeks’
time from today to take such steps; untill then the status
quo order granted by this Court would be continue for eight
weeks only and no further. As regards the vesting and other
incidental issues, it would be open to the appropriate
parties to lay proceedings under Section 10 of U.P. Sugar
Industry Undertakings Act before the prescribed Authority
which would decide the matter in accordance with law. It
would be open to the prescribed authority to consider the
question independently on its own merit in accordance with
law and it would be open to the parties to place such
material as is available to them at law.
IN C.A. No. 2578/1981
Appeal is dismissed as infructuous.
IN C.A. NO 1292-93/86 AND W.P. NO. 378/86
These matters are disposed of together. We need not
elaborately mention the facts leading to file these appeals
and Writ Petitions. Suffice it to state that the validity of
U.P. Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1971 was upheld
by this Court in The Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills (P) Ltd. &
Anr. etc. vs. The State of Utter Pradesh & Ors. etc. [(1980)
3 SCR 331)]. However, proceedings before the BIFR is pending
to streamline the working of sick industry. namely, U.P
State Sugar Corporation. Shri H.N. Salve, the learned senior
counsel appearing for the appellants and Write Petitioner in
these cases submitted that he had discussion with his cilent
after the case was last adjourned. He suggested that the
appellants are proposing to make a representation to the
BIFR for consideration of their cases and so not necessary
to argue the case on merits. In that view we need uot decide
the case on merit. It would be open to the appellants to
make representation to the BIFR and it would be open to the
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BIFR to entertain the representation and dispose it of. The
appeals and Writ Petitions are accordingly dismissed as
withthdrawn with the above observation. We make it clear
that no issue of law or fact is left open in these cases.
IN C.A. 1294/86 AND W.P. NO. 391/86
These matters are disposed of together. We need not
elaborately mention the facts leading to file these appeals
and Writ Petitions. Suffice it to state that the validity of
U.P. Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1991 was upheld
by this Court in The Iswari Khetan Sugar Mill (P) Ltd. &
Anr. etc. vs. The State of Utter Pradesh & Ors. etc. [(1980)
3 SCR 331]. However, proceedings before the BIFR is pending
to streamline the working of sick indutry sick industry,
namely, U.P. State Sugar Corporation. Shri H.N. Salve, the
learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants and Writ
Petitioner in these cases, submitted that he had discussion
with his clients after the case was last adjourned. He
suggested that the appellants are proposing to make a
representation to the BIFR for consideration of their cases
and so not necessary to argue the case on merits. In that
view we need not decide the case on merit. It would be open
to the appellants to make representation to the BIFR and it
would be open to the BIFR lo entertain the representation
and dispose it of.
The appeals and Writ Petitions are accordingly
dismissed as withdrawn with the above observation. He make
it clear that no issue of law or fact is left open in these
cases.
SLP(C) Nos. 9931-32/1991
Leave granted.
We have heard the learned counsel on both sides.
The appeals arise from order if High Court made in Writ
Petition No.9690/1990 dated January 24,1991. The appellants
have sought for directions against the bank for the
realisation of the dues belonging to the undertakings. The
High Court in the impugned order passed as under :
"For the above reasons having
regard to the circumstance of the
case, while we cannot grant all the
reliefs prayed for in these writ
petitions, they are disposed of
with the following directions:-
(i) Neither the Central Bank of
India nor the State Bank of India
(respondents 1 and 2 respectively
in W.P. No. 9690 of 1990 and sole
respondents in W.P. No. 19630 and
19629 respectively) shall pay any
further amounts to respondents 3
and 4 or any other person out of
the principal of the said deposits
or interest accruing thereon. The
said deposits and Bank Guarantees
shall be subject to the orders that
may ultimately be passed by the
Supreme Court in appeals now
pending before it, namely civil
appeals Nos. 712 and 713 of 1977.
If the said appeals are dismissed,
it is abvious that the amount
covered by the Bank Guarantees has
to be paid over to the Central
Bank\Food Corporation of India. If,
however, the said appeals are
allowed, the amount will go to the
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scheduled undertaking, which would
go towards the discharge of arrears
which accrued prior to 2.3.1970. In
that event, any surplus amount
accruing on account of the
difference in interest should
firstly be available for
dischargint the said arrears for
recovering which the Receiver was
appointed. Of course, this
direction. shall be subject to any
directions to the contrary given by
the Supreme Court in the said
appeals.
(ii) Within a period of one year
from today it shall be open to the
Government or the Collector under
the provisions of the U.P.
Zamindari Abolition and Land
Reforms Act to issue appropriate
unders of attachment or restraint,
as the case may be, calling upon
the respondent Banks to pay the
surplus interest amount to them. It
such orders are issued, the Bank
shall obey the same subject, of
course, to orders to the contrary
if any by any court or competent
authority.
(iii) The bank may consider, and
indeed it will be well advised in
taking steps for recovering the
amounts paid by it or loan given by
it, as the case may be, to
respondents 3 and 4. That is,
however, a matter for the bank to
decide.
This order does not preclude the
petitioner Corporation from
adopting such remedies as are open
to it under law, including civil
suits, for establishing its claims
and contentions. Similarly, this
order does not preclude the
Government, Collector or any other
authority from recovering the
amounts which they claim are due to
them either from respondents 3 and
4 or from any other person liable
in that behalf in accordance with
the procedure prescribed by law. If
any proceedings are already
initiated in that behalf they can
also be continued according to
law."
We are informed that both the appellant as well as
respondent have filed civil suits which are pending
disposals under these circumstances, we think that it is not
necessary for us to go into the question. It would be open
to their rights in the suits and decrees will be passed by
the Civil Court in accordance with law.
The appeals are accordingly dismissed. No. costs.