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Supreme Court of India

S. V. ASGAONKAR & ORS.versusTHE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ORS.

Citation
2018 INSC 313
Decided
9 April 2018
Disposal
Dismissed

Holding

The 2003 allotment was a fresh allocation under the 1999 Government resolution, and eligibility must be assessed as of the 11 December 2003 Letter of Intent, rendering the appellants rightly ineligible.

Summary

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) initially resolved in 1997 to allot 13,700 sq.mtr of land to a proposed co‑operative housing society of its employees, but the allotment lapsed because the society failed to fulfil the conditions. In 2003 the Authority, relying on a 1999 Government of Maharashtra resolution, made a fresh allotment of the same land at a higher premium of Rs 2500 per sq.mtr and issued a Letter of Intent on 11 December 2003, specifying that eligibility of members would be determined as of that date. The appellants, who were not in service on 11 December 2003, were excluded from the final allocation and challenged the exclusion, arguing that eligibility should be measured against the 1997 resolution. The Supreme Court examined the sequence of resolutions and concluded that the 2003 allotment was a new, independent allocation, not a continuation of the 1997 one, and therefore the eligibility criteria of the 1999 Government resolution applied. Consequently, the Court held that the appellants were correctly held ineligible. The appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

  • The 2003 land allotment by MMRDA is a fresh allotment or a continuation of the 1997 resolution.
  • Whether the eligibility of members for the allotment should be determined as of the 1997 resolution/Letter of Intent date or as of the 2003 Letter of Intent date.
  • Whether the appellants, not in service on 11 December 2003, are eligible for the allotted land.

Legislation cited

Subjects

land allotmenteligibilityco‑operative housing societyfresh allotmentgovernment resolutionMMRDADisposal of Land Regulationslease premiumservice condition

Judgment

410                      [2018]REPORTS
               SUPREME COURT    3 S.C.R. 410              [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A                        S. V. ASGAONKAR & ORS.
                                       v.
       THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION DEVELOPMENT
                    AUTHORITY & ORS.
B                       (Civil Appeal No. 3488 of 2018)
                                APRIL 09, 2018
               [A. K. SIKRI AND ASHOK BHUSHAN, JJ.]
            Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
      (Disposal of Land) Regulations 1977:
C
             Disposal of land under the Regulations – Mumbai
      Metropolitan Region Development Authority passed Resolution
      dated 7.6.1997 for allotting land – To the proposed Co-operative
      Housing Society of its employees – The Co-operative Society
      requested the Authority to alter the terms and conditions of the
D
      Resolution – Request was not heeded to – State Government issued
      Resolution dated 09.07.1999 pertaining to allotment of Govt. land
      for Housing Society with various terms and conditions – The
      Authority by its Resolution dated 01.09.2003 decided to allot the
      land to the Society as per the terms and conditions dated 09.07.1999
E     – The Authority allotted the land to the Society on 01.09.2003 –
      Letter of intent was issued on 11.12.2003 – It excluded the non-
      eligible members (including names of appellants) on the ground
      that they were not in service on the date of Letter of Intent – Writ
      petition by the appellants – Dismissed by High Court holding that
      the appellants had been rightly held ineligible being not in service
F
      on the date of allotment as the allotment was made on the basis of
      fresh proposal – On appeal, held: Earlier allotment dated
      07.06.1997 had lapsed due to non-fulfillment of the terms and
      conditions – Allotment dated 01.09.2003 was a fresh allotment
      pursuant to Resolution dated 09.07.1999 – Therefore, eligibility
G     has not to be seen as per Resolution dated 07.06.1997 – The
      eligibility of the members has to be seen as on 11.12.2003 i.e. when
      the letter of intent was issued - The appellants have been rightly
      held ineligible.


H
                                     410
    S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                          411
            REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

