Steel
Authority of India Ltd. Vs. Life Insurance Corporation of India & Ors
[1997] INSC 541 (9
May 1997)
K. RAMASWAMY,
D.P. WADHWA
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
O R D
E R This special leave petition has been filed against the order of the High
Court of Delhi, made on 13.3.1997 in C.W. No. 1085/97.
The
predecessor of the petitioner-Company had taken on rent the disputed premises,
fro 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 eviction
under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.
The
petitioner challenged the action in the High Court contending that this Court
has issued directions in I.A.
Nos. 4
and 4 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, Secretary in Ministry of Law and Secretary in the Bureau of
Public Sector Undertakings to decide the disputes without needless consumption
of time 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 matter to save the public money and court valuable
time, and disputes could amicably be settled between the Public Sector
Undertaking and the Government of India or the State Government. 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 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.
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