Chandurkar, Actg. C.J.
1. This petition arises out of proceedings for declaration of surplus vacant land under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976
(hereinafter referred to as ""the Act""). Admittedly, C.T.S. Nos. 977/B and 1257 originally belonged to one Narhar Pawar, who died sometime in
1960 leaving behind him his widow, two major sons, one widowed daughter-in-law, two married daughters and one unmarried daughter.
2. Before the Competent Authority it was the contention of the petitioners that the property left behind by Pawar was coparcenary property and
that the seven heirs left by him should be treated as coparceners and for the purpose of proceedings under the Act, one-seventh share in the total
land in question should be taken into account. IN addition, it was contented that the petitioners had submitted a layout to the Pune Municipal
Corporation on 2nd July 1975 and that layout was liable to be taken into consideration for ascertaining whether contended that the petitioners have
built a commercial building and they were entitled to the benefit of the guidelines of exemption provided for under S. 20 of the Act. All the
objections were rejected by the Competent Authority who declared an area of 5070.07 sq. ms as excess vacant land, which was to be acquired
by the Government.
3. In appeal, the Collector, who was the Appellate Authority Pune Urban Agglomeration, Pune, took the view that each of the heirs who inherited
the property of Pawar ought to be treated as exclusive owner of his one-seventh share. He rejected the other objections but remanded the matter
to the competent Authority for determination after ascertaining the share of each of the seven members and to make a fresh calculation of the
surplus area. This order is challenged by the owners of the property in six separate petitions,which are being disposed of by this common
judg,ment.
4. When this matter was earlier heard on 5th August 1983 it was contended by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners that
having regard to the provisions of S. 2(q)(I) of the Act, two-third of the area of the plots in questions was such that no construction was possible
to be made upon it and that area could not, therefore, be treated as vacant, land. According to the learned counsel, if the share of each owner of
the property is separately considered (I) is given to each one of the petitioners, there is no surplus land which could be declared as such under the
Act. reliance was placed on a decision of the Division Bench of this court in Writ Petition NO. 1771 of 1979 decided on 31st January 1983, B.E
Billimoria v. State of Maharashtra, in support of the contention that the petitioners were as a matter of right entitled to the exclusion of the two-
thirds of the area 8:14 AM 8/26/2008of the plots in question for purposes of calculating excess vacant land. It appeared At that time that the
decision of the Division Bench relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioners needed reconsideration. This petition was, therefore, referred
to the Full Bench and that is how this petition and the connected petitions are new heard by this Full bench.
5. Since a pure question of law has been argued before us with regard to the nature and scope of S. 2(q)(I) of the Act, it is necessary first to refer
to the decision in Billimoria''s case, on which reliance was placed by the learned counsel for the petitioners and the correctness of which has been
disputed on behalf of the State. In Billimoria''s case the land in question belonged separately to the two petitioners . the land belonging to petitioner
No. 1 was to the extent of 3308.61 sq./ m. and the land belonging to petitioner No. 2 was 3172.05 sq. m. Making allowance for 1000 sq. m. of
land which was permissible to be retained under the act, an area of 2308.61 sq. m. and 2175.05 sq. m. was declared surplus as belonging to
petitioners Nos. 1and 2 respectively. These orders were challenged by the land owners in the petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the
constitution of India. Before the Division Bench it was contended on behalf of the petitioners in this case that according to the building Regulations
prevailing in pune, one-third of the land held by each of the owners could be used for construction , which necessarily meant that on the remaining
two-thirds portion of the land held by each of the petitioners, no construction was permissible. This was not disputed and the division Bench took
the view that having regard to the provisions ofr s. 2(q)(I) if on a particular area of a large piece of land construction of building is not permissible
then that area on which construction of such building is not permissible must necessarily be excluded from the definition of ""vacant land"" in section
2(q)(I) of the Act. The relevant observations of the Division Bench are as follows:
....... While one is interpreting Sub-clause (I) of clause (q) of Section 2 one cannot take the land as a whole and then say that this land, on small
area of which construction of building is permissible, should be treated as vacant land. If on a particular area of a large piece of land construction of
building is not permissible then that area on which construction of such building is not permissible must necessarily be excluded from the definition
of the vacant land as mentioned in section 2(q)(I) . It would be highly artificial and it will lead to absurd results if one treats the land as a whole and
holds that if in any part of the land construction of the building is permissible then no part of the land can be excluded from the definition of vacant
land. Any rule of construction cannot permit such construction sought to be put on the words contained in section 2(q)(I).
