JUDGMENT
1. Heard Sri Abhinav N. Trivedi, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Sri N.C. Mehrotra, appearing on behalf of opposite-parties.
2. The petitioner has alleged that a Scheme, known as “Sharda Nagar Scheme” was launched by opposite-party No. 2 on 20th June, 1988, which was valid from 20th June, 1988 to 31st August, 1988, and the petitioner in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Brochure, deposited a sum of Rs. 20,000/- as registration fee, for purchase of ‘A’ type plot on hire purchase basis. The petitioner has also alleged that in pursuance of the allotment letter, dated 22.10.1990, plot No. 1/109, Sector Rashmi Khand, Sharda Nagar Scheme, was allotted to the petitioner on the basis of a lottery, which was drawn on 27th July, 1990. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the rate of Rs. 370/- per sq. meter was mentioned in the Brochure, but in the allotment letter, dated 22.10.1990, the rate was revised by the opposite-parties from Rs. 370/- per sq. meter to Rs. 530/-per sq. meter, which was legally not permissible, as no such condition was contained in the Brochure that the Development Authority, will be at liberty to increase the price of the land at the time of allotment. He further submits that the opposite-parties have admitted the contents of paras 18 and 19 of the writ petition in their counter-affidavit and the petitioner has deposited the enhanced amount under protest in 12 instalments, which were fixed by the Lucknow Development Authority. He further submits that till date the petitioner has deposited a sum of Rs. 2,97,148/- against the initial cost of Rs. 1,99,800/-. He further submits that in the Brochure, there is a condition in Clause (6) for the enhancement of the price of the houses, subject to increase of the material and labour charges, and there was no such condition for the increase of the price of the land and, as such, the opposite-parties may be directed to refund the excess money with interest.
3. Sri N.C. Mehrotra, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the opposite-parties, submits that the Scheme was opened in June, 1988 and the allotment was made on 22.10.1990, i.e. after two years and the rate, which was prevailing at the time of allotment, was charged from the petitioner, who has deposited the same instalments fixed by the opposite-parties, and the petitioner cannot challenge the increase in the price after the deposit of the entire amount. He further submits that there was an agreement between the petitioner and the opposite-parties, and in pursuance of the agreement, the petitioner has deposited the entire amount and now she cannot claim for the refund as prayed in the instant writ petition. He further submits that the writ petition is devoid of merits and deserves to be dismissed.
4. We have considered the arguments of the learned Counsel for the parties and have gone through the record.
5. There is no dispute that the Scheme known as “Sharda Nagar Scheme” was launched by the opposite-party No. 2 on 20th June, 1988, in response to which, the petitioner applied for ‘A’ type plot on hire purchase basis by depositing Rs. 20,000/- as registration amount. It is also not disputed that through allotment letter, dated 22.10.1990, an ‘A’ type plot was allotted in favour of the petitioner. It is also admitted case of the parties that in pursuance of the allotment letter, dated 22.10.1990, the petitioner has deposited the entire amount, which was mentioned in the allotment letter. A perusal of the Brochure, a copy of which has been annexed as Annexure-1 to the writ petition, reveals that the cost of the land was fixed at the rate of Rs. 370/-per sq. meter. Clause (5) of the Brochure provides that the houses and plots will be allotted at any time in the year 1989. Clause (6) of the Brochure provides as under ;
“Yadaypi bhawano ka uprokta anumanit vikraya mulya vartmaan samagri/mazdoori daron par aadharit hai tatha sambhavit mulya vridhi ka bhee pravidhaan kiya gaya hai, parantu yadi samagri evam mazdoori ki daron mein apratyashit vridhi ho jaati hai. Phalswaroop yadi vastvik vikrya mulya badh jaata hai to badha hua vikrya mulya aawantee dwara deya hoga. Antim mulyankan ke sambandh mein upadhyaksh, Lucknow Vikas Pradhikaran ka nirnya antim hoga.”
6. The aforesaid Clause of the Brochure provides that the cost of the houses may be increased, subject to the increase of the material and labour charges. There is no such clause in the Brochure for the increase of the cost of the land. In the instant case, the rate of the land was Rs. 370/- per sq. meter and the date for allotment, as mentioned in the Brochure was 1989. According to the opposite-parties, the lottery was drawn on 27th July, 1990, and the allotment letter was issued on 22.10.1990. Now in this background, we have to see what should be the increase within ten months. In the counter-affidavit, nowhere it has been stated by the opposite-parties about the delay in the allotment of the land and the opposite-parties in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Brochure were under an obligation to allot the plot to the petitioner in the year 1989 itself. The delay in the allotment is on the part of the Lucknow Development Authority. In the instant case, the increase in the cost of the land is about 43% as mentioned by the petitioner in her representation, dated 23.11.1990.
7. It could not be disputed that the prices were increasing, but the rate, which was mentioned in the Brochure itself, was subject to the allotment in the year 1989. We are of the view that the rates, which were charged from the petitioner in the year 1990, are excessive. The judicial notice of the increase, could be taken to be 12% per annum. We, therefore, in the interests of justice, provide that the Lucknow Development Authority shall charge only 20% more, on the rate which was mentioned in the Brochure, which was issued in June, 1988.
8. The writ petition is partly allowed, and the opposite-parties are directed to fix the rate of the petitioner’s land at the rate of Rs. 444/- per sq. meter, instead of Rs. 530/-, which was charged from the petitioner. The excessive amount charged from the petitioner, shall be refunded by the opposite-parties to the petitioner within two months.