Tej Raj Thakur vs The Estate Officer, GMADA, Mohali

Mr. Surya Kant, J.—Tej Raj Thakur son of Sagar Dass was allotted ''Lower Income Group House'' bearing No.1457/12, Phase XI, SAS Nagar, Mohali on 31.12.1985 on a tentative price of Rs.29,916/-. A copy of the ''Property Ledger'' with complete statement of accounts (Annexure P-3) reveals that from 04.02.1986 till 30.03.1987, the instalments were paid on time but thereafter in the year 1987, only three instalments were deposited in the months of March, September and October. Again from March, 1988 onwards all the instalments were duly paid by way of demand drafts till 10.07.1999.

The allotment of tenement was, however, cancelled and it was resumed on 14.06.1988 on account of failure of the allottee in depositing some of the instalments, amounting to Rs.2709.55, in the year 1987.

The original allottee Tej Ram Thakur sold the tenement to one Satish Kumar though the ''Special Power of Attorney'' dated 14.02.1986 (Annexure P-1) executed in favour of his wife, namely, Smt.Asha Rani. The instant writ petition has also been filed by the original allottee through Smt. Asha Rani. She has averred that due to some domestic dispute, her husband left the house in the year 1987. The allottee had no source of income due to which the default occurred. However, she started working as a domestic labourer and out of the earnings, she managed to deposit all subsequent instalments on time.

No action to evict the petitioner from the subject tenement was ever taken. It is only when she applied for ''No Due Certificate'' that she was informed the default of non-payment of some of the instalments due to which the allotment stood cancelled on 14.06.1988. Smt.Asha Rani thereafter filed appeal and revision etc., which have been turned down.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through the record.

It is well settled that resumption of site should be the last resort. It is only in a case where either there is consistent default in depositing the sale price or where there are repeated building violations that the property can be resumed. ( Please see Full Bench judgment in Dheera Singh v. UT Chandigarh Admn. and others, 2012(4) R.C.R.(Civil) 970. It cannot be said in the instant case that there were consistent defaults on the part of the petitioner, for all the instalments for more than ten years from 1988 till 1999 have been timely deposited. In the year 1987 also three instalments were deposited. The house is a small residential unit meant for ''lower income group'' category. The petitioner also belongs to such poor section of society. The default being unintentional, we are of the considered view that it is a fit case where cancellation of allotment or resumption of the tenement must be set aside.

Ordered accordingly.

It is directed that the respondent-Authority shall inform the petitioner the due amount along with interest/penalty etc. which the petitioner shall be required to deposit within one month from the date of receipt of communication.

Disposed of accordingly.