M/S Jindal Steel and Power Ltd v. Union of India and Ors

o o 2023:PHHC:052079o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 302o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o o Dateoofodecision:o17.03.2023o o

(1)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-3429-2007o o M/SoJINDALoSTEELoANDoPOWERoLIMITEDo o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(2)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-3930-2007o o MADHAVoENTERPRISESo o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(3)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-4183-2007o o M/SoJINDALoSTEELoANDoPOWERoLIMITEDo o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(4)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-4184-2007o o M/SoJINDALoSTEELoANDoPOWERoLIMITEDo&oANOTHERo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo.......Petitionerso o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(5)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-4288-2007o o KESHAVoSTEELSo o o o o o o .......Petitioneroo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-2-o o o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(6)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-4656-2007o o M/SoWORLDSoWINDOWoIMPEXoINDIAoPVT.oLTD.o o o o o o o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(7)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-6077-2007o o M/SoSURAJoFABRICSoINDUSTRIESoLTD.o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(8)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-6496-2007o o M/SoHIMoALLOYESoANDoSTEELSoo o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(9)o ooo o o o o o o o oooooCWP-9741-2009o o M/SoRAJDHANIoFERROSoPVT.oLTD.o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(10)o ooo o o o o o o o oooCWP-11539-2009o o M/SoRAJDHANIoFERROSoPVT.oLTDo o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-3-o o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o

(11)o ooo o o o o o o o oooCWP-20191-2008o o M/SoH.M.oSTEELSoLTD.o&oANOTHERo o o ooooooo.......Petitionerso o o o o o o o VERSUSo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:o-oo Mr.oVikasoMohanoGupta,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-3930-2007;o o o CWP-4288-2007;oCWP-6077-2007;o o o CWP-6496-2007;oCWP-4656-2007.oo o o o Noneoforotheopetitioner(s)o&orespondent(s)o oinoremainingopetitions.oo o o o Mr.oPankajoGupta,oSenioroPaneloCounselo o o Fororespondents-UnionoofoIndiao o o inoCWP-3429-2007;oCWP-4184-2007;o o o CWP-9741-2009;oCWP-11539-2009.oo o o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o Aobatchoofo11opetitionsoisobeingodecidedobyoaocommonoorderoaso counselo foro theo partieso agreeo thato identicalo questionso ofo lawo ariseo foro determinationoinotheopresentobatchoofowritopetitions.oo

2.o o Forofacilityooforeference,ofactsoareoenumeratedofromoCWP-3429o ofo2007otitledoaso"M/soGeneraloSteeloandoPoweroLimitedoversusoUnionoofo Indiaoandoothers".o

3.o o Theocontroversyowhichoarisesoforodeterminationoinotheopresento batcho ofo petitionso revolveso aroundo theo applicationo ando interpretationo ofo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-4-o o Sectiono73oofotheoRailwaysoAct,o1989oandotheoentitlementoofotheoRailwaysotoo recoveropenaltyotowardsooverloading,oafterotheodeliveryoofogoods.oo

4.o o Theo petitioner-companyo iso engagedo ino theo businesso ofo manufacture,o saleo ando supplyo ofo steelo includingo spongeo iron.o Beingo theo consignor,o theo petitioner-companyo loadedo spongeo irono too beo suppliedo too variousosteeloindustriesoinoMandioGobindgarhoinoPunjabothroughoRailwayo rakes.oDetailsoofosomeoofotheoRailorakesodispatchedobyotheopetitioneroinotheo aboveosaidoCWPoandosubjectomatteroofodisputeoareoasounder:o o o "-o 11.12.2005o (2420.800oMToofoSpongeoIron)o -o 16.12.2005o (2421.600oMToofoSpongeoIron)o -o 28.12.2005o (2360oMToofoSpongeoIron)o -o 03.01.2006o (2421.600oMToofoSpongeoIron"o

5.o o Theoaboveosaidoconsignmentsowereobookedotoobeotakenofromo KirodimaloNagaro(Raigarh)oinoChattisgarhotooMandioGobindgarhoinoPunjab.o Uponoloadingoofotheospongeoironoinoaccordanceowithotheoinstructionsoofotheo Railwayo Authorities,o theo petitionero Companyo waso issuedo theo Railwayo receiptsoinowhichotheodetailedodescriptionoofotheoconsignmentoalongwithotheo weighmentoofospongeoironowasorecorded.oDuringotheotransitoperiod,o06orakeso wereo reweighedo ato Weigho Bridge,o Champao ono 11.12.2005;o 17.12.2005;o

