Holding

The proviso to Section 24(2) is to be read only as part of Section 24(2) and cannot be applied to Section 24(1)(b).

Summary

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) acquired land for a metro project under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, completed the acquisition and paid full compensation before the 2013 Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR Act) came into force. The landowners sought enhanced compensation under the 2013 Act, arguing that the proviso to Section 24(2) of the Act applied to Section 24(1)(b). The Supreme Court examined the construction of the proviso, emphasizing that a proviso is an exception to the specific provision it follows and must not be read into another provision where it would cause repugnancy. The Court held that the proviso to Section 24(2) is confined to Section 24(2) and does not govern Section 24(1)(b). Consequently, the High Court’s order directing payment of compensation under the 2013 Act was set aside. The appeals were allowed, and the respondents were not entitled to the enhanced compensation.

Issues considered

Whether the proviso to Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 governs Section 24(1)(b) or is limited to Section 24(2)

Legislation cited

Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. 11
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013s. 24(1), s. 24(2)

Subjects

Statutory interpretationProvisoLand acquisitionCompensationRight to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition ActSection 24Non-obstante clauseDelhi Metro Rail CorporationLandownersSupreme Court of India

Judgment

[2017) 14 S.C.R. 202

A DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD.
v.
TARUN PAL SINGH & ORS.
(Civil Appeal No. 19356 of 2017)
B NOVEMBER 15,2017
(ARUN MISHRA AND
MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR, JJ.)
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land
C Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013:
ss. 24(J)(b) and proviso to s.24(2) - Whether Proviso to
sub- section (2) of s. 24 governs sub-section (l)(b) of s. 24 or is
confined to sub-section 24(2) alone - Held: ss.24(1) and 24(2)
operate in two different fields - The proviso is only an exception to
D the main provision - For applicability of the proviso, the case has
to be covered by s.24(2)- The object of the proviso is to give benefit
of computation of compensation to all landholders and to save land
acquisition proceedings - The legislative intention is clear that it is
enacted as proviso to s.24(2) - If it is read as proviso to s. 24(J)(b),
it would create repugnancy with said provision and provisions of
E s.24(J)(b) and 24(2) would become wholly inconsistent with each
other - The interpretation which creates inconsistency or
repugnancy has to be avoided - No contrary intention is available
in the provisions so as not to read the proviso as part of s.24(2) -
Interpretation of Statutes.
F Interpretation of Statutes:
Proviso to a provision - Construction of - Discussed.
Allowing the appeals, the Court
HELD: 1. Effect of a proviso is to except all preceding
G portion of the enactment. It is only occasionally that proviso is
unrelated to subject matter of preceding section, it may have to
be interpreted as a substantive provision. Ordinarily, a proviso
is not interpreted as stating a general rule. Provisos are often
added as saving clauses. A proviso must be construed with
reference to the preceding parts of the clause to which it is
H
202
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN.PAL 203
SINGH & ORS.

appended. The proviso is ordinarily subordinate to the main A
Section. A construction placed on proviso which brings general
harmony to the terms of the Section should prevail. A proviso
may sometime contain substantive provision. Ordinarily, proviso
to a section is intended to take out a part of the main section for
special treatment. Normally, a proviso does not travel beyond B
the main provision to which it is a proviso. A proviso is not
interpreted as stating a general rule, it is an exception to main
provision to which it is carved out as a proviso. Proviso can not
be construed as enlarging the scope of enactment when it can be
fairly and properly constructed without attributing that effect. It
is not open to read in, the words of enactment which are not to be C
found there and which would alter its operative effect. [Para 9]
(225-D-G]
H Nizam s Religious Endowment Trust, Hyderabad v.
Commissioner of Income-tax, Andhra. Pradesh,
Hyderabad AIR 1966 SC 1007: (1966] SCR 384; D
Kederanath Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd. v. The
Commercial Tax Officer & Ors. AIR 1966 SC 12 : (1965]
SCR 626 ; lshverlal Thakorelal Almaula (Deceased)
after him his heirs and Legal Representatives v. Motibhai
Nagjibhai AIR 1966 SC 459 : (1966] SCR 367 ; Shah
Bhojraj Kuverji Oil Mills & Ginning Factory v. Subhash E
Chandra Yograj Sinha AIR 1961 SC 1596 ; S.Sundaram
Pillai & Ors. v. V.R. P~ttabiraman & Ors. (1985) 1 SCC
591: [1985] 2 SCR 643; Haryana State Cooperative
Land Development Bank Ltd. v. Haryana State
Cooperative Land Development Banks Employees Union F
& Anr. (2004) 1 SCC 574 : [2003] 6 Suppl. SCR
1039 ; Ramesh Kumar Sharma v. Union of India & Ors.
(2006) 6 SCC 510: (2006) 4 Suppl. SCR 227 ; Nagar
Palika Nigam v. Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti & Ors. AIR
2009 SC 187 : (2008] 14 SCR 419 ; Shimbhu & Anr. v.
State of Haryana (2014) 13 SCC 318 : (2013] 14 SCR G
136 - relied on.
Statute Law by Craies, Seventh Edition - referred to. ·
2.1 Section 24(1) of Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and H
204 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A Resettlement Act, 2013 begins with non-obstante clause. The
Parliament has given overriding effect to this provision over all
other provisions of 2013 Act. Section 24(2) also begins with non-
obstante clause. This provision has overriding effect over Section
24(1). It is apparent that Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 deals with
B the lapse of acquisition in case the award had been made five
years or more prior to commencement of the Act but the physical
possession of the land had not been taken or the compensation
had not been paid. The provision of Section 24(2) and its proviso
together further clarify that, in case the award has been made
and compensation in respect of majority of land holdings has not
C been deposited in the account of the beneficiaries, then, all the
beneficiaries specified in the notification for Acquisition shall be
entitled to compensation in accordance with the provisions of
2013 Act. Even if, minority of the claimants are disbursed with
the compensation, such claimants also would get benefit of
D compensation under 2013 Act. Thus it is clear that even if the
acquisition does not lapse, all the beneficiaries to whom the
compensation is payable would be entitled to compensation under
2013 Act. [Para 12) [227-A-D)
2.2 Reading of Sections 24(1) and 24(2) conjointly &
homogenously makes it abundantly clear that they operate in two
E different fields. Section 24(l)(b) unequivocally indicates that in
case the award has been passed under the Land Acquisition Act,
1894, all the proceedings shall continue as if 1894 Act has not
been repealed. Section 24(1)(a) makes the provision of 2013
Act applicable only in case where the award has not been passed.
F !n other words, it gives a clue that when an award has been
passed, obviously further proceedings have to be undertaken
under the 1894 Act, to that extent proceedings under the said
,. Act is saved, and the Act of 2013 will not apply. In such cases,
there is no necessity of initiation of acquisition proceedings afresh
except in cases as provided under Section 24(2). Whereas Section
G 24(2) would be applicable, if the Award under Section 11 of the
old Act has been made five years or more prior to commencement
of 1894 but physical possession of the Janel has not been taken or
the compensation has not been paid. Proviso to Section 24(2)
further makes it clear that in case the compensation in respect of
H majority of lancl holdings has not been deposited in the account
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 205
SINGH & ORS.

