SECTOR 6, BAHADURGARH PLOT HOLDERS' ASSOCIATION AND ORS.versusTHE STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR.

A             SECTOR 6, BAHADURGARH PLOT HOLDERS'
                        ASSOCIATION AND ORS.
                                 v.
                 THE STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR.

                                 APRIL 7, 1997
B
                [K. RAMASWAMY AND D.P. WADHWA, .JJ.]

          Contempt-Direction given by Supreme Court to respondents to com-
    plete development work in colony-Allegation of disobedience of Court
C   order--No wilful disobedience found on tile part of respondents in carrying
    out the directions-Held there/ore the conviction of respondents for dis-
    obedience of court order was not warranted.

           CIVIL ORIGINAL/APPELLATE JURISDICTION                    Contempt
    Petition No. 577 of 1996.
D
                                          In

          Civil Appeal No. 237 of 1981.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 17.10.80 of the Punjab &
E   Haryana High Court in C.W.P. No. 2415 of 1980.

          R.C. Verma and Chatanya Sidharth for the Petitioners Appellants.

          Swaraj Kaushal, Mrs. H. Wahi, Sanjcev Pabbi and Ms. N. Mukherjee
F for the Respondents.
          The following Order of the Court was delivered :

          This is an application for contempt for disobedience of the order of
    this Court in Sector - 6 Bahadurgarh Plot Holders Association v. State of
G   Haryana, JT (1995) 9 SC 167. In the operative part of the judgment this
    Court directed as under :

             "The allotments having been made about two decades ago, there
             can be no justification in not fully developing the plots even by
             1992. The statement in 0.A. No. 2of1992 that the sector is "almost
H            fully developed" and that "temporary disposal has been completed"
                                         680
       SECTOR 6, BAHADURGARH PLOT HOLDERS' ASSN. v. STATE 681

            do speak about lack of proper interest and attention on the part        A
            of the respondents. In this connection we would state that a
            statement had been on behalf of the respondent before this Court
            on 14.1.1995 that possession of the developed plots would be given
            to the appellants within a period of six months, and so such a
            direction was given. Shri Bhandare states that direction is yet to      B
            be complied with in letter and spirit. It is this complaint which has
            given rise to Contempt Petition No. 22 of 1989. On the facts and
l           circumstances of the case, we do not propose to pursue the
            contempt application and would direct the respondents once again
            to develop the sector fully, and not, "almost fully". This would be
            done within a period of six months, failing which the respondent        C
            would not only be liable for contempt but the allottees would be
            exonerated from the liability to pay any interest whatsoever."

           It is alleged that the authorities have not taken any steps, after the
    above order passed by this Court. As a result, contempt notice was issued. D
    Affidavits have been filed by two person, viz., by the Chief Engineer K.K.
    Bhugra and the other by Executive Engineer R.K. Garg. The Chief En-
    gineer in his affidavit has stated in paragraph 4 that "I say and submit that
    I have personally visited and inspected Sector-6, Bahadurgarh and found
    that the development as well as additional works detailed in the affidavit
    of the Executive Engineer have been carried out at site." In the affidavit E
    filed by the Executive Engineer, R.K. Garg, he has stated about the action
    taken by him in paragraph 4, which reads as under :

            "That pursuant to this Hon'ble Court's judgment directions dated
            6.12.1995 in Civil Appeal No. 2347/1981, the authority undertook F
            the balance works. The sewerage pipe line of 800 mm. diameter
            ha\ing a length of about 8/4 kms. (760 Mts.) have been laid and
            made operational, while the temporary disposal just adjoining the
            sector has been abandoned. One Electric transformer has been
            installed and open spaces have been fenced with barbed wire and
            levelled. In addition to the development works, following repair G
            and augmentation works have also been carried out.


}           (a) 95. Sodium lamps have been provided on the central verge of
            the 4 lane divided carriage way main entry from National High way
            No. 8 to the colony.                                              H
    682                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [1997] 3 S.C.R.

A            (b) Two main entries to the colony from National Highway No. 8
             have been repaired and reearpettcd with mechanical mixer and
             paver machines and are in good condition.

             (c) All major roads or the colony having metalled width of 6.7 mtr.
             and 9.4 mlr. have been repaired and n:carpcttcd with mechanical
B            mixer and paver machine and are in good condition.

             ( d) Three hundred tree guards have been installed for protection
             of the saplings planted.

                The authority has spent in all about Rs. 85.00 lacs on these
c            works since 6.12.95 i.e. the judgment/directions or this Hon'ble
             Court."

          It is further slated that "It is further submitted that the authority has
    made its best efforts to complete all the development work in the
D   colony/Sector-6 of Bahadurgarh in its best earnest and for that the
    authority shall abide by further directions/orders of this Hon'ble Court."

           Learnd counsel appearing for the respondent has placed before us
    the album containing photographs taken before filing of the counter af-
    fidavit. On looking al lhe album and the affidavit, we find that there is no
E   wilful disobedience on the part of the respondents in carrying out the
    directions as undertaken by them in our order referred to earlier. Accord-
    ingly, we do not find any warrant lo convict them for disobedience of the
    orders passed by this Court. However, Shri R.C. Verma, learned counsel
    for the petitioners says that still so more work is being done. If there is any
    shortfall in the completion of the works, it is always open to the petitioners
F   to bring lo the notice of the respondent and we have no doubt that the
    respondents would carry out the same.

          The Contempt Petition is accordingly dismissed.

    T.N.A.                                                     Petition dismissed.
G