Bombay High Court High Court

M/S.Sigtia Constructions … vs State Of Maharashtra & Ors on 17 September, 2009

Bombay High Court
M/S.Sigtia Constructions … vs State Of Maharashtra & Ors on 17 September, 2009
Bench: D.K. Deshmukh, Rajesh G. Ketkar
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                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY




                                                                             
                       ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL  JURISDICTION




                                                     
                    WRIT PETITION NO.1036 OF 2007

M/s.Sigtia Constructions Pvt.Ltd.                    .. Petitioner




                                                    
           V/s
State of Maharashtra & Ors.                          .. Respondents
                                   ALONGWITH
                          WRIT PETITION NO.1075 OF 2007




                                          
Ramchandra Mahadev Jagtap & Ors.
                              ig                           .. Petitioners
           V/s
The Cheif Executive Officer,
Slum Rehabilitation Authority & Ors.                       .. Respondents
                            
                                WRIT PETITION NO.1589 OF 2007
            


Keya Developers and Construction Private Ltd.              .. Petitioners
         



           V/s
The Chief Executive Officer,
Slum Rehabilitation Authority & Ors.                       .. Respondents





                           WRIT PETITION NO.2720 OF 2008

Chandrakant Sitaram Mane                                   .. Petitioners





         V/s
Slum Rehabilitation Authority                              .. Respondent

 




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Appearances:




                                                                             
                                                     
In Writ Petition No.1036 of 2007:

Mr.Aspi Chinoy, Senior Advocate with Mr.Himanshu Kode i/by M/s.Shaunak 




                                                    
Satpute & Co.for the Petitioner.

Mr.Ravi Kadam, Advocate General with Mr.G.D.Utangale i/by M/s.Utangale 
& Co.for Respondent Nos.4 and 5.




                                          
Mr.Rajeev Narulla, Advocate i/by M/s.Jhangiani Narulla & Associates for 
                             
Respondent No.7.

Mr.Janak  Dwarkadas,   Senior Advocate   with  Mr.J.P.Sen  i/by  M/s.Kanga & 
                            
Co.for Respondent No.8.
            


In Writ Petition No.1075 of 2007:
         



Mr.F.Devitre,   Senior   Advocate   with   Mr.H.N.Thakore   i/by   M/s.Thakore 
Jariwala and Associates for the Petitioners.





Mr.Ravi Kadam, Advocate General with Mr.G.D.Utangale i/by M/s.Utangale 
& Co.for Respondent No.1.

Mr.Janak  Dwarkadas,   Senior Advocate   with  Mr.J.P.Sen  i/by  M/s.Kanga & 





Co. for Respondent No.3.

Mr.C.U.Singh,   Senior   Advocate   with   Ms.Gunjan   Shah   i/by   M/s.Shaunak 
Satpute & Co.for Respondent No.4.




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In Writ Petition No.1589 of 2007:




                                                      
Mr.Janak  Dwarkadas,   Senior Advocate   with  Mr.J.P.Sen  i/by  M/s.Kanga & 
Co. for the Petitioners.

Mr.Ravi Kadam, Advocate General with Mr.G.D.Utangale i/by M/s.Utangale 




                                            
& Co.for Respondent No.1.
                              
Mr.Vinod   Bobde,   Senior   Advocate   with   Mr.Sunil   Goel,   Mr.Sachin   Kadam 
i/by M/s.Shaunak Satpute & Co. for Respondent No.3.
                             
Mr.K.K.Singhvi, Senior Advocate for Respondent No.4.
            
         



In Writ Petition No.2720 of 2008:

Mr.S.U.Kamdar,   Senior   Advocate   with   Ms.Alpana   Ghone   and   Mr.Khaitan 





i/by M/s.Anoop Khaitan & Co.for the Petitioners.

Mr.J.G.Reddy, Advocate for Respondent No.1.

Mr.Himanshu Kode, Advocate with Mr.Anant Upadhyay i/by M/s.Shaunak 





Satpute & Co.for the Applicants in Chamber Summons No.3 of 2008.




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                                                 CORAM : D.K.DESHMUKH &




                                                                                      
                                                                R.G.KETKAR, JJ.

DATE : 17th September, 2009.

JUDGMENT: (Per R.G.Ketkar, J.)

1. All these petitions challenge the order dated February 6, 2007 passed

by the Chief Executive Officer, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (for

short “SRA”). The controversy in all these petitions relates to the grant

of Letter of Intent (for short “LOI”) for implementation of Slum

Rehabilitation Scheme (for short “Scheme”) on a plot bearing CTS

Nos.439 to 442, 443, 444 (part), 447, 451, 452, 453A and 454A

situate at village Vile-parle, Taluka Andheri, Mumbai Suburban

District (for short the “said plot”) of the proposed Premnagar Co-

operative Housing Society (for short “Society), therefore all these

petitions can be conveniently disposed of by a common order. Writ

petition No.1036 of 2007 is instituted by M/s.Sigtia Constructions

Private Limited (for short “M/s.Sigtia”). Writ petition No.1075 of

2007 is instituted by Mr.Ramchandra Mahadev Jagtap and nine

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Others (for short hereinafter referred to as”Jagtap & Ors.”) who are

eligible slum dwellers and are residents of the said plot. Writ

Petition No.1589 of 2007 is instituted by M/s.Keya Developers and

Construction Private Limited (for short hereinafter referred as

“M/s.Keya Developers”). Writ Petition No.2720 of 2008 is instituted

by Mr.Chandrakant Sitaram Mane (hereinafter referred to as “Mane”),

challenging the order dated February 6, 2007 passed by the SRA, as

also for directions to the SRA to choose one of the two competing

builders and developers in compliance with the directions of the Apex

Court in its order dated November 7, 2006. It is interesting to note

that Mr.Mane did not implead M/s.Sigtia and M/s.Keya Developers as

also the Society in the petition.

