Simplex Infrastructures Ltd v. The State of Assam and 5 Ors

ORDER Date : 27.06.2023

Heard Mr. A. Saraf, learned counsel for the applicant as well as Mr. RR Gogoi, learned standing counsel for the Forest Department appearing for the opposite party nos.1, 2, 3 and 4 as well as Mr. C. Baruah, learned standing counsel for the opposite party nos.5 and 6.

¶2This IA has been filed for modification of the conditions contained in para-10 of the order dated 07.06.2023 passed in WP(C) 3206/2023. The conditions contained in para-10 of the order is as follows: "In the interim and till the next returnable date, the respondents shall not take coercive steps to recover forest royalty and other dues, subject to condition that the petitioner shall secure the demanded sum of Rs.1,45,84,055/- (Rupees One crore forty five lakh eighty four thousand fifty five only) by providing unconditional bank guarantee for a sum of Rs.1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One crore only) within a period of 15 (fifteen) days from the date of the order."

¶3The learned senior counsel for the applicant has submitted that instead of condition to provide unconditional bank guarantee, the applicant is ready and willing to provide a bank draft for a sum of Rs.1 crore which would be renewed before the expiry of the tenure of the said instrument. It is submitted that the applicant undertakes that in case of failure to extend the validity of the demand draft, it would be permissible to the Forest Department to appropriate the same against the demand. In addition, it is submitted that to enable the applicant to provide the said guarantee, one month's time be granted from today to furnish the bank draft for a sum of Rs.1.00 crore. Page No.# 3/3

¶4Having considered the nature of prayer made in this IA, the prayer made by the learned senior counsel for the applicant is allowed.

¶5The modification of para-10 of the order dated 07.06.2023 in WP(C) 3206/2023 shall now be read as follows:

"10. In the interim and till the next returnable date, the respondents shall not take coercive steps to recover forest royalty and other dues, subject to condition that the applicant shall secure the market sum of Rs.1,45,84,055/- (Rupees one crore forty five lakh eighty four thousand and fifty five rupees only) by providing a demand draft for a sum of Rs.1.00 crore within a period of 30 days from the date of the order. The applicant shall provide a fresh demand draft for a sum of Rs.1.00 crore before the expiry of the tenure of the bank draft to be submitted from time to time."

¶6This order shall be read together with the order dated 07.06.2023 passed in WP(C) 3206/2023.

¶7This IA stands disposed of.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/3 GAHC010120222023 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo:oI.A.(Civil)/1792/2023 SIMPLEXoINFRASTRUCTURESoLTD HAVINGoITSoREGISTEREDoOFFICEoAToSIMPLEXoHOUSEo27oSHAKESPEAREo SARANIoKOLKATAoPINo700017oSTATEoWESToBENGALoANDoREP.oBYoMR.o ARINDOMoCHOWDHURYoSENIORoMANAGERoADMINISTRATION oVERSUS THEoSTATEoOFoASSAMoANDo5oORS REP.oBYoTHEoCOMMISSIONERoANDoSECRETARYoTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAMo FORESToANDoENVIRONMENToDEPTT.oDISPURoGUWAHATIo6 2:THEoPRINCIPALoCHIEFoCONSERVATORoOFoFORESToANDoHEADoOFoFORESTo FORCE ARANYAoBHAWANoPANJABARIoGUWAHATIo781037oASSAM o3:THEoDIVISIONALoFORESToOFFICERoNAGAONoDIVISION NAGAON oASSAM o4:THEoASSISTANToCONSERVATORoOFoFORESToHEADoQUARTER ASSAM o5:THEoNATIONALoHIGHWAYSoANDoINFRASTRUCTUREoDEVELOPMENTo CORPORATIONoLTD. 3RDoFLOORoPTIoBUILDINGo4oPARLIAMENToSTREEToNEWoDELHIo110001oANDo REP.oHEREINoBYoITSoMANAGINGoDIRECTOR o6:THEoDEPUTYoGENERALoMANAGERo(PROJECTS) NATIONALoHIGHWAYSoANDoINFRASTRUCTUREoDEVELOPMENTo CORPORATIONoLTDoPMUoTEZPURoSARAFoTOWERo1SToFLOORoOPPOSITEo DONoBOSCOoSCHOOLoMAZGAONoTEZPURo784001oDIST.oSONITPURoASSAM o------------ oAdvocateoforo:oDR.oASHOKoSARAF Advocateoforo:oSC oFORESToappearingoforoTHEoSTATEoOFoASSAMoANDo5oORS Page No.# 2/3 BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KALYAN RAI SURANA