Legal notice to AWHO before approaching the higher courts against violation of fundamental rights of equal protection of laws, violation of constitutionally guaranteed property rights and violation of statutes and case
laws.
Legal notice to AWHO before approaching the higher courts against violation of fundamental rights of equal protection of laws, violation of constitutionally guaranteed property rights and violation of statutes and case
laws.
Legal notice to AWHO before approaching the higher courts against violation of fundamental rights of equal protection of laws, violation of constitutionally guaranteed property rights and violation of statutes and case
laws.
To 1. The Chairman, AWHO 2. MD, AWHO SUBJECT: LEGAL NOTICE Dear Mr. Chairman & MD, AWHO, Please take this as nal Notice as given below: 1. Legal notice to you before approaching the higher courts against viola- tion of fundamental rights of equal protection of laws, violation of consti- tutionally guaranteed property rights and violation of statutes and case laws.The complainant reallegges and incorporates herein all paragraphs in the enclosed paper entitled An Inquiry into violations of Rule of Law by AWHO and the provisions of constitution, statutes and case laws as given in Appendices A to E attached to this. 2. Legal notice before ling of case against violation Article 21 (3) of Uni- versal Declaration of Human Rights. 3. Legal notice before seeking criminal procedure against crimes against the Members/allotteess and to reverse these illegal actions. 4. Legal notice for Sanction under Chapter V of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Please forward this to your superiors in the Government for sanction. 5. Legal notice before requesting for initiating disciplinary proceedings for dereliction of duty constituting Misconduct 6. Legal notice under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that no suit shall be instituted against the Government or a Public Ocer in respect of an ocial act 7. and lastly, legal notice under Section 96 of the Rules of AWHO albeit these rules are illegal and illegitimate for reasons explained within in ex- cruciating detail. Yours Sincerely, CPC Nath, Member AWHO Allottee Yelahanka Part A P2/78 C 679 Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110076 1 1 APPENDIXA: DETAILEDLEGAL IMPLCA- TIONS So as to have very clear understanding of every issue involved in the case at hand, and so that the main points emphasized in this long communication is not lost sight of, I have drawn an Index wherein each issue is separated with appropriate heading. Every sentence is employed with great care and caution and the Chairman AWHO (Public Auth) is therefore requested and strongly advised to read every part and every sentence of this long communication very carefully so as to have the correct picture of the whole case and thus to adopt the correct course of action. 1. The consequences that may follow in the event of non or evasive reply: This is to inform you that your failure to comply to legal expectation as stated herein before, may compel me/us to (a) Institute Writ of Mandamus before High Court/ Supreme court, at your personal (exemplary) cost, taking aid of law settled by Honble Supreme Court of India in Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil- nadu Vs. Union of India 1 and many other countless judgments given by our Constitutional courts, for directing you to record reasoned re- ply to me/ us; or/ and (b) I/ we will seek the Writ of Quo Warranto against you. I/ we may specically plead before the Court of law to remove you from the present public oce because you have voluntarily abstained yourself in performing your legal duties, the duties which you have voluntarily undertaken & promised to perform while assuming charge of this Public Oce. The Writ of Quo-Warranto is resourceful enough to take care of this pleading; or / and (c) I/ we may register an FIR with Police or may le a complaint before the competent Magistrates Court under section 166, 217, 218, 409, as applicable, of Indian Penal Code, 1860. (d) I/ we may pray for initiating disciplinary proceedings for dereliction of duty constituting Misconduct; (e) Whereas your inaction will result in frustration of my / our funda- mental rights, I/ we will seek damages for the same from the con- cerned Public Auth, which may nally be recovered from you. You may please kindly refer Supreme court judgments wherein the Honble court have fastened the liability on public servants for their negligent acts of commission and omission. 2. Your kind attention is invited to Judgment of SC in Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu Vs. Union of India, Please nd APPENDIX A in this regard. 1 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/342197/ 2 3. Your attention is further invited to fact that I have a Right of Reply. Please refer APPENDIX C in this regard. 4. Discretion in reality means a power given to a person with the authority to choose between two or more alternatives or possibilities each of which is lawful and permissible. The concept of discretion imports a duty to be fair, candid and unprejudiced; not arbitrary, capricious or biased; much less, warped by resentment or personal dislike. 5. Recording of reasons will show application of mind and probably this recording of reasons is the only remaining visible safeguard against possible misuse of powers conferred upon administrators of a nation. 