2. The controvery in all these petitions arise in the following

circumstances:-

Under the General Body Resolution dated October 19, 2000 the

proposed society appointed M/s.Sigtia as developer and Mr.Bipin

Khatri as an Architect for rehabilitation of the slum known as

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Premnagar situate at Vile Parle on the said plot. The said plot belongs

to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). By

notification dated May 24, 2001 published in the Maharashtra

Government Gazette on August 2, 2001, the Additional Collector

(Encroachment) and the Competent Authority, Mumbai Suburban

District declared Premnagar Co-operative Housing Society (proposed),

S.V.Road, Vile-parle (W), Mumbai as slum area under Section 4 of the

Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Re-

development) Act, 1971 (for short hereinafter referred to as “Act”).

The general body of the Society passed a resolution on September 8,

2001 noting that Mr.Vinodbhai Sigtia (Director of M/s.Sigtia) took

efforts in declaring their area as slum area and the Resolution Nos.5

and 6 of October 19, 2000 were reaffirmed. Agreement was executed

between the slum dwellers on the suit plot being the party of one part

and M/s.Sigtia being the party of other part on September 15, 2001.

Clause 4 of the Agreement deals with the ‘Appointment’ and reads

thus:

“Subject to acceptance by the SRA, the party of other part
will be treated as a developer to develop the property as

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per SRA”.

Clause 5 thereof provides for ‘Consent’ and reads thus:

“Slum-dwellers hereby agree and give consent to participate
in SRA as per DCR (10), Appendix IV”.

Clause 6(i) casts obligation on developer to appoint suitable

architect. Clause 7(i) casts obligation on the slum dwellers to confirm

that they have not entered into any writing or arrangement for Slum

Rehabilitation Scheme of the said slum, with any other person except

with the party of the other part. Clause 12 thereof states that the

agreement is an irrevocable consent given by the slum dwellers in

favour of the party of the other part for implementation of the SRS

and an Agreement and consent to participate in SRS.

3. It is the case of M/s.Sigtia that their Architect submitted proposal

alongwith Annexure I, II and III complete in all respects to the SRA on

September 11, 2002. After ensuring the completeness of the proposal

submitted, the computerised File Number is allotted to the Scheme.

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The Assistant Engineer, SRA, found M/s.Sigtia’s proposal in order and

accordingly gave computerised No.K-W/MCGM/0008/20021003 and

directed payment of scrutiny fees for Annexures I, II and III as

required by clause 11 of the Guidelines. It is the case of M/s.Sigtia

that the proposal submitted by them was accepted in terms of clause

11 thereof and accordingly scrutiny fee of Rs.19,750/- was paid by

them. On October 10, 2002, the draft Annexure II was forwarded by

the Deputy Collector, SRA, to the Additional Collector

(Encroachment), who is designated as a sole competent authority for

deciding eligibility for verification and certification of Annexure II.

The affidavit-cum declaration was given by individual slum dwellers

with their spouse on November 26, 2002 declaring that they will give

cooperation to the Architect and M/s.Sigtia. Individual tripartite

agreement was entered into between the Society, M/s.Sigtia and

individual slum dwellers with their spouse on November 26, 2002.

Clause (xv) of the said agreement recorded that for executing the

work, an irrevocable power of attorney was given to M/s.Sigtia. The

Additional Collector (Encroachment), 2nd Respondent herein after

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visiting the site and verifying the documents, certified Annexure II

wherein it is noted that out of 565 protected/ eligible structures, 438

slum dwellers had given consent to M/s.Sigtia for the scheme which

was more than 77% as against required 70% as per clause 2 of the

Guidelines. On February 24, 2004 the Finance Controller of SRA

approved M/s.Sigtia’s Annexure III and certified that they are

financially sound for implementing the Scheme. On February 26,

2004 the society gave an undertaking on solemn affirmation that it is

satisfied with the performance of M/s.Sigtia and they would continue

with them and the Architect till the project is completed. The Society

executed irrevocable power of attorney in favour of M/s.Sigtia

confirming earlier irrevocable power of attorney dated April 23, 2002.

It recorded that due to sustained efforts of the Directors of M/s.Sigtia,

a lot of progress was achieved and the Society was awaiting issuance

of LOI. While the SRA was in process of issuing the LOI to M/s.Sigtia,

Mr.Jagtap & Others instituted Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 in this

Court on March 29, 2004, questioning among others (i) the election

of the office bearers of the Society, (ii) Annexure II issued in favour of

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the Society, (iii) 70% consent of Slum dwellers in favour of M/s.Sigtia

and (iv) Technical and financial competence of M/s.Sigtia.

4. The SRA issued supplementary Annexure II on April 16, 2004

excluding portion of land covered by the Playground Reservation and

hutments situate thereon from the earlier Annexure II, in view of the

orders passed by this Court in the proceedings restraining the

utilisation of green spaces for SRA projects. As per this

supplementary Annexure II, there are total 943 structures on the said

plot of which 442 are censussed/protected. These are eligible

structures for allotment under the Scheme. It is the case of

M/s.Sigtia that a scrutiny report was prepared by the Executive

Engineer, SRA on May 7, 2004 enclosing therewith draft LOI and was

submitted to CEO, SRA for his approval. Copy of this was marked to

Chief Officer, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority

(MHADA), among other officers. In Writ petition No.988 of 2004 by

order dated July 1, 2004 this Court directed the SRA to submit the

report regarding financial and technical capability of M/s.Sigtia for

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implementing the Scheme. On July 28, 2004 the CEO of SRA, after

hearing all the parties in the said petition, submitted a report to this

Court. In the said report it was concluded that M/s.Sigtia has financial

and technical expertise and has complied with both conditions of

Annexure III. Report also recorded submissions made by the Advocate

on behalf of the Society before the SRA that the Society was satisfied

with the progress of the project undertaken by M/s.Sigtia. On August

21, 2004, the Executive Enginer III of SRA resubmitted the draft LOI

to the CEO of the SRA for his approval after the Chief Minister’s stay

order was vacated. On September 15, 2004 the CEO made

endorsement to the following effect:

“The High Court had asked CEO SRA for certain opinion.

We are aware that the Scheme is subjudice. It will be better
if we await the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court”.

