Holding

The Supreme Court held that its contempt jurisdiction is confined to determining whether its prior order has attained finality and been complied with, and it cannot reopen or modify the substantive issues of that order.

Summary

The Bihar Finance Service H.C. Cooperative Society Ltd. sought land acquisition for housing its members, leading to a declaration and award under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The High Court quashed the declaration and remitted the matter for further inquiry, but the Supreme Court later directed the High Court to release specific portions of land, which was partially complied with. Subsequent illegal constructions prompted the Supreme Court to release additional land, yet the authorities failed to fully implement the directions, giving rise to a contempt petition. The Court examined whether its earlier orders had attained finality and whether the alleged non‑compliance constituted contempt. It held that contempt jurisdiction is limited to ascertaining finality and compliance, and the Court cannot reopen or modify the substantive issues of the original orders. Consequently, the petition was disposed with directions for the authorities to comply with the Supreme Court’s earlier orders.

Issues considered

Whether the Supreme Court can entertain a contempt petition when its earlier order has attained finality and whether compliance with that order is in question.
Whether the Court may reopen or alter the substantive issues or directions of its earlier order in a contempt proceeding.
Whether the failure of the statutory authorities to execute the Supreme Court’s directions amounts to contempt of court.
Whether clerical errors in a High Court judgment can be corrected by the Supreme Court in a contempt proceeding.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 129
Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. Section 4, s. Section 40, s. Section 5A, s. Section 6

Subjects

land acquisitioncontempt of courtSupreme Court jurisdictionindividualized justicecompliance with court ordersstatutory authorityillegal constructionmunicipal corporationdevelopment plan

Judgment

[2008] 3 S.C.R. 1137

" BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. A
~-
II.
GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS.
(Contempt Petition (C) No.44 of 2005 in
Civil Appeal No. 1357 of 2003)
MARCH 5, 2008 B
;,.
(S.B. SINHA AND HARJIT SINGH BEDI, JJ.)
~

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971/Constitution of India, 1950;
Article 129: c
Acquisition of land for construction of houses by a Society
for its members - Initiation of land acquisition proceedings -
Award - Challenge to - Allowed by High Court quashing
Notification for acquisition - Supreme Court remitted the matter

" .
to High Court with a direction to dispose it of by following the D
principles of fndividualized justice - High Court releasing
certain lands in favour of Society- On appeal, Supreme Court
further released certain land in favour of Society - Not
complied with by the authorities - Contempt Petition - Held:
Parameters of Jurisdiction of Supreme Court under 1970 Act E
are well settled - While considering contempt application, the
Court is primarily concerned with the question as to whether
the order passed by the Court attained finality - And if so,
whether it was complied with or not - Supreme Court could
-4
neither extend the jurisdiction to reopen the issues nor shall it F
embark upon other questions which could be raised in original
proceedings - When claim of parties adjudicated upon and
attained finality, it is not open for any party to go beyond the
orders and seek to take away/truncate the effect thereof - In ·
view of undertaking given by the authorities for compliance of
.G
the orders, the petitioner had to wait for a long time to get the
possession of the land so acquired in terms of order of the
,) High Court as modified by the Supreme Court - However, in
the facts and circumstances of the case, the Municipal
1137 H
1138 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2008] 3 S.C.R.