of the beneficiaries, then, all the beneficiaries, specified in the A
notification for Acquisition shall be entitled to compensation in
· accordance with the provisions of Act of 2013. The legislature
has provided different consequences in the provisions keeping
in mind the time gap as enumerated in Sections 24(1) and 24(2).
The legislature has visualized and expected that the things would B
not happen overnight on passing of an award. [Para 12) (228-B-
F]
2.3 Three contingencies are provided under Sub-Section
(2) of Section 24 i.e. (i) in case if award was passed five years or
more prior to the commencement of 2013 Act and (ii) if C
compensation has not been paid, or (iii) possession has not been
taken. Exception is carved out by adding the proviso to Section
24(2) - wherein the land acquisition would not lapse, in case some
of the land losers are paid compensation but land owners of
majority of holding are not paid. Thus the proviso to Section 24(2)
cannot be lifted and made part of Section 24(1)(b). [Para 12) (227- D
G-H; 228-A)
2.4 The proviso to Sub~Section (2) makes it clear that when
the Award has been made and, compensation in respect of majority
of holdings has not been deposited in the account of beneficiaries,.
the acquisition would not lapse. However, all the beneficiaries E
shall be entitled to enhanced compensation under 2013 Act. This
proviso is to be necessarily part of Sub-Section (2)-of Section 24
only. The legislative intention is clear that it is enacted as proviso
to Section 24(2), and otherwise also if read as if it were a proviso
to Section 24(1)(b ), it would create repugnancy with said provision
and the provisions of section 24(l)(b) and proviso to 24(2) would F
become wholly inconsistent with each other. This is a trite law
that the interpretation which creates inconsistency or repugnancy
has to be avoided and proviso has to be part of Section 24(2) as
enacted. As per fundamental rule of its construction, no contrary
intention is available in the provisions so as not to read it as part G
of Section 24(2). As Section 24(1)(b) provides, in case award has
been passed under 1894 Act, the proceedings shall continue of
the said Act as if it has not been replaced whereas Section 24(2)
provides deemed lapse in case award is passed 5 years or more
before commencement of 2013 Act and possession has not been
H
206 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A taken or compensation has not been paid and as per the proviso
with respect to majority of holding compensation has not been
deposited in account of land owners. In case award has been
passed few days before commencement of the 2013 Act, then
deposit of compensation with respect to majority of holding is
B bound to take time, that is why legislature has made difference of
consequences based upon time gap in passing of award as
requisite steps to be taken are bound to consume some time by
providing proceedings to continue under 1894 Act. [Para 11) (226-
C-H]
2.5 A proviso appended to a provision has to be specifically
C interpreted in the manner so as to enable the field which is covered
by the main provision. The proviso is only an exception to main
provision to which it has been enacted and no other. The proviso
deals with a situation which takes something out of the main
enactment to provide a particular course of action, which course
D of action could not have been adopted in the absence of the
proviso. The proviso appended to Section 24(2) indicates that it
carves out an exception for a situation where the land acquisition
proceedings shall not be deemed to lapse. Thus, for the
applicability of the proviso, a case has to be covered by Section
24(2) i.e. (1) award has been made five years or more prior to the
E enforcement of 2013 Act. [Para 13) (228-F-H; 229-A)
2.6 The purpose and object of the proviso is to give benefit
of computation of compensation to all landholders and to save
land acquisition proceedings. Hence, it is evident that the proviso
is appropriately be treated as a proviso to Sub- Section (2) of
F Section 24 and cannot be read as proviso to Section 24(1)(b) of
Act of 21113. [Para 13) (229-Cj
Delhi Development Authority v. Sukhbir Singh & Ors.
(2016) 16 SCC 258 : (2016) 5 SCR 227 - distinguished.

G Case Law Reference
[2016) 5 SCR 227 distinguished Para6
[1966) SCR 384 relied on Para 8 (b)
[1965) SCR 626 relied on Para 8 (c)
(1966) SCR 367 relied on Para 8 (d)
H AIR 1961 SC 1596 relied on Para 8 (e)
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 207
SINGH& ORS.

[1985) 2 SCR 643 relied on Para 8 (t) A
[2003) 6 Suppl. SCR 1039 relied on Para 8 (i)
[2006) 4 Suppl. SCR 227 relied on Para 8 (j)
[2008) 14 SCR 419 relied on Para 8 (k)
[2013) 14 SCR 136 relied on Para 8 (I)
B
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 19356
of2017.
From the Judgment and Orderdated21.05.2015 of the High Court
of Delhi at New Delhi in C. W. Petition No. 8596 of2014
WITH c
Civil Appeal Nos. 19362, 19361, 19358, 19357, 19360, 19359,
19363, 19364and 19412of2017
Sanjay R. Hegde, Sr. Adv., Ms. Shashi Kiran, Satish Chandra,
Sujit Kumar Jha, Ms. Priya Sharma, Manoj Jain, Hara Prasad Sahu,
Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, Shiv Kant Mishra, Pranaya Kumar Mohapatra, D
Parveen Swarup, Manish Kaushik, Ms. Aradhana Sharma, Anil Goel,
Sachin Gupta, Ms. Rachana Srivastava, Ms. Monika, Sukrit R. Kapoor,
Ms. Nitya Madhusoodhanan, Muhammad Khan, R.V. Prabhat, Umar
Hoda, Gaurav Goel, Siddhartha Chowdhury, Vishaal Maan, Satyawan
Rathee, Abhishek Gupta, Keshav Ranjan, B.V. Balaram Das, Advs. for E
the appearing parties.
The following Qr.der of the Court was passed:
ORDER
I. Leave granted. F
2. The only issue involved in the present case is whether the
provision or'Section 24(l)(b) of the Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act,
2013 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act of 2013 ') is governed by the
proviso to Sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the said Act or it has to be G
read as part of section 24(2). -
3. For the purpose of Delhi Metro Railways, land acquisition was
initiated by issuing a Notification on 04.06.2009 under Section 4 read
with Section 17(1) and (4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter
referred to as 'the Act of 1894').
H
I
208 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A 4. As per letter dated 16.6.2009, written by the appellant-Delhi
Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. ('DMRC', for short) to the Land & Building
Department of the Delhi Government, 80% of the land compensation
amounting to Rs.3,28,56,687.49p. (Rupees Three Crores, Twenty Eight
Lakhs, Fifty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Eighty-Seven and Forty Nine
Paise only) was deposited by the appellant vide cheque dated 15.6.2009.
B The matter travelled to this Court; and this Court dismissed the Special
Leave Petition. Thereafter, declaration under Section 6 of the Act of
1894 had been issued on 9.10.2009, and possession of the land was
taken by the DMRC. Award was pronounced on 14.9.20 I I by the Land
Acquisition Collector ('the LAC', for short). On 16.9.2009, the DMRC
C deposited the amount of compensation determined by the LAC. The
balance amount i.e. Rs.60,81,04,200/- (Rupees Sixty Crores, Eighty One
Lakhs, Four Thousand, Two Hundred only) was demanded by the Land
& Building Department by writing a letter dated 15. I0.2011; and, that
amount was also paid, vide cheque dated 02.11.2011. It was deposited
D on 3.11.2011. Thus, the DMRC has deposited the total assessed
compensation. The DMRC was in possession of the land and after
development, it has been handed over for the public purpose, i.e., MRTS
project, for construction ofChattarpur Metro Station and Electrical Relay
Sub-Station to cater to the Metro Line from Mehrauli to Gurgaon and
Chattarpur Metro Station. The claimants have already sought reference
E under Section 18 of the Act of 1894, for enhancement of the
compensation, which is stated to be pending. In the High Court, certain
writ petitions were filed by the claimants in which, vide its judgment and
order dated 21.5.2015, it was directed that the acquisition would stand,
but the compensation would be paid to the writ petitioners under the Act
F of 2013. Hence, the appeals have been preferred by DMRC in this
Court.
5. It was urged by learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant that Award has been passed within 5 years prior to the
commencement of the Act of2013; the Act came into force on 1.1.2014;
the Award was passed on 14.04.2011. Thus, the provisions of Section
G 24(l)(b) of the Act of2013 would be applicable and such, proceedings
would not lapse and compensation would not be payable as per proviso
to Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 of the Act of2013. The view taken by
the High Court, that the proviso to section 24(2) is applicable, is not
correct. The amount has already been deposited before the Land
H Acquisition Collector. Rs.21 Crores is said to have been paid towards
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 209
SINGH & ORS.
..
compensation. The High Court has, thus, erred. in holding that the A
compensation is required to be paid under the Act of 2013.
6. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
landowners contended that the proviso to Section 24(2) has to be read
as part of Section 24(1 )(b) of the Act of 2013, and it cannot be read as
part of Sub-Section (2) of Section 24, as legislature have carved out a B
different independent provision which would be applicable to an Award ·
passed, as contemplated under Section 24( I)(b ), and since in the instant
case, the amount has not been deposited with respect to the majority of
the land holdings in the account of the beneficiaries, the compensation
becomes payable to all the beneficiaries under the Act of2013. Reliance C
has been placed on the decision of this Court in Delhi Development
Authority Vs. Sukhbir Singh & Ors., (2016) 16 SCC 258.
7. Section 24 of the Act of 20 IJ is extracted hereunder:
"24.( I) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, in any
case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land D
Acquisition Act, 1894, -
(a) Where no award under section 11 of the said Land
Acquisition Act has been made, then, all provisions of this Act
relating to the determination of compensation shall apply; or ·' ·
b) Where an award under said section 11 has been made, then E
such proceedings shall continue under the provisions of the
said Land Acquisition Act, as if the said Act has not been
repealed.
(2) Notwiths~nding anything contained in sub-section (I), in case
.. of land a~quisition proceedings initiated under the Land F
Acquisition Act, 1894, where an award under the said section 11
has been made five years or .more prior to the commencement -·
- ~of this Act buttlrephysical-possession of tile land 11!1.S ilot been
··taken or the compensation has not been paid the said proceedings
-slntH-oo-deemed to have lapsed anmhe appropriate Government, G
if it so chooses, shaU-initiate -tfie proceedings of such land
acquisitioo..afresh in 11ccordance with the provisions of this Act:
- "
. Provided that whe;e an.award has been made and
c.Qmpensiltion in respect of a majorityof landholding has riot
been deposited in the account ·of the ben~liClaries; then, all
H