28.12.2005oando03.01.2006.ooItowasoreportedothatothereowasoexcessoloadingoofo spongeoironoinotheoaboveosaidorakes.oTheopetitioner-companyoheldothatotheo weighmentohadobeenodoneoatotheobackoofotheopetitionerocompanyoandowithouto anyo prioro intimation.o Ito iso furthero allegedo thato weighmento doneo byo theo respondentoRailwaysowasonotoonoaccurateooroasoperotheotermsoandoconditionso buto ono theiro owno whimso ando fancies.o Theo deliveryo ofo theo aforesaido consignmento waso dulyo madeo too theo consigneeo ono 29.12.2006.o Theo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-5-o o respondent-Railways,othereafter,oraisedoaodemandoofopenaltyoforooverloadingo ofotheorakesoafteroaoperiodoofomoreothano04omonthsoofosuchodelivery.oVariouso othero issueso pertainingo too defectso ino theo weighmento undertakeno byo theo respondentowereoalsooraised,ohowever,otheosameoareonotobeingoadvertedotooforo thisocaseosinceotheoissueoisobeingoexaminedoonotheolegalityoofosuchodemando itself.oo

6.o o Pursuanto too theo noticeo issuedo too theo respondent,o writteno statemento ono behalfo ofo theo respondentso hado beeno filedo whereino theyo hado takenoaopleaothatotheoweighmentoofotheorakesohadobeenoundertakenobyotheo RailwaysoasoperotheoprovisionsounderotheoRailwaysoAct,o1989oandothatoitoiso entitledotooclaimopunitiveochargeoforooverloadingoofotheoRailwayowagon/rakeso undero Ruleo 161o ofo Railwayo (Punitiveo Chargeso foro overloadingo ao wagon)o Rules,o 1990.o o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too variouso otherso provisionso pertainingo too claimingo chargeso foro overloadingo ofo wagon/rakeso byo theo respondentoRailways.oTheootherofactualoaspects,ohowever,oareonotodisputed.oIto wasopointedooutothatotheoloadingoofotheoconsignmentowasonotosupervisedobyo theo Railwayo staffo ando theo Railwayo receipto issuedo containedo theo remarkso "CPH,oBSPoEN-ROUTEoTOoWEIGHoANDoADVISEoJOINTLY".oHence,o theo Railwayso cannoto beo deemedo too beo ao signatoryo oro acknowledgingo theo correctnessoofotheoweighmentoundertakenobyotheopetitionerohimself.oHence,o theo consignor/consignee,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o iso responsibleo too payo theo penaltyooimposedoonoaccountoofooverloadingoofotheoRailwayowagon/rakesoaso perotheoweighmentodoneobyotheoRailways.oItowasoallegedothatotheoreadingoando interpretationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoRailwaysoAct,o1989obyotheopetitionerso isomisconceivedoandoisonot-sustainable.oTheodemandowasothusojustified.oo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-6-o o

7.o o Counselo foro theo partieso reiteratedo theiro submissionso noticedo aboveoduringotheocourseoofoarguments.oTheosameoareonotobeingoreiteratedotoo avoidorepetitionoofotheofacts.oo

8.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheorespectiveopartieso andohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoavailableoonorecordowithotheiroableo assistance.oo

9.o o Beforeogoingofurtherointootheocontroversy,oitowouldobeonecessaryo toomakeoaoreferenceotootheorelevantostatutoryoprovisionsothatoareoreliedoupono byotheopartiesotoosubstantiateotheirorespectiveoclaims.oo o o TheoRailwaysoAct,o1989o o o "65.oRailwayoreceipt.-o(1)oAorailwayoadministrationoshall,oo

(a)oinoaocaseowhereotheogoodsoareotoobeoloadedobyoaopersono entrustingosuchogoods,oonotheocompletionoofosucholoading;ooroo

(b)oinoanyootherocase,oonotheoacceptanceoofotheogoodsobyoit,oissueo ao railwayo receipto ino sucho formo aso mayo beo specifiedo byo theo CentraloGovernment.o

(2)oAorailwayoreceiptoshallobeoprimaofacieoevidenceoofotheoweighto andotheonumberoofopackagesostatedotherein;oProvidedothatoinotheo caseo ofo ao consignmento ino wagono loado oro train-loado ando theo weightoorotheonumberoofopackagesoisonotocheckedobyoaorailwayo servantoauthorisedoinothisobehalf,oandoaostatementotoothatoeffecto iso recordedo ino sucho railwayo receipto byo him,o theo burdeno ofo provingo theo weighto or,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o theo numbero ofo packageso statedo therein,o shallo lieo ono theo consignor,o theo consigneeoorotheoendorsee."o Xxo xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-7-o o o