A Corporation is directed to take appropriate action with regard
to sanction of construction plans of buildings on the land in
question - Directions issued - Land Acquisition Act, 1894 -
Ss. 4, 5A, 6 and 40.
Petitioner, a Co-operative Society, made a requisition
8 to the State authorities for acquisition of land for
construction of houses for its members. The authorities
initiated the land acquisition proceedings and a
declaration under s.6 of the Land Acquisition Act was
..
issued followed by an award in respect of about 59.94
C acres of land, so acquired. Aggrieved by acquisition, the
land owners filed writ petitions, which were allowed by
the High Court remitting the case to the State for further
proceedings in the matter of inquiry uls. 40 of the Act. On
appeal preferred thereagainst, this Court while clarifying
D the law operating in the field directed that the High Court
should not have upset the Notification under s.6 of the
Act as a whole and should have individualized justice vis-
a-vis each writ petitioner before it. The matter was remitted
to High Court for consideration in terms of the directions.
E The High Court pursuant to the said direction had passed
an order directing release of about 12.9603 acres of land.
Claims in respect of the rest of the land were rejected and
the authority was directed to identify the land and deliver
possession thereof to the petitioner, if necessary, after
F demolition of the constructions made thereon. In the
meantime, several illegal constructions came up in some
portions of the land so acquired. Against such illegal
constructions, an appeal was preferred. This Court further
released about 17.68 acres of land in favour of various
G contenders. Allegedly, the said order was not complied
with. Hence, the present Contempt Petition. A notice was
issued by this Court for compliance of the order. In return,
an affidavit was filed by the authority affirming therein that
the action has already been initiated by them in pursuance
of order of this Court. An affidavit was also filed by PROA
H
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1139 '
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS.
assuring that it would carry out each and every direction A
t- of this Court. It is further stated by the authorities that on
2/3.02.2007, possession of an area of 5.91775 acres of land
was handed over to the petitioner. A controversy, however,
was raised that the petitioner was only entitled to 18.8124
acres of land. This Court directed the authorities to s
conduct a survey. The survey report revealed that 25.4871
acres of land were to be handed over to the petitioner.
Such lands were to be handed over upon demolition of
the unauthorised structures on the plots.
Petitioner contended that plot No. 220 belonging to C
the Pharmaceutical Cooperative Housing Construction ,
which was the writ petitioner before the High Court in Writ
Petition no. 93 of 1984 was the owner of 24 acres of land.
However, by mistake, apart from the land to which it was
found entitled to, viz., 22 K, 4 D, it had wrongly been D
mentioned that it was further entitled to an area of 2.82
acres of land.
Respondent submitted that having regard to the fact
that the declaration issued under Section 6 of the Act was
set aside by the High Court as far back as in the year 1990 E
and the applicants having raised constructions over small
areas, they would suffer Irreparable injuries if the
judgment of this Court is directed to be implemented; and
_, that the members of the petitioner ~ Society are owners
of houses and some of them have moved out of Patna F
and in particular, Jharkhand after its creation.
Disposing of the petition, the Court
HELD: 1.1 The judgment and order of the High Court
setting aside the declaration under Section 6 of the Land G
Acquisition Act was set aside by this Court. It issued
certain directions. Such directions were issued not only
,,t" in presence of the State of Bihar but also in presence of
those who had objected to the acquisition proceedings
and filed writ applications before the High Court. The claim H
1140 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A made by each one of them had been taken into
consideration. If the applicants are purchasers of lands
pendent lite which was subject matter of different
. proceedings before the High Court as also this Court, they
an~ also bound thereby. (Para - 18) [1150-D, E, F]