i-·
210 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A beneficiaries specified in the notification for acquisition under
section 4 of the said Land Acquisition Act, shall be entitled to
compensation in accordance with the provisions of this Act."
8. Before coming to the construction of the proviso to section 24,
we deem it appropriate to consider rules regardin~ construction of proviso.
B (a) Craies on Statute Law, Seventh Edition referring to various
decisions for construction of provisos has observed :
"The effect of an excepting or qualifying proviso, according
to the ordinary rules of construction, is to except out of the
preceding portion of the enactment, or to qualify something
c enacted therein, which but for the proviso would be within it;
and such a proviso cannot be construed as enlarging the scope
of an enactment when it can be fairly and properly construed
without attributing to it that effect."
"When one finds a proviso to a section," said Lush J. in
D Mullins v. Treasurer of Surrey (1880) 5 Q.B.D. 170, 173, "the
natural presumption is that, but for the proviso, the enacting part
of the section would have included the subject-matter of the
proviso."
In West Derby Union v. Metropolitan Life Assurance Co.
E [1897] A.C. 647, 652 Lord Watson said: "I am perfectly clear
that if the language of the enacting part of the statute does not
contain the provisions which are said to occur in it, you cannot
derive these provisions by implication from a proviso. When one
regards the natural history and object of provisos, and the manner
in which they find their way into Acts of Parliament, I think your
F
Lordships would be adopting a very dangerous and certainly
unusual course if you were to import legislation from a proviso
wholesale into the body of the statute, although I perfectly admit
that there may be and are many cases in which the terms of an
intelligible proviso may throw considerable light on the ambiguous
G import of the statutory words."
And Lord Herschell in the same case said : "I decline to
read into any enactment words which are not to be found there
and which would alter its operative effect because of provisions
to be found in any proviso," though he admitted that a proviso
H may be a useful guide in the selection of one or other of two
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 211
SINGH & ORS.

possible constructions of words in the enactment or to show the A
scope of the latter in a doubtful case.
InR. v. Dibdin [1910] P.57, 125 Moulton L.J. said: "The fallacy
of the proposed method of interpretation is not far to seek. It.
sins against the fundamental rule of construction that a proviso
must be considered with relation to the principal matter to which B
it stands as a proviso. It treats it as if it were an independent
enacting clause instead of being dependent on the main
enactment. The courts, as, for instance, in Exp. Partington, ( 1844)
6 Q.B. 649, 653,ReBrocklebank(l889)23 Q.B.D461, and Hill
v. East and West India Dock Co. (1884) 9 App.Cas.448 have
frequently pointed out this fallacy, and have refused to be led C
astray by arguments such as these which have been addressed
to us, which depend solely on taking words absolutely in their
strict literal sense, disregarding the fundamental consideration
-that they appearing in the proviso."
So where section 65 in a group of sections from section 62 D
onwards in a private Act at the side of which was a note
"Sewers- Sanitary arrangements," provided that "nothing in the
Act shall authorise the Corporation of Newcastle-on-Tyne to
. commit a nuisance," and the Improvement Act of 1885 by section
22 authorised the corporation to erect posts, rails, and fences for E
the protection of passengers and traffic, it was argued that this
authority must be read subject to the proviso as to nuisance; but
the court held that the proviso affected only the group of sections
to which it was attached and was not a proviso to section 22.
But sections, thoµgh framed as provisos upon preceding sections,
may exceptionally contain matter which is in substance a fresh F
enactment, adding to and not merely qualifying what goes before."
(b) In H.E. H.Nizam's Religious Endowment Trust, Hyderabad
v. Commissioner of Income-tax, {1.ndhra Pradesh, Hyderabad AIR
1966 SC l 007, this Court has observed :
G
"7. As has been pointed out by Craies in his book on Statute
Law,6th Edn. at p. 217, "The effect ofan excepting or qualifying
proviso, according to the ordinary rules of construction, is to except
out the preceding portion of the enactment, or to qualify something
enacted therein, which but for the proviso would be within it."
The proviso to clause (i) excepts the .two classes of income H
212 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] l4S.C.R.

A subject to the condition mentioned therein from the operation of
the substantive clause. It comes into operation only when the
said income is applied to religious or charitable purposes without
the taxable territories. In that event, the Central Board of
Revenue, by general or speci.r • "rder, may direct that it shall not
be included in the total income. , hi: . wiso also throws light on
B
the construction of the substantive pan of clause (i) as the
exception can be invoked only upon the applicatiun of the income
to the said purposes outside the taxable territories. The application
of the income in praesenti or in futuro for purposes in or outside
the taxable territories, as the case may be, is the necessary
c condition for invoking either the substantive part of the clause or
the proviso thereto."
( c) In Kedarnath Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd. v. The
Commercial Tax Officer & Ors., AIR 1966 SC 12, this C'otJrt has
discussed the purpose of the proviso thus:
D "8. Section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the Act in effect exempts a specified
turnover of a dealer from sales tax. The provision prescribing
the exemption shall, therefore, be strictly construed. The
substantive clause gives the exemptiorl and the proviso qualifies
the substantive clause. In effect, the proviso says that part of
E the turnover of the selling dealer covered by the terms of sub-cl.
(ii) will be exempted provided a declaration in the form prescribed
is furnished. To put it in other words, a dealer cannot get the
exemption unless he furnishes the declaration in the prescribed
form. It is well settled that "the effect of an excepting or qualifying
proviso, according to the ordinary rules of construction, is to except
F out of the preceuing portion of the enactment, or to qualify
something enacted therein, which but for the proviso would be
within it": see "Craies on Statute Law", 6th Edn., p. 217. If the
intention of the Legislature was to give exemption ifthe terms of
the substantive part of sub-cl. (ii) alone are complied with, the
G proviso becomes redundant and otiose. To accept the argument
of the learned counsel for the appellant is to ignore the proviso
altogether, for if his contention be correct it will lead to the position
that ifthe declaration form is furnished, well and good; but, ifnot
furnished, other evidence can be produced. That is to rewrite
the clause and to omit the proviso. That will defeat the express
H
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 213
SINGH & ORS.

