2025:CGHC:43151-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WA No. 208 of 2025 1 - Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya Through The Registrar, Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh. 2 - The Vice Chancellor Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh. 3 - The Registrar Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh. 4 - The Executive Engineer Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya Durg, District Durg Chhattisgarh. ... Appellant(s) versus 1 - M/s Varsha Constructions A Partnership Firm Having Its Office At Millennium Plaza, Ii, Floor 25-26, G.E. Road, Raipur, District Raipur Chhattisgarh Through Its Partner Shri Barun Jain, Aged About 39 Years, S/o Shri Kamal Chand Jain, R/o Barun Kunj, House No. 736, Opposite Laxmi Narayan Temple, Avanti Vihar, Sector - 2, Extension, Telibandha, Raipur, 492001, District Raipur Chhattisgarh. 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Higher Education, First Floor, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Atal Nagar, Raipur Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) (Cause-title taken from the Case Information System) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Appellants : Shri Ali Asgar, Advocate For Respondent/State : Shri SS Baghel, Dy GA For Respondent-1 : Shri Tridib Bhattacharya and Shri Siddharth Dubey, Advocates --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hon'ble Shri Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal Judgment on Board Digitally signed by V PADMAVATHI Date: 2025.09.01 17:23:11 +0530 Wa 208 of 2025 2 Per Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J. 26.08.2025 Heard Shri Vijay Kumar Sahu, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Shri SS Baghel, learned Dy GA for the State. 1. The present writ appeal has been filed by the appellant, who was the Respondent Nos. 2 to 5 in the writ petition, against the order dated 06-02-2025, passed by the learned Single Judge, in W.P.C. No. 792 of 2025, whereby the writ petition filed by the petitioner is allowed and the matter is remitted back to the Respondents to pass fresh order by providing sufficient opportunity of hearing to the petitioner in accordance with law by observing principles of natural justice. 2. Brief facts of the case are that the Respondent No. 1/Writ Petitioner M/s Varsha Constructions had filed a writ petition, challenging the order dated 18-11-2024, passed by the Respondent No. 5, Executive Engineer, whereby the security deposit of the petitioner company was forfeited by the University. He was allotted the work of construction of the Research Building Tower, at Anjora, Durg, with internal Electrification, Water Supply and Sanitary, Approach Road, etc., under the work contract dated 15-02- 2017. It is the case of the petitioner that he faced several hardships regarding timely payments not being made for running bills, delay in handing over the site and approval of necessary designs as per the terms of the contract, which caused delay in execution of the work. On 05-09- 2019, the petitioner conveyed to the Respondent authorities for payment Wa 208 of 2025 3 of running bills pending against them, and an amount of Rs. 2.384 Crore is the unpaid amount of running bills. Again, on 09-11-2023, they communicated with the Respondents that the entire project would be completed, provided that payment of dues was made. The University, vide order dated 18-11-2024, without issuing a specific show-cause notice and without following the principles of natural justice, forfeited the Security Deposit of the petitioner by making allegations that he was not following the instructions of the University, serious negligence led to fault in construction work and carelessness in the work. The said order dated 18-11-2024 is under challenge in the writ petition, and after hearing the parties, the learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition on 06-02-2025, and remitted the matter back to the authorities to pass the order afresh after providing a proper opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, in accordance with law. Hence, this appeal. 