B 1.2 Lands have been acquired in terms of the
proceedings. Validity of the said proceedings has been
upheld by this Court. The amount of compensation has
been deposited. Awards have been made. The court can
at this stage neither go behind the awards nor various
C orders passed by this Court. (Para -19) [1150-G; 1151-A]
1.3 Patna Regional Development Authority (PROA)
is a statutory authority. It has been created by a statute. It
was responsible for planned development of the city. For
the said purpose, it was under a statutory obligation to
0
grant sanction of plans for construction of buildings. If
I
somebody has made constructions without obtaining
any sanction, he must face the consequences therefor.
(Para - 20) [1151-A, B]
E 1.4 It is, having regard to the purport and object for
which various Acts are enacted, idle to contend that no
action should be taken against them only because they
have constructed their houses long back. Such statutes
also subserve promotion and protection of ecology which
F is one of the foremost needs of the society. (Para - 20)
[1151-B, C]
Bombay Dyeing· & Mfg. Co. Ltd. vs. Bombay
Environmental Action Group & Ors. (2006) 3 SCC 434 and
M~I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. Radhey Shyam Sahu and Others
G (1999) 6 SCC 464 - referred to.
2.1 Parameters of the jurisdiction of this Court under
the Contempt of Courts Act, 1970 are well-settled. While •
dealing with such an application, the court is concerned
primarily with as to whether the order passed by it has
H
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1141
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS.
attained finality or not and as to whether the same is A
'-
t- complied with or not. (Para - 21) [1152-G; 1153-A, B]
Maruti Udyog Limited v. Mahinder C. Me{lta and Ors.
(2007) 11 SCALE 750 - relied on.
2.2 While exercising the jurisdiction under the s·
contempt of Courts Act this court does not intend to
. reopen the issues which could have been raised in the
~
original proceeding nor shall it embark upon other
questions including the plea of equities which could fall
for consideration only in the original proceedings. The c
court is not concerned with as to whether the original
order was right or wrong. The court must not take a
different view or traverse beyond the same. It cannot
ordinarily give an additional direction or delete a direction
issued. (Para - 22) [1153-B, C]
D
""'\, Director of Education, Uttaranchal and others v. Ved
Prakash Jo~hi and others. AIR (2005) SC 3200 .and K. G.
Derasari and Another v. Union of India and Others (2001) 10
sec 496 - relied on.
2.3 This Court while exercising its jurisdiction under E
the Contempt of Courts Act or Article 129 of the
Constitution of India must strive ~o give effect to the
directions issued by this. Court. When the claim of the
parties had been adjudicated upon and has attained
~
finality, it is not open for any party to go behind the said · F
orders and seek to take away and/or truncate the effect
thereof. Moreover undertakings had been given by the
respondents before this Court from time to time. What
they have done or intend to do is only the compliance
thereof. The petitioner had to wait for a long time to get G
the fruits of requisition. made by it for acquisition of land.
(Para - 23) [1153-D, E, F; 1154-C, D]
) TR. Dhananjaya v. J. Vasudevan (1995) 5 SCC 619 -
relied on.
H
1142 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A 3. So far as submission of the appellant regarding
clerical or typographical error has crept in the judgment
~
"
of the High Court is concerned, it is not for this court to
direct any correction therein. An appropriate application
may be filed before the High Court. The High Court alone
B would be entitled to rectify the mistake committed by it, if
any. In the event, the High Court thinks it fit and proper to
rectify the mistake, if any, indisputably the said area shall -1
also be allotted to the petitioner. (Para - 25) [1154-E, F, G]
4. The functions of the PROA are now being carried
"
c out by Patna Municipal Corporation. The statutory
authority, thus, keeping in view the purport and object for
which it has been created, must take appropriate action
in accordance with law. (Para - 26) [1155-A]
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Contempt Petition (C)
D
No. 44 of 2005 in Civil Appeal No. 1357 of 2003.
I-
AK. Srivastava, A.P. Sahay, Sujit Kr. Sinha, Anshuman {