intention of the Legislature. Nor does R. 27 A support the contrary A
construction. The expression "on demand" only fixes the point
of time when the declaration forms are to be produced; otherwise,
the rule would be inconsistent with the section. Section 5(2)(a)(ii)
says that the declaration form is to be furnished by the dealer
and r. 27 A says that it shall be furnished on demand, that is to
8
say, it fixes the time when the form is to be furnished. This
reconciles the provisions of r. 27 A with those of s. 5(2)(a)(ii) of
the Act, whereas the construction suggested by the learned counsel
introduces an incongruity which shall be avoided. Section 21 A
on which reliance is placed has no bearing on the question to be
decided. It only empowers the Commissioner or any person C
appointed to assist him under sub.section ( 1) of s. 3 to take
evidence on oath etc. It can be invoked only in a case where the
authority concerned is empowered to take evidence in respect
of any particular matter, but that does not enable him to ignore a
statutory condition to claim exemption."
D
(d) In Jshverlal Thakorelal Almaula (Deceased) after him his
heirs and Legal Representatives v. Motibhai Nagjibhai, AIR 1966
SC 459, the intendment of the proviso has been discussed thus:
"8. The proper function of a proviso is to except or qualify
something enacted in the substantive clause, which but for the E
proviso should be within that' clause. It may ordinarily be
presumed in construing a proviso that it was intended that the
enacting part of the section would have included the subject-
matter of the proviso. But the question is one of interpretation of
the proviso and there is no rule that the proviso must always be
restricted to the ambit of the main enactment. Occasionally itrn . F
statute, a proviso is unrelated to the subject-matter ofthe preceding
section, of contains matters extraneous to that section, 'and it
may have then to be interpreted as a substantive provision, dealing
independently with the matter specified therein, and not as
qualifying the main or the preceding section." G
(e) In Shah Bhojraj kuverji Oil Mills & Ginning Factory v.
Subhash Chandra Yograj Sinha, AIR 1961 SC 1596, this Court has
discussed the object of the proviso and how it is to be interpreted thus:
"9. The law with regard to provisos is well-settled and well-
understood. As a general rule, a proviso is added to an enactment H
214 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14S.C.R.

A to qualify or create an exception to what is in the enactment, and
ordinarily, a proviso is not interpreted as stating a general rule.
But, provisos are often.added not as exceptions or qualifications
to the main enactment but as savings clauses, in which cases
they will not be construed as controlled by the section. The proviso
which has been added to s. 50 of the Act deals with the effect of
B
repeal. The substantive part of the section repealed two Acts
which were in force in the State of Bombay. If nothing more had
been said, s. 7 of the Bombay General Clauses Act would have
applied, and all pending suits and proceedings would have
continued under the old law as if the repealing Act had not been
c passed. The effect of the proviso was to take the matter out of
s. 7 of the Bombay General Clauses Act and to provide for a
special saving. It cannot be used to decide whether s. 12 of the
Act is retrospective. It was observed by Wood, V.C., in Fitzgerald
v. Champneys (1861) 70 E.R. 958 that saving clauses are seldom
used to construe Acts. These clauses are introduced into Acts
D
which repeal others, to safeguard rights which, but for the savings,
would be lost. The proviso here saves pending suits and
proceedings, and further enacts that suits and proceedings then
pending are to be transferred to the courts designated in the Act
and are to continue under the Act and any or all the provisions of
E the Act are to apply to them. The learned Solicitor-General
contends that the savings clause enacted by the proviso, even if
treated as substantive law, must be taken to apply only to suits
and proceedings pending at the time of the repeal which, but for
the proviso, would be governed by the Act repealed. According
to the learned Attorney-General, the effect of the savings is much
F
wider, and it applies to such cases as come within the words of
the proviso, whenever the Act is extended to new areas."
(f) In S.Sundaram Pillai & Ors. v. V.R. Pattabiraman & Ors.,
(1985) I SCC 591, thisCourthaselaboratelyconsidered various decisions
with respect to the proviso and has discussed the matter thus :
G
29. Odgers in Construction of Deeds and Statutes (5th Edn.)
while referring to the scope of a pmviso mentioned the following
ingredients:
"P. 317. Provisos -These am clauses of exception or
qualification in an Act, excepting s1Jmething out of, or qualifying
H
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 215
SINGH & ORS.

something in, the enactment which, but for the proviso, would be A
within it.
P. 318. Though framed as a proviso, such a clause may
exceptionally have the effect of a substantive enactment."
30. Sarathi in Interpretation of Statutes at pages 294-295 has
collected the following principles in regard to a proviso: B
(a) When one finds a proviso to a section the natural presumption
is that, but for the proviso, the enacting part of the section would
have included the subject-matter of the proviso.
(b) A proviso must be construed with reference to the preceding C
parts of the clause to which it is appended.
(c) Where the proviso is directly repugnant to a section, the proviso
shall stand and be held a repeal of the section as the proviso
·speaks the latter intention of the makers.
(d) Where the section is doubtful, a proviso may be used as a D
guide to its interpretation: but when it is clear, a proviso cannot
imply the existence of words of which there is no trace in the
section.
(e) The proviso is subordinate to the main section.
(f)A proviso does not enlarge an enactment except for compelling E
reasons. . )

(g) Sometimes an unnecessary proviso is inserted by way of
abundant caution.
(h) A construction placed upon a proviso which brings it into
general harmony with the terms of section should prevail. F
(i) When a proviso is repugnant to the enacting part, the proviso
will not prevail over the absolute terms of a later Act directed to
be read as supplemental to the earlier one.
U) A proviso may sometimes contain a substantive provision. G·
31. In the case of Local Government Board v. South Stoneham
Union, 1909 AC 57, Lord Macnaghten made the following
observation:
"I think the proviso is a qualification of the preceding enactment
which is expressed in terms too general to be quite accurate." H
216 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A 32. In Ishverlal Thakorelal Almaula v. Motibhai Nagjibhai AIR
1966 SC 459, it was held that the main object of a proviso is
merely to qualify the main enactment. In Madras and Southern
Mahrata Railway Co. Ltd. v. Bezwada Municipality AIR 1944
PC 71, Lord Macmillan observed thus:
B "The proper function of a proviso is to except and deal with a
case which would otherwise fall within the general language of
the main enactment, and its effect is confined to that case."
33. The above case was approved by this Court in CIT v. Indo
Mercantile Bank Ltd. AIR 1959 SC 713, where Kapur, J. held
c that the proper function of a proviso was merely to qualify the
generality of the main enactment by providing an exception and
taking out, as it were, from the main enactment a portion which,
but for the proviso, would fall within the main enactment. In
Shah Bhojraj Kuverji Oil Mills and Ginning Factory v. Subbash
Chandra Yograj Sinha AIR 1961 SC 1596, Hidayatullah, J., as he
D then was, v~ry aptly and succinctly indicated the parameters of
a proviso thus: ·
"As a general rule, a proviso is added to an enactment to qualify
or create an exception to what is in the enactment, and ordinarily,
a proviso is not interpreted as stating a general rule."
E
34. In West Derby Union v. Metropolitan Life Assurance Society
1897 AC 647, while guarding against the danger of interpretation
of a proviso, Lord Watson observed thus:
"a very dangerous and certainly unusual course to import
F legislation from a proviso wholesale into the body of}he statute."
35. A very apt description and extent ofa proviso was given by
Lord Oreburn in Rhondda Urban District Council v. Taff Vale
Railway Co. 1909 AC 253, where it was pointed out that insertion
of a proviso by the draftsman is not always strictly adhered to its
legitimate use and at times a section worded as a proviso may
G
wholly or partly be in substance a fresh enactment adding to and
not merely excepting something out of or qualifying what goes
before. To the same effect is a later decision of the same Court
in Jennings v. Kelly I940 AC 206, where it was observed thus:

H
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 217
SINGH & ORS.