72.oMaximumocarryingocapacityoforowagonsoandotruckso-(1)o Theogrossoweightoofoeveryowagonoorotruckobearingoonotheoaxleso whenotheowagonoorotruckoisoloadedotooitsomaximumocarryingo capacityo shallo noto exceedo sucho limito aso mayo beo fixedo byo theo CentraloGovernmentoforotheoclassoofoaxleounderotheowagonooro truck.o

(2)o Subjecto too theo limito fixedo undero sub-sectiono (1),o everyo railwayo administrationo shallo determineo theo normalo carryingo capacityoforoeveryowagonoorotruckoinoitsopossessionoandoshallo exhibitoinowordsoandofiguresotheonormalocarryingocapacityosoo determinedoinoaoconspicuousomanneroonotheooutsideoofoeveryo suchowagonoorotruck.oo

(3)oEveryopersonoowningoaowagonoorotruckowhichopassesooveroao railwayo shallo determineo ando exhibito theo normalo carryingo capacityoforotheowagonoorotruckoinotheomannerospecifiedoinosub-sectiono(2).o

(4)o Notwithstandingoanythingo containedo ino sub-sectiono (2)ooro sub-sectiono (3),o whereo ao railwayo administrationo considerso itoo necessaryo oro expedientosootoodoo ino respecto ofo anyo wagonooro trucko carryingo anyo specifiedo classo ofo goodso oro anyo classo ofo wagonsoorotrucksoofoanyospecifiedotype,oitomayovaryotheonormalo carryingo capacityo foro sucho wagono oro trucko oro sucho classo ofo wagonsoorotrucksoandosubjectotoosuchoconditionsoasoitomayothinko fito too impose,o determineo foro theo wagono oro trucko oro classo ofo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-8-o o wagonsoorotrucksosuchocarryingocapacityoasomayobeospecifiedoino theo notificationo ando ito shallo noto beo necessaryo too exhibito theo wordso ando figureso representingo theo carryingo capacityo soo determinedoonotheooutsideoofosuchowagonoorotruckoorosuchoclasso ofowagonsoorotrucks.o

73.oPunitiveochargeoforooverloadingoaowagon.-oWhereoaopersono loadso goodso ino ao wagono beyondo itso permissibleo carryingo capacityoasoexhibitedounderosub-sectiono(2)oorosub-sectiono(3).o oro notifiedo undero sub-sectiono (4)o ofo Sectiono 72,o ao railwayo administrationo may,o ino additiono too theo freighto ando othero charges,o recovero fromo theo consignor,o theo consigneeo oro theo endorsee,oasotheocaseomayobe,ochargesobyowayoofopenaltyoatosucho rates,oasomayobeoprescribed,obeforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoods:o Providedothatoitoshallobeolawfuloforotheorailwayoadministrationotoo unloadotheogoodsoloadedobeyondotheocapacityoofotheowagon,oifo detectedoatotheoforwardingostationooroatoanyoplaceobeforeotheo destinationostationoandotoorecoverotheocostoofosuchounloadingo andoanyochargeoforotheodetentionoofoanyowagonoonothisoaccount.oo Xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

78.oPowerotoomeasure,oweight,oetc.-oNotwithstandingoanythingo containedo ino theo railwayo receipt,o theo railwayo administrationo may,obeforeotheodeliveryoofotheoconsignment,ohaveotheorightoto-o

(i)ore-measure,ore-weightoorore-classifyoanyoconsignment;o

(ii)ore-calculateotheofreightoandootherocharges;oandoo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-9-o o

(iii)ocorrecto anyoothero errorooro collectoanyo amountothato mayo haveobeenoomittedotoobeocharged.o

79.oWeighmentoofoconsignmentoonorequestoofotheoconsigneeooro endorsee.oAorailwayoadministrationomay,oonotheorequestomadeo byo theo consigneeo oro endorsee,o allowo weighmento ofo theo consignmentosubjectotoosuchoconditionsoandoonopaymentoofosucho chargesoasomayobeoprescribedoandotheodemurrageochargesoifo any:o Providedo thato excepto ino caseso whereo ao railwayo servanto authorisedo inothiso behalfo considersoito necessaryosootoo do,onoo weighmentoshallobeoallowedoofogoodsobookedoatoowner'sorisko rateoorogoodsowhichoareoperishableoandoareolikelyotooloseoweighto inotransit;o Providedofurtherothatonoorequestoforoweighmentoofoconsignmento wagon-loadoorotrain-loadoshallobeoallowedoifotheoweighmentoiso noto feasibleo dueo too congestiono ino theo yardo oro sucho othero circumstancesoasomayobeoprescribed."o