6. Having so construed the provision of s. 2(q)(I) the Division bench took the view that two-thirds of 2714 .05 sq. ms. Of land owned by each of
the petitioners was liable to be excluded from the consideration of vacant land, building were not liable to be taken into account for the purpose of
the Act, the Division Bench took the view that neither of the petitioners held land in excess of the ceiling limit in Pune Agglomeration.
7. Mr. Karnik. Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, has, at the very outset, made it clear that he was not in a position to support the very broad
proposition laid down by the Division bench in paragraph 6 of the judgement that in all cases two-thirds area of the plot on which building cannot
be constructed in accordance with the building Regulations, that area must be necessarily excluded from the definition of ""vacant land"" in Section
2(q)(I) of the Act. According to the learned counsel, however, he would like to restrict the ratio of the Division bench to such lands on which there
could never be constructed a building such as, according to the learned counsel, building specified in Regulations 18 and 19 of the Building rules
and Bye-laws of the Pune Municipal Corporation. In Regulation 18, it is provided:
Between any building and the boundary of the plot at its sides other than the front and rear thereof an open space of not less than 10 feet shall be
left provided however that this regulation shall not apply to bhambarda Gaothan, Pulachi Wadi, Dagdi pool Wadi and the Gaothan area on the
Pune city side of the river Mutha.
Regulation 19 provides:
Every main building whether residential or otherwise shall have at the rear thereof an open space exclusively belonging thereto and free from nay
erection except a well, houd, detached privy or bathroom, covered washing places etc. Such open space shall extend to the full width of such
building and the distance of such building at any point to the rear boundary of the plot shall not be less than 20 feet.
According to the learned counsel, under Regulation 18 ,m no building was permissible to be constructed within ten feet area between the boundary
of the plot and the building on its two sides except the front and the rear. Further, according to the learned counsel, under Regulation 19 an area of
twenty feet between the rear boundary of the plot and the main building is statutorily required to be maintained irrespective of whether a buildings
intended to be constructed thereon or not. And the competent authority must while determining vacant land proceed to determine the extent of the
area of the land indicated above on which no building could be built under the said Regulations. In other words, the contention is that the land
which will be covered by strips on both sides of a building with a width of the ten feet and the strip at the rear with a width of the ten feet and the
strip at the rear with a width of twenty feet could never be treated as vacant land under S. 2(q)(I) , and in the instant case, according to the learned
Councils for the petitioners, though admittedly no building has been sanctioned nor was any building contemplated , the Building Rules and Bye-
laws of of the pune Municipal corporation. Should have been considered by the competent Authority , who should have ascertained as to what is
the extent of the area on which no building could be constructed and that area should have been excluded for the purpose of computation of vacant
land. According to the learned Advocate-General, appearing on behalf of the State, the construction placed by the Division bench on the definition
in S. 2(q)(I) of the Act defeats the very purpose of the Act, the purpose being that the Act is intended to achieve the following objectives:
(i)to prevent the concentration of urban lands in the hands of a few persons and emulation and profiteering therein.
to bring about the socialisation of vacant land in urban agglomerations to subserve the common good to ensure its equitable distribution.
to discourage construction of luxury housing leading to conspicuous to subserve the common good to ensure its equitable distribution.
to secure orderly urbanisation.
These objectives were referred to us from the decision of the Supreme Court in Maharao Sahib Shri Bhim Singhji Ors. Vs. Union of India (UOI)
and Others, . According to the learned Advocate-General , the construction put by the Division Bench has the effect of allowing a large part of the
area of vacant land without the owner having ever intended to use it for construction being excluded as non-vacant land with the result that the very
purpose of the Act will be defeated.
8. In order top appreciate the contentions raised before us, it is necessary to refer to a few provisions of the Act. u/s 3 of the Act it is provided that
except as otherwise provided in the act, on and from the commencement of the Act, no person shall be entitled to hold any vacant land in excess
of the ceiling limit in the territories to which this Act applies under mSun-sec. (2) of S. 1 The date of commencement of the Act is 17th February
1976. Section 4 prescribes the ceiling limit with references to four categories of urban agglomeration. Vacant land"" is defined in Section 2(q) of the
Act which reads as follows:
(q) vacant land"" means land, not being land mainly used for the purpose of agriculture, in an urban agglomeration, but does not include
land on which construction of a building is not permissible under the building Regulations in force in the area in which such land is situated; but
remanded the matter to the Competent Authority for determination after ascertaining the share of each of the seven members and to make a fresh
calculation of the surplus area. This order is challenged by the owners of the property in six separate petitions, which are being disposed of by this
common judgment.