3. Learned counsel for the writ appellants would submit that the work contract in favour of the petitioner was executed on 15-02-2017, and the period for completion of work was 18 months. The petitioner was unable to complete the work within the stipulated time, and a show-cause notice was issued on January 19, 2021. Thereafter, reminder letters were issued to the writ petitioner to resume the construction work, which had been halted. On 14-12-2023, the writ petitioner raised grievances as provided under Clause 32 of the contract, and in the meeting held on 20-03-2024, the writ petitioner agreed to resume the construction work. Since the writ petitioner failed to resume the construction work, another letter was Wa 208 of 2025 4 issued by the University on 08-04-2024 for resuming the construction work as per his commitment made on 20-03-2024. A report was also prepared on 19-06-2024 in which the theft/damage of about Rs. 40 Lakhs was found in the building. The writ petitioner has also filed a W.P.C. No. 2883/2024 for a direction to the present appellant No. 4/Executive Engineer, to take a decision on the grievance raised by the writ petitioner on 14-12-2023. After hearing the parties, the said W.P.S. No. 2883/2024 was dismissed on 14-08-2024. On 20-08-2024, the University terminated the contract due to the inaction of the writ petitioner and directed him to hand over the possession of the subject construction. On 20-09-2024, the writ petitioner filed an appeal before the Vice Chancellor of the University, raising his grievances in the light of Clause 32 of the work contract. The appeal filed by the writ petitioner was rejected vide order dated 21-10- 2024. On 23-09-2024, the University floated a new tender for the remaining work of the building and on 24-09-2024, a penalty of Rs. 85,29,300/- was imposed upon the writ petitioner. In the meantime, the writ petitioner filed another W.P.S. No. 5372/2024 before this Court, for a direction to the Vice Chancellor to decide the appeal, which has also been withdrawn on 04-11-2024, as the appeal has been decided on 21- 10-2024. On 24-10-2024, the University issued another notice to carry out the repair work in the building or else, the same would be carried out from the security deposit of the writ petitioner. He would further submit that the order dated 21-10-2024, passed by the Vice Chancellor, rejecting his appeal, the writ petitioner filed another W.P.S. No. 5911/2024 before Wa 208 of 2025 5 this Court, which is pending. Thus, there were various notices and instances in which the writ petitioner was provided sufficient opportunity to complete the work, but he had not shown his interest in the allotted work, and then, the order dated 18-11-2024 was passed, forfeiting the security deposit of the writ petitioner. The learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition on the premise that no proper opportunity of hearing was provided to the writ petitioner, whereas the documents show that ample opportunity was provided to him. Therefore, no need to pass any fresh order or give him the opportunity to hear again. Therefore, the impugned order is liable to be set aside, and the writ petition of the petitioner is liable to be dismissed. 4. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent No. 1/writ petitioner would support the impugned order and would submit that no specific notice was given to him regarding forfeiture of the security deposit. The order dated 18-11-2024 has civil consequences and therefore, the principles of natural justice have to be followed by the authorities concerned before passing the order dated 18-11-2024. The order of forfeiture of the security deposit is passed without properly adjudicating the appeal filed by the writ petitioner, and the order is passed in an arbitrary manner. Therefore, the learned Single Judge has rightly allowed the writ petition, granting the opportunity of hearing to the writ petitioner, and the same does not suffer from any perversity or illegality. Wa 208 of 2025 6 5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material annexed with the writ appeal as well as the writ petition by the parties. 6. The appellant has challenged the order dated 06-02-2025, passed by the learned Single Judge on the ground that before passing the order on 18-11-2024, sufficient opportunity was provided to the writ petitioner, but he failed to reply to the same and to resume the construction work. He would refer to the notice dated 24-10-2024 (Annexure A-5) and 18-11- 2024 (Annexure A-6), annexed with the writ appeal, in which there is reference to various letters issued to the writ petitioner, i.e. dated 20-08- 2024, 24-09-2024, 14-10-2024, 21-10-2024 and 24-10-2024. It is necessary to quote here the contents of the letters dated 24-10-2024 and 18-11-2024, for their consideration:- ANNEXURE A/5 दाऊ श्री वासुदा वा चन्द्राकर कमधे नु विवाश्वाविवाद्यालया, दार्ग कयालया कयापालनु अभियाता ( निनुमण विवार्ग) E-Mail: eecgkv04@gmail.com दिनांकः २५/10/2024 क्रमांकः /कः.पा.अ./78/2024-25/369 प्रदि. Varsha Construction, Millenium Plaza, 25-26 11 Floor, G.E. Road, Raipur (C.G.) दिषय %& ऊ श्री सु चंद्राकःर कःमांधेनां दिश्वदिद्यालय अर्ग! Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg कः सुबंधे मां। सुर्भ!%& 1) इसु कःय!लय कः पात्र क्र./कः.पा.अ./ 78/2024-25/348 दिनांकः 14.10.2024 2) दिनांकः 21.10.2024 कः' Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg कः आदिधेपात्य प्रप्त कःरनां कः कःय!ही दिरण। Wa 208 of 2025 7 दिषयर्ग! सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 01 कः मांध्यमां सु Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg र्भनां कः आदिधेपात्य ग्रहीण कःरनां ही कःसु! कःमांटी सुस्य ए दिश्वदिद्यालय कः अन्य अदिधेकःर दिनांधे!रिर दिदि4 दिनांकः 21.10.2024 अपारन्ह 2:30 बंजे दिनांमां!णधेनां Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg मां उपास्थि94 हुए पार आपाकः फमां! कः' पा<! सु<चंनां दिय जेनां कः बंजे आपा अ4 आपाकः प्रदिदिनांदिधे दिनांधे!रिर दिदि4 ए दिनांधे!रिर सुमांय मां उपास्थि94 नांही हुए और नां ही आपाकः द्वार < रर्भष / दिलस्थि? व्य94 द्वार सुपाकः! कःरनां कः प्रयसु दिकःय र्गय हीA। यही दिकः आपाकः फमां! कः अनांपास्थि94दि मांB दिश्वदिद्यालय द्वार Research Tower Building. Anjora Durg कः आदिधेपात्य एकःरफ प्रप्त दिकःय र्गय हीA। अ आपाकः' दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय जे हीA दिकः पात्र प्रस्थिप्त कः 07 दिसु कः र्भर आपाकः' प्रप्त र्भनां कः चंल यकः' अनांसुर कःय! ( सुधेर कःय!) सुपादि कःरनां ही कः! प्र'ग्रमां इसु कःय!लय कः' उपालब्ध कःरय नां कःरनां कः स्थि94दि मांB दिश्वदिद्यालय द्वार उक्त सुधेर कःय! आपाकः सुरक्षा दिनांदिधे सु सुपादि कःरनां कः दिE रहीर्ग। Sd/- कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय दिनांकः : २५/10/2024 पाI. क्रमांकः/कः.पा.अ./178/2024-25/370 प्रदिदिलदिपा :- 1.1 र्गनां.. कः लपादि जे कः दिनांजे, सुही, ऊ श्री सु. चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि. र्ग! । 2. फ लसुदिचं, ऊ श्री सु. चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि.र्ग!। 3. दित्त अदिधेकःर, ऊ श्री सु चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि.र्ग!। Sd/- कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय ANNEXURE A/6 दाऊ श्री वासुदा वा चन्द्राकर कमधे नु विवाश्वाविवाद्यालया, दार्ग कयालया कयापालनु अभियाता ( निनुमण विवार्ग) E-Mail: eecgkv04@gmail.com दिनांकः 18/11/2024 क्रमांकः/कः.पा.अ./78/2024-25/391 प्रदि, M/s Varsha Construction, Millenium Plaza, 25-26 II Floor, G.E. Road, Raipur (C.G.) दिषय :- ऊ श्री सु चंद्राकःर कःमांधेनां दिश्वदिद्यालय अर्ग! Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg कः सुबंधे मां। Wa 208 of 2025 8 सुर्भ!:- 1) इसु कःय!. कः पात्र क्रमांकः 369 दिनांकः 24.10.2024 (2) दि.दि. कः पात्र क्रमांकः 94.-3/ कः स्ट्रM क्शनां कः! /कः.पा.अ./2024-25/54 दिनांकः 21.10.2024 3) इसु कःय!. कः पात्र क्रमांकः 348 दिनांकः 14.10.2024 4) इसु कःय!. कः पात्र क्रमांकः 302 दिनांकः 24.09.2024 5) इसु कःय!. कः पात्र क्रमांकः 238 दिनांकः 20.08.2024 दिषयर्ग! सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 02 कः मांध्यमां सु दिश्वदिद्यालय द्वार आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः अपाल कः' दिनांरस्त कःर उन्ह पात्र प्रस्थिप्त कः 07 दिसु कः र्भर Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg कः आदिधेपात्य, प्रप्त चंल यकः' कः अनांसुर कःय!लय कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय कः' सुPपानां बंबंQ दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय र्गय 4। यही दिकः सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 01 कः द्वार आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः' एकः सुप्तही कः र्भर Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg मां प्रप्त चंल यकः' कः अनांसुर ( सुधेर कःय!) सुपादि कःरनां ही कः! प्र'ग्रमां कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय कःय!