"We must now come to the proviso, for there is, I think, no doubt A
that, in the construction of the section, the whole of it must be
read, and a consistent meaning, if possible, given to every part of
it. The words are: ... 'provided that such licence shall be granted
only for premises situate in the ward or district electoral division
in which such increase in population has taken place .. .' There
B
seems to be no doubt that the words "such increase in population"
refer to the increase of not less than 25 percent of the population.
mentioned in the opening words of the section."
36. While interpreting a proviso care must be taken that it is
used to remove special cases from the general enactment and
provide for them separately. c
37. In short, generally speaking, a proviso is intended to limit the
enacted provision so as to except something which would have
otherwise been within it or in some measure to modify the
eirncting clause. Sometimes a proviso may be embedded in the
main provision and becomes an integral part of it so as to amount D
to a substantive provision itself.
38. Apart from the authorities referred to above, this Court has
in a long course of decisions explained and adumbrated the various
shades, aspects, and elements of a proviso. In State of Rajasthan
v. Leela Jain AIR 1965 SC 1296, the following observations were E
made:
"So far as a general principle of construction of a proviso is
concerned, it has been broadly stated that the function of a proviso
is to limit the main part of the section and carve out something
which but for the proviso would have been within the operative F
part."
39. In the case of STO, Circle-I, Jabalpur v. Hanuma11 Prasad
AIR 1967 SC 565, Bhargava, J. observed thus:
"It is well-recognized that a proviso is added to a principal clause
G
primarily with the object of taking out of the scope of that principal
clause what is included in it and what the legislature desires
should be excluded."
40. In Commissioner of Commercial Taxes v. R.S. Jhaver AIR
1968 SC 59, this Court made the following observations:
H
218 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A "Generally speaking, it is true that the proviso is an exception to
the main part of the section; but it is recognised that in exceptional
cases a proviso may be a substantive provision itself."
41. In Dwarka Prasad v. Dwarka Das Saraf ( 1976) l SCC 128,
Krishna Iyer, J. speaking for the Court observed thus: (SCC pp.
B 136-37, paras 16, 18):
"There is some validity in this submission but if on a fair
construction, the principal provision is clean a proviso cannot
expand or limit it. Sometimes a proviso is engrafted by an
apprehensive draftsman to remove possible doubts, to make
c matters plain, to light up ambiguous edges. Here, such is the
case.
• • "'
If the rule of construction is that prima facie a proviso should be
limited in its operation to the subject-matter ofthe enacting clause,
D the stand we have taken is sound. To expand the enacting clause,
inflated by the proviso, sins against the fundamental rule of
construction that a proviso must be considered in relation to the
principal matter to which it stands as a proviso. A proviso ordinarily --
is but a proviso, although the golden rule is to read the who.le
E section, inclusive ofthe proviso, in such manner that they mutually
throw light on each other and result in a harmonious construction."
42. In Hiralal Rattanlal v. State ofU.P. (1973) l SCC 216, this
Court made the following observations: [SCC para 22, p. 224:
SCC (Tax) p. 315]
F "Ordinarily a proviso to a section is intended to take out a part of
the main section for special treatment. It is not expected to enlarge
the scope of the main section. But cases have arisen in which
this Court has held that despite the fact that a provision is called
proviso, it is really a separate provision and the so-called proviso
has substantially altered the main section."
G
·43. We need not multiply authorities after authorities on this point
because the legal position seems to be clearly and manifestly
well established. To sum up, a proviso may serve four different
purposes:
H
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 219
SINGH & ORS.

_( 1) qualifying or excepting certain provisions from the main A_
enactment:
(2) it may entirely change the very concept of the intendment of
the enactment by insisting on certain mandatory conditions to be
fulfilled in order to make the enactment workable:
(3) it may be so embedded in the Act itself as to become an B
integral part of the enactment and thus acquire the tenor and
colour of the substantive enactment itself; and
4) it may be used merely to act as an optional addenda to the
enactment with the sole object of explaining the real intendment
of the statutory provision. C
44. These seem to be by and large the main purport and
parameters of a proviso."
(g) In Dibyasingh Malana v. State of Orissa & Ors. AIR 1989
SC 1737, this Court considered effect of proviso and observed: D
"7. On a plain reading of the definition of the term "family" in
Section 37(b) of the Act we are of the view that the said definition
as it stands is neither meaningless nor of doubtful meaning. In
this connection, it may be pointed out that keeping in view the
agrarian reform which was contemplated by the Act and E
particularly the provisions of Chapter IV relating to ceiling and
disposal of surplus land which were calculated to distribute the
surplus land of big tenure holders among the overwhelming have-
nots of the State the Legislature in its wisdom gave an artificial
meaning to the term "family". The main provision containing the
definition of the term is to be found in the first part of Section F
37(b) namely "family in relating to an individual means the
individual, the husband or wife as the case may be of such
individual and their children whether major or minor", The later
part of Section 37(b) namely "but does not include a major married .-
son who as such had separated by partition or otherwise before G
the 26th day of September 1970" does not on the face of it
contain a matter which may in substance be treated as a fresh
enactment adding something to the main provision but is apparently
and unequivocally aproviso containing an exception. This admits
of no doubt in view of the words "but does not include". In the
H
220 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A Commissioner of Income Tax, Mysore v. The Indo Mercantile
Bank Limited ( 1959) Supp. (2) S.C.R. 256 it was held:
"Ordinarily the effect of an excepting or a qualifying proviso is
to carve something out of the preceding enactment or to qualify
something enacted therein which but for the proviso would be in
B it and such a proviso cannot be construed as enlarging the scope
of an enactment when it can be fairly and properly construed
without attributing to it that effect."
(Emphasis supplied)"
(h) In Kush Sahgal & Ors. v. M.C. Mitter & Ors., AIR 2000 SC
c l 390, this Court has observed thus :
"32. Under Sub-section (1) of Section 21, a landlord can apply
for eviction of a tenant on the ground that the building was bona
fide required either in its existing form or after demolition and
new construction by the landlord for occupation by himself or
D any member of his family either for residential purposes or for
purposes of any profession, trade or calling or on the ground that
the building which was in a dilapidated condition was required
for purposes of demolition and new construction. The second
Proviso to Sub-section (2) however provides that "AN
E APPLICATION UNDER CLAUSE (a) SHALL NOT BE
ENTERTAINED IN THE CASE OF ANY RESIDENTIAL
BUILDING FOR OCCUPATION FOR BUSINESS
PURPOSES." Thus, if an application is made by the landlord
for eviction of the tenant on the ground that the building in
occupation of that tenant which was used exclusively for
F residential purposes was required for business purposes or for
any other commercial activity, it would not be a ground within
the meaning of Section 2 l ( l) of the new Act for the eviction of
the tenant and the application will not be entertained. This we
~ay because the normal function of a PROVISO is to except

G something out of the enactment or to qualify something enacted
therein which but for the PROVISO would be within the purview
of the enactment. (See; Kedarnath Jute Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
v. Commercial Tax Officer, AIR 1966 SC 12). Since the natural
presumption is that but for the PROVISO, the enacting part of
the section would have included the subject-matter of the
H PROVISO, the enacting part has to be given such a construction
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 221
SINGH & ORS.

which would make the exceptions carved out by the PROVISO A
necessary and a construction which would make the exceptions
unnecessary and redundant should be avoided (See: Justice G.
P. Singh's "Principles of Statutory Interpretation" Seventh Edition
1999, p-163). This principle has been deduced from the decision
of the Privy Council in Govt. of the Province of Bombay v.
B
Hormusji Manekji, AIR 1947 PC 200 as also the decision of this
Court in Durga Dutt Sharma v. Navaratna Pharmaceutical
Laboratories, AIR 1965 SC 980."
(emphasis supplied)
(i) In Haryana State Cooperative Land Development Bank Ltd. c
v. Haryana State Cooperative Land Development Banks Employees
Union & Anr., (2004) 1 SCC 574, this Court has considered normal
function of proviso and observed thus :
"9. The normal function ofa proviso is to except something out
of the enactment or to qualify something enacted therein which D
but for the proviso would be within the purview of the enactment.
As was stated in Mullins v. Treasurer of Surrey (1880) 5QBD
170 (referred to in Shah Bhojraj Kuverji Oil Mills andGinning
Factory v. Subhash Chandra Yograj Sinha, AIR 1961 SC
1596 and Calcutta Tramways Co. Ltd. v. Corpn. of Calcutta,
AIR 1965 SC 1728), when one finds a proviso to a section the E
natural presumption is that, but for the proviso, the enacting part
of the section would have included the subject-matter of the
proviso. The proper function of a proviso is to except and to deal
with a case which would otherwise fall within the general
language of the main enactment and its effect is confined to that F
case. It is a qualification of the preceding enactment which is -
expressed in terms too general to be quite accurate. As a general
rule, a proviso is added to an enactment to qualify or create an
exception to what is in the enactment and ordinarily, a proviso is
not interpreted as stating a general rule. "If the language of the
enacting part of the statute does not contain the provisions which G
are said to occur in it you cannot derive these provisions by
implication from a proviso," said Lord Watson in West Derby
Union v. Metropolitan Life Assurance Co., 1.987 AC
647.Normally, a proviso does not travel beyond the provision to
which it is a proviso. It carves out an exception to the main H
222 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A provision to which it has been enacted as a proviso and to no
other. [See A.N Sehgal v. Raje Ram Sheoran, 1992 SUPP I
SCC 304, Tribhovandas Haribhai Tamboli v. Gujarat Revenue
Tribunal (1991) 3 SCC 442 and Kera/a State Housing Board
v. Ramapriya Hotels (P) Ltd., (1994) 5 SCC 672]
B "This word (proviso) hath diverse operations. Sometime it worketh
a qualification or limitation; sometime a condition; and sometime
a covenant." (Coke upon Littleton, 18th Edn., p. 146.)
"If in a deed an earlier clause is followed by a later clause which
destroys altogether the obligation created by the earlier clause,
c the later clause is to be rejected as repugnant, and the earlier
clause prevails .... But if the later clause does not destroy but
only qualifies the earlier, then the two are to be read together
and effect is to be given to the intention of the parties as disclosed
by the deed as a whole" (per Lord Wrenbury in Forbes v. Git,
( 1922) AC 256).
D
A statutory proviso "is something engrafted on a preceding
enactment" (R. v. Taunton, St. James, (1829) 9 B & C 831 ER
p. 311).
"The ordinary and proper function of a proviso coming after a
E general enactment is to limit that general enactment in certain
instances" (per Lord Esher in Barker, Re, (1890) 25 QBD 285).
10........... .
11. The above position was noted in Ali M.K. v. State ofKerala,
(2003) 11 sec 632."
F
(emphasis supplied)
(j) In Romesh Kumar Sharma v. Union of India & Ors., (2006)
6 SCC 510, this Court has observed that normally proviso does not travel
beyond the provisions to which it is proviso. This court held:
G 12. "JO. The normal function ofa proviso is to except something
out of the enactment or to qualify something enacted therein
. which but for the proviso would be within the purview of the
enactment. As was stated in Mullins v. Treasurer of Surrey
(1880) 5 QBD 170 (referred to in Shah Bhojraj Kuverji Oil
Mills andGinning Factory v. Subhash Chandra Yograj Sinha,
H AIR 1961 SC 1596 and Calcutta Tramways Co. Ltd. v. Corpn.
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 223
SINGH & ORS.

of Calcutta, AIR 1965 SC 1728), when one finds a proviso to a A
section the natural presumption is that, but for the proviso, the
enacting part of the section would have included the subject-
matter of the proviso. The proper function of a proviso is to
except and to deal with a case which would otherwise fall within
the general language of the main enactment and its effect is B .
confined to that case. It is a qualification of the preceding
enactment which is expressed in terms too generar to be quite
accurate. As a general rule, a proviso is added to an enactment
to qualify or create an exception to what is in the enactment and
ordinarily, a proviso is not interpreted as stating a general rule.
"If the language of the enacting part of the statute does not C
contain the provisions which are said to occur in it you cannot
derive these provisions by implication from a proviso ..... " said
Lord Watson in West Derby Union v. Metropolitan Life
Assurance Society, 1987 AC 647. Normally, a proviso does
not travel beyond the provision to which it is a proviso. It carves D
out an exception to the main provision to which it has been enacted
as a proviso and to no other. [See A.N Sehgal v. Raje Ram
Sheoran, 1992 SUPP 1 SCC 304, Tribhovandas Haribhai
Tambo/i v. Gujarat Revenue Tribunal (1991) 3 SCC 442 and
Kera/a State Housing Board v. Ramapriya Hotels (P) Ltd.,
(1994) 5 sec 672]. E
"This word (proviso) hath diverse operations. Sometime it
worketh a qualification or /imitation; sometime a condition;
and sometime a covenant. " (Coke upon Littleton, 18th Edn.,
p. 146.)" .

"If in a deed an earlier· clause is followed by a later clause F
which destroys altogether the obligation created by the earlier
clause, the later clause is to be rejected as repugnant, and
the earlier clause prevails .... But if the later clause does not
destroy but only qualifies the earlier, then the two are to be
read together and effect is to be given to the intention of the G
parties as disclosed by the deed as a whole. " (per Lord
Wrenbury in Forbes v. Git, (1922) 1 AC 256).
11. A statutory proviso 'is something engrafted· on a
preceding enactment' (R v. Taunton St James, (1829) 9 E&C
831 ER p. 311). H
224 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A 'The ordinary and proper function of a proviso coming after
a general enactment is to limit that general enactment in
certain instances. ' (Per Lord Esher in Barker, Re .. , (1890)
25 QBD 285).
12. A proviso to a section cannot be used to import into the
B enacting part something which is not there, but where the
enacting part is susceptible to several possible meanings it
may be controlled by the proviso (see Jennings v. Kelly, 1940
AC 206)."
(k) In Nagar Palika Nigam v. Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti &
c Ors., AIR 2009 SC 187, this Court has observed thus:
"8. The normal function of a proviso is to except something out
of the enactment or to qualify something enacted therein which
but for the proviso would be within the purview of the enactment.
As was stated in Mullins v. Treasurer of Survey 1880 (5) QBD
D 170, (referred to in Shah Bhojraj Kuverji Oil Mills and Ginning
Factory v. Sub hash Chandra Yograj Sinha, AIR 1961 SC I596
and Calcutta Tramways Co. Ltd. v. Corporation of Calcutta,
AIR (1965) SC 1728; when one finds a proviso to a section the
natural presumption is that, but for the proviso, the enacting part
of the section would have included the subject matter of the
E proviso. The proper function of a proviso is to except and to deal
with a case which would otherwise fall within the general
language of the main enactment and its effect is confined to that
case. It is a qualification of the preceding enactment which is
expressed in terms too general to be quite accurate. As a general
F rule, a proviso is added to an enactment to qualify or create an
exception to what is in the enactment and ordinarily, a proviso is
not interpreted as stating a general rule. ''If the language of the
enacting part of the statute does not contain the provisions which
are said to occur in it you cannot derive these provisions by
implication from a proviso." Said Lord Watson in West Derby
G Union v. Metropolitan Life Assurance Co. 1897 AC 647) (HL).
Normally, a proviso does not travel beyond the provision to which
it is a proviso. It carves out an exception to the main provisi9n to
which it has been enacted as a proviso and to no other. (See
· A.N. Sehga1 and-Ors. v. Raje Ram Sheoram and Ors., AIR 1991
H SC 1406), Tribhovandas Haribhai Tamboli v. Gujarat Revenue
\ .
. ,.
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 225
SINGH & ORS.

Tribunal and Ors. (AIR 1991 SC 1538) andKerala State Housing A
Board and Ors. v. Ramapriya Hotels (P) Ltd. and Ors. 1994 (5)
sec 672."
(I) In Shimbhu & Anr. v. State ofHaryana, (2014) 13 SCC 318,
this Court has observed that fundamental rule of construction is that a
proviso must be considered part of the main proviso to which it stands as B
a proviso. This Court held:
"13. It is a fundamental rule ofconstruction that a proviso must
be considered in relation to the main provision. to which it stands
as a proviso, particularly, in such penal provisi_ons. Whether there
exist any "special and adequate reason" would depend upon a.~ c
variety of factors and the peculiar facts and circumstances of
ea_9h case. This Court, in various judgments, has reacht<d the
consensus that no hard-and-fast rule can be laid down in .that
behalf for universal application."
9. What follows from aforesaid enunciation that effect of a proviso · · D
is to except all preceding portion of the enactment. It is only occasionally
that proviso is unrelated to subject matter of preceding section, it may
have to be interpreted as a substantive provision. Ordinarily, a proviso is
not interpreted as stating a~ general rule. Provisos are often added as
saving clauses. A proviso must be construed with.-re·terence to the
preceding parts of the clause to ·which it is appended. The proviso is E
ordinarily subordinate to the'main section. A construction placed on
proviso which brings general harmony to the terms of the secti~;m:should
prevail. Aproviso may sometime contain: substantive provision .. Ordinarily,
proviso to a section is intended to take out a part of the main section for
special t~eatment. Normally, a proviso does not travel beyond the main F
provision to which it is a proviso. A proviso is nqt interpreted as stating
a general rule, it is an exception to main provision to which it is carved
out as a proviso. Proviso can not be construed as enlarging the scope of
enactment when it can be fairly and properly constructed without
attributing that effect. It is not open to read in the words of enactment
which are not to be found there and which would ~lter its op_erative .G,
effect. . ·
10. It is apparent from the provisi~ns ofSecti~n 24( I), that it contains
a non-obstante clause with respect to any provision rriade in the Act·of
2013. It is also provided in Section 24( I)(b) that in case any land acquisition
proceedings had been initiated under the Act of 1894 and; an Award H
226 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017)14 S.C.R.

1
A under Section 11 has been made, such proceedings.shall continue under
the provisions of the Act of 1894, as if the said Act had not been repealed.
· 11. An exception is also carved out by a non-obstante clause
contained in Sub-Section (2) of Section 24; it begins with "notwithstanding
anything contained in Sub-~ection ( 1)".Thus, it would supersede provisions
B of section 24(1) also. In case of land acquisition proceedings, initiated
under the Act of 1894, wherein an Award has been made within 5 years
·or more prior to the commencement of the Act of 2013, if physical
possession has not b~en taken or compensation has not been paid, then
the said proceedings shall be deemed to have lapsed. The proviso to
Sub-Section (2) makes it clear that when the Award has been made and,
C compensation in respect of majority of ho-fd!ngs has not been deposited
in the account ofberieficiaries the acquisition wouldnot lapse. However,
all the beneficiaries shall be entitle<lo to enhanced compensation under
the Act of 2013. This proviso is to be necessarily part of Sub-Section
·(2) of section 24 only. The.' legislative intention is clear that it is enacted
D a~ P!'..OYlso to j;ection 24(2), and otherwise also. if read as if it were a
proviso to Section 24(1 )(b ), it would create repugnancy with said provision
and the pr9vjsions ofsection 24( I)(b) and proviso to 24(2) would become
· wholly inconsistent with each other. This is a trite law that the
illterpretation which creates inconsistency or repugnancy has to be
avoided and proviso has to be part of Section 24(2) ~§ enacted. As per
E fundamental rule of its construction, no contrary intention is available in
the provisions so as not to read it as part of Section 24(2). As section.
24(l)(b) provide_s, in case award has been passed under Act of 1894,
the proceedings shall continue of the said Act as ifit has not been replaced
whereas Section 24 (2) provides deemed lapse in case award is passed
F 5 years or more: before commencement of Act of 2013 and possession
_has not been taken or compensation has not beeri paid and as per the
· proviso with respect to majority of holding compensation has not been
deposited in accoµnt of land owners. In case award has been passed
few days before commencement of the Act of 2013, then deposit ef •
G" compensation with respect to majority of holding is bound to take time,
that is why legisiature has made-difference of consequences based upon
time gap in passing of award-as requisite steps to be taken are bound to
consume some time by providing proceedings to continue under the Act
of 1894.

H
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 227
SINGH& ORS.·
!,•

12. Section 24( 1) begins with non-obstante clause. The Parliament'- A
. -has given overriding effect to this provisiOn over all other provisions of
. Act-~f2013. Section 24(2) also begins with non-obstante clause: This -·
- provision has overriding effect over Section 24(1). It is'apparent that
Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 deals with the lapse of acquisition in case_
the award had been m~de ~ve yea~s or more prior to commencement of-';-B
2013 Act but the physical possesston of the land had not been taken or. -
· the compensation had not !Jeen paid. The provision of Section 24(2) and
it_s proviso together furtherC!arifytha!, in case the award has been made
and compensation in respect of majority of land holdings has notbeen.
·deposited in the account of the beneficiaries, then; all the. b~neficiades
specified in the notification for Acquisition shall beentitled to compensation C
- ~ in accordance with the provisions of Act of 2013. Even if, minority of -
the claimants are disbursed with the compensation such Claimants also ·
would get benefit of compensation under the Act of 2013 .-'I)us it is
clear that even if the acquisition does not lapse, all the beneficiaries to
whom the compensation is p~yable would be entitled to compen5atio~ ~ D
·undertheActof2013. ·. - - -
If the proviso to Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 is .read as part 9f
Sub-Section. ( 1} of Section 24, the same _makes the said provision
completelycfifferent and inconsistenLWhenwe coriside_dhe expression
"where an Award under_Section 11 has been made" provided under··
Section 24( 1)(b ), the proceedings have to continue under the provisions E
of Act of 1894. If the proviso:to Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 readas
proviso to Section 24( 1), then Section 24( 1)(b) will be rendered nugatory
. and/or becomes otiose. True effect has to be given to the provision
contained in Section 24( I)(b) which says that when award under Section
11 has been made, then such· proceedings shall continue under the F
provisions of Land Acquisition Acfl 894, as if the said Act has not been
repealed. ~

The three contingencies are provided under S~b-Section (2) of
Section 24 i.e. (i) in case if award was passed five years or more prior
- to the commencement of Act of2013 and (ii) if compensation has not G
been paid, or (iii) possession has not been taken. Exception is carved--
out hy adding the proviso to.Section 24(2)- wherein the land acquisitiori-
woU:ld riot lapse, in case some of the land losers are paid compensation
but land owners of majority of holding are not paid. Thus "'.e are of the_-. >-

H
228 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S.C.R.