5. By judgment and order dated March 11, 2005 this Court finally

disposed of Writ Petition No.988 of 2004. This Court recorded

submissions made on behalf of the petitioners therein to the effect

that the Committee Members of the Society in collusion with

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M/s.Sigtia defrauded the residents of the Society; that the office

bearers of the Society were not elected by the General Body; that no

General Body meetings were held by the Society, nor the election of

the Managing Committee was held. The Court also noted the

submissions made on behalf of the petitioners therein that 70% of the

eligible slum dwellers have not supported the Scheme. On the other

hand, on behalf of the Society it was submitted that it had taken all

the necessary precaution and after considerable efforts ultimately

approached the SRA and are now waiting anxiously for allotment of

tenements. This Court recorded that the SRA was satisfied that the

requisite 70% occupiers of the slum area have come forward and

reposed confidence in M/s.Sigtia. Even the apprehension raised by the

petitioners therein about the capacity and capability of M/s.Sigtia was

taken care of by calling upon the CEO of SRA to once again verify

and submit report. The Court also directed M/s.Sigtia to deposit an

amount of Rs.2.50 crores as Interest Free Security Deposit so as to

ensure the implementation of the Scheme. Thus all the requisite

measures for protecting the interest of the eligible slum dwellers were

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taken and ultimately this Court dismissed the writ petition.

6. As noted earlier, on September 15, 2004 the CEO of SRA made an

endorsement that since the matter is subjudice before this Court they

would await the judgment. Even after the disposal of the writ petition

No.988 of 2004 on March 11, 2005, the SRA did not issue the LOI

though all the requisite formalities were completed. Out of nine

petitioners in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004, Nazir Khan filed Special

Leave Petition, being SLP(C) No.11318 of 2005 before the Apex Court

on May 13, 2005 against the decision of this Court dated March 11,

2005 in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004. On July 18, 2005 the Apex

Court issued notice and granted stay to this Court’s order dated March

11, 2005. The said SLP was withdrawn on September 26, 2005. Four

other petitioners out of the petitioners in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004

filed SLP No.19848 of 2005 and obtained interim stay on September

19, 2005 from the Apex Court. In view of this stay order, M/s.Sigtia

could not take any further steps towards the implementation of the

Scheme. It appears that in that SLP the Society filed an application

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being I.A.No.5 praying for issuance of direction to the SRA to consider

and sanction the Scheme prepared by the Society alongwith M/s.Keya

Developers. It further appears that the said I.A.was dismissed. The

SRA had filed affidavit in SLP No.19848 of 2005 on January 4, 2006

interalia contending that it had not taken cognizance of letter dated

June 6, 2005 of the Society alleging that the development agreement

in favour of M/s.Sigtia was terminated. Eventually, SLP No.19848 of

2005 was dismissed as withdrawn on April 13, 2006.

7. During pendency of SLP 19848 of 2005, on behalf of the Society

notices dated April 26, 2005 and June 6, 2005 purporting to revoke

the development agreement and the power of attorney executed in

favour of M/s.Sigtia were given. This was replied by M/s.Sigtia on

June 15, 2005 questioning the authority of the persons purporting to

terminate and revoke the said development agreement and power of

attorney. Since the SRA was not taking further steps of issuance of the

LOI M/s.Sigtia made a representation to the State Government on

June 10, 2005. Before the Principal Secretary of the Housing

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Department, Government of Maharashtra, the Chief Executive Officer

of the SRA, representatives of the Society and the representatives of

M/s.Sigtia among others were present. After carefully considering the

documents presented before him and after hearing all the parties, the

Principal Secretary passed an order on June 20, 2005 directing the

SRA to issue LOI with further directions to the CEO of SRA as also

M/s.Sigtia to ensure compliance of the order of this Court dated

March 11, 2005 passed in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004. This order is

not questioned by anybody till date.

8. As noted earlier, the second SLP was dismissed as withdrawn on April

13, 2006. After dismissal of the SLP and vacation of the stay,

M/s.Sigtia wrote to the SRA on April 25, 2006 offering to deposit Rs.

2.5 crores as Interest Free Security Deposit as directed by this Court

on March 11, 2005. M/s.Sigtia requested the SRA to issue LOI. It is at

this stage the Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 was filed in this Court by

Jagtap and nine others against the CEO of SRA being the Respondent

No.1, and the Society being the Respondent No.2, M/s.Keya

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Developers being the Respondent No.3 and the MCGM being the

Respondent NO.4. M/s.Sigtia were not made party in this proceeding.

One of the prayers in that petition was to the following effect:-

“(a) to issue writ of certiorari or any other writ,
order/direction in the nature of certiorari against the
Respondent No.1 (CEO of SRA) to consider the proposal
submitted by Respondent No.3 (M/s.Keya Developers) and

to issue letter of intent (LOI) for redevelopment of the said
property in favour of Respondent No.3.

9. It is relevant to note here that before the Apex Court the SRA had

made an affidavit on January 4, 2006 in SLP No.19848 of 2005

solemnly affirming that it had not taken cognizance of letter dated

June 6, 2005 issued by the Society purporting to terminate the

development agreement in favour of M/s.Sigtia. The SRA however

did not point out before this Court that M/s.Sigtia were necessary

party. It further appears that the SRA also did not file any affidavit in

that petition. On May 4, 2006 this Court (F.I.Rebello and Anoop V.

Mohta, JJ.) disposed of the said writ petition by passing order to the

following effect:-

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“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 the
learned counsel makes a statement that they had already

communicated to Respondent No.1 to appoint Respondent No.3
as developer. The Respondent No.1 to call the parties in terms
of the judgment of this court and after hearing the parties

dispose of the application of Respondent No.2 according to law,
within a period of six weeks from today.”

10.We must record the consensus among all the learned counsel

appearing for the parties that the judgment referred in the above

order, is the judgment dated March 11, 2005 passed by this Court in

Writ Petition No.988 of 2004. Even otherwise, this fact becomes

abundantly clear from the perusal of the order of the Hon’ble Apex

Court dated November 7, 2006.