10.o o Uponoconsiderationoofotheoaforesaidostatutoryoprovisionsoinolighto ofotheoundisputedofactualoaspectsoestablishesothatotheorespondentoRailwaysoiso entitledotoocarryooutotheoweighmentoofotheogoodsoloadedobyoaoperson.oWhereo theoloadingoofotheogoodsohasobeenodoneobyoaopersonoandoRailwayoreceiptoiso issuedobyotheoRailwaysoonotheobasisoofoauthorizationoorodeclarationodoneobyo theo consignor,o theo burdeno ofo provingo theo weighto iso ono theo consignor/consigneeoasotheocaseomayobe.oHence,otheoresponsibilityoofosucho weighmento cannoto beo casto upono theo Railways.o Theo entitlemento ofo VISHAL SHARrMeAspondent-Railwayso too carryo outo re-weighmento foro verificationo ofo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-10-o o declarationosoomadeobyotheoconsignor/consigneeoisoaffirmedobyoSectiono78oofo theoRailwayoAct.o

11.o o oTheoquestionowhichohoweveroarisesoisotheotimeobyowhichosucho claimoforopunitiveochargesocanobeoleveledobyotheorespondentoRailways.oAo perusaloofoSectiono73oclearlyoshowsothatowhereoaopersonoloadsogoodsoinoao wagonobeyondoitsopermissibleocarryingocapacity,otheoRailwayoadministrationo may,o ino additiono too theo fareo ando othero charges,o recovero fromo theo consignor/theoconsignee/otheoendorsee,ochargesobyowayoofopenaltyoatosucho ratesoasomayobeoprescribed,o"beforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoods".oTheoprovisoo too theo aforesaido Sectiono furthero empowerso theo Railwayo administrationo too unloadotheoexcessoconsignmentoandotoonotoreleaseoitotillosuchotimeothatotheoo overloadingopenaltyoisorecoveredofromothem.oSectiono78oconfersotheopowerso ofotheoRailwaysotoocarryooutotheore-weighment.ooHowever,otheosaidopowero alsoo useso theo expressiono "beforeo theo deliveryo ofo consignment".o Hence,o withoutoprejudiceotootheorightsotootheorespondentoRailwaysotoocarryooutotheo reweighment,otheotimeoframeobyosuchoclaimocanobeoraisedohasobeenoprovidedo inostatueoitself.oTheopowerotoorecoverosuchochargesohasobeenoconferredotoobeo beforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoodsoandonotothereafter.oTheoobjectoofoprescribingo aforesaidotimeoscheduleoforoeffectingorecoveryoofotheopenalty/overoloadingo chargesoisoseeminglyoperpetuatedobyotheofactothatotheoverificationoofotheoclaimo doneobyotheoRailwaysoquaoweighmentoofotheowagon/rakesocanobeoundertakeno onlyobeforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoods.ooTheoaforesaidosafeguardoasohasothuso beeno prescribedo foro theo interesto ofo theo consignor/consignee/endorseeo too challengeotheoweighmentodoneobyotheoRailwaysoandotooseekore-determinationo ofotheoaboveosaidoweighment.oPostodeliveryoofotheogoodsoandoconsumptiono thereof,o consignor/consignee/endorseeo (aso theo caseo mayo be),o significantlyo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-11-o o loosesohisorightotooraiseoaochallengeotootheoclaimomadeobyotheorespondento Railways.oo

12.o o Theo entitlemento ofo theo consignor/consignee/endorseeo too beo allowedoweighmentoonopaymentoofochargesoisoalsooprovidedoforoinoSectiono79o ofotheoRailwayoAct,o1989.oThus,otheoschemeoisocompletelyothoughooutoforobyo theolegislativeowhyodemandooughtotoobeoraisedopriorotoodeliveryoofogoods.o Theo useo ofo expressiono "beforeo delivery"o iso noto ao singleo expressiono ino isolationoinoSectiono73obutoisoalsooreportedoinoSectiono78ofollowedobyoSectiono 79o ofo Railwayo Act,o 1989o empoweringo theo consignoro too seeko weighmento again.oo o o

13.o o Theoprescriptionoofotheoaforesaidotimeoscheduleoinotheostatueoiso seeminglyomeantoasoaoprotectionotootheoconsignor/consignee/endorsee.oSucho valuableo righto conferredo ono theo consignor/consignee/endorseeo cannoto beo defeatedo byo untimelyo actiono ono theo parto ofo theo respondento Railwayo authorities.oOnceotheostatuteoempowersotheoRailwaysotoowithholdodeliveryoofo consignmentotoounloadoexcessiveomaterialoandoalsootoochargeodemurrageoofo unloadingochargesoforotheoperiododuringowhichotheoconsignmentoremainedoino itsopossessionothereowasonoooccasionoasotoowhyotheoRailwaysoshouldonotohaveo exercisedoitsopowerooroauthorityowelloinotimeoforoseekingopaymentofromotheo concernedoparty,opriorotoodeliveryoofotheogoods.ooo