      Dismissing the appeal, the Court                                  A
        HELD: 1. From the sequence of events in the present case,
it is clear that the allotment dated 01.09.2003 was a fresh allotment
of land on a higher premium that is Rs.2500/- per sqr. mtr. Earlier
allotment dated 07.06.1997 had lapsed due to non-fulfilment of
the conditions as required by Mumbai Metropolitan Region                B
Development Authority (Disposal of Land) Regulations, 1977.
Thus, the allotment dated 01.09.2003 was on the basis of the
fresh proposal relying on the Government of Maharashtra
Resolution dated 09.07.1999. High Court is right in its conclusion
that allotment dated 01.09.2003 was on the basis of fresh proposal
of the Society and same has no nexus with respect to Resolution         C
dated 07.06.1997. [Para 16] [419-B-C]
      2. The fresh allotment was made on 01.09.2003 in
pursuance of which Letter of Intent was issued on 11.12.2003,
thus, the eligibility has to be seen as per condition of the
Government Resolution dated 09.07.1999. On the strength of              D
Resolution dated 01.09.2003 in so far as it modifies the rate of
premium per sq.mtr., it cannot be said that the same allotment
which was made on 07.06.1997 has been continued on 01.09.2003
and the eligibility of members has to be pegged on the date of
Resolution dated 07.06.1997 or 05.11.1998 i.e. issue of Letter of       E
Intent. [Para 19] [420-A-B]
      3. The plea that eligibility with regard to being in service
has to be seen on the date 07.06.1997 or 05.11.1998, thus, cannot
be accepted. The Society itself has given approval vide its
communication dated 10.05.2001 to consider the allotment to the         F
Society in its forthcoming meeting on 17.05.2001 on the basis of
Government of Maharashtra Resolution dated 09.07.1999. It is
thus clear that the Society itself has requested for a fresh
consideration and fresh Resolution on the basis of the eligibility
laid down by Resolution 09.07.1999. [Para 20] [420-C-D]
                                                                        G
      4. Thus, the Society was conscious of the fact that eligibility
of members has to be seen as on 11.12.2003 that is the date on
which Letter of Intent was issued in pursuance of allotment. The
Society having accepted the aforesaid clause of eligibility and
accepted the offer of allotment as given by the Authority, the
                                                                        H
412            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                          [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A     eligibility as on 11.12.2003 cannot be permitted to be questioned.
      [Para 21] [420-G]
            5. The Authority has proposed allotment of 13,700 sq.mtr
      of land which is apparent from its Resolution dated 01.09.2003
      as well as letter dated 11.12.2003. After scrutinising the list of
B     eligibility, ultimately, the allotment was made only for land
      admeasuring 10,700 sq.mtr. by letter dated 09.12.2005. The
      Authority had not taken into consideration the area for non-eligible
      members while finalising the list and due to the aforesaid reasons
      the area allotted to the Society has been reduced from 13,700
      sq.mtr. to 10,700 sq.mtr. There is no infirmity in the judgment of
C     the High Court. [Paras 22 and 23] [420-H; 421-A-C]
            CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3488
      of 2018.
            From the Judgment and Order dated 19.06.2012 of the High Court
D     of Judicature at Bombay in Writ Petition No. 8224 of 2011.
            Huzefa Ahmadi, Sr. Adv., Mrs. Shubhangi Tuli, Adv. for the
      Appellants.
           Shivaji M. Jadhav, Brij Kishor Sah, Ms. Astha Deep, Nicholas
      Chaudhary, Shivaji M. Jadhav, Satyajit A. Desai, Ms. Anagha S. Desai,
E     Mehmood Umar Faruqui, Advs. for the Respondents.
            The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
             ASHOK BHUSHAN, J. 1. This appeal has been filed against
      judgment dated 19.06.2012 of the High Court of Bombay by which Writ
      Petition No.8224 of 2011 filed by the appellants has been dismissed.
F
            2. Brief facts of the case giving rise to this appeal are:
            The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has
      been constituted under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
      Authority Act, 1974. The Authority has framed Regulations, namely,
G     Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (Disposal of Land)
      Regulations, 1977 which were also amended vide Notification dated
      29.04.1997. The Authority in accordance with the Regulations is
      empowered to dispose of its land.
           3. The appellants were employees of Mumbai Metropolitan
H     Region Development Authority (hereinafter referred to as ‘Authority’).
    S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                                413
   REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTH. [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.]