6. I seek to recall an historic incident of Indian freedom struggle, occasioned with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (His Journey towards Mahatma). In the year 1893, when in South Africa, while holding a First Class Compart- ment ticket and traveling in, Gandhi was thrown out of the train, for in those times Blacks were not allowed to travel in the First Class Compart- ment, notwithstanding they hold a valid ticket. It was 9.00 in the chill night. That designated Black sent a Telegram to the General Manager of the Railways and registered his complaint. The Complaint of that desig- nated Black was attended, forthwith, the General Manager instructed the Station master to secure that complainant reaches his destination safely. Complainant was accommodated in the very next morning train to his destination. 7. It is my case that grievance of the people must be promptly and properly attended instead of waiting and allowing for it to be translated into court litigation. It does no credit to the State or public servant to be involved in large number of disputes as an oppressive ruler. 8. It is my case that the giving of satisfactory reply is a healthy discipline for all who exercise powers over others. 9. It is my case that a complaint to any public/ statutory authority is the most legitimate incident of a democracy. 10. In the event no reply is received from you, then I/ we will request the Honble Court to take a very serious view of this aspect. I conclude with this quote from the Indias Apex Court: The jurisdiction and power of the courts to indemnify a citizen for injury suered due to abuse of power by public authorities is founded as observed by Lord Hailsham in Cassell & Co. Ltd. v. Broome on the principle that, an award of exemplary damages can serve a useful purpose in vindicating the strength of law. An ordinary citizen or a common man is hardly equipped to match the might of the State or its instrumentalities. That is provided by the rule of law. It acts 3 as a check on arbitrary and capricious exercise of power. In Rookes v. Barnard it was observed by Lord Devlin, the servants of the government are also the servants of the people and the use of their power must always be subordinate to their duty of service. A public functionary if he acts maliciously or oppressively and the exercise of power results in harassment and agony then it is not an exercise of power but its abuse. No law provides protection against it. He who is responsible for it must suer it. Compensation or damage as explained earlier may arise even when the ocer discharges his duty honestly and bona de. But when it arises due to arbitrary or capricious behavior then it loses its individual character and assumes social signicance. Harassment of a common man by public authori- ties is socially abhorring and legally impermissible. It may harm him personally but the injury to society is far more grievous. Crime and corruption thrive and prosper in the society due to lack of public re- sistance. Nothing is more damaging than the feeling of helplessness. An ordinary citizen instead of complaining and ghting succumbs to the pressure of undesirable functioning in oces instead of standing against it. Therefore the award of compensation for harassment by public authorities not only compensates the individual, satises him personally but helps in curing social evil. It may result in improving the work culture and help in changing the outlook. 2 Thanking you in the anticipation of your eective action in this regard. And if you fail to act, the heavy hand of the law will soon be coming down hard on you. As a proud veteran I would hate to see that day! With Regards Chandra Nath. Complainant 2 Lucknow Development Authority vs M.K. Gupta on 5 ... 1994 AIR 787, 1994 SCC (1) 243, Sahai,R Jhttp://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1375046/ 4 2 APPENDIX B: PUBLIC SERVANT & LE- GAL COMPLIANCE Whereas you are a Public Servant and therefore this is to inform you about some of the oences that may be committed in the discharge of their ocial duties, u/s 119, 166, 167, 213, 217, 218, 219, 409 or under any other Section of IPC 1860 or oence under section 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; SECTION 166 OF INDIA PENAL CODE declares that when a Public Ser- vant, in the discharge of his ocial duty, knowingly refuses to do what he is under obligation to do under the law and knowing that thereby he will cause injury to any person, commits the oence under this section. Section 44 of Indian Penal Code denes the scope of Injury within the meaning of oences dened under Indian Penal Code. Injury implies the doing of any act causing unlawful- harm to reputation, harm to property, causing mental alarm, bodily harm. SECTION 217 OF INDIAN PENAL CODE declares that when a Public Servant, in the discharge of his ocial duty, acting contrary to law, knowingly conduct himself in such a manner, thereby knowing that his act will (a) save a person from any legal punishment or to secure lesser punishment for that person to which he is liable for; (b) save a property from forfeiture or charge to which that property is liable to, commits oence under this section. SECTION 218 OF INDIAN PENAL CODE declares that when a Public Servant, in the discharge of his ocial duty, who has been charged with the duty of preparation of any Record or any Writing, knowingly prepares incorrectly such record or writing, with the knowledge that by preparing such incorrect Record or Writing he will cause (a) loss or injury to Public or to any person (b) save a person from any legal punishment or to