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Supreme Court of India

STATE OF GUJARAT versus DAHYABHAI ZAVERBHAI

Decided
24 February 1997
Judges listed
K. RAMASWAMY, G.T. NANAVATI (as the open data lists them; this may not name the whole bench)
Disposal
Appeal(s) allowed

Citations

Official
[1997] 2 S.C.R. 469 · 1997 INSC 196
Not shown
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The Court's text

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Delay condoned. Leave granted. We have heard learned counsel on both sides.

p. 469, margin F

This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the Gujarat High Court, dated August 21, 1995 passed in First Appeal No. 3875/95.

p. 469, margin F

Admittedly, the respondent-contractor had entered into an agreement No. B-1/17 of 1981-82 to complete the work of protective measures for the road bridge across river Ambica. The appellant had issued the work order on June 3, 1981. It is true that there was a delay in handing over the work sheet and the specifications. But the trial Court after considering the entire evidence had noted its finding thus :

pp. 469–470, margin G

"In the present ease the land on which the construction work was required to be made was a land of the Government and not of private party or private owner, so there was no hurdle in the construction work of the plaintiff but the plaintiff himself has left the construction and hence, in the present case, only the plaintiff can be held a person who has· revoked the contract. Before revoking the contract, the plaintiff was given sufficient time and reasonable opportunity to complete the work but the plaintiff has not done anything to complete the work and left the work and the site so we have no option, the deft/Department to take the decision

p. 470, margin A

for revocation of the contract."

p. 470, margin C

In view of the above finding, the inevitable conclusion is that the respondent had abandoned the execution of the work in spi'4i of the opportunity having been given to him to complete the work. ci~use 3 of the Contract reads as under :

p. 470, margin C

"Clause-3 : In any case, in which under any clause or clauses of this contract, the contractor shall have rendered himself liable to pay compensation amounting to the whole of his security deposit (whether paid in the sum or deducted by instalments) or in the case of abandonment of the work owing to serious illness or death of the contractor or any othe·r cause, the Executive Engineer, on behalf of the Government of Gujarat shall have power :- (a) to rescind the contract (of which recession notice in writing to the Contractor under the hand of the Executive Engineer shall be conclusive evidence) and in that case the security deposit of the Contractor shall stand forfeited and be absolutely at the disposal of Government.

p. 470, margin D

That in view of this express provision the Hon'ble High Court erred in holding that the petitioner/State is not entitled to forfei-

p. 470, margin F

ture the deposit."

p. 470, margin G

A reading thereof would clearly indicate that in any case, under any clause or clauses of the contract, the contractor would. have rendered himself liable to pay compensation amounting to the whole of his security whether paid in the sum or deducted by instalments; in the case of abandonment of the work owning to serious illness or death of the contractor or a11y other cause, the Executive Engineer is empowered to have the contract rescinded; in that case the security deposit of the contractor shall stand forfeited and be absolutely at the disposal of the Government.· In consequence, forfeiture of the security deposit, on account of abandonment of the work by the appellant, was perfectly valid. The High Court, therefore, was not right in directing the appellant to refund the security deposit. Learned counsel for the respondents contends that time was not the essence of the contract, and therefore, the recession of the contract was not for valid reason. We are, however, not on the validity of the recession of the contract on the ground of time being the essence of contract but on the question whether the respondent had abandoned the contract or not. The question in that backdrop arises : whether the recession of the contract was correct in law? In view of the above facts, the action was legal. In that perspective, the ratio in Mis. Hind Construction Contractors v. State of Maharashtra,A.I.R. (1979) SC 720 has no relevance. Therein, the contract was not rescinded. Work was executed after the extended time and the claims were made before the Arbitrator for the work done during the extended time. Therein, the contention was raised that time was essence of the contract. Respondent and the contractor having not completed the work within the schedule time, he was not entitled to the amount under the award. In that contract, this Court had held that time was not essence of the contract. That question, however, does not arise in this case for the reason that the respondent had abandoned the contract.

pp. 470–471, margin G

The appeal is accordingly allowed. No costs. R.P. Appeal allowed.

p. 471, margin E