लय कः' उपालब्ध कःरनां बंबंQ दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय र्गय 4। यही दिकः सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 03 कः द्वार दिनांकः 21.10.2024 कः' अपारन्ह 2:30 बंजे Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg कः र्भनां कः आदिधेपात्य दिश्वदिद्यालय कः' सुPपानां बंबंQ आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः' दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय र्गय 4। यही दिकः सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 04 कः द्वार आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः उपार अनांबंधे अनांसुर कःय! सुमांय- सुमां मां पा<ण! नां दिकःय जेनां पार रदिE रूपाय 85,29,300/- Eस्थिस्त अदिधेर'दिपा कःर र्भनां कः आदिधेपात्य कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय कःय!लय कः' सुPपानां बंबंQ दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय र्गय 4। यही दिकः सुदिर्भ! पात्र क्रमांकः 05 कः द्वार आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Durg अनांबंधे सुमांप्त कःर र्भनां कः आदिधेपात्य आपाकः फमां! कः' प्रप्त चंल यकः' कः अनांसुर ( र्भनां कः र्भPदिकः स्थि94दि) सुPपानां बंबंQ दिनांCशिदिE दिकःय र्गय 4 ए Eष दिनांमां!ण कःय! ही दिनांदि आमांत्रण (Risk & Cost) पाद्धदि अनांसुर दिनांदि आमांत्रण कः कःय!ही दिकःय जेनां बंबंQ जेनांकःर प्रदिष कः र्गई हीA। इसु प्रकःर दिनांरर आपाकः फमां! मांसुसु! ष! कः स्ट्रM क्शनां रयपार कः' दिश्वदिद्यालय कः दिनांCE' कः अनांपालनां मां र्गर्भर लपारही बंरनां कः कःरण ए र्भनां दिनांमां!ण मांB त्रदिटी/चं'र/ लपारही पा<ण! सुपादि कःय! कः रूस्तकःरण आपाकः द्वार Construction of Research Tower Building, Anjora Wa 208 of 2025 9 Durg कः चंल यकः' सु कःटीP कः र्गई सुरक्षादिनांधे रदिE सु सुपादि दिकःय जेनां ही आपाकः Security Deposit Fortfeit कः जे हीA। पाI. क्रमांकः/कः.पा.अ./78/2024-25/392 Sd/- प्रदिदिलदिपा :- कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय दिनांकः: 18/11/2024 1. मांनां., कः लपादि जे कः दिनांजे. सुही., ऊ श्री सु चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि.र्ग!। 2. कः लसुदिचं, ऊ श्री सु. चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि. र्ग! । 3. दित्त अदिधेकःर, ऊ श्री सु, चंन्द्राकःर कःमांधेनां दि.दि.र्ग!। Sd/- कःय!पालनां अदिर्भय 7. The writ petition was decided on 06-02-2025 at the very first hearing of the motion; however, the documents dated 24-10-2024, 24-09-2024 and 20-08-2024 were available in the writ petition as Annexure P-6 (page Nos. 76 to 79 of the writ petition), which are the earlier notices to the writ petitioners. The issuance of these notices has not been denied by the writ petitioner. Therefore, it cannot be said that no opportunity of hearing was provided to the writ petitioner before passing the order dated 18-11-2024, forfeiting the security deposit of the petitioner. 8. From perusal of the notice dated 24-10-2024 (Annexure A-5, annexed with the writ appeal), it clearly appears that if the writ petitioner fails to start repair work in the building within 07 days from the date of receipt of the notice, the University would do the same at the expense taken out from the security deposit of the writ petitioner. Further, from para 2 of the order dated 06-02-2025 passed by the learned Single Judge, it also reveals that the writ appellant has objected that sufficient opportunity was provided to the writ petitioner through various letters before passing the impugned order. Wa 208 of 2025 10 9. Further considering that Clause 32 of the work contract dated 15-02-2017, which is available at Page 50 of the writ petition, there is an arbitration clause to resolve the dispute under the contract. The writ petitioner has an alternative remedy of arbitration, and therefore, we are not inclined to entertain the present writ petition. The writ petitioner is at liberty to avail the remedy under the arbitration clause, if so advised. 10. In view of the above consideration, the impugned order dated 06-02-2025 (Annexure A-1) passed by the learned Single Judge is not sustainable, and the same is liable to be and hereby set aside. After considering the entire material produced by the parties in the present writ petition and writ appeal, we are not inclined to allow the writ petition filed by the petitioner, and the same is dismissed. 11. The present writ appeal is allowed. 12. No order as to cost(s). Sd/- Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice padma