secure lesser punishment for that person to which he is liable for; (c) save a property from forfeiture or charge to which that property is liable to, commits oence under this section. SECTION 409 OF INDIAN PENAL CODE declares that any public ser- vant who is in any manner entrusted with any property, or with any dominion over property in his capacity of a public servant, if commits breach of trust in respect of that property, commits the oence under this section and shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either de- scription for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to ne. What is Criminal breach of trust is dened under Section 405 of Indian Penal Code. The section says that any person (including a public servant) who is in any manner entrusted with any property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or willfully suers any other person so to do, commits criminal breach 5 of trust. Public servants are under the same liability as that of the private citizens for all their unjustied acts and omissions. Cases decided by Apex Court locating the personal accountability of Public Ocer: 1. For abusing the process of court the public ocer was held responsible and was liable to pay costs from his own pocket; Where the public servant has caused a loss to the public exchequer, the court has allowed the government to recover such loss personally from the erring ocer. State of Kerala V Thressia 1995 Supp (2) SCC 449. 3 2. For adopting casual approach by which land could not be purchased by the authority and instead purchased by private builder, held ocer personally liable. State of Maharashtra v. P.K. Pangare, 1995 Supp (2) SCC 119. 4 3. For irregularities committed in auction of land resulting in loss to public held ocial held responsible for the loss. DDA v Skipper construction co. (1996) 1 SCC 272. 5 4. We are of the view that the legal position that exemplary damages can be awarded in a case where the action of a public servant is oppressive, arbitrary or unconstitutional is unexceptionable. The question for con- sideration, however, is whether the action of Capt. Satish Sharma makes him liable to pay exemplary damages. In view of the ndings of this Court in Common Cause Case - quoted above - the answer has to be in the af- rmative. Satish Sharmas actions were wholly arbitrary, mala de and unconstitutional. This Court has given clear ndings to this eect in the Common Cause case. We, therefore, hold that Capt. Satish Sharma is liable to pay exemplary damages. Common Cause (Petrol pump matter) v UOI. (1996) 6 SCC 593. 6 5. For abuse of power while exercising discretionary power in granting State largess in an arbitrary, unjust, unfair and malade manner, public servant can be held personally liable. Shivsagar Tiwary v UOI (1996) 6 SCC 558. 7 6. For granting illegal promotion with retrospective eect resulting in frit- tering in huge public funds, held that erring ocers shall be personally liable. H R Ramachandriah v State of Karnataka (1997) 3 SCC 63. 8 7. For abuse of power for extraneous reason in acceptance of tender, held all public ocers concerned including Minister shall be liable to punishment. Dutta Associates v Indo Mercantiles (1997) 1 SCC 53. 3 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/417950/ 4 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/772100/ 5 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1964027/ 6 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1964027/ 7 http://indiankanoon.org/doc/166611/ 8 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1886570/ 6 8. Departmental Head is vicariously responsible for the actions of his subor- dinates. State of Punjab v G S Gill (1997) 6 SCC 129. 9 9. Liability of State Executives when they infringe fundamental rights. The Jurisdiction of SC and HC. Kharak Singh versus State of U P AIR 1963 SC 1295. 10 3 APPENDIX C: OBLIGATION OF A PUB- LIC AUTHORITY AWHO, an instrumentality of the State, had failed to respond to nearly 30 communications from one member, mostly dealing with infringements of rights of the Member Allottees of the Society. 11 . This is gross violation of National Litigation Policy. 12 Your kind attention is invited to Judgment of SC in Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu Vs. Union of India, wherein the Court, inter alia, observed as Whereas it is a common experience and in fact judicially recognized by Honble SC in one service matter before it that once a decision is taken, there is a tendency to uphold it, and a representation may not yield a fruitful purpose. Thus, attempts by aggrieved to show any logical base for his grievance or to highlight the lack of reason in the administrative decision, to an unwilling authority, results in rejection of the representation with perverse or no reason. It is also a common experience that once a grievance is ventilated by an em- ployee, he is subject to more neglect and hostile attitude....that they are treated in a manner contrary to reason and conscience and that decision of administrative authority smack of caprice and whims. The callous attitude of the authority often breeds a sense of perpet- ual injustice. AIR 1986 SC 686. I/ we wish to inform you that in Salem Advocate Bar Association, Tamil Nadu Vs. Union of India (UOI), (2005) 6 SCC 344, the Honble Supreme Court, among other things, has observed and directed The Governments, government departments or statutory authorities are defendants in a large number of Cases pending in various courts in the country. Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that in a large number of cases either the notice is not replied to or in the few cases where a reply is sent, it is generally vague and evasive. It not only 9 http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1840537/ 10 http://indiankanoon.org/doc/619152/ 11 Copy of all communications available here: http://works.bepress.com/chandra_nath/3/ 12 http://www.irtsa.net/pdfdocs/National_Litigation_Policy_of_GOI.pdf 7 gives rise to avoidable litigation but also results in heavy expenses and costs to the exchequer as well. A proper reply can result in reduction of litigation between the State and the citizens. In case a proper reply is sent, either the claim in the notice may be admitted or the area of controversy curtailed, or the citizen may be satised on knowing the stand of the State. Having regard to the existing state of aairs, we direct all Govern- ments, Central or State or other authorities concerned, whenever any statute requires service of notice as a condition precedent for ling of suit or other proceedings against it, to nominate, within a period of three months, an ocer who shall be made responsible to ensure that replies to notices under Section 80 or similar provisions are sent within the period stipulated in a particular legislation. The replies shall be sent after due application of mind. Despite, if the court nds that either the notice has not been replied to or the reply is evasive and vague and has been sent without proper appli- cation of mind, the court shall ordinarily award heavy costs against the Government and direct it to take appropriate action against the ocer concerned including recovery of costs from him. 8 4 APPENDIX D: National Litigation Policy AWHO, an instrumentality of the State, had failed to respond to nearly 30 communications from one member, mostly dealing with infringements of rights of the Member Allottees of the Society thus leavng nooptions but going to court for justice and equity. I/ we invite your attention to the National Litigation Policy [For short NLP].I/ we am /are of view that Wednesday the June 23, 2010, 14:14 Indian Standard Time is one of a historic moment for India when Dr.M.Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice released a Document called National Litigation Pol- icy. 13 The principal aim of this Policy is to transform Government into an Ecient and Responsible litigant. EFFICIENT LITIGANT under the Policy is desired as focusing on the core issues involved in the litigation and addressing them squarely; and Managing and conducting litigation in a cohesive, coordinated and time-bound manner. RESPONSIBLE LITIGANT under the Policy is desired as, which in my view is more important, that litigation will not be resorted to for the sake of litigating. This Policy, in point no. 2. of Chapter II of Vision/ Mission exhorts that Government must cease to be a compulsive litigant. The easy approach, Let the court decide, must be eschewed and condemned. It is equally remarkable to note that when this policy, in the very rst point of Vision/ Mission rearms that it is the responsibility of the Government to protect the rights of citizens and those in charge should never forget this basic principle. This Policy, in point no. 4(A) of Chapter II of Vision/ Mission delves the responsibility on Heads of various Departments, Law Ocers and Government Counsel, and individual ocers to secure the strict implementation of this Pol- icy. In the light of this National Litigation Policy, the (Public authority) is em- powered to take appropriate legal opinion about the merit of the submissions made by us in the background of facts of the case, so as to avoid unwarranted litigation in the court of law against the Government functionaries. 13 http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=62745 9 5 APPENDIX E: I HAVE A RIGHT OF RE- PLY AWHO had failed to respond to nearly 30 communications from one member, mostly dealing with infringements of rights of the Member Allottees of the Society. (i) A note was struck by Apex Court in Superintending Engineer, Public health, U.T. Chandigarh V Kuldeep Singh, 1997(9)SCC 199, when it observed: Every Public servant is a trustee of the society; and in all facets of public administration every public servant has to exhibit honesty, integrity, sincerity and faithfulness in the implementation of the political, social, economic and constitutional policies to integrate the nation, to achieve excellence & eciency in public administration. ... (ii) The right to reply can be traced in the Constitution of India, and, partic- ularly in equality Article 14 14 of it. In vast, beautiful, geographical landscape of Independent INDIA, i.e. Bhaarat, the Constitution of INDIA came into exis- tence on 26th January 1950, is the supreme & fundamental Governing Volume. This epic Governing Volume makes a categorical announcement in its intro- ductory passage that We, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA are the architect of this Volume. This announcement is intelligent, designed and purposeful. The an- nouncement assumes signicance because by this announcement, the framers of our Constitution intended to acknowledge and give tribute to seless sacrice of every man woman who devoted his/her life for the independence of INDIA. There are three chief organs outlined in this Governing Volume they are Legislature, the Govt and the Judiciary; and all these three organs derive their origin and all their powers from this peoples Governing Volume. The dicta