The Resolution dated 07.06.1997 was passed by the Authority granting          A
permission to allot the land of Authority situated at Chitalsar Manpada
Village, District Thane admeasuring about 13,700 sq.mtr. to the proposed
Co-operative Housing Society of the employees of the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority for the purpose of
construction of houses on lease hold basis for a period of 80 years. The
                                                                              B
Resolution by condition No.3 provided that Housing Society will have to
pay an amount at the rate of Rs.1400/- per sq. mtr. for a period of 80
years as premium. Letter dated 05.11.1998 was issued to the proposed
Society informing about the Resolution dated 07.06.1997 and the terms
and conditions thereof. A Co-operative Housing Society of the employees
of the Authority was registered on 25.06.1999 under the Maharashtra           C
Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. The Society in reference to the above
wrote letters dated 23.07.1999, 19.11.1999 and further dated 09.12.1999
wherein it made three requests, namely:
      (a) The rate of Rs.1400/- per sq. mtr. is the rate of developed
      plots and, therefore, the land falling under road and compulsory        D
      open spaces should be made available free of cost.
      (b) Instead of insisting on payment of the premium in one or two
      instalments, the Society may be permitted to pay the land cost in
      yearly instalments spread over 10 to 15 years.
      (c) Pending the final decision, advance possession of the plot of       E
      land be given to the Society by charging a token amount @ 2% of
      the estimated cost of the land.
       4. On 09.07.1999, the Government of Maharashtra had issued
Government Resolution pertaining to the Govt. land to be allotted to the
Housing Society. The document contained various terms and conditions          F
under which Government land can be allotted to the Co-operative Housing
Society. The letter dated 09.12.1999 of the Society was not favourably
responded by the Authority. Again letter dated 26.02.2001 was sent by
the Society to the Authority requesting to put up a proposal for
consideration of the Authority in the forthcoming meeting for allotment       G
of land to Society on similar terms as that of the allotment of land to the
MMRDA Class-IV Employees Co-operative Housing Society. Reminder
dated 27.04.2001 was again sent by the Society. The Authority vide its
letter dated 03.05.2001 wrote to the Society where the Authority
requested the Society to go through the terms and conditions given in the
                                                                              H
414             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A     Resolution dated 09.07.1999 and communicate its willingness so that
      further action be taken in the matter. Copy of Government Resolution
      dated 09.07.1999 was forwarded to the Society to communicate its
      willingness as per terms and conditions given in Government Resolution
      dated 09.07.1999.
B             5. The Authority in its meeting dated 01.09.2003 resolved to allot
      the land to the Society as per the terms and conditions dated 09.07.1999.
      In the Resolution it was further stated that the allotment will be made at
      the rate of Rs.2500/- per sq.mtr. In the above respect, the condition
      No.(c) contained in the Resolution dated 07.06.1997 was modified. A
      letter dated 11.12.2003 was issued by the Authority to the Society relating
C     to grant of land area 13,700 sq.mtr. as per Resolution dated 01.09.2003.
      The letter further stated that the list of eligible members may be approved
      by submitting proposal with necessary proofs in that respect and verifying
      the eligibility of members, the built up area will be allotted to the members
      and thereafter possession of land will be given by executing lease. The
D     Society vide letter dated 10.06.2004 submitted final list of eligible
      members as requested by the Authority as on 11.12.2003. In response
      to the letter of the Society, further, letter dated 09.12.2005 was issued to
      the Society informing allotment of land to the Society admeasuring 10,700
      sq.mtr. with total premium to be paid, along with the letter list of non-
      eligible members with remarks “not in the service on the date of LOI”
E     including the names of the appellants was also furnished.
             6. The appellants aggrieved by the aforesaid communication dated
      09.12.2005 filed Writ Petition No.8224 of 2011 praying for quashing the
      communication dated 09.12.2005 holding the appellants as non-eligible.
      Further, to issue mandamus, directing the respondents to include the
F     names of the present appellants as persons being eligible to receive
      tenements/flats. Prayer to strike down condition No.8 of Annexure-A of
      the Government Resolution dated 09.07.1999 was also made. The High
      Court vide its judgment dated 19.06.2012 dismissed the writ petition.
      The High Court held that the proposal dated 27.04.2001 submitted by
G     the Society was neither in continuation of the earlier allotment letter
      issued by the Authority in the year 1997 nor has any nexus in respect
      thereof. The allotment dated 01.09.2003 was made on the basis of fresh
      proposal. It was one of the conditions of the Government Resolution
      dated 09.07.1999 that only such employees who were in the employment
      on the date of allotment of the land would be eligible to be the members
H
    S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                                  415
   REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTH. [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.]

