Ajit Balaji Joshi v. State of Haryana and Others

CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -1-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToATo CHANDIGARHo o o 267o o o o o o o o Reservedoono :o26.05.2023.o o o o o o o DateoofoDecisiono :o24.07.2023.o o o

(1)o o o o o o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o AJIToBALAJIoJOSHIo ..oPetitionero VERSUSo o STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ...oRespondentso o o o o o o o *****o o o

(2)o o o o o o CWP-15444-2022o(O&M).o o o HARYANAoSHEHRIoVIKASoPRADHIKARANoo ..oPetitionero o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ...oRespondentso o o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.o o ARGUEDoBY:o Mr.oVipinoPaloYadav,oAdvocate,o o o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-15442-2022oandooo fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-15444-2022.o o Mr.oSatyaveeroSingh,oAdvocate,oandoo Mr.oAshishoPundir,oAdvocate,oo o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-15444-2022.o oo o o Mr.oVivekoChauhan,oAddl.oA.G.oHaryana.oo o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -2-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

Mr.oAnmoloPuri,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-15442-2022oandooo fororespondentoNo.4oinoCWP-15444-2022.o o Mr.oVishavjeetoS.oBeniwal,oAdvocate,oo fororespondentsoNo.2oando3oinoCWP-15442-2022.oo o Mr.oUdayoAgnihotri,oAdvocate,oassistedobyo Mr.oT.C.oGupta,oChiefoCommissioner,oHaryanao RightotooServiceoCommissiono(inoperson)oooo o fororespondentsoNo.2oando3oinoCWP-15444-2022.oo o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.oo o o Theoquestionothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopresentocaseoiso asotoowhetherotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissionocanotakeosuoomotoo cognizanceoofoaogrievanceoinoexerciseoofoitsopowerounderoSectiono17oofotheo HaryanaoRightotooServiceoAct,o2014o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theoActoofo 2014')oandotheoRulesoframedothereunderoevenowhenotheoaggrievedohasonoto invokedotheojurisdictionooroappliedoforotheoserviceoinoaccordanceowithotheo procedureolaidodownoinotheoActoofo2014.oo oo Bothotheseowritopetitionsoariseooutoofoorderodatedo23.06.2022o passedobyotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissiono(hereinafteroreferredotoo aso 'Commission')o ino suoo motoo Noticeo No.HRTSC/Fileo No.112/SM-204/2103odatedo23.05.2022.oo o o WhilstoCWPoNo.15442oofo2022ohasobeenofiledoinopersonobyoAjito Balajio Joshi,o IAS,o theo Chiefo Administratoro ofo theo Haryanao Shehrio Vikaso Pradhikarano(foroshorto'HSVP')oaggrievedoofotheoremarks/stricturesorecordedo inotheosaidoorderoandotheopenaltyoimposed,otheoCWPoNo.15444oofo2022ohaso beenofiledobyotheoHaryanaoShehrioVikasoPradhikaranoitself.o o o BriefofactsoofotheocaseofromoCWPoNo.15442oofo2022otitledoaso 'AJIToBALAJIoJOSHIoVsoSTATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERS'oareo asoounder:-oRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -3-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

o o Theopetitioneroiso2003oBatchoofficeroofoIndianoAdministrativeo Serviceo havingo beeno assignedo theo cadreo ofo theo Stateo ofo Haryana.o Theo petitionero haso beeno dischargingo dutieso aso Chiefo Administratoro ofo theo HaryanaoShehrioVikasoPradhikarano(HSVP)osinceo08.02.2021.oItoisoclaimedo thatotheopetitionerohasobeenoanooutstandingoofficeroperformingodutiesowitho uprightnessoandowelfareoorientationoforotheocitizens.oTheopetitioneroclaimsotoo haveobeenoconferredowithotheofollowingoawardsoforodistinguishedoservice:-oo "G-filesoGovernanceoAward,o2013.o o TheoDistinguishedoServiceoAwardo2009obyotheohandsobyo Hon'bleoA.P.J.oAbduloKalamoforostartingoofoIndia'sofirsto schooloforochildrenoofoBrickokilnoworkers'.o o TheoPrimeoMinister'soAwardoforoAdministrativeoExcellence,o 2016oforoexcellenceoinoimplementingotheoPradhanoMantrioJano DhanoYojanaoinoChandigarhodistrict."o o o o Theopetitioneroalsooclaimsocertainomajorocontributionsomadeobyo himoduringohisoservice.oTheosameoareoextractedoasounder:-oo A.oAdoptionoofofloodoaffectedovillageoinoBiharoandocompleteo Rehabilitationoofoitoino2009.o o B.o Startingo ofo India'so firsto schoolo foro childreno ofo Bricko kilno workersoandoimplementationoofoitoinoentireostate.o o C.oStartingoofoKalamoExpressoforotheounderprivilegedoM.oR.o children.o o oD.o Startingo ofo 300o bedo Saraio foro pooro peopleo ino theo PGIo ChandigarhounderoCSRoino2018.o o E.oStartingoIndia'sofirstononosubsidyobasedokitchenoforosupplyingo hoto cookedo foodo foro underprivilegedo pooro personso ino CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -4-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

ChandigarhoforoRso10.oItohasoseveredomoreothano3ocroresomealso tooneedyopersonsoinoChandigarhofromo2018.o o G.oMajororeformsoforoprovidingoservicesoinoITodeliveryosystemo ofoHSVPoandodecentralizationoofopowersosoothatopeopleowillogeto theo deliveryo ofo serviceso ato lowero levelo offices.o Ono dateo ofo joiningo ofo petitionero aso Chiefo Administrator,o HSVP,o aroundo 13000o ploto fileso involvingo issueso ofo datao correctiono wereo pendingooutoofowhicho11000oissuesohaveobeenoresolved.o o H.oRegistrationoofodocument,oattendanceofromoanywhereotoo propertyoowneroinotheostateoinoHSVP."o o o o ItoisofurtheroaverredothatowhenotheopetitionerojoinedoasoChiefo AdministratoroofoHSVP,oitowasounderoaodebtoofoRs.23,500/-ocroresoandowaso confrontedo witho theo challengeo too bringo ito outo ofo theo debto trap.o Variouso initiativesowereotakenobyotheopetitioneroandotheooutstandingodebtohasoalreadyo beenoreducedobyoRs.15,000/-ocrores.oRecoveryoofohugeoamountoofooverdueo outstandingowasoeffectedobyotheopetitioner.oHeohasoapproachedothisoCourto challengingotheoAwardopassedobyotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissiono (foro shorto 'theo Commission),o ono theo groundso thato adverseo comments/stricturesohaveobeenorecordedoandopenaltyohasobeenoimposedoupono theopetitioneroevenothoughothereowasonoolapseoonohisopartoandotheolawoando statutoryoprovisionsohaveobeenoignored.oThereowasonoooccasionooronecessityo toorecordoremarks/stricturesoagainstotheopetitionerosinceotheoadjudicationoofo theodisputeodidonotorequireosuchorecording.ooTheoadditionalogroundsoraisedo haveobeenoadvertedotooinotheolateropartoofotheojudgment.oo o o TheoHSVPohasoalsoofiledoitsoseparateowritopetitionoi.e.oCWPo No.15444oofo2022.ooooooooooo oRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -5-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

FACTUALoBACKGROUNDoOFoTHEoDISPUTEoANDoPLEADINGSo OFoPETITIONERSo oo OneoplotoNo.1170-PoSectoro64oFaridabadomeasuringo135osqm.o waso allottedo too oneo Dayao Ramo video allotmento lettero datedo 18.06.2017.o Allotteeo Dayao Ramo waso handedo overo possessiono ofo theo aboveo ploto video possessionocertificateodatedo03.08.2010oissuedobyoJ.E.oRameshoChanderoo/oo EstateoOfficer,oHSVP,oFaridabad.oSubsequently,ovideoseparateore-allotmento letteroandowithotheosameosizeoofoarea,otheosaidoplotowasotransferredotoooneo VandnaoKohlioono26.10.2010;othereafteroinofavouroofoYogeshoKumarovideo re-allotmentoletterodatedo16.08.2011;oinotheonameoofoSmt.oKusumoSharmao video re-allotmento lettero datedo 10.10.2011o ando finallyo ono 13.07.2012o ino favouroofotheorespondents-applicantsobyomentioningotheosizeoofoplotoaso135o sqm.o Aftero abouto 7o yearso i.e.o ono 19.04.2019o respondento Meghao Guptao submittedoanoapplicationotootheoE.O.,oHSVP,oFaridabad,oforoissuanceoofoao conveyanceodeedoofoheroplot.oOnore-measurement,otheoactualosizeoofotheoploto onospotowaso148.50osqm.oandonoto135osqm.oasomentionedoinotheore-allotmento ando possessiono letter,o sinceo beginning,o byo evidento mistake.o Resultantly,o E.O.,oHSVP,oFaridabadoissuedoaodemandonoticeodatedo8.7.2019oforoenhancedo costo ofo Rs.58,415/-o foro theo increasedo sizeo ando ano additionalo amounto ofo Rs.3,91,721/-oasointerestoonooutstandingoamount.oTheocomplainantorequestedo tooremitotheointerestsoamount.oo oo Theoissueoregardingotheodemandoofointerestoamountowasolateroono heardoinoanoappealoinstitutedoino2019o(wronglyomentionedoinotheoorderoaso institutedo ono 20.03.2018)o byo theo Administrator,o HSVP,o Faridabado (exercisingotheopowersoofoChiefoAdministratorou/so17oofotheoHSVPoAct,o 1977)oandomatterowasodecidedoinofavouroofotheorespondentono.5ovideoorderoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -6-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

datedo 24.2.2021o (conveyedo video memo.no.2595o datedo 5.3.2021).o Theo complainantosubmittedoanoapplicationoforore-calculationoofotheoamountotoobeo payableoafteroorderoofotheoAdministratoroandoalsoorequestedoforoexecutionoofo theoconveyanceodeedovideoherorequestoletterodatedo12.3.2021.oo oo Theo E.O.,o HSVP,o Faridabad,o however,o sento theo caseo too theo petitioneroChiefoAdministratoroono08.04.2021otoodecideoasotoowhetheroanyo appealoororevisionopetitionoisotoobeofiledoagainstotheoorderopassedobyotheo administratoroorotooimplementotheoorder.oo o However,odueotoospreadoofoCovido–o19oPandemic,otheodecisiono remainedo pendingo ono theo administrativeo side.o Theo Assistanto Districto Attorneyo recommendedo thato theo revisiono petitiono mayo noto beo filed,o ono