9. When this matter was earlier heard on 5th August 1983 it was contended by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners that
having regard to the provisions of S. 2(q)(I) of the Act, two-third of the area of the plots in question was such that no construction was possible to
be made upon it and that area could no, therefore, be treated as vacant land. According to the learned counsel, if the share of each owner of the
property is separately considered and benefit of the provisions in s. 2(q)(I) is given to each one of the petitioners, there is no surplus land which
could be declared as such under the Act. Reliance was placed on a decision of the Division Bench of this Court in Writ Petitioners, there is no
surplus land which could be declared as such under the Act. Reliance was placed on a decision of the Division Bench of this Court in Writ Petition
No. 1771 of 1979 decided on 31st January 1983*, B. E. Billimoria v. State of Maharashtra, in support of the contention that the petitioners were
as a matter of right entitled to the exclusion of the two-thirds of the area of the plots in question for purposes of calculating excess vacant land. It
appeared at that time that the decision of the division Bench relied upon by th learned counsel for the petitioners needed reconsideration. This
petition was, therefore, referred to the full Bench and that is how this petition and the connected petitions are now heard by this Full Bench.
10. Since a pure question of law has been argued before us with regard to the nature and scope of s,. w (q) (I) of the Act, it is necessary first to
refer to the decision Billimoria''s case, on which reliance was placed by te learned counse) for the petitioners and the correctness of which has
been disputed on behalf of the State. In Billilmoria''s case the land in question belonged separately to the two petitioners. The land belonging to
petitioner No. 1 was to the extent of 3308.61 sq. m. and the land belonging to petitioner No. 2 was 3172.05 sq. km. Making allowance for 100
sq. m. of land which was permissible to be retained under the Act, an area of 2308.61 sq. m. and 2172.05 sq. m. declared surplus as belonging to
petitioner s Nos. 1. And 2 respectively, These orders wer challengesd by the land owners in the petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the
Constitution of India. Before the Division Bench it was contended on behalf of the challenged petitioner in that case that according to the building
Regulations prevailing in Pune, one third of the land held by each of the owners could be used for construction, which necessarily meant that on the
remaining two-thirds portion of the land held by each of the petitioners, lno construction was permissible. This was not disputed and the Division
Bench took the view that having regard to the provisions of S. 2(q)(I) if on a particular area of a large piece of land construction of building is not
permissible then that ara on which construction of such building is not permissible must necessarily be excluded from the definition of ""vacant land
in Section 2(q)(I) of the Act. The relevant observations of the division Bench are as follows:
.....While one is interpreting subclause (I) of clause (q) of Section 2 one cannot take the land as a whole and then say that this land, on small area
of which construction of building is permissible, should be treated as vacant land. If on a particular area of a large piece of land construction of
building is knot permissible then that area on which construction of such building is not permissible must necessarily be excluded from the definition
is Section 2(q)(I). It would be highly artificial and it will lead to absurd results if one treats the land as a whole and holds that if in any building is
permissible then no part of the land can be excluded from the definition of vacant land. Any rule of construction sought to be put on the words
contained in Section 2(q)(I).
11. Having so construed the provision of S, 2(q) the Division Bench took the view that Two-third of 2714.05 sq. ms. of land owned by each of
the petitioners was liable to be excluded from the consideration of vancant land, and since the areas of the flats in a were not liable to be taken into
account for the purpose of the Act the Division Bench took the view that neither of the petitioners held land in excess of the ceiling limit in Pune
Agglomeration.
12. Mr. Karnik, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, that, at the very outset, made it clear that he was not in a position to support the very broad
proposition laid down by the Division Bench in paragraph 6 of the judgment that in all cases two-thirds area of the plot on which building cannot be
constructed in accordance with the building Regulations, that area must be necessarily excluded from the definition of ''vacant land"" in Section 2(q)
(I) of the Act. According to the learned counsel, however, he would like to restrict the ratio of the Division Bench to such lands on which there
could never be constructed a building such as, according to the learned counsel, building specified in Regulations 18 and 19 of the Building Rules
and Bye-laws of the Pune Municipal Corporatiaon, In Regulation 18, it is provided:
Between any building and the boundary of the plot at its sides other than the front and rear thereof an open space of not less than 10 feet shall be
left provided however that this regulation shall not apply to Bhambarda Gaothan, Pulachi Wadi, Dagdi Pool Wadi and the Gaothan area on the
Pune City side of the river Mutha.
