SCMR 2004

2004 PLP 113 (SCMR)

RIFFAT MASOOD — Petitioner Versus CANTONMENT BOARD OF SIALKOT and others — Respondents

Jurisdiction / Court
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Decided Date
Civil Petitions for Leave to Appeal Nos. 1795 and 1796-L of 1998, decided on 26th July, 2001.
Honorable Judges
Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Tanvir Ahmed Khan, JJ
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 2004 PLP 113 (SCMR)
Forum / Court Supreme Court of Pakistan
Bench Members Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Tanvir Ahmed Khan, JJ
Parties RIFFAT MASOOD — Petitioner Versus CANTONMENT BOARD OF SIALKOT and others — Respondents
Primary Law Cantonments Act (II of 1924)
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2004 PLP 113 (SCMR)?

This judgment primarily cites: Cantonments Act (II of 1924) as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2004 PLP 113 (SCMR)?

The case was heard and decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan bench comprising: Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Tanvir Ahmed Khan, JJ.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 2004 PLP 113 (SCMR) (RIFFAT MASOOD — Petitioner Versus CANTONMENT BOARD OF SIALKOT and others — Respondents). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Laws Cited

Cantonments Act (II of 1924)

Representation

  • Ch. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Senior Advocate Supreme Court with S. Abul Asim Jafri, Advocate-on-Record for Petitioner.
  • Rana M. Nasrullah Khan, Advocate Supreme Court with Ch. Mehdi Khan Mehtab, Advocate-on-Record for Respondent No. 1.
  • Sahibzada Anwar Hameed, Advocate Supreme Court for Respondent No.3.
  • Date of hearing: 26th July, 2001.

Headnotes / Summary

(On appeal from the judgment, dated 21-8-1998 passed by the Lahore High Court, Lahore, in Civil Revisions Nos.976 of 1984 and 977 of 1984).

S.273

Specific Relief Act (I of 1877), S. 42

Declaratory suit-- Failure to give notice prior to filing of suit

Effect

Originally suit for injunction was filed by the plaintiff but subsequently it was converted into suit for declaration

Trial Court dismissed the suit on the ground that no notice under S.273 of Cantonments Act, 1924, had been given by the plaintiff

Appellate Court as well as High Court maintained the judgment and decree passed by Trial Court

Contention of the plaintiff was that suit for injunction should have been treated as notice to Cantonment Board

Validity

High Court had rightly found that the requirement of S.273(1) of Cantonments Act, 1924, was mandatory in nature

Mere pendency of suit could not be treated as a notice to the Board and compliance of S.273(1) of Cantonments Act, 1924

Leave to appeal was refused.

Judgment & Decree

TANVIR AHMED KHAN, J.

Leave to appeal is sought against the judgment, dated 21-8-1998 passed by a learned Single Judge of the Lahore High Court, whereby Civil Revisions Nos.976 of 1984 and 977 of 1987 filed by the petitioner were dismissed.

2. We need not give the facts of the case in detail as the same have been incorporated by the learned Judge of the High Court while dismissing the civil revisions. The dispute in this case pertains to the auction of lease rights of Plots Nos.27 and 28, situated on Allama Iqbal Road, Saddar Bazar, Sialkot City. Since the lease amount did not commensurate with the market value of the plots, as such, auction proceedings were not confirmed. The petitioner filed a suit for permanent injunction. The learned trial Court after framing Issues and hearing the parties dismissed the spit vide its judgment, dated 28-4-1982 not only on the ground of competency of its maintainability but also on merits. The petitioner assailed the said judgment in appeal which was dismissed by the learned Additional District Judge, Sialkot, vide his judgment, dated 23-10-1983. Thereafter he preferred aforesaid civil revisions in the Lahore High Court, which have been dismissed through the impugned judgment. Hence these petitions for leave to appeal.

3. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the documents appended with the petitions. We have noticed that the learned Single Judge of the High Court after elaborate discussion, has come to the conclusion that the petitioner has not complied with section 273 of the Cantonments Act, 1924, as no notice was given by the petitioner. The operative part of the judgment of the learned Single Judge qua this determination is as under:-- "In the instant case the petitioner/plaintiff initially filed a suit for injunction only which was later on converted into a suit for declaration. Since the relief of declaration could not be granted in view of the bar of subsection (1) of section 273, the learned trial Court rightly found the suit as not maintainable, as the admitted position was that no notice in terms of subsection (1) of section 273 had been given by the plaintiff/petitioner. Since the requirement of subsection (1) of section 273 is of mandatory nature, the mere pendency of the suit cannot be treated as a notice to the Board and compliance of subsection (1). The view of the learned trial Court is correct and in consonance with the rule laid down by their lordships of the Supreme Court in the case of Muhammad Ilyas Hussain (supra)."

4. Even otherwise the petitioner would not have any vested right for confirmation of his bid if it otherwise does not commensurate with the market value of the plots in question. The learned Judge of the Lahore High Court through cogent reasons has affirmed the concurrent findings of the two Courts below. The petitions being without any force are hereby dismissed and leave refused. M.H./R-54/S Petition dismissed.