11.Jagtap & others preferred SLP No.10281 of 2006 before the Apex

Court against the order dated May 4, 2006 passed by this Court in

Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006. Even before the Apex Court M/s.Sigtia

were not made party and once again it appears that the SRA did not

point out before the Apex Court that M/s.Sigtia were necessary party

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particularly when the order dated May 4, 2006 passed by this Court in

Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 required SRA to call the parties in

terms of the judgment of this Court and after hearing the parties to

dispose of the application of M/s.Keya Developers. Even the SRA did

not point out to the Apex Court that there was no proposal of

M/s.Keya Developers complete in all respects pending with the SRA.

On June 27, 2006 the Apex Court directed the SRA to issue LOI in

favour of M/s.Keya Developers. In the order the Apex Court recorded

grievance of the petitioner before it that despite no legal impediment,

SRA was not issuing the LOI in favour of M/s.Keya Developers despite

the request made by the Society. According to the petitioners, before

the Apex Court, it was merely giving replacement of previous

developers M/s.Sigtia 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.

12.When M/s.Sigtia acquired knowledge of the Apex Court order dated

June 27, 2006 it made an application on June 30, 2006 for recalling

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of the said order and also an application for impleadment in the SLP

No.10281 of 2006. In this application the SRA made an affidavit on

July 7, 2006 reiterating that it had not taken cognizance of the letters

dated April 27, 2005 and June 6, 2005 purporting to terminate

M/s.Sigtia’s appointment as developers. By judgment and order dated

November 7, 2006 the Apex Court recalled its earlier order dated June

27, 2006. It was held that M/s.Sigtia was necessary party to Writ

Petition No.1277 of 2006 as well as SLP No.10281 of 2006. The Apex

Court recorded that the order dated June 20, 2005 passed by the

Principal Secretary, Home Department, was not challenged by anyone

before any forum. The order dated March 11, 2005 passed by this

Court in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 had attained finality and that as

on April 13, 2006 there was no proposal of M/s.Keya Developers

before the SRA. The Apex Court further recorded the submission that

the development agreement in favour of M/s.Sigtia came to an end on

April 25, 2005 by efflux of time. In this context, it was observed that

clause 2.2 of the development agreement must be read as a whole and

when so read, it would be clear that the developer (M/s.Sigtia) was to

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start the actual construction after issuance of the commencement

certificate by the authority. Therefore, the period of three years must

be construed to begin from the date when the commencement

certificate is issued and not from the date of the execution of the

agreement. The Apex Court also noted that even the SRA to whom

letter dated June 6, 2005 was addressed, in its counter affidavit filed

before the Apex Court in the said proceeding 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. Eventually, the

Apex Court passed order directing the SRA to call two developers

viz.M/s.Keya and M/s.Sigtia, as directed by the order in Writ Petition

988 of 2004 dated March 11, 2005 and the order dated May 4, 2006

in Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006, and disposed off their applications

for issuing the LOI and to pass appropriate orders in accordance with

the Act and also strictly following the procedure for submission,

processing and approval of the Scheme and to award LOI to the

developer who satisfies the required qualifications, conditions,

regulations and the provisions of the Act. The SRA was also directed

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to consider as to whether the guidelines and other conditions were

fulfilled by the slum dwellers/the society/as well as by the developers

and issue notice to the society also and hear them and pass

appropriate speaking order within three months from the date of

passing of that order.

13.Pursunt to these directions the SRA heard all the concerned parties

and passed the impugned order on February 6, 2007. In the order the

SRA recorded findings to the following effect:

(i) By resolution dated May 29, 2005 passed by the General Body of

the Society, M/s.Keya Developers were proposed as the new

developers for implementation of the Scheme. However, records of the

SRA indicate that M/s.Keya Developers had submitted their proposal

with the certified Annexure II which had also been submitted earlier

by M/s.Sigtia Developers. In the absence of certification of M/s.Keya

Developers Annexure II by the Competent Authority which was

required to be submitted by M/s.Keya Developers to the SRA

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alongwith their proposal, it would not be possible to conclusively

establish that M/s.Keya Developers indeed enjoyed support of more

than 70% of the eligible slum dwellers of the Society.

(ii)The validity of the General Body Resolution dated May 29, 2005 of

the Society remains to be finally decided since the proceedings are

pending before this Court,

(iii)In view of the termination of development agreement by the

Society on account of efflux of time, both the contending developers

vis.M/s.Sigtia Developers and M/s.Keya Developers had not fulfilled

necessary and sufficient conditions to be declared as competent

developer since as of date they had not enjoyed undisputed support of

more than 70% of eligible slum dwellers by way of both (a) General

Body Resolution of the Society which is formed for identification of

the competent developer, (b) Annexure II independently certified by

the Competent Authority after observations of due procedure and on

verification of individual consent cum agreement signed by the

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eligible slum dwellers.

14.On these among other grounds, SRA ultimately held that in the given

circumstances identification of the competent developer can be done

diligently only through verification of the individual consent cum

agreement signed by the eligible slum dwellers followed by fresh

certification of Annexure II by the Competent Authority so as to

conclusively establish which developer enjoys the actual support of

more than 70% of the eligible slum dwellers of the Society.

15.We have heard Mr.Aspi Chinoy, learned Senior Counsel appearing on

behalf of the Petitioners in Writ Petition No.1036 of 2007 filed by

M/s.Sigtia. We have also heard Mr.Vinod Bobde, learned Senior

Counsel appearing on behalf of M/s.Sigtia Developers being the

Respondent No.3 in Writ Petition No.1589 of 2007 filed by M/s.Keya

Developers, and Respondent No.4 in Writ Petition No.1075 of 2007

filed by Jagtap and Others. We have also heard Mr.Janak

Dwarkadas, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of M/s.Keya

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Developers, Mr.Rajeev Narulla, learned Counsel on behalf of the

Society, Mr.R.M.Kadam, learned Advocate General on behalf of the

SRA, Mr.F.Devitre, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of

Jagtap & Others, and Mr.S.U.Kamdar, learned Senior Counsel on

behalf of Mr.Mane.