of the Society. The appellants on that day being not in employment of           A
respondent No.1, they have not rightly been held eligible. With the
aforesaid observation, the writ petition has been dismissed. Challenging
the said judgment this appeal has been filed.
       7. Shri Huzefa Ahmadi, learned senior counsel appearing for the
appellants submits that the appellants were fully eligible for allotment of     B
land. He submits that the allotment of land has to be treated as allotment
made on 07.06.1997 on the basis of which Letter of Intent dated
05.11.1998 was issued. He submits that the appellants were eligible on
the date of Resolution dated 07.06.1997 as well as on 05.11.1998 they
being in service on the above relevant dates they could not be held to be
not eligible relying on the date 11.12.2003 on which date letter was issued     C
on the basis of Resolution 01.09.2003. He submits that subsequent
Resolution dated 01.09.2003 was in continuation and in modification of
earlier Resolution dated 07.06.1997, hence, the eligibility has to be seen
on the date when Resolution dated 07.06.1997 was passed. The appellants
being eligible on the original date when the Resolution was passed, the         D
view taken by respondent No.1 that they are not eligible for allotment
was erroneous.It is further submitted that the appellants being members
of the Society and eligible for allotment, they will not lose the eligibility
merely on the ground that a subsequent Resolution dated 01.09.2003
was passed. He submits that the view of the High Court that the allotment
was made on the basis of a fresh proposal made by the Society, is               E
incorrect. The allotment is consequent to earlier proposal which
culminated into the Resolution dated 07.06.1997.
       8. Shri Shivaji M. Jadhav, learned counsel appearing for the
respondent refuting the submissions made by the appellants contends
that a fresh allotment was made on 01.09.2003 on the basis of                   F
Government Resolution dated 09.07.1999 which is separate allotment
having no relation to the earlier Resolution dated 07.06.1997. He submits
that the appellants being not in service of the Authority on the date when
Letter of Intent was issued i.e. 11.12.2003, they have rightly been
excluded from the list of eligible members. He submits that the High            G
Court has taken correct view of the matter.
      9. We have considered the submissions of the learned counsel for
the parties and perused the records.
      10. The High Court has dismissed the writ petition taking the view
that allotment dated 01.09.2003 was passed on the fresh proposal                H
416             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A     submitted by the Society and the Resolution dated 01.09.2003 being
      passed on separate and distinct proposal, eligibility on 07.06.1997 is not
      relevant. Whether the above reason given by the High Court for
      dismissing the writ petition is correct or not is the first issue which needs
      to be answered in this case.
B            11. In pursuance of Resolution dated 07.06.1997 Letter of Intent
      dated 05.11.1998 was issued in which following terms were mentioned
      for allotment of land:
            “1. The Association of employees will form the proposed Co-
            operative Housing Society of the Employees within a period
C           of 60 days from the date of receipt of Authority’s letter and to
            get the said Society registered within a period of 6 months.
            2. Land will be allotted for a period of 80 years on lease hold
            basis.
            3. The employees of the Authority of the Housing Society will
D           have to pay an amount at the rate of Rs.1400/- per sq.mtr. as
            per the market rate fixed by the Town Planning Department,
            Thane for a period of 80 years as a premium.
            4. The provision of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
            Development Authority (Disposal of Land) Regulations will
E           be applicable to this allotment of land.”
            12. The letter dated 05.11.1998 refers to Disposal of Land
      Regulations. At this juncture, we may notice the above Regulations which
      were amended on 29.04.1997. The amended Regulation, 1997 has been
      brought on the record by the appellants themselves through rejoinder-
F     affidavit. In the Amendment Regulation Clause (iA) has been added
      which is to the following effect:
                 “(iA) If half of the premium shall not be paid within one
            month or in case of Government within two months, if
            permitted by the Metropolitan Commissioner, the Agreement
G           concluded with the Authority shall stand determined and the
            Earnest Money deposited by Intending Lessee along with its
            tender or offer shall stand forfeited to the Authority without
            prejudice to the rights and powers of Authority to recover
            compensation for loss or damage, if any suffered in
            consequence of such breach of the Intending Lessee to so
H
   S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                              417
  REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTH. [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.]