Every main building whether residential or otherwise shall have at the rear there of an open space exclusively belonging thereto and free from any
erection except a well, houd, detached privy or bathroo, covered washing places etc. Such open space shall extend to the full width of such
building and the distance of such building at any point to the rear boundary of the plot shall not be less than 20 feet.
13. According to the learned counsel, under Regulation 18 no building was permissible to be constructed within ten feet area between the
boundary of the plot and the building on its two sides except and front and the rear. Further, according to the learned counse, under Regulation 19
an area of twenty feet between the rear boundary of the plot and the main building is statutorily required to be maintained irrespective of whether a
building is intended to be constructed thereon or not, an d the competent authority must while determining vacant land proceed to centerline the
extent of the area of the land indicated above on which no building could be built under the said Regulations. In other words, the contention is that
the land which will be covered by strips on both sides of a building with a width of the ten width of twenty feet could never be treated as vacant
land under S. 2(q)(I), and in the instant case according to the learned counsel for the petitioners, though admittedly no building has been sanctioned
nor was any building contelmplated, the Building Rules and Bye-laws of the Pune Municipal Corporation, should have been considered by the
Competent authority, who should have ascertained as to what is extent of the area on which no building could be constructed and tha area should
have been excluded for the purpose of computation of vacant land. According to the learned Advocate-General, appearing on behalf of the State,
the construction placed by the division Bench on the defination S. 2(q)(I) of te Act defeats the very purpose of the Act, the purpose bing that the
Act is intended to achieve the following objectives:
to prevent the concentration of urban lands in the hands of a few persons and emulation and profiteering therein.
to bring about the socialisation of vacant land in urban agglomerations to subserve the common good to ensure its equitable distribution.
(iii)to discourage construction of luxury housing leading to conspicuous consumption of scarce buildig materials, and
to secure orderly urbanisation. These objectives were referred to us from the decision of the supreme court from the decision of the supreme Court
in Maharao Sahib Shri Bhim Singhji Ors. Vs. Union of India (UOI) and Others, . According to the earned Advocate-General, the construction by
the Division Bench has the effect of allowing a large part of the area of vacant land without the owner having ever intended to use it for construction
being excluded as non-vacant land with the result that the very purpose of the Act will be defeated.
14. In order to appreciate the contains raised before us, it is necessary to refer to a few provisions of the Act u/s 3 of the Act it is provided that
except as otherwise provided in the Act, on and from the commencement of the Act, no person shall be entitled to hold any vacant land in excess
of ceiling limit in the territories to which this Act applies under sub-sec. (2) of S. 1. The date of commencement of the Act is 17th February 1976.
Section 4 prescribes the ceiling limit with reference to four categories of urban aggiomeration. ""Vacant land"" is deemed in section 2(q) of the Act
which reads as folows:
(q) ''vacant land'' means land, not being land mainly used for the purpose of agriculture, in an urban agglomeraation, but does not ilnclude-
land on which construction of a building is not permissible under the buildings not permissible under the building Regulations in force in the area in
which such land is sitated;
in an area where there are building regulation, the land occupied by any building which has been constructed before, or is being constructed on, the
appointed day with the approval of the appointed day with the approval of the appurtenant to such building:
Provided that where any person ordinarily keeps his catttle, other than for the purpose of dairy farming or for on any land situated in a village within
an urban agglomeration (described as a village in the revenue records), then, so much extent of the land as has been ordinarily used for the keeping
of such cattle immediately before the appointed day shall not be deemed to be vacant land for the purposes of this clause.
15. The definition is in a very wide terms inasmuch as it defines ""vacant land"" as land not being land mainly used for the purpose of agriculture but
the three clauses in the definition describe the land which is not lto be treated as vacant land .We shall come to these three clauses a little later. In
Section 2(g) the words ""land appurtenant "" have defined as follows:
(g) ''land apputenant'', om relation to any building, means-
in an area where there are building Regulations, the minimum extent of land required under such Regulations to be kept as open space for the
enjoyment of such building , which in no case shall exceed five hundred square metres; or
in an area where there are no building Regulations, an extent of five hundred square metres contiguous to the land occupied by such building. And
includes, in the case of any building constructed before the appointed day with a dwelling unit therein, an additional extent not exceeding five
hundred square metres of land, if any, contiguous to the minimum extent referred to in Sub-clause (I) or the extent referred to in Sub-clause (ii) as
the case may be;"" The definition of ""land appurtenant "" quoted above deals with two categories of areas; one is an area where there are no building
Regulations. And the other, an area where there are no building Regulations, and the other, an area whether are no building Regulations. In an area
where thre is the minimum extent of land required under the Regulations to be kept kas open space for the enjoyment of building , but the land
appurtenant cannot inany case exceed five hundred square meters , In an area where there are no building . Apart from the five hundred square
meters of land appurtenant which is specified in the main part of the definition, there is an extention of the definition in the inclusive part which
provides that in the case of any building . Apart from the five hundred square meters of land appurtenant which is specified in the main part of the
definition, there is an extention of the defination the inclusive part which provides that in the case of any building constructed before the appointed
day with a swelling unit therin\,an additional area of five hundred square metres of land contiguous to the minimum extent of land specified in Sub-
clauses (I) and (ii) of the definition is also to lbe treated as land appurtnatnt. ""Swelling Unit"" is defined in section 2(e). In relation to a building or a
portion of a building it means a unit of accommodation, in such building or portion, used solely for the purpose of residence.
16. Now, to ascertain the surplus land which could be so declared under the Act, it is first necessary to decide the total land which is held by a
person, which mans the land is either owned by the person concerned or he possesses such land as tenant or as mortgage or under an irrevocable
power of attorney or under a hire-purchase agreement or partly in one of the said capacities and partly in any other of the said capacity or
capacities. This is clear from thedefinition of the words ""to hold"" in Section 2(I) of the Act. Now, after the total land held by a person is
detdetermined order to determine vacant land, one has to go to the defination 2(q), which, as already pointedout, is in three parts. Sub-clauses (I)
to (ii) and the proviso in the defination declare as to what is not accent land. The competent Authority has, therefore, to ascertain as to what is not
vacant land as contemplated by the Act. Under Sub-clauses (I) it is provided that land on which construction of a building is not permissible under
the building Regulations in force in the area in which such land. It is well -known that building Regulations made by local authorities such as
Municipal Councils or Municipal Corporations do not permit construction of a building in the entire open land in possession and ownership of the
person concerned. The words in ""building Regulations"" have defined in s. 2(b) of the Act to mean the Regulations contained in the master plan, or
the law in force governing the construction of building s. It is not is dispute tha so far as the pune Municipal Regulations is and 19 which require
certain open space to be left on the sides of building and at the rear and set-off in the front the Regulations also require certain open spaces to be
left on the sides of building and at the rear and set-off in the front the Regulations also require that the remaining two thirds of the a building is not
permissible. Sub-clause the land which is not vacant is the land occupied by any building which has ben constructed before fore, or is being
constructed on, the appoitnedday, that is, 17th February 1976, with the approval of the appropriate authority and the land appurtenant ot such
building . So far as Sub-clause (ii) is concerned, the effect of it is that in an area where there are building regaulations, the land occupied bby a
building along with the land under hundred square meters of land u/s 2(g)(I) and an additional area of five hundred square meters in case the
building was constructed before the appointed day will not be trated as vacant land. In other wprds. The and being land appurtenant and if the
building is constructed before the appointed day, then a further area of five hundred square meters of land is five hundred square meters of land is
not lto be treated as vacant land. Sub-clause (ii) deals with an area where there are no building Regulations and in such a case the actual extent of
the land appurtenant to such building is not to be treated as vacant vacant land. Subclause (ii) if the building has a dwelling unit and is constructed
before the appointed day an additional area if five hundred square meters uks treated as land appurtenant thereto.
17. We are not concerned wilth the proviso which is really in the nature of special provisions for the purpose of excluding from the computations of
the vacant land that portion of the land where a person ordinarily keeps his cattle other than for the purpose of breeding of live-stock in a village
within an urban agglomeration.
18. Now, the scheme of the definition of vacant land appears to lbe very clear. Apart from the general provisions that all land, which is not land
mainly used for the purpose of agriculture, is to lbe classified as vacant land, under clauses (I) to (iii) and the proviso, the land of the category
specified in these clauses and the proviso is not to be included when the extent of vacant land is to be included when the extent of vacant land is to
be computed for the purpose of making a declaration by way of final statement contemplated by s. 9 of the Act. The common thread which runs
through Sub-clause (I) to (iii) is that land on which it is impermissible to construct a building or the land on which a building is already constructed
or is being already constructed on the appointed day and the appurtenant land is not to be included as vacant land having regard to the relevant
building Regulations, if there are any. Clauses (iL) to (iii) refer to land on which under the building Regulations construction of building is not
permissible and land which is actually occupied by the build-the appointed day or is being constructed on the appointed day with the approval of
the appropriate authority, Sub-clauses (ii) both contemplate that the land on which the building stands or is being constructed along with the
appurtenant land is to lbe excluded from the concept of ''vacant'' . The distinguishing feature in the two clauses is that clause (ii) refers to an ara
where there are building Regulations and clause (iii) refers to an area where there are no building Regulations. Where building Regulations are in
force, necessarily approval of the appropriate authority has to be taken if the building is to be constructed. In an area where there are no building
Regulations the question of the building being constructed with the approval of the appropriate authority does not arise, and that is why Sub-clause
(iii) refers only to a building which has been constructed before or is being constructed on, the appointed day.
19. There is no dispute that the vacant land has to be determined with reference to the date of commencement of the Act and the relevant date is
17th February, 1976. So far as Sub-clause (I) is concerned, the question as to whether construction of a building is or is not permissible according
to the building Regulations has to be determined with reference to 17th Feburary,1976. We have already referred to the definitions of the words
building Regulations"", which mean Regulations contained in the master plan, and the meaning of the expression ""master plan"" is also given in the
Act itself in S. 2(h) and it means, in relation to an area within an urban agglomeration or any part thereof, the plan prepared under agglomeration or
any part thereof, the plan prepared under any law for the time being in force or in pursuance of an order made by the State Government for the
development of such are or part thereof and providing for the stages by which such development of such are or part thereof and providing for the
stages by which such development shall be carried out. Now, when a question arises as to whether construction of a building is not permissible
under the building Regulations in force, it is possible that there may be an absolute ban or prohibition under the relevant master plan where under
no circumstances construction of building is possible on a given piece of land. Such piece of land may have been reserved for a purpose and on
such reservation construction of a building would not at ail be permissible. But, when we come to an instance like the present one in which there is
an open plot of land which is admittedly a house site on which a building could be constructed, it is difficult to see how any part of the land can be
excluded under Sub-clause. (I) of S. 2(q) on hypothetical considerations. Section 3 of the Act and the procedural provisions thereof which are
intended to implement the provisions of the said section contemplate the determination of the quantum of vacant land on facts as they exist on the
date of commencement of the Act . Therefore, in a given case where the owners of a land claims that certain land which is owned by him should be
excluded on the ground that construction of a building is not permissible under the building Regulations are attracted in his case. For a person., whi,
on the commencement date, never even intended to construct any building on his land or for a person who has not even submitted a plan for
construction of any building, the relevant building Regulations are while irrelevant and he is not affected by the building Regulations. It appears to us
that when sub clause (I) refers to land on which construction of a building is not permissible under the building Regulations, it was contemplated
that on the date of commencement of the Act. that is, 17th February, 1976, the owner intended to construct a building on the plot in question and
the plan of the building was wither already sanctioned or he had submitted the plan for sanction. Where a building plan is already sanctioned and
such sanctioned plan is operative on 17th February, 1976 or a plan has already been submitted for sanction, it could be ascertained with certainty
as to how much land could be identified as land on which construction of a building is not possible. Sub-clause (I) of S. 2(q) does not, in our view,
contemplate a general exclusion of land from the purview of the Act to the extent of two-thirds or one-half or whatever may be the extent of land
on which relevant building Regulations in force in the area under consideration irrespective or whether a building is proposed to be constructed or
not on the date of commencement of the Act. We are, therefore, unable to subscribe to the broad proposition laid down by the Division Bench
that in all cases of vacant land, irrespective of whether on the commencement date a building was proposed to be constructed or not, Sub-clause
(I) has the effect of exclusion from the purview of the Act such land on which construction of a building is not generally permissible, which is two-
thirds of the are of the total plot in Pune. Such a construction will defeat the very purpose of the Act. An illustration as to how such a construction
will defeat the purpose of the Act may be now given Let us take the case of a person who owns six thousand square meters of land, then on the
ratio of the decision of the division Bench, four thousand square meters of land will have to be totally excluded on the footing that thereon no
construction impermissible. Assuming that this is so, out of the remaining two thousand square meters of land one thousand square meters of land is
allowed to be retained being the ceiling limit. If at some future date the owner proposes to construct a building, it is not necessary that he should
restrict his construction only to the one-third area of the one was allowed to retain in addition to four thousand square meters as stated above,
because for the purposes of the building Regulations the area on which he can build will be determined having regard to the area of five thousand
square meters of land which is in actual possession of the owner. Thus he will be entitled to construct on the one-third area out of the five thousand
square meters. This could necessarily include a part of the land which has been assumed to be incapable of being constructed upon according to
the division Bench judgement with the inevitable result that the land one-third of the area of the whole plot, which is excluded for the computation
of vacant land again becomes available for construction which evidently is not contemplated placed by the legislature. The construction placed by
the division Bench of the scope of Sub-clause (I) and s. 2(q) is in our view, clearly likely to defeat the purpose of the Act and such a construction
must, therefore, be avoided. So far as Sub-clause (I) of S. 2(q) of the Act is concerned, we must therefore hold that the decision of the Division
Bench in B.B. Billimoria and Another Vs. State of Maharashtra and Others, which holds that if on a particular area of a place of land construction
of a building is not permissible, then that area must necessary be excluded from the definition in s. 2(q)(I) of the Act, requires to be overruled.
