A
B
STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD.
(SUCCESSOR TO HINDUSTAN STEEL LTD.)
v.
LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA AND ORS.
MAY 9, 1997
[K. RAMASWAMY AND D.P. WADHWA, JJ.]
Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971:
C
Evictiolt"'-£ompany took on rent the premises from Life Insurance
Corporation-Proceedings for eviction started against the Company-Com-
pany filed writ petition and contended that the matter be ref med to the High
Power Committee-Writ petition dismissed-Held, High Court has not com-
mitted any error warranting interference.
D
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Special Leave Petition (C)
No. 9984 of 1997.
From the 'udgment and Order dated 13.3.97 of the Delhi High Court
in C.W. No. 1085 of 1997.
E
D .K. Sinha and Ajit Pudussery for the Petitioner.
F
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
This special leave petition has been filed against the order of the
High Court of Delhi, made on b.3.1997 in C.W. No. 1085/97.
The predecessor of the petitioner-Company had taken on rent the
disputed premises, from the Life Insurance Corporation, on 4th floor of
Jeevan Deep Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi. Since the petitioner
had not vacated the premises, action was taken for eviction under the
Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. The petitioner
G challenged the action in the High Court contending that this Court had
issued directions in I.A. Nos. 4 and 5 of 1992 in Civil Appeal Nos.
2058-59/88 to constitute a High-power Committee to resolve the disputes
between the Public Sector Undertaking and the Government of India of
the concerned Ministry, by a Committee composed of Cabinet Secretary,
H Secretary in Ministry of Law and Secretary in the Bureau of Public Sector
378
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f
STEELAUlHORITYOFINDIALID.v. L.l.C.OFINDIA
379
Undertakings to decide the disputes without needless consumption of time A
and waste of public funds. The petitioner has sought for such a reference
and contends the High-power committee should have been constituted and
decided the matter. We find no force in the contention.
The object of issuing direction in those matters was to decide the
fiscal disputes in case of major policy matters to save the public money and B
courts valuable time, and disputes could amicably be settled between the
Public Sector Undertakings. and the Government of India or the State
Governments. The intention was not to resolve the disputes like eviction
of a Company or Public Undertaking under Public Premises (Unauthorised
Occupants) Act;. such petty disputes are not directed to be dealt with by C
the High level officers whose otherwise duty and time is of very important
nature. Under these circumstances, the High Court has not committed any
error warranting interference.
The special leave petition is accordingly dismissed.
D
R.P.
Petition dismissed.
Lex