15.12.2021.oTheopetitioner-ChiefoAdministratorosoughtocertainoclarificationso whenotheofileowasoputoupobeforeohimoono16.12.2021oincludingothatointeresto onoadditionaloareaobeogotorecoveredofromotheoconcernedoJunioroEngineero includingotheodetailsoasotoocalculationoofotheocostoofoadditionaloland.oTheo caseofileowasosubmittedoagainoono13.04.2022otootheoChiefoAdministratorowitho aorecommendationothatoitoisonotoaofitocaseoforofilingoaorevisionobeforeotheo PrincipaloSecretaryoandotheoorderoofoAdministratorobeoimplemented.oTheo petitioner-Chiefo Administratoro soughto reporto fromo theo Administratoro ando statusoofofixingooforesponsibilityoono19.04.2022.oo o oTheo petitionero thereaftero tooko ao decisiono aso theo Chiefo Administratoro too fileo appeal/revisiono petitiono ono 07.05.2022o againsto allo ordersopassedobyotheoZonaloAdministratorounderoSectiono17o(5)oofotheoHSVPo Act,o1977,ow.e.f.o01.01.2019otoo09.05.2022.oTheosaidodecisionowasotakenotoo safeguardotheobestointerestsoofoHSVP.oTheodecisionowasotoobeouniformlyo appliedotooalloandomerelyobecauseotheorespondent-applicantoalsoofelloinotheoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -7-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

saidocategory,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheodecisionowasomotivatedooroaimedotoo inflictoinjuryotooher.oMoreover,oitoisoalsoonototheoallegationoofotheorespondent-applicantothatotheopetitioneroharbouredoanyogrudgeooromaliceoagainstoher.oIno theo absenceo ofo anyo maliceo oro anyo axeo too grindo witho theo applicant,o theo decisionocannotobeolabeledoasonotohavingobeenotakenoinogoodofaith.ooTheo decisionsotakenobyotheopetitioneroinohisoaboveocapacityodoonotofallounderotheo reviewoofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoActo2014.oHence,omeritsoofoanyosucho administrativeo decisiono iso noto subjecto too theo validationo ofo Chiefo CommissionerounderotheoAct,o2014oasoitoisonotoaopartoofonotifiedoserviceo oo ThatoorderounderoSectiono17o(5)oofoHSVPoActowasopassedobyo Administratoro Faridabado ono 24.2.2021o (conveyedo video Memo.No.2595o datedo05.03.2021)owhichosuchoperiodowasoun-precedentlyoaffectedodueotoo Covid-19,ohence,othereowasosomeodelaysoinodecisionomakingoprocess.oAsopero judgmentoofoHon'bleoApexocourtoinosuo-motuoWritoPetitiono(c)oNo.3oofo2020o whereinotimeoperiodofromo15.03.2020otoo28.02.2022owasonototoobeocountedo throughoutotheocountryoforocomputingolimitation,ohence,osaidoperiodoneedsotoo beo exempted.o Theo periodo ofo limitationo ofo 90o dayso waso too starto fromo

01.03.2022oasoperotheojudgmentoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtoandonotofromotheo dateoofotheoorderoofotheoAdministratorodatedo24.02.2021oandocommunicatedo videoMemooNo.2595oono05.03.2021oandowilloexpireoono29.05.2022.oTheo E.O.,o HSVP,o Faridabado forwardedo theo memoo ofo revisiono petitiono too theo officeoofoACS,oTCPovideomemo.no.4653-54odatedo25.5.22oalongowithotheo requisiteodemandodraftoandonumberoofocopiesowithinolimitation.ko o o Obliviouso ofo theo internalo proceedingso ofo theo Department,o respondent-allotteeo sento ano E-mailo datedo 28.03.2022o espousingo hero grievanceso too variouso officialso includingo theo Hon'bleo Primeo Ministero ofoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -8-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

IndiaoasowelloasotheoChiefoMinisteroandoMinisteroofoUrbanoLocaloBodieso amongstoothers.oo o o Takingo suoo motoo cognizanceo ofo theo saido e-mailo sento byo theo allottee,oCommissionosentoaoletterodatedo04.04.2022otootheoEstateoOfficer,o HSVPoFaridabad,oinvitingohisoattentionotootheocomplaintoandoseekingotheo statusoreport.oTheoaboveosaidonoticeoasowelloasotheoremindersowereosentobyo theoCommissioner,oHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissionoonlyotootheoEstateo Officer,owhooisotheoDesignatedoOfficerounderotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceo Commission,o2014oandotheorulesoframedothereunder.oo o o Aoreplyodatedo02.05.2022owasosubmittedobyotheoEstateoOfficero tootheoCommission,ohowever,oaosuoomotoonoticeodatedo23.05.2022o(Finalo orderodatedo23.06.2022)owasoaddressedotootheoChiefoAdministratoroinohiso personalocapacityodirectingohimotoofileoreplyoandoalsoomandatingopersonalo appearanceoevenothoughoheohasonooconcernowithotheosame.oo o o Anoapplicationoforokeepingotheoproceedingsoinoabeyanceowaso movedo byo theo petitionero alongo witho furnishingo theo statuso reporto ando informingo thato revisiono againsto theo ordero ofo theo Zonalo Administrator,o Faridabado hado alreadyo beeno filed.o However,o notwithstandingo theo statuso reportoasowelloasotheoapplicationomovedobyotheopetitioner,oadverseopersonalo commentso ando strictureso wereo passedo againsto theo petitionero Chiefo Administratoro video ordero datedo 23.06.2022o ando ao penaltyo ofo Rs.20,000/-o alongowithopaymentoofocompensationoofoRs.5,000/-owasoalsooimposedoonotheo petitioneroinoadditionotooissuingodirectionsotootheoHSVP.oo o o Aggrievedoofotheoabove,otheopresentowritopetitionsohaveobeeno filedochallengingotheoorderoonovariousogrounds.oo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -9-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

RESPONSEoBYoTHEoRESPONDENTSo o o ReplyoonobehalfooforespondentsoNo.2oando3ohadobeenofiled.oo o o LearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfooforespondentsoNo.4oando 5omadeotheirostatementoono09.03.2022otootheoeffectothatotheyodoonotointendotoo fileoanyoseparateoreplyowhileocounselofororespondentoNo.1ostatedothatoitoshallo relyoonotheoreplyofiledobyorespondentsoNo.2oando3.oo o o Inoitsoreply,otheoCommissionohasogivenodetailsowithorespectotoo theoobjectoofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissionoAct,o2014oandothato thereoareoasomanyoaso576oservicesothatohaveobeenonotifiedounderotheoHRSCo Act,o2014oandoareorequiredotoobeomadeoavailableowithinotheonotifiedotimeo limit.oItoisoaverredothatoSectiono17o(2)oofotheoHRSCoAct,o2014oempowersotheo Commissiono too initiateo suoo motoo inquiryo ifo ito iso satisfiedo thato thereo areo reasonableo groundso too inquireo intoo theo sameo and/oro refero sucho caseso foro decisionotootheoFirstoGrievancesoRedressaloAuthorityo(FGRA)oorotheoSecondo GrievancesoRedressaloAuthorityo(SGRA).oAmpleopowersoareogivenotootheo Commissiono too takeo noticeo ofo theo failureo ofo theo Designatedo Officero too deliveroservicesowithinotheonotifiedotimeolimitsoforotheofacilityoofotheocitizenso andotoosaveothemofromounnecessaryoharassment,obureaucraticored-otapismooro grosso negligenceo ofo theo Governmento functionaries.o Theo commissiono iso empoweredoundero Sectiono17o(1)o (h)o too imposeopenaltyo noto onlyo onotheo Designatedoofficersobutoalsooonoanyootheroofficialo'involvedoinotheoprocessoofo providingo sucho service.'o Hence,o whereo theo Designatedo officero iso noto competentotooprovideotheonotifiedoservice,oasoperodelegatedopowers,oandoiso requiredotooseekoapprovaloofotheocompetentoAuthority,osuchoAuthorityowouldo alsoo thuso fallo withino theo ambito ofo Commissiono ando beo amenableo too CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -10-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

oo o Theorespondent-Commissionohasogivenodetailsoofotheoinitiativeso takenobyoitoandotooensureoseamlessoredressaloofotheogrievancesoespousedo beforeo it.o Ito iso averredo thato aso ono 26.07.2022,o ao totalo ofo 5,40,53,066o applicationso hado beeno processedo ando 4,60,33,063o applicationso hado beeno disposedoofowithinotheonotifiedotimeolimitsounderotheoRightotooServiceoAct.o Theo Commissiono haso alsoo takeno stepso too ensureo timelyo deliveryo ando foro fixingoresponsibilityoinotheocasesoofodelayowhichowasopeggedoatoaroundo80o lakhso applications.o Foro ensuringo theo implementationo ofo theo Act,o theo Commissiono iso takingo cognizanceo ofo noto onlyo theo complaintso thato areo receivedo througho Emailo oro posto buto iso alsoo activelyo monitoringo theo Antoyadayao SARALo Portalo ino caseo ofo onlineo deliveryo ando alsoo seekingo monthlyoreportsofromotheoDepartmentsoinocasesorelatingotooofflineoservices.o Ito haso beeno callingo foro theo explanationso foro delayo fromo theo concernedo quartersoandothusomakingoitsobusinessofeltoandoitsoobjectoimplemented.oItowaso averredo thato theo Commissiono haso giveno 335o suoo motoo noticeso fromo