of the Constitution is crystal clear; namely, the goal of good governance. Equality is a dynamic concept with many aspects and dimensions. In respect of content and reach of the great equalizing principle enunciated in Article 14, there can be no doubt that it is a founding faith of the Constitution. It is a pillar on which, the foundation of our Democratic Republic rests. Hence the Courts in our country do not subject this Article to a narrow approach. A very fascinating aspect of Article 14 which the courts in India have devel- oped over the time is that Art.14 embodies a guarantee against arbitrariness. A man acting without reason is acting arbitrarily. Any action that is arbi- trary must necessarily involve the negation of equality. Abuse of power is hit by Art.14. AIR 1974 SC 555; AIR 2005 SC 2021. In wealth of the Judgments delivered by our Courts, it is repeatedly armed that public authorities must exercise their discretionary powers in a reasoned and justied manner, failing which inescapable violence to Article 14 is immi- nent. It is my case that individuals Right of Reply is inherent in Duty to reasoned exercise of discretion by Public authorities, a duty which is consistently cast 14 http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/367586/ 10 upon public/ statutory authorities by our Constitutional Courts, in their series of judgments. It is my case that when the Courts, in their wealth of judgments, lay so much emphasize on recording of reasons by public authorities, in the discharge of their duties even when administrative in nature, the recording of reason in their decision itself presupposes the obligation of giving reply, and not only a mere reply but a reasoned reply. It cannot be said that whereas authorities are under obligation to make reasoned reply but they are at liberty to not to make any reply. It is my case that in wealth of judgments, the Courts have insisted upon recording of reasons by administrative authorities on the premise that such a decision may be subject to judicial scrutiny / review and the courts cannot exercise their duty of review unless courts are duly informed of the considera- tion of the public / statutory authorities underlying the action under review. A statement of reasons serves purposes other than judicial scrutiny / review, inasmuch as the reasons promote thought by the public / statutory authority and compel it to cover the relevant points and eschew irrelevancies and assures careful administrative consideration. When, in the case of M Krishna Swamy versus UOI reported in (1992) 4 SCC 605, the Honble Supreme Court held that any action, decision or order of any statutory or public authority bereft of reasoning would be arbitrary, unfair and unjust violating article 14 of the Constitution of India, then, then, it is my case that non-reply of any complaint received by any public /statutory authority, is a positive act of omission, an arbitrary, unfair and unjustied decision of that public / statutory authority to not to make a reply, thereby frustrating citizens fundamental right enshrined under Article 14. When, in the case of Srilekha Vidyarthi versus State of UP reported in AIR 1991 SC 537, it was held by the Honble SC that in order to satisfy the test of Article 14, every State action must be informed by reasons and that an act uninformed by reasons, is arbitrary, and arbitrariness is the very negation of the Rule of Law, then, it is my case that non-reply of any complaint received by State, is an act of omission of the State not informed by reason and thus arbitrary, and thus does not pass the test of Article 14. When in the case of Dwarkadas Marfatia versus Port Trust Bombay, reported in AIR 1989 SC 1642, it was held by the Honble SC that every action of public authorities must be subject to rule of law and must be informed by reason and when there is arbitrariness in their acts and omissions, Article 14 springs in and judicial review strikes it down and thus whatever be the activity of the public authority, it should meet the test of Article 14, then, it is my case that when a public authority does not reply to my complaint, I can safely allege that the said public authority is acting arbitrarily, and Article 14 springs in and gives me the locus of being aggrieved and jurisdiction to the High court under Article 226 to strike down that alleged act of arbitrariness, i.e. the act of un-replied compliant. Similarly, when, in the case of Union of India Vs Mohan Lal Capoor reported in (1973) 2 SCC 836, the Honble Supreme Court said Reasons disclose how 11 the mind is applied to the subject matter for a decision whether it is purely administrative or quasi judicial; and reveal a rational nexus between the facts considered and conclusions reached, then, it is my case that non-reply of any complaint received by any public /statutory authority implies that although mind was applied to the complaint and arbitrary decision was taken by the administrative authority that no reply should be made. Inaction by itself is an independent cause of action and the High Courts can eectively deal with the same. It cannot be said that a person is left without a remedy to challenge any omission or inaction on the part of the authority. It may be informed that in a case, reported in AIR 2003 SC 1115, relating to grievance of the Public servant, the Honble SC held that the inaction on the part of the authority can be challenged in the High Court by ling a WP under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Chandra Nath 12