Ashok, Amit Singh, Kuldip Singh for the Appellant.
Rakesh Dwivedi, Nagendra Rai, Aman Lekhi, Gopal
E Singh, T. Mahipal, Nishakant Pandey, Alok Kumar and B.B.
Singh for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
S.B. SINHA, J. 1. This contempt proceeding has a
F chequered history. Petitioner is a cooperative society. It intended t-
. to have a plot fo! construction of houses for its members.
A requisition was made for acquisition of land for the said
purpose on their own behalf before the State on or about
G 3.07.1973.
2. Land acquisition proceedings were initiated pursuant
thereto. A notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition
Act, 1894 was issued. The owners of the land filed objections
1.
under Section 5A of the Act. Overruling the said objection, the
H proceedings were continued. A declaration under Section 6 of
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1143
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]

"' the Act was issued followed by an award. In the said A
~
proceedings, 59.94 acres of land was acquired. Petitioner -
. Society deposited the entire amount of compensation.
Several writ applications came to be filed before the Patna
High Court questioning the said proceedings.
B
:-- 3. The said writ petitions were allowed by the High Court
. stating:
"40. For the reasons aforementioned in considered
opinion,, all the writ applications are fit to be allowed and
the impugned declaration under Section 6 of the Act vide c
notification dated 16/18.03.1983 as contained in Annexure
- 2 in C.W.J.C. No. 2755of1988 is fit to be quashed. The
case, however, has to be remitted to the respondents State
Government for further proceeding in the matter of inquiry
under Section 40 of the Act and Rule 4 of the D
"""" aforementioned Rules and under the Act for inquiry under
Section 5A of the Act until objections filed by the petitioners
in accordance with law."
4. However, on an appeal preferred thereagainst, this Court
in Shyam Nandan Prasad and Others v. State of Bihar and E
others (since reported in (1993) 4 sec 255), while clarifying
the law operating in the field stated that where such a requisition
is made on the part of a Company which a cooperative society
is, Part VII of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 shall apply. This
Court in its judgment invoked the principle of 'individualized F
justice' directing:
\
"22. Having thus clarified the law governing the field, we
would open doors for streams of equities and discretions
to enter in the exercise of power by the High Court under
G
Article 226 of the Constitution. As observed earlier, we
are of the view that the High Court should not have upset
} · the notification under Section 6 of the Act as a whole and
should have individualised justice vis-a-vis each writ
petitioner before it, having regard to the equities
H
1144 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A interplaying in each case and to the regulation of its "'
discretion keeping in view host of other factors which weigh 1:
with the High Court to deny, grant or mould relief even
when illegalities in procedure keep staring. Thus for the
view afore-expressed, we allow these appeals, set aside
B the impugned orders of the High Court and remit all these
matters back to it with the request that though it may take -<
them up as a batch, it may give individual attention to
each case, view the illegalities pointed out by the writ
...
petitioner in their right perspective having regard to the
c time factor and confine the relief, if due, to him separately.
We shall not be taken to have controlled the discretion of
the High Court in administering individualised justice and
amongst others it may, with the cooperation of the Society
and of the State Government, as also the writ petitioners
examine the possibility of an equitable solution so that the
D f-
fist of law and the discretion of the court do not hurt
(
unbearably. We thus remit the matters to the High Court
without any order as to costs."
The High Court pursuant to the said direction had passed
E an order dated 20.06.2001 directing release of 12.9603 acres
of land. Claims in respect of the rest of the lands were rejected
and the District Magistrate Patna was directed to identify the
lands and deliver possession thereof to the petitioner- society,
if necessary, after the demolition of the constructions made
F thereon.
In the meanwhile, several transactions were made. Several
constructions, some of which were totally illegal, came up in
some portions of the acquired lands.
G One Ashish Sahkari Grih Nirman Samiti preferred an
appeal thereagainst before this Court upon obtaining special
leave being Civil Appeal No. 1357 of 2003. By a judgment and
order dated 18.08.2004, this Court further released 17 .68 acres
of land in favour of various contenders directing:
.H 'The remaining available land, shall be allotted to the Bihar
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1145
. v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
" State Finance Service House Construction Cooperative A
·~
Society for whose benefit the acquisition of land was made.
This Society is liable to pay compensation amount as
may be determined by competent authorities/ courts i!1
respect of the land to be allotted to them as stated above.
B
'>-
The Collector or the authorized officer shall complete the
acquisition proceedings in all respects and hand over
"' possession to the· parties in terms afore-stated within a
period of four months from today.
The impugned order of the High Court shall stand modified c
to the extent indicated above. In all ther respects, the
impugned order shall remain undisturbed.
This order does not preclude the competent authority
(Patna Regional Development Authority) to proceed in
-I: D
accordance with law with regard to the constructions
" already made, if they are not in accordance with law.
Further, the construction to be made in the area to be
allotted, as stated above, by the parties shall be in
accordance with the planned development after obtaining
necessary permissions from the competent authorities. E
The appeals are disposed of in the above terms."
5. Allegedly, the said order was not complied with.
_.+. 6. Although the Patna Regional Development Authority
(PROA) was not a party to the appeal, it was called upon to F
proceed in accordance with law as regards constructions
already made in violation of the extant statute. It was furthermore
directed that the constructions in the areas be allowed to be
made only in terms of the development plan and upon obtaining
necessary permission from the competent authorities. PROA G
or other authorities of the State of Bihar allegedly did not comply
,_ with the said directions. Several new constructions were made
~
in total disregard of the statutory provisions.
7. When the time granted by this Court in the
H
1146 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A aforementioned order expired, a notice was issued. An affidavit
.,,
1
was affirmed by one Shri Sudhir Kumar, the then Collector of
Patna, stating:
"The field survey work was completed in the presence of
Secretary and Chairman of applicant's society.
B
It is relevant to mention here that the delivery of possession <
was given (u/s 16 of L.A. Act) on 49.4525 Acres, the
Hon'ble Apex Court exempted 12.68 Acres in favour of
....
appellants for road and house sites and 5.00 acres in
c favour of appellants cum Land Owners. The possession
is to be restored in favour of applicant Society on (49.4545-
17.68) i.e. 31.7725Acres.
20. On the spot, the Hon. Secretary, Bihar Finance
Services Housing Cooperative Societies Mr. Arun Kumar
0 Sinha and Chairman, Mr. S.P. Tiwari were asked to receive -~

re-possession of 22.12 acres vacant land. They refused (

to take possession and asked to hand over the entire land
in a single block at a time, after demolishing the entire
building existing on it."
E
8. A direction was issued on 7.04.2006 by this Court issuing
notice to the PROA.
9. The total area of the lands acquired for the petitioner-
society, as noticed hereinbefore, was 59.94 acres of land.
f-
F According to the petitioner, although it was entitled to be given
possession of about 31.7725 acres of land, possession of,
however. only 9.99 acres was delivered to it.
10. An affidavit was also filed by PROA on 10.07.2006
assuring this Court that it would carry out each and every direction
G of this Court.
However, when the matter came up before this Court on ·
28.08.2006, this Court recorded:
"Mr. Rakesh Owivedi, learned senior counsel for the State
H made statement at the bar that responsible officer of the
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1147
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
.... concerned department would be writing ·a letter to the A
t- petitioner offering certain lands to him ~hich are lying
vacant. Let it be so done within two weeks from today.

It may be mentioned that in the letter, area of land which
will be offered, shall also be enumerated."
B
>- However, the said assurance allegedly was also not acted
upon .
...
On 2/3.02.2007, possession of an area of 5.91775 acres
of land was handed over to the petitioner - society.
c
A controversy, however, was raised that the petitioner -
society was only entitled to 18.8124 acres of land.

11. We may notice that keeping in view the controversy
between the parties, a survey was directed to be conducted by
~ an order dated 30.08.2007 stating: D
...
"Mr. Ashok Dubey, Executive Engineer, Patna Municipal
Corporation together with Mr.Rajesh Kumar, AD LAO shall
visit the lands in question and, if necessary, appoint a
competent surveyor to find out the extent of the lands in
E
respect of which possession had not been handed over to
the Petitioner-Society together with "other requisite details.

For the aforementioned purpose, Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi,
learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the State of
+
Bihar has handed over a compilation of the d9cuments, F
inter alia, consisting of the Notification under Section (4)
of the Land Acquisition Act and declaration under Section
(6) thereof as also the judgment passed by the Patna
High Court from time to time and also the ju9gment passed
by this Court so as to ascertain the area which is required
G
to be handed over in favour of the petitioner-Society:

Mr.Srivastava, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf
}
of the petitioner-Society states that Mr. S.P.Tewary,
President, Bihar Finance Housing Cooperative Society
shall render all cooperation to the aforementioned officers. H
·'
1148 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A Mr.Ashok Kumar Dubey and Mr. Rajesh Kumar together
with Mr.S.P.Tewary may visit the lands in question within
ten days from date.
After identification of the lands, the aforementioned two
officers shall also hear Mr. Tewary, who may produce all
B the requisite documents for the purpose of finding out as
to the exact extent of the lands which was required to be <
. handed over by the alleged contemnor in favour of the
petitioner-Society.

c Patna Municipal Corporation, which is the successor of
the Patna Regional Development Authority, shall initiate
proceeding~. if not already initiated as against the persons
who had made encroachment or who had not constructed
the building in terms of the Patna Development Authority
Act and/or the Rules framed thereunder.
D
Mr.Ashok Kumar Dubey and Mr.Rajesh Kumar shall file a ,
report to this Court within six weeks."
12. Pursuant to the said order, a survey was conducted
wherein it was recorded:
E
"9. After taking into consideration the areas released by
the Hon'ble Patna High Court in CWJC No. 2755/1988
etc. etc. dated 20.06.2001 (as contained in paragraph
34) and this Hon'ble Court in Civil Appeal No. 1357/2003
F dated 18.08.2004, the petitioner Society is entitled to
possession of 18.26695 acres. The balance area of
7.22019 acres is required to be given to it."
It was further stated:
"12. Pursuant to the Survey and review of the plots released
G
by the Hon'ble Patna High Court and this Hon'ble Court
and appraisal of the plots which were handed over to the
petitioner society, 26 plots can be considered for carving
out the land which could be handed over the petitioner
society. These are plot nos. 108, 173, 185, 186, 187, 188,
H
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1149
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]

" 189, 201, 204, 205, 206, 209, 216, 217, 221, 224, 226, A
t- 227, 228, 229, 231, 234, 237, 238, 240 and 246. Out of
these plots, an area of 7 .22019 acres can be carved out
and handed over to the petitioner society, in full compliance
of the directions of this Hon'ble Court."

13. From a perusal of the said survey report, it is evident B
>-- that 25.4871 acres of land were to be handed over to the
.. petitioner. Such lands were to be handed over upon demolition
of the structures of the plot numbers mentioned in paragraph
12 thereof. Tidy nature of the development of the area is also
accepted. c
14. Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, learned senior counsel appearing
on behalf of the State of Bihar submitted that the aforementioned
survey report would solve the entire dispute and if the same is
acted upon, no dis-satisfaction would be caused to any of the
~
D
parties .
...
15. Mr. A. K. Srivastava, learned senior counsel appearing
on behalf of the petitioner, however, wou Id draw our attention to
Sr. No. 4 of the Chart contained in the report which reads as
under: E
Case
No.
Name of
Party
Plot
No.
Area Area Date of
purchase
.
Remarks

.. ... ... ... ...
4. CWJC Pharmaceutical 220 2.82 2.82.000 1/5/78 & Purchased F
93/84 Co. Op. House part Acres 0.69374 218178 by
Cons I. 22K,4D Society22K
&4Dby
members
, directly"
. G
16. The learned counsel contends that plot No. 220
· belonging to the Pharmaceutical Cooperative Housing
Construction which was the writ petitioner before the Patna High
Court in Writ Petition no. 93 of 1984 was the owner of 24 acres
of land. However, by mistake, apart from the land to which it H
1150 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A was found entitled to, viz., 22 K, 4 D, it had wrongly been
mentioned that it was further entitled to an area of 2.82 acres,
which is evidently a mistake.
17. Mr. Nagendra Rai, learned senior counsel appearing
on behalf of the impleaded parties, on the other hand, would
B raise a contention that having regard to the fact that the
declaration issued under Section 6 of the Act was set aside by
the Patna High Court as far back as in the year 1990 and the ...
applicants having raised constructions over small areas, they
would suffer irreparable injuries if the judgment of this Court is
C directed to be implemented. It was contended that the members
of the petitioner - Society are owners of houses and some of
them have moved out of Patna and in particular, Jharkhand after
its creation.
18. The judgment and order of the Patna High Court setting
0
aside the declaration under Section 6 of the Act was set aside
by this Court. It issued certain directions. Such directions were
issued not only in presence of the State of Bihar but also in
presence of those who had objected to the acquisition
proceedings and filed writ applications before the Patna High
E Court. The claim made by each one of them had been taken
into consideration. If the applicants are purchasers of lands
pendent liff:J which was subject matter of different proceedings
before the Patna High Court as also this Court, they are also
bound thereby.
F
It is difficult to accept the contention of the learned counsel
that, in view of the change in the situation, viz., creation of the
State of Jharkhand, some of the members ceased to be the
members of the society itself. Bifurcation of the State of Bihar
G has nothing to do with continuation of the membership of the
society which is an independent juristic person.
19. Lands have been acquired in terms of the proceedings.
Validity of the said proceedings has been upheld by this Court. 1i
The amount of compensation has been deposited. Awards have
H been made. The court can at this stage neither go behind the
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1151
v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
~ awards nor various orders passed by this Court. A
+ 20. PROA is a statutory authority. It has been created by a
statute. It was responsible for planned development of the city.
For the said purpose, it was under a statutory obligation to grant
sanction of plans for construction of buildings. If somebody has
made constructions without obtaining any sanction, he must face B
r the consequences therefor.
.. It is, having regard to the purport and object for which such
Acts are enacted, idle to contend that no action should be taken
against them only because they have constructed their houses c
long back. Such statutes also subserve promotion and protection
of ecology which is one of the foremost needs of the society.
In Bombay Dyeing & Mfg. Co. Ltd. vs. Bombay
Environmental Action Group & Ors. (2006) 3 SCC 434, this
Court observed: D
~
'r " ... The development of the doctrine of sustainable
development indeed is a welcome feature but while
emphasizing the need of ecological impact, a delicate
balance between it and the necessity for development
must be struck. Whereas it is not possible to ignore inter- E
generational interest, it is also not possible to ignore the
dire need which the society urgently requires."
Almost a similar question came up for consideration before
-+ this Court in M.I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. Radhey Shyam Sahu F
and Others [( 1999) 6 SCC 464] wherein this Court upon
considering the question from various angles directed:
"82. We direct as under:
1 . Blocks 1, 2 and 4 of the underground shopping complex G
shall be dismantled and demolished and on these places
the park shall be restored to its original shape.
l
I 2 . In Block 3 partition walls and if necessary columns in
the upper basement shall be removed and this upper
basement shall be converted into a parking lot. Flooring H
1152 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A should be laid at the lower basement level built to be used ~
as a parking lot. Ramp shall be constructed adjacent to ~
Block 3 to go to upper and lower basement levels for the
purpose of parking of vehicles. Further to make Block 3
functional as a separate unit walls shall be constructed
B between Block 2 and Block 3 and also Block 3 and
Block 4.
3 . Dismantling and demolishing of these structures in
Blocks 1, 2 and 4 and putting Block 3 into operation for
..
parking shall be done by the Mahapalika at its own cost:
c Necessary services like sanitation, electricity etc. in Block
3 shall be provided by the Mahapalika.
4 . The Mahapalika shall be responsible for maintaining
the park and Block 3 for parking purposes in a proper and
efficient manner.
D
t-
5. M.I. Builders Pvt. Ltd., the appellant, is divested of any r
right, title or interest in the structure built by it under or over
the park. It shall have no claim whatsoever against the
Mahapalika or against any other person or authority.
E 6 . Block 3 shall vest in the Mahapalika free from all
encumbrances. Licence of M.I. Builders to enter into the
park and the structure built tberein is cancelled of which
possession is restored to the Mahapalika with immediate
effect. No obstruction or hindrance shall be caused to the +.
F Mahapalika by anyone in discharge of its functions as
directed by this order.
7 . Restoration of the park and operation of Block 3 for
parking purposes shall be completed by the Mahapalika
•
within a period of 12 months from today and the report
G
filed in the Registry of this Court."
21. Parameters of the jurisdiction of this Court under the
Contempt of Courts Act, 1970 are well-settled. { See Maruti
Udyog Limited v. Mahinder C. Mehta and Ors. (2007 (11) '
H SCALE 750]}
BIHAR FINANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1153
v.. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.8. SINHA, J.]
..+- While dealing with such an application, the court is A
concerned primarily with :
(i) whether the order passed by it has attained finality
or not;
(ii) whether the same is complied with or not. 8 ~

·-
.-
22. While exercising the said jurisdiction this court does
not intend to reopen the issues which could have been raised in
the original proceeding nor shall it embark upon other questions
including the plea of equities which could fall for consideration
only in the original proceedings. The court is not concerned with c
as to whether the original order was right or wrong. The court
must not take a different view or traverse beyond the same. It
cannot ordinarily give an additional direction or delete a direction
issued. In short, it will not do anything which would amount to
-t exercise of its review jurisdiction. [See Director of Education, D
~ Uttaranchal and others v. Ved Prakash Joshi and others AIR
2005 SC 3200 and K. G. ·Oerasari and Another v. Union of India
and Others (2001) 10 SCC 496].
23. This Court while exercising its jurisdiction under the
E
Contempt of Courts Act or Article 129 of the Constitution of India
must strive to give effect to the directions issued by this Court.
When the claim of the parties had been adjudicated upon and
has attained finality, it is not open for any party to go behind the
+ said orders and seek to take away and/ or truncate the effect
thereof. [See TR. Dhananjaya v. J. Vasudevan (1995) 5 SCC F
619]
24. In Prithawi Nath Ram v. State of Jharkhand and Others
(2004) 7 SCC 261], this Court held:
"5. While dealing with an application for contempt, the G
court is really concerned with the question whether the
earlier decision which has received its finality had been
t- complied with or not. It would not be permissible for a
court to examine the correctness of the earlier decision
which had not been assailed and to take a view different H
1154 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 3 S.C.R.

A than what was taken in the earlier decision.
It was furthermore observed:
"6. On the question of impossibility to carry out the
direction, the views expressed in T.R. Dhananjaya v. J.
B Vasudevan need to be noted. It was held that when the
claim inter se had been adjudicated and had attained <
finality, it is not open to the respondent to go behind the
orders and truncate the effect thereof by hovering over the
...
rules to get around the result, to legitimise legal alibi to
c circumvent the order passed by a court."
Moreover undertakings had been given by the respondents
before this Court from time to time. What they have done or
intend to do is only the compliance thereof. The petitioner had
to wait for a long time to get the fruits of requisition made by it
D for acquisition of land. The lands were acquired in 1983 on the t·
basis of the requisition made by it in 1973. ~

We, therefore, are not in a position to accede to the
contention of Mr. Rai.
E 25. So far as submission of Mr. Srivastava that a clerical
or typographical error has crept in the judgment of the Patna
High Court is concerned, we are of the opinion that it is not for
this court to direct any correction therein.
For the aforementioned purpose, an appropriate
F application may be filed before the Patna High Court. The High
Court alone would be entitled to rectify the mistake committed
by it, if any. Either the State of Bihar or the applicants who are
the beneficiaries of this order may file an appropriate application
therefor. If and when such an application is filed, the High Court,
G we are sure, would pass an appropriate order in terms of the
well known principle actus curiae neminem gravabit.
In the event, the High Court thinks it fit and proper to rectify
the mistake, if any, indisputably the said area shall also be
allotted to the petitioner.
H
BIHAR F:INANCE SERVICE H.C. COOP. SOCIETY LTD. 1155
· v. GAUTAM GOSWAMI & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
4 26. The functions of the PROA are now being carried out A
+- by Patna Municipal Corporation. The statutory authority, thus,
keeping in view the purport and object for which it has been
created, in our opinion, must take appropriate action in
· accordance with law. As indicated hereinbefore, PROA, the
predecessor of Patna Municipal Corporation has given 8
assurance before this Court. We hope it shall implement the
same as expeditiously as possible.

27. The petition is disposed of accordingly with the
aforementioned directions and observations.
c
S.K.S. Contract Petition disposed of.

+