14.o o Itoisowellosettledopositionoinolawothatotheolegislatureoisoconsciouso ofotheouseoofotheowordsoandothatoeveryosuchophrase/wordohasotoobeoassignedo theo meaning.o Anyo sucho interpretationo aso isolikelyo too renderotheoaforesaido expressionoi.e.o"beforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoods"omeaningless,osuperfluous,o non-existento oro unenforceableo haso too beo avoided.o Ao plain/literalo ruleo ofo interpretationohasotoobeoacceptedounlessosuchoplainooroliteralointerpretationo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-12-o o leadso too vagueo oro incomprehensiveo resultso oro outcome.o Whereo literalo interpretationoisonotolikelyotoodefeatotheoobjectoofotheostatutoryoprovisionooroo runocontraryotootheostatute,otheolawowouldogoobyosuchointerpretation.ooOno beingo assessedo againsto theo interpretationo offeredo byo theo respondents,o theo suggestiveointerpretation/approachoofotheorespondentsothatoitocanodemandotheo penaltyoforooverloadingoatoanyotimeoisolikelyotoorenderotheoaforesaidophrase,oo "beforeotheodeliveryoofotheogoods",omeaningless,ootioseoandounenforceable.o Theosameocouldonotohaveobeenotheolegislativeointent.oo

15.o o Ioamoalsoosupportedoinomyoaforesaidoviewowhileoexaminingotheo issueo fromo anothero perspectiveo aso well.o Theo Railwayo freight/indirecto expensesoareoreimbursableoandotranslateointootheooverallocost.oInotheoeventoofo theotimelyocommunicationoofotheoaforesaidocharges,otheosameocouldohaveo beenorecoveredofromotheoconcernedopartiesoasoaopartoofoindirectoburden.oByo non-communicationo ofo theo aforesaido charges,o too theo consignor/consignee/endorsee,o sucho persono cannoto ato anyo latero stageo beo burdenedowithotheoadditionalocostowhichoitohasonoomeansotoorecover.ooo

16.o o Evenootherwise,otheorespondentorailwayoauthoritiesonotohavingo actedotimelyocannototakeobenefitoofotheiroownowrongoandostilloclaimotheodues.o Thereoisonoovalidoexplanationorenderedobyotheorespondentsoasotoowhyotheyo preferredotoodeliverotheogoodsotootheoconsigneeoandotoothereafterolodgeotheo claimoofooverloadingofromotheoconsignoroafteroaolapseoofomerelyo04omonthso andodespiteoknowingoitofullyothatotheogoodsoinoquestionowouldohaveoalreadyo beenoconsumedoandothereowouldobeonoowayowherebyotheoconsignorocouldo seekore-determinationooroweighmentounderoSectiono79oofotheoRailwayoAct,o 1989.oItothusocausedoprejudiceotootheoconsignorotooseekoprotectionoofohiso rights.oDenial/deprivationooroextinguishmentoofosuchorightsoofotheoconsignoro CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-13-o o couldonotobeotheointentoofotheostatute.oFailureobyotheoStateoinstrumentalitiesotoo actoinoaccordanceowithotheostatutoryomandateocannotobeotheofoundationotoo defeatorightoofotheocitizens/consumers.ooo