16.In support of Writ Petition No.1036 of 2007 filed by M/s.Sigtia

Developers, Mr.Chinoy, learned Senior Counsel submitted that the

SRA exceeded its jurisdiction both in law as well as under the scope of

the authority delineated by the order of the Apex Court dated

November 7, 2006. The order of the SRA is totally contrary to this

Court’s order dated March 11, 2005 as also contrary to the Apex

Court’s orders dated April 13, 2006 and November 7, 2006. He

submitted that it was not open to the SRA to find out as on date who

has the support of 70% of the eligible slum dwellers. In his

submission, that exercise was already done and M/s.Sigtia had

fulfilled all the conditions and had submitted proposal complete in all

respects with Annexure I, II, III. Even after disposal of W.P.No.988 of

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2004 on March 11, 2005 the SRA ought to have issued LOI when the

draft LOI was already prepared and the CEO was awaiting judgment

of this Court in W.P.No.988 of 2004. It was submitted it was not open

to the SRA now to start de-novo from the stage of Annexure II which

was duly certified as far back as on January 23, 2003. Annexure III

was duly approved by the Finance Controller of the SRA certifying

that M/s.Sigtia is financially sound for implementing the Scheme.

That apart, pursuant to this Court’s order in W.P.No.988 of 2004 the

CEO of the SRA submitted report on January 28, 2004 once again

concluding the financial and technical expertise of M/s.Sigtia and

that M/s.Sigtia Developers had complied with both the conditions of

Annexure III. The filing of second Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 was

with a malafide intention and really speaking the petitioners therein

misled this Court and also the Apex Court. He submitted that now

even the Apex Court recorded that M/s.Sigtia Developers were

necessary party in Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 as also necessary

party to the SLP No.10281 of 2006. He further submitted that

M/s.Keya Developers did not submit requisite proposal complete in all

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respects before the SRA so that their claim could be considered by the

SRA. Even in the order dated November 7, 2006 the Apex Court

recorded that as on April 13, 2006 M/s.Keya Developers did not

submit proposal to the SRA. He emphasised that when the SRA was

about to issue LOI in favour of M/s.Sigtia Writ Petition No.988 of

2004 was filed in this Court. That was dismissed on March 11, 2005

and eventually after dismissal of SLP, the said judgment attained

finality. When M/s.Sigtia were about to proceed further with the

implementation of the Scheme, another Writ Petition was filed being

Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 behind the back of M/s.Sigtia

Developers. In those proceedings, the SRA did not point out to this

Court or to the Apex Court that M/s.Sigtia Developers were necessary

party. This is more so when the SRA did not take cognizance of the

letters purporting to terminate the development agreement of

M/s.Sigtia Developers. In his submission, all this litigation could

have been avoided had the SRA pointed out before this Court in Writ

Petition No.1277 of 2006 that M/s.Sigtia were necessary party.

Mr.Chinoy was at pains to point out that SRA and M/s.Keya

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Developers are equally responsible for creation of litigation. He

further submitted that considering the judgment of this Court dated

March 11, 2005 in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 as also the order

dated May 4, 2006 in Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 and the judgment

of the Apex Court dated November 7, 2006 in the I.A.in SLP No.10281

of 2006 the SRA has to consider the proposal of M/s.Sigtia

Developers, after considering the objections of M/s.Keya Developers,

the Society, Mr.Jagtap & Others, and Mr.Mane. He submitted that

since there is no proposal of M/s.Keya Developers in the eyes of law,

there is no question of SRA considering their proposal.

17.Mr.Bobde, learned Senior Counsel while supporting the submissions

advanced by Mr.Chinoy, invited our attention to the guidelines framed

by SRA. He submitted that M/s.Sigtia Developers carried out servey,

collected information of eligible slum dwellers and obtained

certification from the Additional Collector (Enc.) about the eligibility

of the slum dwellers. Once the Society appointed M/s.Sigtia

Developers to implement the Scheme who in turn appointed Architect

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in consultation with the Society, the role of the Society becomes

minimal. The developer so chosen has to act as promoter in terms of

Guideline No.6. In terms of Guideline No.7 the promoter has to enter

into the agreement with every individual slum dweller while putting

up the slum rehabilitation proposal to the SRA for approval. The

Architect appointed by the promoter in consultation with the Society

has to prepare Plans as per the DCR 33 (10). As per the Guideline No.

8 it is expected from the Architect to ensure community participation

in preparation of the building plans. After completing all the

formalities, Annexure I, II and III were submitted by their Architect to

the SRA. The designated Engineer of the SRA has to ensure

completeness of the proposal submitted and then computerised File

Number is allotted to the Scheme which conclusively establishes that

the proposal as submitted was complete in all respects. After scrutiny,

the computerised No.K-W/MCGM/0008/20021003 was given to the

proposal submitted by M/s.Sigtia Developers, whereas in respect of

M/s.Keya Developers no such computerised number was allotted

signifying that the proposal, if any, submitted by M/s.Keya Developers

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was not complete in all respects and consequently was not at all the

proposal in the eyes of law. He also invited our attention to the

Circular No.SRA/4 dated August 27, 1997 and the relevant portion

thereof reads thus:-

“…..It has therefore, become necessary, that henceforth, the
Developer/Architect will have to submit the proposal to S.R.A.,

complete in all respects so that they will be in a position to receive
LOI/Layout and IOA of 1st (first) rehabilitation building

simultaneously. The validity period for all three will be reduced to
three months only, during which time he has to comply with the
requirements required for starting of work and come forward with

the request to obtain C.C.u/s.44 & 45 of M.R. & T.P.Act. Therefore,
by direction of C.E.O. (SRA) the proposal which is incomplete for
grant of approval of Layout/IOA and approval of 1st rehabilitation

building will not be allowed to be submitted and will be accepted
only after annexing all the required documents for issue of above

approval. A copy of Annexure required for approval of LOI/Layout
and IOA is annexed herewith”

18.On the basis of the above circular, Mr.Bobde, learned Senior Counsel

submitted that the proposal which is incomplete in the grant of

approval of the layout/intimation of approval and the approval of the

first rehabilitation building is not to be allowed to be submitted. The

proposal of M/s.Keya Developers which was incomplete ought not to

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have been allowed to be submitted by the SRA. He also invited our

attention to Appendix IV which are applicable for

redevelopment/construction of accommodation for hutment dwellers

through the developer/co-operative housing societies, and in

particular clauses 1.6, 1.7, 2.2. He submitted that in the instant case,

the proposal of M/s.Sigtia stood statutorily approved on March 26,

2004 in terms of clause 2.2 thereof, which reads thus:-

“The approval to the Project shall be given by the Slum

Rehabilitation Authority within a period of 30 days from the
date of submission of all relevant documents. In the event of a
failure by Slum Rehabilitation Authority to do so, the said

approval shall be deemed to have been given, provided the
Project is in accordance with the provisions in this Appendix”.