20. When the extent of the vacant land is to be determined, it is clear that what is sought to be excluded under each one of the heads must be
separately determined by the Competent Authority. The owner of the land will be entitled to the benefit of each one of the Sub-clauses as well as
the proviso if they are clauses as well as the proviso if they are relevant on the facts of a given case. There may be cases where the land which is
sought to be excluded by Sub-clause (ii) can be included by in the land which is sought to be excluded by Sub-clause (I). when , for example, on a
given piece of land the area of two-third of the land is not to be construction upon but this area of two-third is more than the land occupied by the
building, then the owner will not be entitled toa separate exclusion both under Sub-clauses (I) and (ii), because the area under Sub-clause (I) will
obviously include the land appurtenant which is referred to in Sub-clauses (I) and (ii). Indeed , this position was not disputed by Mr. Kanrnik, .
But, since vacant land has to be determined on the basis of totality of the land owned by our in possession of the owner as contemplated Authority
will have to determine separately the land which falls under Sub-clauses (I), (ii), (iii) and the proviso of s. 2(q) of the Act subject to some land
falling in clauses (ii) being covered have and said eariler, we cannot accept the contention advanced before us on behalf decision of B.B. Billimoria
and Another Vs. State of Maharashtra and Others, , that two-thirds of the total area of the land in the instant case will be straightway liable to be
excluded for the purpose of computation of vacant l land and ceiling area.
21. We may refer to certain decision on which reliance was placed by the learned counsel for the petitioners, though on consideration of those
decision we find that they are hardly of nay assistance to the petitioners for the proposition that the learned counsel has advanced before us.
Reliance was placed on the decision of the Delhi High Court in Shanti Devi Vs. Delhi Administration and Others, . In that decision, the learned
Judges of the Delhi High Court took the view that S. 2(q)(I) of the Act contemplated that the activity of building is not permissible on the date
when the land is sought to be dealt with land not at any future time and the possibility that such activity or could come to be permitted in future or
that there are buildings constructed in the a there is no permanent prohibition to construct would not be sufficient to that the land as ""vacant land
within the meaning of the provision. So far as the decision holds that the relevant date for determination for the purpose of s. 2(q)(I) of the Act is
the date on which the land is sought to e date dealt with, that is, the commencement date referred to in S. 3 there can be no dispute. In a part of
the decision, the Division Bench seems to have taken the view that land notified for acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act must be held to be
one on which construction of buildings was not which permitted. We are really not concerned with that view, so far as the present petitions are
concerned , but it is sufficient to point out that the correctness of a that view has not been accepted by this Court in Dattatray Shankarbhat
Ambalgi and Others Vs. State of Maharashtra and Others, and in an unreported decision of this Court in D.P. Dani v. State of Maharashtra (Writ
Petition No. 1650 of 1979 decided on 31st January , 1983). In Dattatraya''s case the contention was that certain plots of land which were
reserved for various public activities, such as buildings of primary school high school, civil hospital, bus terminus ets. Under the Town Planning
Scheme should be excluded for the purpose of computation of vacant for land because, according to the petitioners in that case no building activity
was permitted on those lands so far as the petitioners were concerned. The division Bench after referring to the primary object of the Act as set
out in the case of Union of India (UOI) and Others Vs. Valluri Basavaiah Chowdhary and Others, rejected the contention that merely because the
petitioners are prohibited from constructing any building any under the building Regulations contained in the Town Planning Scheme the land should
not be treated as vacant land. The Division Bench found that if the Regulations allowed the building activity not to a person who holds that land but
by public bodies or the State Government then certainly construction of building was permissible, and once it is found that construction of building
is permitted either by an individual or even by public authority then certainly it is ""vacant land"" and cannot be taken out of the definition. This
decision does not support the petitioners that even if no building is contemplated and no plan has been sanctioned, merely because there are some
building Regulations which prohibit generally construction over two-thirds of the total area of the plot that area of two-thirds of the plots that area
of two-thirds of the plot should be excluded fro the purpose of vacant land. In Dani''s case a notification sanctioning the development plan of Pune
was issued on 7th July, 1966, but no further steps were taken by the Government for acquiring the petitioners land. On 28th July, 1971 the
government confirmed the purchase notice issued by the petitioners under s. 49 of the Town Planning Act but excluded a part of the area from the
acquisition. On 23rd June, 1972 a declaration was made under s. 126 of the Town Planning Act read with s. 6 of the Land Acquisition Act. The
land was duly demarcated and proceedings under s. 9 of the Land Acquisition Act for determination of compensation were also going on . It was
the claim of the petitioners, relying on the decision of the Delhi High court , that since the building activity would not be permitted in further on the
land held by the holders the land should a be regarded as non-vacant land. The argument was, as far as the petitioners were concerned , no
building activity was permissible. This argument was rejected was by the division Bench in the following words.
We are unable to accept the meaning that is sought to be read in the definition of vacant land'' by the Delhi High court on which reliance is placed
by Mr. Andhyarujina . Merely because as a result of acquisition proceedings initialed in respect of a land a prudent person will not contemplate
construction on the same, it does not mean that the construction of a building is not permissible under the building Regulations in force in the area in
which the land is situated, It is only where construction of a building regulation that he land is taken out of the purview of the Urban Ceiling Act.
What is necessary is the legal impermissibility and not prudently refraining from construction on the land . Those are the clear words to be found in
s. 2(q)(I) of the Ceiling Act"".
22. While these observations have our respectful concurrence, we have already pointed out that so far as Section 2(q)(I) of the Act is concerned,
there must either of be complete prohibition for construction activity by development plan or master plan or there must already be a sanctioned
plan or a plan submitted for approval on the date of commencement of the Act on the basis of which and land on which a building cannot be
constructed under s. 2(q)(I) could be definitely ascertained. In the absence of any of the above conditions in the case of open land which falls in
clause (I) of s. 2(q), all land in excess of the ceiling limit specified in s. 4 will be taken over by the Government.
23. the learned counsel of the petitioners then contended that the matter has already been remanded to the Competent Authority by the Appellate
Authority for determination of separate one-seventh share of each of separate tenants in common is entitled to the ceiling area, a separate final
statement must also be made by the appropriate authority in respect of each of the co-owners. We do not see what objection there could be to
such a course. Section 9 of the Act provides that after the disposal of the objections under s. 8(4), the competent authority shall make the
necessary alterations under in the draft statement in according with the order passed on the objections aforesaid and shall determine the vacant
land held by the person concerned in excess of the ceiling limit. It is obvious; therefore, that on a plan reading in of s. 9 of the Act, vacant land is to
be determined with reference to each person in a case like this and therefore, in respect of each of the seven persons the Competent Authority will
have to determine whether it exceeds the ceiling limit and make a final statement as contemplated by s. 9 of the Act.
24. Since the matter is being remanded back the petitioner will also be entitled to raise fresh contentions as are permissible to him for computation
of vacant land also in respect of survey No. 1257. The petitioner will, however, not be entitled to reopen the question which have already been
decided so far as rejection of his claim of the footing that he had already submitted an application for exemption under s. 20 of the Act.
25. Besides the petitioner, five other co-owners have also filed . Writ Petitioner Nos. 1036 to 1040 of 1980. With the consent of the counsel we
have taken up all these five petitions , because the same order has been challenged in all these five petitions . All these petitions fall the competent
Authority will now deal with the matters in the light of this judgement. Rule issued in these petitions are discharged. However, there will be no order
as to costs of these petitions.
26. Order accordingly.