17.o o TheoissueoinoquestionohasoalsoobeenoexaminedobyothisoCourtoino itsojudgmentodatedo31.07.2009oinotheomatteroofo"M/soAdhunikoMetaliksoLtd.o versusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers"obearingoCWP-10546-2009.oConsideringo theoaforesaidoprovisions.oTheorelevantoextractsoofotheoaforesaidojudgmentoiso reproducedohereinafterobelow:oo o "ItoisoalsoonotoinodisputeothatoreweighmentoatoMuriowaso doneowithoutoanyonoticeotootheopetitioner.oRightoofotheorailwayo administrationotooweighotheomaterialoen-routeoisosustainableoino viewoofoprovisionsoofoSectionosameotime,o78oofotheoAct.oHowever,o atotheosameotime,oinocaseoofodispute,orightoofotheoconsigneeoforo re-weighmentocannotobeodeniedoexceptoasoprovidedounderotheo provisionsoofoSectiono79oofotheoAct.oToodenyothisorightotootheo petitioner,orelianceohasobeenoplacedouponotheoprovisionsoofoparao 1744o ofo theo Manual,o whicho iso noto justifiedo foro theo reasonso mentionedohereinafter.o o Aso pero provisionso ofo Sectiono 65o ofo theo Act,o Railwayo receipto iso ao 'primao facieo evidence'o ofo theo weighto unlesso ito iso provedoonorecordothatotheoweightowasonotochecked,oatotheotimeoofo booking,o byo theo Railwayo authorities.o Ino theo evento ofo disputeo regardingoweighment,oburdenoofoproofoliesoonotheoconsigneeotoo proveotheosame.oIfocontentionoofocounseloforotheorespondentsoiso acceptedo thato ino viewo ofo theo provisionso ofo Parao 1744o ofo theo Manual,orightooforeweighmentocannotobeogivenotootheoconsignee,o thenotheoprovisooofoSectiono65oofotheoActowillobecomeoredundanto andotheoconsigneeowillonotogetoanyoopportunityotooproveoweighto ofo theo consignment.o Furthermore,o ato theo timeo ofo arguments,o counseloforotheorespondentsohasofailedotooshowotoothisoCourtothato CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-14-o o theo instructionso issuedo video Manualo wereo notifiedo aso pero provisionsoofoSectiono87oofotheoAct.oo o AocombinedoreadingoofotheoprovisionsoofoSectionso65,o78,o 79oofo1744oofotheoManualomakesoitoveryoclearothatotheoRailwayo theo Acto ando administrationo haso ao righto ofo reweighmento ofo ao consignment,oen-route.oHowever,owhenoitocomesotootheoquestiono ofolavyingopenalty,oonotheobasisoofore-weighment,en-route,othiso Courtofeelsothatoitocanobeoimposedoonlyoafterogivingoreasonableo opportunityotootheoconsigneeotooproveotootheocontrary.oTooproveo over-loadingoofotheomaterial,otheoRailwayomustosatisfyotheoCourto thatotheore-weighmentowasocorrect.oNothingoisoprovidedoinotheo ActoandotheoManualothatocorrectnessoofotheoreweighment,odoneo inotheoabsenceoofotheopartyoconcernedoen-route,oonoaorailwayo weigh-bridge,o cannoto beo questionedo byo theo consigneeo concerned.o Ao similaro controversyo cameo upo beforeo ao Singleo BenchoofoGauhatioHighoCourtoinoNirmaloTradersov.oUnionoofo Indiao ando others,o AIRo 2003o Gauhatio 122.o Aftero noticingo theo provisionsoofoSectionso65,o78,o79oofotheoAct,oitowasoobservedoaso under:o "Inootherowords,osinceounderotheofirstoprovisootooSectiono 79,oanoelementoofodiscretionodoesorestowithotheorailwayo servantoconcernedotoore-weighogoods,owhichoareobookedo ato owner'so risk,o theo consequenceo willo beo thato wheno omissiono too exerciseo theo discretiono iso challenged,o theo railwaysomustobeoinoaopositionotoosatisfyotheoCourtothatoino theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo case,o theo railwayo servantoconcernedocouldonotohaveoexercisedohisodiscretiono too re-weigho theo consignment.o Ino theo caseo ato hand,o however,o theo railwayo respondentso haveo noto mentionedo evenoaowordoinotheiroaffidavit-in-positionotooshowoasotoo whyosuchoaodiscretionowasonotoexercisedobyotheorailwayo servantoconcerned;orather,otheirostandoinoparao11oofotheiro affidavit-in-oppositiono appearso too beo thato aso pero provisionso ofo Sectiono 79,o noo consignmento bookedo ato CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-15-o o owner'soriskoshallobeoallowedotoobeore-oweighedomeaningo therebyoasoifonoodiscretionoinofavouroofore-oweighmentoofo goodsobookedoatoowner'soriskocanoeverobeoexercised.oThiso cannot,oasoalreadyoindicatedohereinbefore,obeotreatedoasoao correctointerpretation."o o 36.o Counseloforotheopetitionerohasoalsoobroughtoitotootheo noticeo ofo theo Courto thato aso pero instructions,o issuedo byo theo MinistryoofoRailwayoonoOctobero13,o2006,ovideoratesocircularo No.o86/2006,oitohasobeenoprovidedothatosecondoweighmentoofotheo consignmento iso permissibleo onlyo undero orderso ofo ao senioro officer.oClauseo7oofotheoinstructionsoreadsothus:o "7.o Sinceo theo informationo regardingo weighmento ofo theo rakeowillobeoavailableoinoFOIS,otheodivisionalocontrolowillo ensureothatoallothoseorakes,owhichohaveonotobeenoweighedo earlier,o areo positivelyo weighed.o Similarly,o theo rakes,o whichohaveobeenoweighedoearlier,oshouldobeore-weighedo onlyounderospecialoinstructionsoofoanoauthorityonotolowero thano DRMooro undero theoinstructionso fromo officerso ofo Vigilanceodepartment."o o Counseloforotheorespondentsohasofailedotooshowothatotheo secondoweighmentoofotheoconsignmentoatoMuriowasodoneoundero ordersoofotheocompetentoauthority.o o Alongowithotheoreplication,otheopetitionerohasobroughtoono