19.On the other hand, Mr.Janak Dwarkadas, learned Senior Counsel

submitted that the Society had legally terminated the development

agreement executed by the Society in favour of M/s.Sigtia. The

General Body of the Society had passed a resolution appointing

M/s.Keya Developers as a promoter who in turn, in consultation with

the Society appointed Architect. M/s.Keya Developers has necessary

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support of 70% eligible slum dwellers of the Society. He submitted

that M/s.Keya Developers has entered into an agreement with the

individual slum dwellers and has also necessary Annexure II duly

certified by the Competent Authority viz.the Additional Collector

(Enc). He submitted that M/s.Keya Developers had submitted a

proposal to the SRA as would be evident from the reply from SRA on

the query raised under the Right to Information Act to the effect that

M/s.Keya Developers had submitted proposal with SRA. He therefore

submitted that in terms of the orders of this Court dated March 11,

2005 and May 4, 2006 and the order of the Apex Court dated

November 7, 2006 the SRA is required to consider the proposal of

M/s.Keya Developers as also the proposal of M/s.Sigtia. He also

submits that the impugned order dated February 6, 2007 passed by

the SRA deserves to be quashed and set aside with the direction to

the SRA to consider the proposals in terms of those orders.

20.Mr.Rajeev Narulla, learned Counsel for the Society has supported the

submissions advanced by Mr.Janak Dwarkadas and contended that

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the Society has passed valid resolution appointing M/s.Keya

Developers as promoter after terminating the development agreement

executed in favour of M/s.Sigtia. Mr.F.Devitre, learned Senior Counsel

appearing of Mr.Jagtap & Others and Mr.Kamdar, learned Senior

Counsel appearing for Mr.Mane submitted that the impugned order

dated February 6, 2007 passed by the SRA deserves to be quashed and

set aside.

21. During the course of hearing, learned Advocate General conceded

before us that the proposal of M/s.Keya Developers is not complete in

all respects. In view of the contention raised by M/s.Keya Developers

that they have submitted proposal to the SRA and the contention of

M/s.Sigtia that no such proposal is submitted by M/s.Keya

Developers, we directed the learned Counsel for the SRA to produce

the original record for our perusal. We have ourselves perused the

original record and find that under covering letter dated July 16, 2005

addressed by Mr.Anil Chavda, Architect appointed by M/s.Keya

Developers, a proposal for redevelopment of the said plot was

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submitted, and we find that alongwith that proposal no agreements

entered into between M/s.Keya Developers and the individual slum

dwellers are enclosed. Even in the impugned order the SRA has

observed that M/s.Keya Developers has submitted their proposal with

certified Annexure II which was also submitted by M/s.Sigtia. In other

words the self same Annexure II of M/s.Sigtia Developers is utilised by

M/s.Keya Developers. Considering the Circular dated August 27, 1997

extracted hereinabove, the SRA ought not to have accepted the

incomplete proposal of M/s.Keya Developers. Even the Apex Court in

the order dated November 7, 2006 recorded that as on April 13, 2006

M/s.Keya Developers had not submitted a proposal. After satisfying

ourselves, we find that as on date the proposal of M/s.Keya

Developers is not complete in all respects and cannot be treated as a

proposal in the eyes of law. We emphasis this fact as in our considered

opinion the parties to Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 misled this Court

in obtaining the order on May 4, 2006. In fact the SRA being the

statutory authority ought to have pointed out to this Court that the

prayer made in that petition could not have been entertained in the

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absence of proposal of M/s.Keya Developers. We are further of the

considered opinion that even the Apex Court was misled by the parties

before it when it passed the order on June 27, 2006 in SLP No.10281

of 2006 directing issuance of LOI to M/s.Keya Developers. The entire

litigation from the stage of Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 onwards

could have been avoided had the SRA brought these facts before the

Court. We are totally disappointed with the manner in which the

SRA has conducted itself before this Court in Writ Petition No.1277 of

2006 and also before the Apex Court in SLP 10281 of 2006. The

litigation from Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 onwards is a creation of

SRA.

22.The procedure for Submission, Processing and Approval of Slum

Rehabilitation Schemes has been laid down by the State Government.

Clause (1) of this Scheme reads as under:-

“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 schemes.”

Perusal of the above clause shows that the slum dwellers whose names

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appear in the electoral rolls prepared with reference to the date as on

January 1, 1995 or a date prior thereto, and who are actual occupants

of the hutments are eligible for the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.

23.Clause (2) reads as under:

“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 Rs.1/- as entrance fee and to open account in Mumbai District
Central Co-operative/Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Ltd.
(any branch).”

Perusal of clause (2) shows that atleast 70% of such eligible slum

dwellers have to express their willingness to join Slum Rehabilitation

Scheme and have to come together to form a co-operative housing

society and all the slum dwellers have to pass a resolution and elect a

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Chief Promoter. Before amendment of the guidelines by Circular

dated August 27, 1997 a duty was cast on the Chief Promoter, officer

bearers and the members of the proposed society to collect documents

in relation to the title of the land on which the slum is situate, as also

the information about the structure and the slum dwellers and this

information has to be filled-in the form, Annexure II. Annexure II

gives details of the land occupied by the slum dwellers, number of

and the type of structures such as residential, industrial, commercial

etc. and the list of eligible and illegible occupants and the consent of

slum dwellers to join the Scheme. By Circular dated August 27, 1997

this procedure has been changed and now even the Architect or the

Developer can submit Annexure II to the Competent Authority. The

relevant portion of the Circular dated August 27, 1997 reads as

under:-

“In order to facilitate the disposal it has also been decided
Architect/Developer or Society hereby may submit Annexure II in

duplicate, as prepared by them in the prescribed proforma signed
by Owner/Developer/C.P/N.G.O., a copy of which will be
forwarded to the Competent Authority who issues Annexure II for
getting it certified. The proposal will be scrutinized on the basis of
Annexure-II submitted by the Architect. However, approval will be
granted only after receipt of certified Annexure-II from the

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Competent Authority.”

24.As a result of this amendment of August 27, 1997 clause (4) of the

Scheme has also been modified and the relevant portion of that reads

as under:

“As a simplification measure, this procedure is now discontinued
and Annexure-II format is now required to be filled up 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 scheme.”

Thus, now Annexure II can be submitted by the Promoter

i.e.Developer who has been appointed by the Society and the power to

scrutinize that information contained in Annexure II is now conferred

on the Additional Collector (Encroachment) and he is the sole

Competent Authority to hold that enquiry.

25.In the present case, Annexure II was submitted by the Architect of

M/s.Sigtia. The Additional Collector after scrutinizing the application

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certified Annexure II submitted by the Architect of M/s.Sigtia. Perusal

of clause (7) of the Scheme shows that the Developer/promoter who

is chosen by the Society has to enter into agreement with every

eligible slum dweller while putting up the slum rehabilitation proposal

before the Slum Rehabilitation Authority for approval. Now, on

reading of the Scheme as amended in 1997 the position that emerges

is this:-

(i)70% of the eligible slum dwellers come together and decide to

form a Co-operative Society. They nominate one of them as Chief

Promoter. The proposed society, in case it decides to get slum

developed through a Developer, they identify the Developer;

(ii)The Developer so nominated enters into an agreement with

every eligible slum dwellers;

(iii)The Developer in consultation with the proposed Co-operative

Housing Society of the slum dwellers, prepares a plan for

development of the slum area as per Development Control

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Regulation 33 (10) and nominates Architect;

(iv) This Architect or the Developer/promoter himself collects the

information required to be included in Annexure I (as per clause 9

of the Scheme Annexure I gives details about the ownership of

land, details of plot area, details of existing hutments and their

type, computation of tenement density, extent and type of

reservations, amenities, FSI available, number of tenements to be

constructed including calculation of TDR etc.), and Annexure II.

(v) Power to scrutinize the information contained in Annexures I

and II is vested solely in the Additional Collector (Encroachment)

who scrutinizes Annexure I and II;

(vi) Power to scrutinize Annexure III is with the Slum

Rehabilitation Authority. So far as contents of Annexure III are

concerned, it is Rule 10 of the Scheme which is relevant, which

reads as under:-

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“Annexure-III is prescribed to assess 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.”

(vii) Financial capability of the Promoter/Developer is to be certified

by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and it is only thereafter that the

stage of issuing the Letter of Intent comes.

26. In so far as present case is concerned, it is common ground that so far

as M/s.Sigtia is concerned, Annexure I, II and III submitted by them

have been duly scrutinized and certified. A challenge was raised after

scrutiny of Annexure III in this Court by filing a Writ Petition No.988

of 2004. That petition has been dismissed. Therefore, as a

consequence thereof the Slum Rehabilitation Authority should have

proceeded to consider the issuance of Letter of Intent. Because there

was delay on the part of the SRA in issuing the Letter of Intent the

Government was approached and it is an admitted position that the

Government has issued a direction after hearing the Society and the

Slum Rehabilitation Authority to issue the Letter of Intent in favour of

M/s.Sigtia. That order of the State Government has not been

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challenged by anybody till this date. Even in the order of the

Supreme Court the Supreme Court has also noted that, that order

holds the field. What is pertinent to be noted is that the SRA in its

order which is impugned in the petition does not even refer to the

order of the State Government directing the SRA to issue Letter of

Intent in favour of M/s.Sigtia. In our opinion, the order of the State

Government which holds the filed was a relevant document, specially

when pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court the SRA is

considering the question whether the Letter of Intent is to be issued

in favour of M/s.Sigtia or not.

27.So far as judgment of the Supreme Court dated November 7, 2006 is

concerned, a careful reading of the judgment reveals that the

Supreme Court has recorded following findings:

(i)That the agreement between M/s.Sigtia and the Society has not

come to end by efflux of time on April 25, 2005;

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(ii)That the SRA stated before the Supreme Court that it did not

take any notice of letters of the Society terminating the agreement

with M/s.Sigtia dated April 25, 2005 and June 6, 2005;

(iii)That the order dated March 11, 2005 passed by this Court in

Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 attained finality;

(iv)Till March 13, 2006 the SRA did not have before it any proposal

submitted by M/s.Keya Developers;

(v)That M/s.Sigtia was necessary party to the writ petition being

W.P.No.1277 of 2006 before this Court and in the SLP No.10281 of

2006 before the Apex Court;

(vi)That it is for the SRA to decide whether the alleged termination

of the agreement between the proposed Society and M/s.Sigtia has

any effect on the entitlement or otherwise of the Letter of Intent to

M/s.Sigtia;

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(vii)That at the hearings held before the Principal Secretary,

Government of Maharashtra on June 15, 2005, the representatives

of the proposed Society did not say anything about the purported

termination of the agreement between M/s.Sigtia and the proposed

Society;

(viii)That the order of the Principal Secretary, Government of

Maharashtra directing issuance of Letter of Intent to M/s.Sigtia has

gone unchallenged;

(ix)That the Supreme Court has directed the SRA to call M/s.Sigtia

and M/s.Keya Developers for hearing on the question as to whom

the Letter of Intent is to be issued in terms of the order of this

Court dated March 11, 2005 passed in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004

and the order dated May 4, 2006 passed in Writ Petition No.1277

of 2006.

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28.So far as the order of this Court in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 is

concerned, as per that order, the scrutiny of Annexures I, II and III of

the proposal submitted by M/s.Sigtia was over, and the Slum

Rehabilitatin Authority was to consider the question of issuance of

Letter of Intent in favour of M/s.Sigtia. So far as order dated May 4,

2006 in Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006 is concerned, that order reads

as under:-

“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
developer by Respondent No.2. The Respondent No.1 to call the

parties in terms of the judgment 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.”

29. Perusal of the above quoted order makes it clear that by that order the

Respondent No.1 in that petition i.e.the SRA has been directed to call

the parties in terms of the judgment of this Court viz.judgment of this

Court dated March 11, 2005 in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004, and

after hearing the parties to dispose of the application of Respondent

No.2 in that petition in accordance with law. The Respondent No.2 in

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that petition was the proposed Society. Thus it becomes necessary to

find out what was the direction contained in the order of the High

Court dated March 11, 2005 passed in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004.

In this regard, in our opinion, Paragraph No.20 of that order is

relevant, which reads as under:-

“In the light of the aforesaid discussion, in our view, it is not
necessary to either quash and set aside the scheme or issue further

directions as sought in the petition. Needless to state that the
scheme is presently at primary stage. Final approvals have not been

granted on the own showing of SRA. If SRA decides not to issue
LOI in favour of Respondent No.7, it will always be open for the
parties to submit a fresh development scheme. For the present, we

do not find that this is a fit case for interference with the tentative
decision of the SRA.”

30. Perusal of the above paragraph 20 shows that after the judgment of

the High Court, the SRA was to consider the question of granting

approval to the Scheme pending before the SRA. The Scheme pending

at that time was the Scheme submitted by M/s.Sigtia, and the

question of submission of another Scheme would have arisen if the

SRA had decided not to issue Letter of Intent in favour of M/s.Sigtia.

It is thus clear that the first issue that the SRA was to consider is

whether M/s.Sigtia is entitled to issuance of Letter of Intent. No doubt

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as per the order of the Supreme Court M/s.Keya Developers will also

have to be heard on that issue, but there is no question of the issue

whether M/s.Keya Developers is entitled to Letter of Intent being

considered unless and until the SRA comes to the conclusion that

M/s.Sigtia is not entitled to get the Letter of Intent. In other words,

the SRA will have to first hear the parties on the issue whether

M/s.Sigtia is entitled to Letter of Intent. If the SRA comes to the

conclusion that M/s.Sigtia is entitled to Letter of Intent, then that will

be the end of the matter, and the order of this Court and the order of

the Supreme Court will stand complied with. However, in case the

SRA comes to the conclusion that M/s.Sigtia is not entitled to issuance

of Letter of Intent then it will have to take up the issue whether

M/s.Keya Developers is entitled to issuance of Letter of Intent for

consideration. The application of M/s.Sigtia will have to be heard and

considered first, and it is only thereafter depending on the result of

that application, that the application of M/s.Keya Developers can be

considered, assuming that M/s.Keya Developers has made any such

application because we have recorded a finding above that no

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complete application submitted by M/s.Keya Developers is on the

original record. No doubt, while considering the question whether

M/s.Sigtia is entitled to issuance of Letter of Intent, the question

whether the agreement in favour of M/s.Sigtia has been validly

terminated or not will have be be considered.

31. We have to note here that before us it was clearly submitted that in

the Scheme which is framed by the State Government the proposed

Society does not enter into any agreement with the Developer. The

Developer has to enter into the agreement with the eligible individual

slum dwellers, and as the agreement between the Society and the

Developer is not contemplated there is no question of appointment of

the Developer coming to an end because of any resolution passed by

the proposed Housing Society. It was also submitted that in the

present case M/s.Sigtia has in fact entered into agreement with the

eligible individual slum dwellers and it is not anybody’s case that

those agreements have been terminated by eligible individual slum

dwellers. It was also argued that as the eligible individual slum

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dwellers have entered into the agreement with M/s.Sigtia, unless

such slum dwellers terminate the agreement entered into by them

with M/s.Sigtia in accordance with law, they cannot enter into similar

agreement with any other person. It was also submitted that the

proposed Housing Society which is yet to be registered does not exist

independently of its members, and therefore, no resolution passed by

such body has any validity, unless and until each and every person

who have decided to join in the formation of the Soceity joins in

passing the resolution. However, we do not propose to go into these

questions because these question can be raised by the parties if they

are so advised before the SRA, and while deciding the question of

entitlement of M/s.Sigtia to the issuance of Letter of Intent the SRA

will have to decide these issues also.

32.In our opinion, the impugned order dated February 6, 2007 passed by

the SRA is unsustainable. The approach of the SRA to find out as on

date who has support of 70% eligible slum dwellers is unsustainable.

In our opinion, that stage was already over and on record there is a

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complete proposal of M/s.Sigtia Developers.

33.In our opinion, the impugned order is liable to be quashed and set

aside. Accordingly, the impugned order is quashed and set aside.

Matter is remanded to the SRA. The SRA to decide the proposal of

M/s.Sigtia Developers in terms of the order dated March 11, 2005

passed in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004 as also the order dated May 4,

2006 passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.1277 of 2006, and the

order dated November 7, 2006 passed by the Apex Court in SLP No.

10281 of 2006, and on the basis of the record as it stands today, as

expeditiously as possible, and in any case within a period of three

months from today. All contentions of the parties are expressly kept

open. The SRA will consider the contentions of the parties and will

record reasons and give findings. While considering the proposal of

M/s.Sigtia Developers, the SRA will consider the objections of

M/s.Keya Developers, as also of the Society, Mr.Jagtap & Others and

Mr.Mane. If the SRA decides not to issue LOI in favour of M.s.Sigtia

Developers, it will be open for the parties to submit fresh development

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Scheme as observed by this Court in paragraph No.20 of the judgment

and order dated March 11, 2005 in Writ Petition No.988 of 2004.

Rule is made absolute in all the Petitions. However, in the facts and

circumstances of these petitions, there shall be no order as to costs.

34.At this stage request is made by the petitioners in Writ Petition Nos.

1075/2007 & 1589/2007 for staying of the operation of this judgment

& order. In our opinion, no useful purpose will be served by staying

the hearing of the matter by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority.

However, as the parties want to approach the Higher Court, it will be

appropriate to direct the Slum Rehabilitation Authority not to make its

final order for a period of six weeks from today, though it can go on

with the hearing of the matter in terms of this judgment.

(D.K.DESHMUKH,J.)

(R.G.KETKAR,J.)

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