A considered opinion that the proviso to Section 24(2) cannot be lifted and
made part of Section 24(l)(b).
At the cost of repetition, we observe that reading of Sections
24( 1) and 24(2) conjointly & homogenously makes it abundantly clear
that they operate in two different fields. Section 24( I )(b) unequivocally
B indicates that in case the award has been passed under the Act of 1894,
all the proceedings shall continue as if the Act of 1894 has not been
repealed. Section 24( 1)(a) makes the provision ofAct of2013 applicable
only in case where the award has not been passed. In other words, it
gives a clue that when an award has been passed, obviously further
proceedings have to be undertaken under the Act of 1894, to that extent
C proceedings under the said Act is saved, and the Act of 2013 will not
apply. In such cases, there is no necessity of initiation of acquisition
proceedings afresh except in cases as provided under Section 24(2).
Whereas Section 24(2) would be applicable ifthe Award under Section
11 of the old Act has been made five years or more prior. to
D commencement of 1894 but physical possession of the land has not been
taken or the compensation has not been paid. Proviso to Section 24(2)
further makes it clear that in case the compensation in respect of majority
of land holdings has not been deposited in the account of the beneficiaries,
then, all the beneficiaries, specified in the notification for Acquisition
shall be entitled to compensation in accordance with the provisions of
E Act of2013. The legislature has provided different consequences in the
provisions keeping in mind the time gap as enumerated in Sections 24(1)
and 24(2). The legislature has visualized and expected that the things
would not happen overnight on passing of an award.
13. We have already clarified supra based on catena ofjudgments,
F that a proviso appended to a provision has to be specifically interpreted
in the manner so as to enable the field which is covered by the main
provision. The proviso is only an exception to main provision to which it
has been enacted and no other. The proviso deals with a situation which
takes something out of the main emwtment to provide a particular course
G of action, which course of action could not have been adopted in the
absence of the proviso.
The proviso appended to Section 24(2) indicates that it carves out
an exception for a situation where the land acquisition proceedings shall
not be deemed to lapse. Thus, for the applicability of the proviso, a case
H
DELI-IT METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL 229
SINGH & ORS.

has to be covered by Section 24(2) i.e. (I) award has been made five A
years or more prior to the enforcement of the 2013 Act.
The proviso to Section 24(2) contemplates a situation where with
respect to majority of the holding compensation not deposited event of
minority of holding the landowners are paid, meaning thereby that for
majority of the landholding in case amount is deposited acquisition is B
saved by the proviso. The proviso in fact extends the benefit even to
those land holders who have received compensation as per the 1894
Act. Thus all land holders are to receive benefit of higher and liberal
compensation under 2013 Act. This situation is one where land acquisition
proceedings shall not lapse and are saved. The purpose and object of
the proviso is to give benefit of computation of compensation to all C
landholders and to save land acquisition proceedings. Hence, it is evident
that the proviso is appropriately be treated as a proviso to Sub-Section
(2) of Section 24 and cannot be read as proviso to Section 24(1)(b) of
Actof2013.
14. Reliance has been placed on the decision of this Court in Delhi D
Development Authority Vs. Sukhbir Singh (supra). The facts of the
said case reflect that Notification under Section 4 was issued on
24.10.1961; Award was passed by the Land Acquisition Collector, New
Delhi, on 12.12.1997; and possession was taken on 27.1.2000. It was
not a case under Section 24( I)(b ). It was clearly a case covered by E.
provisions contained in Section 24(2) of the Act of2013, as Award had
been passed 5 years before'the commencement of the Act of2013. In
that context, this Court has discussed the matter and observed as follows:
"11. Section 24( I) begins with a non-obstante clause and covers
situations where either no award has been made under the Land F
Acquisition Act, in which case the more beneficial provisions of
the 2013 Act relating to determination of compensation shall apply,
or where an award has been made under Section 11, land
acquisition proceedings shall continue under the provisions of
the Land Acquisition Act as if the said Act had not been repealed.
G
12: To Section 24(1)(b) an important exception is carved out by
Section 24(2). The necessary ingredients of Section 24(2) are
as follows:
(a) Section 24(2) begins with a non-obstante clause keeping sub-
section (1) out of harm's way;
H
230 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 14 S,C.R.

(b) For it to apply, land acquisition proceedings should have been
initiated under the Land Acquisition Act;
-,
(c) Also, an award under Section 11 should have been made 5
\ - years or more prior to the commencement of the 2013 Act;
(d) Physical possession of the land, if not taken, or compensation,
B if not paid, are fatal to the land acquisition proceeding that had
been initiated under the Land Acquisition Act;
(e) The fatality is pronounced by stating that the said proceedings
shall be deemed to have lapsed, and the appropriate Government,
. if it so chooses, shall, in this game of snakes and ladders, start all
c. over again."
In Sukhbir Singh (supra), this Court has observed that Section
24( I) begins with a non-obstante clause, and thereafter, in the aforesaid
paragraph 12, it has been observed that in respect of Section 24(l)(b),
an important exception is carved out by Section 24(2): This Court
D nowhere held in said decision that the proviso to Section 24(2) is to be
read as part of Section 24( l )(b ), as was tried to be suggested. Through
the non obstante clause in the opening part, exception has been carved
out in Section 24(2) to section 24( I), proviso remains part of section
24(2)_only. There is no dispute with proposition that exception had been
E · carved out in section 24(2) of the Act oO_Q 13. Whereas, the issue involved
in the present case is different. The issue involved in the instant case is,
whether the proviso is to be read as a part of Section 24( I )(b) or as a
part of Section 24(2) as per settled principles of construction a proviso
except out preceding portion of enactment to which it is appended. The
same is-appended to section 24(2) not to section 24(l)(b) under the Act
F of 2013. _In ouropinion, it was neither question raised in Sukhbir Singh
(supra), nor has it been answered. Thus, that decision, in our view, is of
no value, to assist the cause of the respondents.
· 15; This Court specifically held in the case of Delhi Development
Authority vs. Sukhbir Singh (supra), the objective of Section 24(2) is
G to punish the State if it has been "tardy in tendering or paying
compensation" even after five years have elapsed after passing of the
award, specifically this Court held that Section24(2) is an exception to
Section 24( I)(b) and for Section 24(2) to apply the award under Section
11 should have been made- five years or more prior to commencement
H of Act of20l3.
DELHI METRO RAIL CORPORATION LTD. v. TARUN PAL
'
·231
SINGH & ORS.

16. It was urged at the erid by Mr. Anil Goel, learned counsel A
appearing on behalf of some of the landowners that, since the amount
has not been deposited with respect to majority of holding in the account
of the beneficiaries, the acquisition stands lapsed. We have held that the
proviso to Section 24(2) is not applicable in the instant case, same is ·
applicable where the Award had been passed·S years before. lffa case
where Award has been passed within 5 years, the said proviso of section ·B
24(2) cannot be said to be applicable. The submission made on the basis
of the proviso cannot be said to be sustainable.
17. Thus, we are of the considered opinion that the decision of the
High Court carmot be said to be sustainable, and the same is hereby set
aside. The appeals are atrowed. Pending applications stand disposed C
of. The respondents cannot be said to be en~itled to payment of
compensation under theAct of2-013.

Kalpana K. Tripathy_ Appeals allowed.

,_

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