recordo freighto materialo circularo No.o 51o ofo 2006,o issuedo byo MinistryoofoRailways,oonoDecembero11,o2006,ostatingothatoino caseo ofo dispute,o reweighmento ofo parcelso cano beo doneo ono weighingo scaleso ato party'so costs.o Relevanto portiono readso aso under:o "Someo instanceso ofo disputeso abouto correctnesso ofo weighmento doneo byo theo Railwayso ono in-motiono weighbridgeo ato enrouteo stationo foro theo consignmentso loadedoinoParceloVanso(VPHS/VPs/VPUs)ohaveocomeotoo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-16-o o theo noticeo ofo Railwayo Boardo whicho ledo too Courto interventions.o o Theo mattero haso beeno examinedo ando ito haso beeno decidedo thato ifo anyo partyo requestso foro secondo re-weighmentoatodestinationostationoagainstotheoresultoofoin-motionoweigh-bridgeocarriedooutobyorailwayoatoenrouteo station,o theo Chiefo Commercialo Managero ofo theo zonalo railwayomayopermitosecondore-weighmentoofoconsignmento loadedoinoParceloVansoatodestinationostationoonoWeighingo Scaleoatoparty'socost."o o Readingoofotheoprovisionoindicatesothatoinocaseoofodisputeo regardingo weight,o ofo ao parcel,o righto haso beeno giveno too ao consigneeotooreweighoitoatoitsoownocosts.oThisoCourtofeelsothato denialoofosuchoaorightotootheopetitioner,owhoohadobookedofullo trainoisonotojustifiedosimplyoonoaogroundothatoRailwayoweigh-bridgeoisonotoavailableoatotheostationoofodestination,oespeciallyo whenotheoconsigneeoisoreadyotoomakeopaymentoofotheocostsoforo reweighmentoandootheropermissibleocharges.o o Rightoofotheo consigneeo tooasko fororeweighment,oisoalsoo comingooutofromotheoprovisionoofoSectiono73oofotheoAct.oItoiso providedo thereino thato ordero imposingo penalty,o towardso over-weight,o haso too beo communicatedo too theo consigneeo beforeo deliveryo ofo theo goods.o Thiso provisiono appearso too haveo beeno incorporatedotoogiveoaorightotootheoconsignee,othatoinocaseothereo isoaodisputeoregardingoweight,otheoconsigneeomayochallengeoitoaso peroprovisionsoofotheoAct.o o SoofaroasoC.W.P.oNo.o10647oofo2009oisoconcerned,obesideso raisingoallothoseoargumentsowhichoareonotedoinotheomainocaseo(o CWPoNo.o10546oofo2009),ocounseloforotheopetitioneromadeoano offerothatoletotheopetitioneroweighotheomaterial,oatoitsoownocosts,o underosupervisionoofotheoauthoritiesoonolocaloDharamkantas.oIfo aftero weighment,o materialo iso foundo equalo too theo weight,o foro whichopenaltyohasobeenoimposed,otheopetitioneroshallopayotheo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-17-o o amountodemandedobyotheorespondentsoandoanyootheroamountoaso mayobeofixedobyothisoCourt.oEvenothisoofferoisonotoacceptableotoo theorespondents.o o Counselo haso noto disputedo righto ofo theo Railwayo administrationotoore-weighotheomaterialoen-route.oHowever,obyo makingo referenceo too theo receiptso regardingo reweighmento en-routeo(P-14),ocounselostatesothatotheoconsigneeohasobookedo21o wagonsowhereaso20ohaveobeenoshownoasoover-oloaded.oHeohaso alsoomadeoreferenceotoovariousolacunaeoinotheoreceiptoregardingo re-weighment,osuchoasoagainstoatoSr.oNo.o3,otareoweightoofotheo wagonohasonotobeenomentioned.oAgainstocolumnoNo.o7,oifotareo weightoofotheowagonoisodeductedofromotheogrossoweight,othenoito willocomeolessothanotheoactualoweightoshownoinotheoreceipt.oByo referringotoooriginaloreceiptsoandoreweighmentoreceipts,oheoalsoo demonstratedothatotareoweightoofomostoofotheowagonodoesonoto tally.oCounseloforotheorespondentsohasotriedotoodefeatorightoofotheo petitionersoinoCWPoNo.o10647oofo2009osimplyobyostatingothatotheo consignmentowasobroughtoinosealedowagonsoandoasosuchoinoviewo ofo provisionso ofo Sectiono 1744o ofo theo Manual,o reliefo ofo reweighmentocannotobeograntedoinofavouroofotheopetitioner.oThiso Courtofeelsothatoinoviewoofodiscussionomadeoabove,othisoobjectiono isonototenable.oAsoperotheorespondents,oreweighmentowasodoneo onoanoelectronicoweigh-bridge,oifothatoisoso,oitoisoveryosurprisingo asotoohowo theodifferenceohaso comeo ino theo tareo weighto ofo theo wagonsoandotheoactualoweightoinosomeoofotheowagons.o o Inoviewoofofacts,omentionedoabove,otheseowritopetitionsoareo allowed.oRespondentsoareodirectedotoore-weighotheoconsignmento inobothotheocases.oLetotheomaterialobeore-weighedoeitheroatotheo nearbyoRailwayoweigh-obridgeoorolocallyoatoDharamkantas,oaso peroconvenienceoofotheorespondents,oagainstoexpensesotoobeopaido byotheopetitioners.oItoisomadeoclearothatoifoafteroreweighment,o weightoshownobyotheorespondentsoisofoundotoobeocorrect,othenotheo respondentsoshallobeoentitledotoochargeoamountotowardsopenalty.o demurrage,owharfageoetc.oInothatoevent,otheorespondentsoshallo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-18-o o alsoo beo entitledo too chargeo ano amounto ofo Rs.o 3,00,000/-o fromo eacho ofo theo petitionerso towardso raisingo fakeo claim,o inconvenienceo too theo departmento ando litigationo expenses.o Ifo foundo too theo contrary,o excepto chargingo expenseso foro reweighmentoasoperorm,otheoRailwayoshallonotochargeoamounto towards,openaltyodemurrage,owharfageoforotheoperiodotheotraino remainedo blocko ato theo railwayo stationo ono accounto ofo thiso litigation.o o o o o o o oooooooo(EmphasisoSupplied)o