01.07.2021o tillo 21.07.2022o ando thato thereo waso noo victimizationo ofo theo petitionerohavingobeenosingledooutoforoservingoofoanyosuoomotoonotice.ooTheo receiptsoofosuchonoticesoincludeo20oIASoofficers,o04oIPSoOfficeroando04o IndianoForestoServiceoOfficersoamongstonumerousootheroClassoIoandoClassoIIo officers,omostoofowhomooareonotoDesignatedoofficersoorotheoFirstoGrievanceso RedressaloAuthorityo(FGRA)oorotheoSecondoGrievancesoRedressaloAuthorityo

(SGRA)obutoforotheiroinvolvementoinotheoprocessoofoprovidingotheonotifiedo services.oSuchonoticesowereoevenoissuedotootheoAdditionaloChiefoSecretary,o GovernmentoofoHaryanaoinotheoDepartmentoofoFinance.o o o Ito haso beeno furthero statedo thato theo Commissiono hado rightlyo exercisedo itso authorityo withino theo frameworko ofo HRSCo Act,o 2014.o TheoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -11-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

petitionero ino hiso capacityo aso theo Chiefo Administratoro ofo theo HSVPo waso expectedotooexamineoeachocaseoonomeritsoandotakeotheoessentialoandodesirableo decisions.o Theo Stateo Litigationo Policyo layso emphasiso ono reductiono ofo unnecessaryo litigation.o Takingo ao sweepingo decisiono too challengeo allo theo orderso eveno withouto noticingo anyo illegalityo oro improprietyo ando withouto applicationoofomindoisoclearlyoinoviolationoofotheoStateoLitigationoPolicy.oTheo petitioneroChiefoAdministratorodidonotoassignoanyoreasonoforochallengingotheo orderopassedobyotheoZonaloAdministrator,oFaridabadomore-soowhenoasomanyo aso07odifferentoofficersohadoworkedoduringotheorelevantoperiod.oSweepingo ordersotoofileounnecessaryopetitions/appealsowasoaogrossoabuseoofotheopowero andotheosoocalledouniformityoofodecisionoisoaomindlessoabuseoofoauthority.o Beingoaowatchdogoforoensuringodeliveryoofoserviceoinoaotimeoboundomanner,o delayoinoprovidingosuchoservicesounderotheopretextoofonecessaryolitigationo canoalsoobeoexaminedobyotheoCommissionoandoitowouldonotobeooustedoofoitso jurisdictionotooexamineotheovalidityoandolegalityoofotheoexplanationoputofortho byotheocompetentoAuthorityoforotheodelays.oIfosuchoexplanationodoesonoto appearotooreason,oitoisofreeotoodiscardotheosameoandopassosuchoappropriateo ordersoasoitodeemsofit.oTheodecisionotoopreferotheoappeal/revisionohadobeeno conveyedobyoaowhatsappomessageonotwithstandingothatotheoopinionoofotheo legalo brancho ofo theo HSVPo foundo theo ordero perfecto ando recommendedo implementation.o Thereo waso noo materialo availableo witho theo Chiefo Administratorotoonotoacceptotheoopinion/reportoorotooholdothatotheodecisionoofo theo Zonalo Administratoro sufferedo fromo anyo illegalityo oro factualo mis-appreciation.o Theo decisiono too fileo appeals/revisionso iso accentuatedo byo ulterioromotivesotoodelayotheodeliveryoofoserviceowithinotheonotifiedotimelineso foronoovalidoreasonoandotoooverreachotheoAuthority,ojurisdictionoandoscopeoofoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -12-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

theoCommission.oAonarrativeoofotheoinitiativesotakenobyotheoCommissionohaso alsoobeenogiven.oo o o Itoisofurtherosubmittedoinotheoreplyoonomeritsothatotheoconcernedo Estateo Officero waso theo Designatedo Officero responsibleo foro deliveryo ofo serviceoandoaccordingly,onoticesowereoinitiallyosentotoohim.oHowever,oinohiso responseofiled,oitowasoinformedothatotheomatterohadobeenosentotootheoChiefo Administratoroforonecessaryoapproval,ohence,otheonoticeowasoissuedotootheo petitioneroasowell.oItoisoalsoopointedooutothatotheopetitionerohasobeenotheoChiefo Administratorosinceo08.02.2021,ohence,otheoentireodelayorelatesotoohisotenureo forowhichoheohasotooownotheoresponsibility.oAnoopportunityohadobeenogiveno tootheopetitionerotooputoforthohisocaseobutoheochoseotoonotoavailotheosame.oTheo caseowasoaccordinglyodecidedoonomerits.oNooexceptionocanobeocarvedoforotheo petitioneromerelyobecauseoheooccupiesoaosenioroposition.oRather,ohigherotheo position,o greatero theo responsibilityo ofo theo petitionero againsto theo actso ando omission/lapseso committedo byo theo subordinateso workingo undero theo administrativeocontroloofotheopetitioner.oTheoimpugnedodecisionohavingobeeno takenobyotheoCommissionoafterofollowingotheodueoprocessoofolawoandoino exerciseoofotheopowersoconferredoinoit,othereowasonoovalidobasisofororaisingoao challengeotootheoaward.o o Nooreplication/rejoinderohasobeenofiledobyotheopetitioner.oo o o Theo partieso wereo heardo ato lengtho ando documentso appendedo alongowithotheopetitionsohaveobeenoperusedowithotheiroableoassistance.ooo ARGUMENTSoOFoPETITIONERSo o o Learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero haso arguedo thato theo impugnedo ordero haso beeno passedo byo theo Commissiono ino completeoderogationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoAct,oRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -13-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

2014.o Theo complainanto Smt.o Meghao Guptao hado nevero approachedo theo DesignatedoOfficer,otheoFirstoGrievancesoRedressaloAuthorityo(FGRA)ooro theo Secondo Grievanceso Redressalo Authorityo (SGRA)o aso providedo undero Sectionso5,o6oando7oofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoAct,o2014oforoseekingo executionoofotheoconveyanceodeed.oSuoomotoocognizanceoofotheocomplainto hasobeenotakenobyotheoCommissiononotwithstandingotheoprocedureounderotheo Acto ofo 2014.o Ano 'eligibleo person'o haso too fileo theo applicationo beforeo theo DesignatedoOfficeroforoobtainingoanyoserviceoasoperoSectiono5oofotheoActoofo 2014.oAsoperotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono5o(4),otheocomplainantomayoalsoo submitoanoapplicationoinotheoofficeoofoFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityo

(FGRA)oagainstotheoorderoofotheoDesignatedoAuthorityoandothereafterotootheo Secondo Grievanceo Redressalo Authorityo (SGRA).o Theo complainanto nevero invokedotheoprocedureooroavailedotheoremediesoprovidedounderotheoStatute.oo Theoproceedingsoareothusoinoviolationoofotheoprocedureoestablishedoundero law.o Heo furthero arguesothatoano inquiryo wasoinitiatedobyo theoCommissiono againstotheopetitioneroevenothoughoheowasonototheoDesignatedoOfficeroundero theoActoofo2014oandowasonotoresponsibleoforoprovidingotheonotifiedoservices.o ItoisovehementlyoarguedothatosuoomotoopowersoprovidedounderoSectiono17oofo theoActoareotoobeoreadoinoconsonanceowithoRuleo9oofotheoRulesoofo2014o whereino theo noticeo couldo beo takeno byo theo Commissiono onlyo wheno theo applications/appealso areo noto decidedo byo theo Designatedo Officero and/oro GrievanceoRedressaloAuthoritiesowithinotheonotifiedotimeolinesoorothereoiso unreasonableo delayo ino disposalo ofo theo sucho applications/appeals.o Ino theo absenceothereofoproceedingsocouldonotohaveobeenoinitiatedosuoomoto.oHeo furtherosubmitsothatotheorightoofotheocomplainantoSmt.oMeghaoGuptaohadonoto yeto becomeo finalo ando ao decisiono hado beeno takeno too challengeo theo orderoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -14-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

passedobyotheoZonaloAdministrator.oWhenosuchoappealohadobeenopreferredo withino limitation,o thereo waso noo reasono too fasteno anyo liabilityo ono theo petitioneroallegingofailureotoodischargeotheoobligation.oTheotenoroofotheoordero passedoagainstotheopetitioneroshowsothatotheosameoisodrivenobyoaoperceptiono thato theo revisiono petitiono filedo byo theo HSVPo waso timeo barredo o withouto appreciatingothatotheolimitationowasotoocommenceoonlyofromo01.03.2022oaso perotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoandotheoentireoperiodofromo

15.03.2020otillo22.03.2022owasotoobeoconsideredoasozerooperiod.oItoisofurthero arguedothatotheopetitionerowasoperformingohisostatutoryodutiesowhileoorderingo aochallengeotootheoordersopassedobyotheoZonaloAdministrator,oFaridabadoando heo hado noo personalo maliceo againsto anyo person.o Consideringo theo hugeo financialohardshipofacedobyotheoHSVPoandoanoimmenseoresponsibilityotoo bringoHSVPooutoofodebtotrap,oitonecessitatedonumerousotoughodecisionsoando whichohelpedoinoreducingotheodebtobyonearlyoRs.15000ocrores.oTheopetitionero wasonotoinotheoknowledgeoofotheoproceedingsobeforeotheoCommissionobyothato time,owhenotheodecisionotoofileotheorevisionohadobeenotaken.oHence,othereo wasonoooccasionoforolabellingoallegationsoagainstotheopetitioneroforocausingo theoallegedodelay.oFurther,onooapplicationoforograntoofoconveyanceodeedohado beenosubmitted,ocompleteoinoallorespects,otootheoDesignatedoOfficeroatoall.oooo ARGUMENTSoOFoRESPONDENTSo o o Theo Chiefo Commissionero haso reiteratedo hiso contentionso ando arguedothatotheocomplainantohadosubmittedoaorepresentationotootheoHon'bleo PrimeoMinisteroono28.03.2022oaboutoheroordealoandoseekingopermissionotoo dieoandonoticingotheosame,otheoCommissionohadotakenosuoomotoocognizanceo ando soughto ao reporto fromo theo Designatedo Authorityo ono 04.04.2022.o Theo reportowasoreceivedoonlyoono02.05.2022oafteroaoreminderoandoaoshowocauseoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -15-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

noticeo whereinoito waso theno informedo thato fileo hadobeenosentoforoseekingo approvalotootheoofficeoofoChiefoAdministratoroasotoowhetherotheoorderoofotheo ZonaloAdministratorowasotoobeoimplemented.oTheofileoremainedopendingoforo nearlyooneoyearoinotheoofficeoofotheoChiefoAdministratoroandonoticingosucho delay,oaodetailedoorderowasopassedobyotheoCommission.oBeingotheoChiefo Administrator,oitowasohisosolemnodutyotooensureothatonotifiedoservicesoareo deliveredoinotheoprescribedotimeolines.oHeowasoalsoodirectedotooappearobeforeo theo Chiefo Commissioner,o however,o insteado ofo doingo theo needfulo ando submittingohisocase,oanoapplicationoforokeepingotheoproceedingsoinoabeyanceo wasosubmitted.oSinceotheopetitionerodisregardedotheoprovisionsoofotheoHSVPo Act,o1977oandoalsoodelayedotheoimplementationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoActo ofo2014,ohence,otheoCommissionoimposedotheopenaltyoofoRs.20,000/-oandotheo compensationoofoRs.5,000/-oforoaidingoandofacilitatingoinconvenienceoando injustice.oAoreferenceowasoalsoomadeotootheofileonotingsotoocontendothatotheo legalo Departmento hado specificallyo reportedo thato theo ordero ofo theo Zonalo Administratoro waso correctlyo basedo ono theo policyo issuedo byo HSVPo datedo

29.06.2004oandothatotheointerestoonotheodelayedopaymentoquaotheoincreasedo areao couldo onlyo beo claimedo fromo theo dateo wheno theo allotteeo takeso overo possession.oDespiteotheosame,onooconveyanceodeedowasoexecuted.oItowaso furtheroarguedothatotheoextensionoofolimitationoforopreferringoanoappealooro revisionohasonoobearingoonotheotimelinesoprescribedoforoprovidingonotifiedo services.oTheodelayoinofilingoofotheoappeal/revisionowasoattributableotootheo petitionerohimselfoandotheosweepingodecisionotoochallengeoalloordersowaso passedotoomasqueradeotheomischiefoasoaobonaofideoact.oTheopetitionerocannoto feignoignoranceoandoremainoinobreachoofolawotooensureoservicesoareoprovidedo withino theo timeo lineso prescribedo undero theo Haryanao Righto too ServiceoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -16-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

Commissiono Act,o 2014o ando Ruleso framedo thereunder.o Beingo theo persono responsibleoforotheoaffairsoofotheorespondent-HSVP,otheopetitionerowouldofallo underotheopowersoofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissionoandoisoliableo toobeopenalizedoforosuchodelay.oHeofurtherocontendsothatoevenotheoappealo preferredo beforeo theo Administrativeo Secretaryo byo theo HSVPo haso beeno dismissedowhichoestablishesothatotheopetitioneroneverocaredotooexamineotheo meritsoofotheoclaimoandowasoinofactoministerialyoandoirresponsiblyopassingo theo orderso againsto theo allotteeso insteado ofo ironingo outo red-tapismo ando bureaucraticodelaysotooensureosmoothoandopromptoservicesotootheoallottees.o Theo Commissiono hado noo personalo axeo too grindo witho theo petitionero ando variouso othero showo causeo noticeso issuedo too himo haveo beeno filedo aftero noticingothatotheoexplanationoforosuchodelayowasovalid.oDespiteotheoenhancedo areaocostohavingobeenoalreadyodepositedobyotheoallottee,onooexplanationohaso beenogivenoforonotoexecutingotheoconveyanceodeedoinofavouroofotheoallottee.o AoreferenceowasoalsoomadeotootheoinitiativesotakenobyotheoCommission,otheo difficultieso ofo theo citizenso redressedo byo theo Commissiono througho itso interventionoinoadditionotootheodetailsoofonoticesoissuedotoovariousosenioro functionaries.oHeoalsooarguedothatotheosweepingoorderoofotheopetitioneroino directingo filingo ofo appeals,o withouto assigningo anyo reasons,o iso clearlyo ano abuseo ofo power.o Furthero aso pero theo Autoo Appealo Systemo applicableo ino HSVP,omoreothano47,000oappealsowereopending.oNoticingotheolethargyoando negligence/incompetenceo ofo theo officerso causingo delayo foro extraneouso reasons,otheoCommissionohadotootakeofirmosteps.oo o REBUTTALoARGUMENTSo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -17-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

o o Inorebuttal,ocounseloforotheopetitioneroreiteratedohisoarguments.o HeocouldonotodisputeothatotheorevisionohadobeenodismissedobyotheoAdditionalo ChiefoSecretary,oTownoandoCountryoPlanning,oHaryana.oHeosubmitsothatotheo conveyanceodeedohasonotoyetobeenoexecutedoasoaofurtherodecisionoisostillotoobeo takenobyotheoCompetentoAuthority.oNooreferenceocouldohoweverobeomadeotoo anyoerroroorodefectoinotheoorderopassedobyotheoAdministratoroorothatotheo policyoreliedobyohimowasoinapplicable.oNoodenialowasodoneoaboutotheoStateo LitigationoPolicyoandonecessityotooreduceofrivolousolitigation.oNooreferenceo wasomadeoalsootootheoover-whelmingoreasonsogivingoriseotooaonecessityoforo challengingotheoordersoen-block.ooooooo CONSIDERATIONo o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheo respectiveo partieso aso wello aso theo ChiefoCommissioner,o Haryanao Righto too ServiceoActoandohaveoalsoogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongowitho theopresentopetitions.oooooo o o Beforeo examiningo theo meritso ofo theo presento case,o relevanto provisionsoofotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceoAct,o2014oasowelloasotheoRulesoofo 2014oareoextractedobelow:-o THEoHARYANAoRIGHToTOoSERVICEoACT,o2014oooo

2.o(c)o"DesignatedoOfficer"omeansoanoofficeroasonotifiedoundero sectiono3;oo

(d)o "eligibleo person"o meanso ao persono whoo iso eligibleo foro obtainingoservicesonotifiedounderosectiono3;oo o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(f)o "prescribed"o meanso prescribedo byo ruleso madeo undero thiso Act;ooRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -18-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

(g)o"rightotooservice"omeansoaorightotooobtainotheoserviceowithino theonotifiedotimeolimit;oo o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(j)o"Service"omeansoserviceonotifiedounderosectiono3;o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

3.o Notificationo ofo services,o timeo limit,o Designatedo Officers,o Firsto Grievanceo Redressalo Authority,o Secondo Grievanceo Redressalo Authority.-o (1)o Theo Stateo Governmento ono theo recommendationsoofotheoCommissionomay,obyonotificationofromo timeotootime,onotifyotheoservicesoandotimeolimitotoowhichothisoActo shalloapply.o o

(2)o Theo Stateo Governmento may,o byo notification,o notifyo theo DesignatedoOfficer,oFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityoando SecondoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthority.o o

4.oProvidingoofoservice.-oTheoDesignatedoOfficeroshalloprovideo theoserviceotootheoeligibleopersonowithinotheonotifiedotimeolimit.o o

5.oProcedureoforoobtainingoservice.-oo o

(1)oAnoeligibleopersonoshallomakeoaodulyofilledoinoapplicationotoo theoDesignatedoOfficeroforoobtainingoanyoservice.oo o

(2)oTheoDesignatedoOfficeroshall,oonoreceiptoofoanoapplicationo underosub-sectiono(1),oprovideoserviceoororejectotheoapplicationo withino theo notifiedo timeo limito ando ino caseo ofo rejectiono ofo application,oshallorecordotheoreasonsoinowritingoandointimateo theosameotootheoapplicant.o o

(3)oEveryoDesignatedoOfficeroshallomaintainodetailedorecordoofo servicesoappliedofor,oinosuchoformat,oasomayobeoprescribed.o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -19-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

o

(4)oNotifiedotimeolimitoshallostartofromotheodateowhenorequisiteo completeo applicationo foro notifiedo serviceo iso receivedo byo theo DesignatedoOfficerooroaopersonosubordinateotoohimoauthorizedo too receiveo theo application.o Sucho applicationo shallo beo dulyo acknowledged.o o "ProvidedothatoifotheoDesignatedoOfficerorefusesotooreceiveotheo applicationoororefusesotooissueoacknowledgement,otheoeligibleo persono mayo submitohisoapplicationoino theo officeo ofotheo Firsto GrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityostatingothereinotheoreasonsoforo soodoing,owhooshalloforwardotheosameotootheoDesignatedoofficer.o o Providedofurtherothatotheonotifiedotimeolimitoinosuchoaocaseoshallo startofromotheodateowhenotheorequisiteocompleteoapplicationoforo notifiedo serviceo iso receivedo byo Firsto Grievanceo Redressalo Authority."]oo o

6.oFirstoappeal,-o(1)oAnyoeligibleoperson,owhoseoapplicationoforo obtainingoserviceoisorejectedounderosub-sectiono(2)oofosectiono5o orowhooisonotoprovidedotheoserviceowithinotheonotifiedotimeolimit,o mayofileoanoappealotootheoFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityo withinothirtyodaysofromotheodateooforejectionoorotheoexpiryoofotheo notifiedotimeolimit,oasotheocaseomayobe:o o Providedo thato theo Firsto Grievanceo Redressalo Authorityo mayo admitotheoappealoafterotheoexpiryoofothirtyodaysoifoitoisosatisfiedo thatotheoappellantowasopreventedobyosufficientocauseofromofilingo theoappealoinotime.o o

(2)oOnoreceiptoofoanoappealounderosub-sectiono(1),otheoFirsto GrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityoshalloconsiderotheomatteroandoif,o inoitsoopinionotheogrievancesoofotheoeligibleopersonoappearsotoo beogenuine,oitomayodirectotheoDesignatedoOfficerotooprovideotheo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -20-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

serviceowithinosevenoworkingodays,oorosuchoperiodoasomayobeo specifiedobyoitoandoinocaseoofodefault,otooappearobeforeoitoino personoandoexplainoreasonsothereof.o o

(3)oAfteroaffordingoanoopportunityoofohearingotootheoDesignatedo Officeroandotheoeligibleoperson,otheoFirstoGrievanceoRedressalo Authorityo mayo passo ao reasonedo ordero ino writingo eithero acceptingotheoappealoororejectingotheosame.oDecisionoinoappealo shallobeocommunicatedotoobothotheopartiesobyoregisteredopost.o o

(4)o Ano appealo madeo undero sub-sectiono (1)o shallo beo finallyo disposedoofobyotheoFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityowithino aoperiodoofothirtyodaysoofoitsoreceipt.o o

7.oSecondoAppealo-o(1)oAnyoeligibleoperson,owhoseoappealoforo obtainingoserviceoisorejectedoorowhooisonotoprovidedotheoserviceo withinotheotimeospecifiedoinotheoorderoacceptingotheoappealobyo theoFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityounderosectiono6,omayo fileo ano appealo too theo Secondo Grievanceo Redressalo Authorityo withinosixtyodaysofromotheodateoofosuchorejectionoorotheoexpiryo ofo theo timeo specifiedo byo theo Firsto Grievanceo Redressalo Authority:o o ProvidedothatotheoSecondoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityomayo admitotheoappealoafterotheoexpiryoofosixtyodaysoifoitoisosatisfiedo thatotheoappellantowasopreventedobyosufficientocauseofromofilingo theoappealoinotime.o o

(2)oOnoreceiptoofoanoappealounderosub-sectiono(1),otheoSecondo GrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityomayopassoaoreasonedoorderoino writingo eithero acceptingo theo appealo ando directingo theo Designatedo Officero too provideo serviceo too theo eligibleo persono withinosevenoworkingodaysoorowithinosuchoperiod,oasomayobeo specifiedoororejectotheosameoinowritingotheoreasonsoforosucho CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -21-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

rejection:o Providedo thato beforeo rejectingo theo appeal,o ano opportunityoofohearingotootheoeligibleopersonoshallobeograntedo byotheoSecondoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthority:o o ProvidedofurtherothatoanoorderomadeobyotheoSecondoGrievanceo RedressaloAuthorityounderothisosectionoshallobeocommunicatedo toobothotheopartiesobyoregisteredopost:o o Providedofurtherothatotheoappealomadeounderosub-sectiono(1)o shallobeodecidedobyotheoSecondoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityo withino ao periodo ofo [thirtyo days]o fromo theo dateo ofo receipto ofo appeal,oasofaroasopossible.o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

10.oRevision.oAnyopersonowhooisoaggrievedobyoanyoorderoofotheo Secondo Grievanceo Revisiono Redressalo Authority,o mayo fileo revisionobeforeotheoCommissionowithinoaoperiodoofoninetyodayso fromotheodateoofosuchoorder:o o ProvidedothatotheoCommissionomayoentertainotheoapplicationo aftero theo expiryo ofo theo saido periodo ofo ninetyo days,o ifo ito iso satisfiedothatotheorevisionocouldonotobeofiledoinotimeodueotooao reasonableocause.oo o *["Providedo furtherothatoao revisiono madeo undero thiso sectiono shallobeodecidedobyotheoCommissionowithinoaoperiodoofothirtyo daysofromotheodateooforeceiptooforevision."]o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

17.oPowersoandofunctionsoofoCommission.-o(1)oItoshallobeotheo dutyoofo theo Commissionotooensureopropero implementationoofo thisoActoandotoomakeosuggestionsotootheoStateoGovernmentoforo ensuringo bettero deliveryo ofo services.o Foro thiso purposeo theo Commissionomay,-o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -22-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

(b)o takeo suoo motonoticeo ofo failureo too delivero serviceo ino accordanceowithothisoActoandoreferosuchocasesoforodecisionotoo theo Firsto Grievanceo Redressalo Authorityo oro theo Secondo GrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityooropassosuchoorder,oasomayobeo appropriate.o xxxo xxxo xxxo

(h)oimposeopenaltyoonoDesignatedoOfficerooroanyootheroofficialo involvedoinotheoprocessoofoprovidingosuchoserviceoupotooaosumoofo twentyothousandorupees,oasodeemedofitounderotheocircumstanceso ofotheocaseoandoallowocompensationoupotoofiveothousandorupees,o toobeopaidotooeligibleopersonobyodefaulter."o (Emphasisosupplied)o HARYANAoRIGHToTOoSERVICEoRULES,o2014o oo xxxo xxxo xxxo

3.o(1)oAnoeligibleopersonoshallomakeoanoapplicationoforodeliveryoofoserviceotoooo theo designatedo officero eithero personallyo oro througho registeredo posto dulyo addressedotootheoaforesaidoDesignatedoOfficeroorothroughoe-dishaokendras.o o

(2)oIfosuchoanoapplicationoisofoundocompleteoinoallorespects,otheoDesignatedo Officero shallo acknowledgeo theo receipto thereofo ino theo specifiedo Formso providedobyotheorespectiveodepartmentsoforoeachoservice:o o Providedothatoifoanyodocumentoisorequiredoforotheodeliveryoofoserviceohasonoto beeno enclosedo witho theo applicationo byo theo applicant,o theo sameo shallo beo clearlyomentionedoinotheoacknowledgementobyotheoDesignatedoOfficer,otoo enableotheoapplicantotoomakeohisoapplicationocompleteoinoallorespects:o o Providedofurtherothatotheotimeolimitospecifiedoforodeliveryoofoserviceoinosucho caseso shallo commenceo fromo theo dateo wheno theo applicanto supplieso theo documentsomentionedoinotheoacknowledgement.o o o o xxxo xxxo xxxo

9.oTheoCommissionomayotakeosuo-motoonoticeoinosuchocasesowhereotheosucho applications/appealsoareonotodecidedobyotheoDesignatedoOfficer/Grievanceo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -23-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

byo Redressalo Authoritieso withino theo stipulatedo periodo ando thereo iso unreasonableodelayoinodisposaloofosuchoapplication/appeals.oOnofindingoanyo lapse.otheoCommissionomayopassoappropriateoordersoinothisoregardoasoitomayo deemofit.o (Emphasisosupplied)o o o o ItoisonoticedothatotheoEstateoOfficeroHSVPohadoinformedotheo HaryanaoRightotooServiceoCommissionovideoMemoodatedo02.05.2022othato theo allotteeo hado appliedo foro conveyanceo deedo ono 19.04.2019o whicho waso rejectedoono30.04.2019oforotheoreasonothatoasoperotheoreportoofotheoJE,oano increaseo ino areao waso reportedo ando theo allotteeo waso requiredo too payo theo additionalocostodueotooincreaseoofoarea,oalongowithointerest.oTheointimationo regardingotheorejectionowasosentotootheoHeadquarteroasowell.oTheoallotteeo choseo noto too challengeo theo rejectiono ofo applicationo foro executiono ofo theo conveyanceodeed.oHe,ohowever,ochallengedotheodemandoraisedobyoHSVPo fromoheroforotheoadditionaloareaowithointerestoforodelayopayment.oTheoappealo wasodecidedoinofavouroofotheoallotteeobyotheoZonaloAdministrator,oFaridabad,o ono05.03.2021oandotheocaseowasosentotootheoChiefoAdministratorotoodecideo whetherotoofileorevisionoagainstotheosaidoorderoorotooimplementotheosame.oo o o TheocaseowasosubmittedobyotheoRecordoKeeperoono23.06.2021o butotheoDeputyoDistrictoAttorneyodownomarkedotheofileobyowritingo"pleaseo speak"oono25.06.2021.oTheoRecordoKeeperokeptotheosaidofileowithohimselfo foroapproximatelyo06omonthsoandoresubmittedoitoono15.12.2021.oTheoADA,o however,oagainopointedooutothatoitoisonotoaofitocaseoforofilingoofoaorevisiono petitionoandotheoorderobeoimplemented.oTheoZonaloAdministrator,ohowever,o wasodirectedobyotheoChiefoAdministratorotooconductoanoinquiryoinotheomattero soothatotheolossocausedotootheoHSVPocouldobeorecoveredofromotheodelinquento CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -24-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

official,oinotermsoofotheopolicyodatedo29.04.2004oonotheosameodayobyotheo ChiefoAdministratoroandowasoreturnedowithocertainoqueries.oTheofileowaso resubmittedoafteroaoperiodoofonearlyo04omonthsowithoaorecommendationothato theo revisiono petitiono beo noto filedo ando ao directiono beo issuedo too theo AdministratoroHSVPotoorecoverotheofinancialolossocausedotooHSVPofromotheo J.E.oconcerned.oo o o TheoChiefoAdministrator,ohowever,oorderedotoofirstoseekoreporto fromotheoAdministratoroandotheoJunioroEngineeroandotoofixotheoresponsibility,o videohisoorderodatedo19.04.2022.oo oo o Thereafter,o ono 07.05.2022,o theo Chiefo Administrator,o HSVP,o conveyedo ao whatsappo messageo too theo Districto Attorneyo too fileo revisiono petitionoinotheocaseoalongowithovariousoothersowithoutoassigningoanyoreasons;o theodeficiencyooroanyodefectoinotheoorderoofotheoAdministratoroororecordingo reasonsodis-agreeingowithotheoopinion/recommendationoofotheolegalocell.oo oo o Aotimeoperiodoofo05odaysohasobeenoprescribedounderoRulesoforo providingo theo serviceo i.e.o theo executiono ofo theo conveyanceo deed.o Theo Designatedoofficeroforoprovidingotheoserviceoforoissuanceoofoaoconveyanceo deedoisotheoEstateoOfficer.oTheoFirstoGrievanceoRedressaloAuthorityoisotheo concernedo Zonalo Administratoro whilsto theo Secondo Grievanceo Redressaloo AuthorityoisotheoAdministrator,oHUDA,oHeadquarters.ooo o o Ito haso alsoo remainedo uncontrovertedo thato noo applicationo foro executionoofotheoconveyanceodeedohadobeenomovedobyotheoeligibleopersono i.e.otheoallotteeotootheoDesignatedoofficeroforoobtainingoanyoserviceoasoperotheo procedureoprescribedounderoSectiono5oofotheoActoofo2014.oo oo TheoActoofo2014ohadobeenoenactedowithoanoobjectotooensureo deliveryoofoservicesotooeligibleopersonsowithinotheonotifiedotimelines.oTheoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -25-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

procedureoforo'obtainingoservices'ohasobeenoprovidedounderoSectiono5owhicho mandatesothatoanoeligibleopersonoshallomakeoaodulyofilledoinoapplicationotoo theo Designatedo Officero foro obtainingo anyo service.o Ono receipto ofo sucho applicationounderosubosectiono(1)oofoSectiono5,otheoDesignatedoOfficeroshallo passoanoappropriateoorderowithinotheonotifiedotimeolimit.oItoisoalsooprovidedo thato notifiedo timeo limito shallo starto fromo theo dateo wheno theo completeo applicationoforonotifiedoserviceoisoreceivedobyotheoDesignatedoOfficerooroao persono subordinateo too himo authorizedo too receiveo theo application.o Ifo theo Designatedo Officero refuseso too receiveo theo applicationo oro issueo acknowledgement,o theo eligibleo persono mayo submito ano applicationo ino theo officeoofoFGRAostatingoreasonsoforosoodoing,owhooshallothenoforwardotheo sameotootheoDesignatedoOfficer.oTheonotifiedotimeolimitoinosuchoaocaseoshallo starto fromo theo dateo wheno theo requisiteo completeo applicationo foro notifiedo serviceoisoreceivedobyoFGRA.oo o o Sectiono 17o ofo theo Acto ofo 2014o dealso witho theo powerso ando functionsoofotheoCommissionoandosubosectiono(b)ousesotheoexpressiono"takeo suoo motoo noticeo ofo "failureo too delivero serviceo ino accordanceo witho thiso Act………."oo oo Sectiono17o(1)o(h)ofurtherousesotheoexpressiono"imposeopenaltyo ono Designatedo Officero oro anyo othero officialo involvedo ino theo processo ofo providingosuchoservice…….."oo oo FurtheroRuleo9ousesotheoexpression,otheoCommissionomayotakeo suoo motoo noticeo "ino sucho caseso whereo theo applications/appealso areo noto decidedobyotheoDesignatedoOfficer/FGRA/SGRAowithinotheostipulatedotime.o ……"o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -26-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

o o Theoaboveosaidoprovisionodealowithoinvocationoofotheosuoomotoo provisionsoofotheoActoofo2014oandotheoprocedureotoobeoadheredotooforosucho invocation.oTheoprimaryoobligationoofoprovidingoserviceounderotheoActoofo 2014o iso thato ofo theo designatedo officero undero Sectiono 4o aso pero procedureoo providedoforoobtainingotheoserviceounderoSectiono5otooanoeligibleopersono withinotimeolimitonotifiedounderoSectiono3.oItomandatesotheo'eligibleoperson'o too makeo ano application,o whicho iso dulyo filled,o too theo Designatedo Officero whereuponosuchoDesignatedoOfficeroisomadeoboundotooprovideosuchoserviceo withinotheonotifiedotimeolimitoorotooconveyohisoreasonsoforonotodoingoso.oItoiso alsooprovidedounderoSectiono5o(4)othatonotifiedotimeolimitoshallocommenceo whenoallorequisiteoformalitiesoareofulfilledobyotheoeligibleoperson.oo oo oo Sectiono 17o (1)o (b)o thus,o eveno thougho conferso powero ono theo Commissionotootakeosuoomotoonotice,ohowever,osuchopoweroisoqualifiedowitho theouseoofo expressiono "failureotoo delivero serviceo ino accordanceo withothiso Act."o Hence,o theo suoo motoo powero iso qualifiedo ando iso conferredo ono theo Commissionoinotheoeventoofofailureotoodeliveroserviceoinoaccordanceowithothiso ActowhichosuchoexpressionostandsoreiteratedoinoRuleo9owhereinoitoisostatedo thatotheoCommissionomayotakeosuoomotoonoticeoinosuchocasesowhereotheo applications/appealso aren'to decidedo byo Designatedo Officero withino theo stipulatedonotifiedotime.oo oo o Theoexpressiono"inoaccordanceowithothisoAct'ousedoinoSectiono 17o(1)o(b)oofotheoActoofo2014othusoneedsotoobeounderstood.oInoordinaryolegalo understanding,otheoexpressiono"inoaccordanceowith"omeanso"toobeocompliedo witho too theo applicableo ruleo ono itso terms,o conditions,o limitationso ando exceptionso aso applicable."o Theo aforesaido expressiono mandateso stricto CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -27-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

adherenceo too theo applicableo Statutes,o Ruleso ando Regulationso ofo anyo GovernmentoAuthorityohavingojurisdiction.oo o o TheosuoomotoopoweroofotheoCommissionounderoSectiono17o(1)o

(b)oofotheoActoofo2014oisothusoavailableoonoaofailureotoodeliveroserviceo"ino accordanceo witho theo Act."o Ito necessarilyo alsoo flowso thato theo applicant/eligibleopersonohasoapproachedotheoDesignatedoAuthorityostrictlyo asoperotheomandateoofolaw.oIfosuchoaoriderowasonotointendedotoobeoputoforth,o thereowasonooreasonoforotheoLegislatureotooqualifyotheosuoomotoopowersoforo failureo too delivero serviceo witho theo expressiono "ino accordanceo witho thiso Act…"o Theo saido expressiono "ino accordanceo witho thiso Act…"o haso too beo assignedoaomeaningfulointerpretation.oTheoprocedureoforoobtainingoserviceoiso providedounderoSectiono5oreadowithoRuleo3oandotheoRuleo9.oTheoCommissiono wouldo thuso noto enjoyo anyo sweepingo inherento power,o notwithstandingo whetheroanyoallottee/eligibleopersonohasoapproachedotheoDesignatedoOfficero asoperoprocedureolaidoinolawoforoobtainingotheoservice.oEvenothough,otheo aboveoviewomayobeoconstruedoasorestricted,ohowever,otheoLegislatureohaso consciouslyonotoconferredoanyounbridled,ounqualified,osweeping,ogeneraloando overridingosuoomotoopowersoonotheoCommission.oo oo o Theo Constitutionalo Court,o whileo interpretingo ao statutoryo provision,odoesonotoconferoaojurisdictionooroaopoweroonoanoAuthorityowhicho isonotointendedobyotheoLegislatureomore-soowhenosuchoLegislativeointentoiso evidentofromotheoplainoreadingoofotheoprovisions.oTheoLegislatureohavingo chosenotoovestosuchoauthorityooropoweroonlyouponooccurrenceoofocertaino events/conditions,o exerciseo ofo sucho power/jurisdictiono iso dependento upono fulfillingoofosuchoevents/conditions.oFailureotoofulfillosuchoconditionowouldo depriveotheoallotteeofromoclaimingoapplicabilityoofotheospecialostatuteoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -28-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

oo o TheointerpretationoasosuggestedobyotheoChiefoCommissioneroofo theoRightotooServiceoCommission,oalthoughoseemsotoobeoenhancingotheoscopeo ofo theo Act,o however,o theo sameo cannoto beo acceptedo merelyo foro theo saido reasonsoandoignoringotheoprocedureoprescribedotoobeofollowed,olawoforoosucho serviceotoobeoobtainedoandotheoobligationsotoobeoenforcedoorotheoliabilitieso imposed.oo oo o TheofinaloorderopassedobyotheoCommissionodoesonotoexamineo andosatisfyoitselfoasotoowhetherotheoproceduralorequirementsoprescribedoundero theo Acto haveo beeno followedo oro noto ando haso too beo seto asideo alongo witho observationsorecordedotherein.oItoisowellolaidooutoprincipleoofolawothatoano adverseo remarko needso too beo madeo ino ano order/judgmento onlyo ino caseo ito becomesoabsolutelyonecessaryoforoadjudicationoofotheodisputeoandowithouto whichosuchoremark,otheojudgmentomayonotoappearotoobeopossibleoandoaftero grantingohearingotoosuchoperson.oIofailotoofindoanyomaterialotooholdothatoitowaso essentialoforotheoorderotooculminateothatotheofunctioningoofotheoAuthorityo oughtotoobeoadverselyocommentedoupon.oMore-so,osinceotheoallotteeonowhereo pressedoorosuggestedoanyovictimizationooromischiefoagainstoher.oNoomotive,o maliceooroanyofouloplayoorofoulodemandohasobeenoalleged.oThus,otheodecisiono takenowasoaogeneralodecisiono(itsolegalityoapart)oapplicableouniversallyoando notointendedotootargetotheoallottee.ooo o oo Ito iso undisputedo thato theo applicationo earliero submittedo too theo Estateo Officero ono 09.04.2019o waso rejectedo ono 30.04.2019o withino theo applicableonotifiedotimeolimit.oNoochallengeowasomadeotootheorejectionoofotheo applicationobyotheoEstateoOfficeroinoanyoappellateoproceedings.oAodemando waso thereaftero conveyedo byo theo HSVPo towardso theo enhancedo costo ofo Rs.58,415/-o alongo witho interesto video demando noticeo datedo 08.07.2019.oRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -29-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

AggrievedowhereofoanoappealowasopreferredobeforeotheoZonaloAdministrator,o HSVP,o Faridabado undero Sectiono 17o (5)o ofo theo Haryanao Shehrio Vikaso PradhikaranoAct,o1977.oEvenothoughotheodateoofoinstitutionohasobeenoreferredo aso 20.03.2018o ino theo finalo ordero ofo theo Administratoro HSVP,o datedo

24.02.2021o (endorsedo ono 25.03.2021),o however,o theo sameo iso clearlyo ao typographicalo erroro sinceo challengeo itselfo iso too demando noticeo datedo

08.07.2019owhichospecificallyofindsomentionoinotheosaidoorderoandotheoappealo hasobeenopreferredoagainstotheoaboveodemand.oTheosaidoappealowasoonlyo againsto levyo ofo interesto ofo Rs.3,91,725/-o ono delayedo paymento foro theo increasedoareaoandothereowasonoochallengeotootheoadditionalocostoforotheo differentialoarea.oTheosaidoamountoofoRs.60,000/-otowardsotheodifferentialo areao hado alsoo beeno depositedo byo theo allotteeo ono 20.03.2021.o Hence,o theo requirements,ocompleteoinoallorespects,ocouldoatobestobeosaidotoohaveobeeno fulfilledoonlyoono20.03.2021.oHowever,onoofreshoapplicationoforoconveyanceo deedowasosubmittedothereafter.oooo oo o Ito alsoo remainso undisputedo thato theo limitationo foro filingo ao petitionohasobeenoextendedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoSuoomotooWrito Petitiono (Civil)o No.(s).3/2020o ino RE:o Cognizanceo foro Extensiono ofo Limitationofromo15.03.2020otoo22.03.2022,ohence,otheointerimoperiodowasotoo beotreatedozerooperiodoforocomputingolimitation.oAofurtherolimitationoperiodo ofo90odaysowasograntedotooallopersonsofromo01.03.2022oandowhereotheoperiodo ofolimitationowasomoreothano90odays,otheolongeroperiodowasotoobeoavailable.o Theo decisiono too prefero ano appeal/revisiono beforeo theo Governmento waso conveyedobyotheoChiefoAdministratoroono07.05.2022oi.e.owithinotheoperiodoofo limitationoprescribedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.ooo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -30-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

oo Ito thuso iso too beo examinedo aso too whethero theo Designatedo Officer/FGRA/SGRAo oro anyo othero officero involvedo ino theo processo ofo providingoservicesocanobeoheldoliableounderotheoHaryanaoRightotooServiceo Act,o2014onotwithstandingothatotheoallottee/eligibleopersonohasonotopreferredo anyo applicationo witho theo Designatedo Officero foro providingo theo notifiedo service.o o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o ino theo mattero ofo Nooro Mohammedo Vs.o Khurramo Pasha,o reportedo aso (2022)o 9o Supremeo Courto Caseso23,ohasoheldothatowhereoaostatuteoprovidesoaoprocedureoforodoingoofoao thing,osuchothingohasotoobeodoneoinotheoprocedureosooprescribed.oTheorelevanto extractoofoaforesaidojudgmentoreadsoasounder:-o "14.oTheoremedyoforofailureotoopayointerimocompensationoaso directedobyotheocourtoisothusoprovidedoforobyotheoLegislature.o Theomethodoandomodalityooforecoveryoofointerimocompensationo iso clearlyo delineatedo byo theo Legislature.o Ito iso wello knowno principleothatoifoaostatuteoprescribesoaomethodooromodalityoforo exerciseoofopower,obyonecessaryoimplication,otheootheromethodso ofo performanceo areo noto acceptable.o Whileo relyingo ono theo decisiono ofo theo Privyo Councilo inoNaziro Ahmado Vs.o Kingo Emperor,oreportedoaso1936oSCCoOnlineoPCo41,oaoBenchoofo threeo Judgeso ofo thiso Courto madeo followingo observationso ino StateoofoUttaroPradeshoVs.oSingharaoSinghoandoothers,oreportedo asoAIRo1964oSCo358..o "7.oInoNaziroAhmedocase,otheoJudicialoCommitteeoobservedo thatotheoprincipleoappliedoinoTaylorov.oTayloro[(1875)o1oCho Do 426,o 431]o too ao court,o namely,o thato whereo ao powero iso givenotoodooaocertainothingoinoaocertainoway,otheothingomusto beodoneoinothatowayooronotoatoalloandothatootheromethodsoofo performanceoareonecessarilyoforbidden,oappliedotoojudicialo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -31-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

officersomakingoaorecordounderoSectiono164oand,otherefore,o heldothatotheoMagistrateocouldonotogiveooraloevidenceoofotheo confessionomadeotoohimowhichoheohadopurportedotoorecordo underoSectiono164oofotheoCode.oItowasosaidothatootherwiseo allotheoprecautionsoandosafeguardsolaidodownoinoSectionso 164oando364,obothoofowhichohadotoobeoreadotogether,owouldo becomeoofosuchotriflingovalueoasotoobeoalmostoidleoandothato "itowouldobeoanounnaturaloconstructionotooholdothatoanyo othero procedureo waso permittedo thano thato whicho iso laido downo witho sucho minuteo particularityo ino theo sectionso themselves".o

8.oTheoruleoadoptedoinoTaylorov.oTayloro[(1875)o1oChoDo 426,o 431]o iso wello recognisedo ando iso foundedo ono soundo principle.o Itso resulto iso thato ifo ao statuteo haso conferredo ao powerotoodooanoactoandohasolaidodownotheomethodoinowhicho thatopowerohasotoobeoexercised,oitonecessarilyoprohibitsotheo doingoofotheoactoinoanyootheromannerothanothatowhichohaso beenoprescribed.oTheoprincipleobehindotheoruleoisothatoifothiso wereonotoso,otheostatutoryoprovisionomightoasowellonotohaveo beenoenacted.oAoMagistrate,otherefore,ocannotoinotheocourseo ofoinvestigationorecordoaoconfessionoexceptoinotheomannero laido downo inoSectiono 164.o Theo powero too recordo theo confessionohadoobviouslyobeenogivenosoothatotheoconfessiono mightobeoprovedobyotheorecordoofoitomadeoinotheomannero laidodown.oIfoproofoofotheoconfessionobyootheromeansowaso permissible,otheowholeoprovisionoofoSectiono164oincludingo theosafeguardsocontainedoinoitoforotheoprotectionoofoaccusedo personso wouldo beo renderedo nugatory.o Theo section,o therefore,o byo conferringo ono Magistrateso theo powero too recordostatementsooroconfessions,obyonecessaryoimplication,o prohibitedoaoMagistrateofromogivingooraloevidenceoofotheo statementsooroconfessionsomadeotoohim."oo (Emphasisosupplied)o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -32-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

15.oInoJ.N.NehruoGanatraoVs.oMovioMunicipality,oreportedoaso

(1996)o9oSCCo495,oexerciseoofopoweroofodismissalohavingonoto beenodoneoinoconformityoofotheoAct,otheosameowasosetoaside.oIto wasostated:-o "4.oWeohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoparties.oWeo areoofotheoviewothatotheoHighoCourtofellointoopatentoerroroino reachingotheoconclusionothatotheodismissaloofotheoappellanto fromoservice,oinoutteroviolationoofoRuleo35oofotheoRules,owaso ano "acto doneo ino pursuanceo oro executiono oro intendedo executionoofothisoActo…".oItoisonoodoubtocorrectothatotheo GeneraloBoardoofotheoMunicipalityohadotheopoweroundero theoActotoodismissotheoappellantobutotheosaidopowerocouldo onlyobeoexercisedoinotheomanneroindicatedobyoRuleo35oofotheo Rules.o Admittedlyo theo powero ofo dismissalo haso noto beeno exercisedotheowayoitowasorequiredotoobeodoneounderotheoAct.o Itoisosettledopropositionoofolawothatoaopowerounderoaostatuteo hasotoobeoexercisedoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofo theostatuteoandoinonoootheromanner.oInoviewoofotheocategorico findingogivenobyotheoHighoCourtotootheoeffectothatotheoordero ofodismissalowasoonotheofaceoofoitoillegaloandovoid,oweohaveo noohesitationoinoholdingothatotheodismissaloofotheoappellanto wasonotoanoactodoneoinopursuanceooroexecutionoorointendedo executionoofotheoAct.oTheoorderoofodismissalobeingopatentlyo ando grosslyo ino violationo ofo theo plaino provisionso ofo theo Rules.oItocannotobeotreatedotoohaveobeenopassedounderotheo Act."oo (Emphasisosupplied)o o 16,oo Ino Commissionero ofo Incomeo Tax,o Mumbaio vs.o Anjumo M.H.Ghaswala,o (2002)o1o SCCo633,oao Constitutiono Bencho ofo thisoCourtostatedotheonormaloruleoofoconstructionoinosuchocaseso asounder:-o CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -33-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

"27.oThenoitoisotoobeoseenothatotheoActorequiresotheoBoardotoo exerciseo theo powero underoSectiono 119oino ao particularo manneroi.e.obyowayoofoissuanceoofoorders,oinstructionsoando directions.o Theseo orders,o instructionso ando directionso areo meanto too beo issuedo too othero incomeo taxo authoritieso foro propero administrationo ofo theo Act.o Theo Commissiono whileo(1996)o 9oSCCo 495o(2002)o1o SCCo633oexercisingoitso quasi-judicialo powero ofo arrivingo ato ao settlemento underoSectiono245-Docannotohaveotheoadministrativeopowero ofoissuingodirectionsotoootheroincomeotaxoauthorities.oItoisoao normaloruleoofoconstructionothatowhenoaostatuteovestsocertaino powero ino ano authorityo too beo exercisedo ino ao particularo mannerothenotheosaidoauthorityohasotooexerciseoitoonlyoinotheo manneroprovidedoinotheostatuteoitself.oIfothatobeoso,osinceotheo Commissionocannotoexerciseotheopowerooforelaxationofoundo inooSectiono119o(2)o(a)ooinotheomanneroprovidedothereinoito cannoto invokeo thato powero underoSectiono 119o (2)o (a)otoo exerciseotheosameoinoitsojudicialoproceedingsobyofollowingoao procedureocontraryotoothatoprovidedoinosub-sectiono(2)oofo Sectiono119."oo (Emphasisosupplied)o o o o o TheoanxietyoexpressedobyotheoCommissionocannotobeoperceivedo asomisconceivedooromisplacedoorotoobeowithoutoanyovalidoreason,ohowever,oato theosameotime,otheosettledolawotooohasotoobeokeptoinomindotootheoeffectothato whereotheostatuteoprovidesocertainopre-requisitesoforoinvokingotheorigorsoofo anyo statutoryo provision,o failureo too fulfillo sucho pre-requisiteso validateso invocationo ofo theo penalo provisionso ofo theo statute.o Interpretationo too theo contraryoisolikelyotoorenderoSectiono5oofotheoActoofo2014oandoRuleo3oofotheo Rulesoofo2014,onugatory,ootioseoandomeaningless.oo CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -34-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

oo oo Aofailureotooprovideoserviceononethelessomayogiveoriseotooano actionableoclaimounderoanyootherogoverningostatuteoi.e.ounderotheoConsumero ProtectionoAct,otheoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987oorounderotheocivilo law,owhichodoonotomandateoanyosuchopre-requisite.oTheodistinctionoisofineo butoreal.oRefusalotoograntocompensationooroimpositionoofopenaltyounderotheo Righto too Serviceo Act,o 2014,o iso noto theo sameo thingo aso condoningo anyo deficiencyooroarbitrarinessoasomayobeoapparent.oo oo AoharmoniousoconstructionoofotheoprovisionsoofoActoofo2014o readoinotheolightoofotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto(supra)o establishothatoforofasteningoofoanyoliability/obligationounderotheoActoofo2014,o anoeligibleopersonoisorequiredotooapproachotheoAuthoritiesounderotheoActoofo 2014o ino theo mannero prescribedo ando fulfillo theo requisiteso requirementso prescribedothereunder.oTheolimitationobyoprescribingosuchoaoclauseobyotheo LegislatureoisoseeminglyotoosensitizeotheoAuthoritiesothatoinotheoeventotheo eligibleoperson,ohavingoinvokedotheospecialoStatute,otheyoshallobeoboundotoo payotheopenalty/compensationoifotheorequisiteoserviceoisonotoprovidedowithino theonotifiedotimeolimit.oItowasomoreoofoanoopportunityotooanoauthorityotoo avoidotheoconsequenceothatoareolikelyotoofollowoinotheoeventoofoaodelayoino providingotheoservice.oImpositionoofoanyopenaltyoforotheopurportedodelay,o withoutotheoeligibleopersonohavingoinvokedotheojurisdictionoofotheoStatute,o wouldobeoineptoandounsustainable.oSinceotheoundisputedopositionoisothatotheo allotteeoneveroapproachedotheoDesignatedoOfficer,ohence,otheoprocedureoforo invokingotheomandateoofoActoofo2014oandoforoobtainingoservicesothereundero cannotobeosaidotoohaveobeenolegallyoinvokedobyotheoallottee.oo oo o However,o ato theo sameo time,o ito iso noteworthyo ando rightlyo highlightedobyotheoCommissionothatotheogrievanceoofotheoallotteeohasonotoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -35-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

beenoredressedosinceo2019oandonotwithstandingothatotheodemandoofointeresto hadobeenosetoasideobyotheoAdministratoroofoHSVPovideohisoorderoendorsedoono

05.03.2021.oOnceotheopolicyoofotheoDepartmentowasoalreadyoinoforceoando wasodeemedotoobeotootheonoticeoofotheoconcerned,othereowasonoooccasionooro reasonoforotheopetitionero–oHSVPotoodemandointerestoonodelayedopaymentoforo enhancedoareaoespeciallyowhenonoofault,oconcealment,omischiefooroforgeryoiso attributedo too theo allottee.o Theo raisingo ofo ano invalido ando unsustainableo demandoofointerestoonodelayedodepositoofotheodifferentialoamountoonlyoaddedo too theo agonyo ofo theo allottee.o Theo Administrator,o HSVPo Faridabad,o specificallyo noticedo theo aboveo saido policyo ando allowedo theo appealo ando therebyosetoasideotheodemandoofointerest.oTheolegalodepartmentoofotheoHSVPo alsooexaminedotheoorderoandofoundotheosameotoobeofullyocoveredobyotheo instructionso issuedo byo theo HSVP.o However,o theo aboveo aspectso notwithstanding,o grievanceo ofo theo allotteeo waso noto redressedo despiteo noto findingoanyodefectooroerroroinotheoorderoofotheoAdministrator,oHSVP.oTheoacto oforespondento–HSVPoinosubjectingotheoallotteeotoooundueoharassmentocannoto beoignoredooropermittedotoosustainoonoaopleaothatotheoHSVPohadochosenotoo prefero ano appealo whicho haso subjectedo theo allotteeo too ano unwantedo ando unnecessaryolitigation.oItoisoalsoonoticedothatoevenotheoincreasedoamountohado alsoobeenodepositedobyotheoallotteeoono20.03.2021oandoaoperiodoofomoreothano twooyearsohasoelapsedosinceothereafter.oTheorevisionopetitionopreferredobyotheo HSVPo haso alsoo beeno dismissedo byo theo Principalo Secretary,o Towno ando CountryoPlanningoinoMayo2023.oNooreasonohasobeenogivenobyotheoAuthorityo oro eveno theo counselo representingo theo petitionero hereino aso regardso theo error/defects,oifoany,oinotheoorderopassedobyotheoAdministrator.oSuchoanoactoiso clearlyoinoviolationoofotheoStateoLitigationoPolicyoandohasoalsoocausedoundueoRAJ KUMAR ARORA CWP-15442-2022o(O&M).o o o -36-o 2023:PHHC:092963o o o

hardshipotootheoallotteeoapartofromoburdeningohimowithotheocostsoofopursuingo unnecessaryolitigation.oo oo Hence,owithoaoviewotoobalanceotheoequities,oIoamoinclinedotoo invokeotheojurisdictionoofothisoCourtounderoArticleo226oofotheooConstitutiono ofoIndiaoforocompensatingotheoallotteeoforotheoundueohardshipocausedotoohero byounnecessaryodelaysoinotheodecisionomakingooandosubjectingotheoallotteeotoo unnecessaryolitigation.oo oo TheoHSVPoisothusoheldoliableotoopayoaocompensationotootheotuneo ofoRs.1olakhsotootheorespondentoalottee.oHSVPoisoalsoodirectedotooissueotheo conveyanceodeedoinofavouroofotheoallotteeowithinoaoperiodoofo04oweeksoofo receiptoofoaocertifiedocopyoofothisoorderosubjectotoofulfillmentoofoalloothero essentialoconditionsoandowithoutoprejudiceotooitsorights.oo o Petitionsoareodisposedooffoaccordingly.oo o o Julyo24,o2023o o o oooooooooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o rajoarorao o o o oooooo o ooooooJUDGEo o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oYes/Noo Whetheroreportableoo o :oYes/No1o o