      pay half of the premium to the Authority. Likewise, if the           A
      balance premium shall not be paid within twelve months as
      provided hereto before, the Agreement concluded with the
      Authority shall stand determined and the Earnest Money paid
      by him along with its tender or offer together with 25 per
      cent of the premium shall be forfeited to the Authority without
                                                                           B
      prejudice to the right and powers of the Authority to recover
      compensation for loss or damage, if any, suffered in
      consequence of such default of the Intending Lessee.”
       13. The Disposal of Land Regulations as amended being applicable,
it was required for the Society to make payment of premium within the
time prescribed by the Authority. Admittedly, the Society did not make     C
the payment of premium and has submitted a request for permitting to
make payment by instalments spread over 10 to 15 years. It was further
prayed that the land falling under road and compulsory open spaces will
be made available free of cost. The Society requested for relaxation of
various conditions which were not granted by the Authority at any point    D
of time. The Resolution dated 07.06.1997 and consequent allotment dated
05.11.1998 did not fructify into allotment of land and lapsed as per
Disposal of Land Regulations as amended in 1997, Regulation (iA). In
the meantime the Government of Maharashtra has issued Resolution
dated 09.07.1999 providing various terms and conditions for allotment.
In the present case, we are concerned with one of the conditions which     E
is condition No.8 of Annexure-A. Annexure-A is “Eligibility for approval
to the members of the Co-operative Housing Societies who intend to
obtain Government land by paying concessional occupancy charges/
lease rent”. Condition No.8 which is a part of Annexure-A to the
Resolution is to the following effect:                                     F
      “8. It is a pre requisite that the Government Employee will be
      in the service on the date on which the indent letter will be
      issued to the Co-operative Housing Society, and only then
      such employee will be treated as eligible for membership.”
       14. The Society itself has made various applications to the         G
Authority after Resolution dated 07.06.1997. One of the applications
dated 09.12.1999 is Annexure P-5 where the allotment on certain modified
terms and conditions was prayed for, which was never granted. Again
an application dated 26.02.2001 was given by the Society where it has
referred to the Resolution made on 07.06.1997 by which proposal for        H
418             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A     allotment to MMRDA Employees Co-operative Housing Society was
      passed. Prayer was made in the letter dated 26.02.2001 to put up a
      proposal for consideration of the Authority for allotment of land to Society.
            15. Again letter dated 27.04.2001 was submitted by the Society to
      the Authority where it was requested to put up a proposal for consideration
B     of the Authority in its forthcoming meeting in accordance with
      Government of Maharashtra Resolution dated 09.07.1999. It is useful to
      quote the prayer made in paragraph 4 of the aforesaid letter:
            “4. You are now requested to put up a proposal for the
            consideration of the Authority in its forthcoming meeting for
C           the allotment of earmarked MMRDA land at Chitalsar
            Manpada to the MMRDA Employees Co-operative Housing
            Society, Chitalsar Manpuda,Thane in accordance with the
            Government of Maharashtra Resolution No. LCA-1095/
            P.K.37/95/J-1 (together with its Annexures) dated 9th July, 1999
            as was approved by the Authority for the allotment of land to
D           the MMRDA Class-IV Employees Co-operative Housing
            Society at Panchpakhadi. We are in a readiness to make the
            necessary payment for taking the possession of the land of
            13,700 sq.mtr. area on the terms prescribed in the above
            referred Government of Maharashtra Resolution.
E                    Thanking you,
                                                                Yours faithfully,


                                                                       Sd/-
F
                                                              (A.V. Ghangurde)
                                                                    Chairman”
             16. In response to letter dated 27.04.2001, the Authority wrote a
      letter dated 03.05.2001 to the Society forwarding the Resolution dated
      09.07.1999 and requesting the Society to go through the terms and
G     conditions and communicate Society’s willingness so that further action
      be taken. The Society vide letter dated 10.05.2001 communicated its
      willingness to abide by the Resolution dated 09.07.1999 and thereafter
      Resolution dated 01.09.2003 was passed for allotment of land. In
      pursuance of Resolution dated 01.09.2003, letter dated 11.12.2003 was
H
   S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                               419
  REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTH. [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.]

issued by the Authority to the Society. The Authority vide letter dated     A
11.12.2003 informed that lease premium may be charged at Rs.2500/-
per sq.mtr. instead of Rs.1400/- per sq. mtr. as was earlier approved.
From the aforesaid sequence of events, it is clear that the allotment
dated 01.09.2003 was a fresh allotment of land on a higher premium that
is Rs.2500/- per sqr. mtr. Earlier allotment dated 07.06.1997 had lapsed
                                                                            B
due to non-fulfilment of the conditions as required by the Disposal of
Land Regulations, 1977 as noted above. Thus, the allotment dated
01.09.2003 was on the basis of the fresh proposal relying on the
Government of Maharashtra Resolution dated 09.07.1999. We, thus, are
of the view that the High Court is right in its conclusion that allotment
dated 01.09.2003 was on the basis of fresh proposal of the Society and      C
same has no nexus with respect to Resolution dated 07.06.1997.
       17. Learned counsel for the appellants relying on Resolution dated
01.09.2003 submits that the Resolution dated 01.09.2003 clearly mentions
that it modifies condition No.3 contained in earlier Resolution dated
07.06.1997 which clearly means that Resolution dated 01.09.2003 is in       D
continuation of earlier Resolution, hence, the eligibility of the members
have to be seen on 07.06.1997 or 05.11.1998. He relies on the following
portion of Resolution dated 01.09.2003:
      “RESOLVED THAT, in exercise of power conferred under Sub-
      Section 2 of Section 3 of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region              E
      Development Authority Act, 1974 and making modification
      in Condition No.”c” contained in its resolution dated 727
      passed in the 88th meeting held on 7.6.1997 and as proposed
      in paragraph 6 of the item note, the authority allots the land
      situated at Chitalhar, Manpada, Thane to the MMRDA
      employees cooperative housing society on the following terms          F
      and conditions.”
       18. It is true that Resolution dated 01.09.2003 modifies condition
No.(c) as was contained in Resolution 07.06.1997. Condition No.(c)
was with regard to amount of premium per sq.mtr. which was Rs.1400/
-. The Resolution dated 01.09.2003 modifies the said amount as Rs.2500/     G
- per sq. mtr. The modification of above condition has been specifically
mentioned since earlier the Authority has offered the plot on Rs.1400/-
per sq. mtr. which was subsequently made as Rs.2500/- per sq.mtr. As
noted above the Resolution dated 07.06.1997 itself was not honoured by
the Society and it lapsed as per statutory Regulations noted above.         H
420             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                          [2018] 3 S.C.R.


A            19. The fresh allotment was made on 01.09.2003 in pursuance of
      which Letter of Intent was issued on 11.12.2003, thus, the eligibility has
      to be seen as per condition of Annexure-A of the Government Resolution
      dated 09.07.1999. On the strength of Resolution dated 01.09.2003 in so
      far as it modifies the rate of premium per sq.mtr., it cannot be said that
      the same allotment which was made on 07.06.1997 has been continued
B
      on 01.09.2003 and the eligibility of members has to be pegged on the
      date of Resolution dated 07.06.1997 or 05.11.1998 i.e. issue of Letter of
      Intent. We, thus, do not find any substance in the above submission of
      the learned counsel of the appellants.
              20. The submission of the learned counsel for the appellants that
C     eligibility with regard to being in service has to be seen on the date
      07.06.1997 or 05.11.1998, thus, cannot be accepted. The Society itself
      has given approval vide its communication dated 10.05.2001 to consider
      the allotment to the Society in its forthcoming meeting on 17.05.2001 on
      the basis of Government of Maharashtra Resolution dated 09.07.1999.
D     It is thus clear that the Society itself has requested for a fresh
      consideration and fresh Resolution on the basis of the eligibility laid down
      by Resolution 09.07.1999. After after issuance of allotment letter dated
      11.12.2003 by which list of eligible members was asked for, in response
      to which Society has sent its communication dated 10.06.2004 stating
      the following:
E
            “...The final list of members eligible as on 11.12.2003 by
            scrutiny of said list as per terms and conditions under the
            Government Resolution through the Land Branch will be
            accepted to the Society. Also, the waiting list of total 33
            members has been present till date through the Society and it
F           will be sent to the Land Branch at the necessary time.”
             21. Thus, the Society was conscious of the fact that eligibility of
      members has to be seen as on 11.12.2003 that is the date on which
      Letter of Intent was issued in pursuance of allotment. The Society having
      accepted the aforesaid clause of eligibility and accepted the offer of
G     allotment as given by the Authority, we fail to see that how the eligibility
      as on 11.12.2003 be permitted to be questioned.
             22. There is one more fact which needs to be noted. The Authority
      has proposed allotment of 13,700 sq.mtr of land which is apparent from
      its Resolution dated 01.09.2003 as well as letter dated 11.12.2003. After
H
    S. V. ASGAONKAR v. THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN                                    421
   REGION DEVELOPMENT AUTH. [ASHOK BHUSHAN, J.]

scrutinising the list of eligibility, ultimately, the allotment was made only     A
for land admeasuring 10,700 sq.mtr. by letter dated 09.12.2005. The
Authority had not taken into consideration the area for non-eligible
members while finalising the list and due to the aforesaid reasons the
area allotted to the Society has been reduced from 13,700 sq.mtr. To
10,700 sq.mtr..
                                                                                  B
       23. Taking into consideration the aforesaid facts and circumstances,
we are of the view that no relief can be granted to the appellants. The
High Court did not commit any error in dismissing the writ petition. We
do not find any infirmity in the judgment of the High Court. The appeal is
dismissed.
                                                                                  C

Kalpana K. Tripathy                                           Appeal dismissed.




                                                                                  D




                                                                                  E




                                                                                  F




                                                                                  G




                                                                                  H


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