18.o o Itoisoevidentofromotheoperusaloofotheoaforesaidojudgmentothatotheo Courto haso recognizedo theo righto ofo theo petitionero (consignor/consignee/endorsee)otooseekore-weighmentoofotheoconsignmentoino theoeventoofoanyoclaimobeingoraisedobyotheoRailwaysoandotoodisputeotheosame.o Heo cano thuso seeko re-determinationo and/oro re-verificationo ofo theo aforesaido claimo beforeo anyo liabilityo iso fastenedo upono them.o Ino theo presento caseo ono accounto ofo deliveryo ofo theo producto withouto raisingo anyo claim,o theo presumptionowhichoarisesoisothatotheodeclarationomadeobyotheopetitionerowaso inoaoorder.oTheopetitionerohavingonotobeingoinformedoofoanyodiscrepancyoino theodeclarationomadeobyohimocannotothereafterobeoburdenedowithoaodemando whichoheocannotodispute.ooo

19.o o Ito iso thuso heldo thato theo Railwayso areo entitledo too seeko re-weighmentoofotheoconsignmentoandotoodemandopenaltyoforooverloadingooro eveno too withholdo theo deliveryo ofo theo consignmento tillo theo applicableo penalty/chargeso areo paid.o Sucho demando iso requiredo too beo howevero raisedo priorootoodeliveryoofotheogoods/consignmentoandotheoowner/consignorohasoao rightotooseekoweighmentoagainoonopaymentoofocharges.oTheoclaimoisothuso requiredotoobeomadeopriorotootheodeliveryoofotheogoods.ooo CWP-3429-2007oANDoCONNECTEDoPETITIONSo o ooooooo-19-o o

20.o o Consideringo fromo theo anyo ofo theo perspectives,o demando ino questiono whicho haso beeno conveyedo ato ao belatedo stageo byo theo respondento Railwayoisounsustainable.oTheowritopetitionsoareoaccordinglyoallowed.oTheo demandoofoRailwaysotootheopenaltyoonoaccountoofooverloadingoisosetoaside.o Theorespondent-Railwaysoshallorefundotheoexcessoamount,oifoany,odepositedo byotheopetitionersowithotheoRailwaysoagainstotheoaforesaidodemandowithinoao periodoofo06oweeksofromotheoreceiptoofotheocertifiedocopyoofotheopresento order.oo o o o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo MARCHo17,o2023oo o o o oo oooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo