Summary
The Supreme Court rejected retired university employees’ claim to personal allotment of the flats they occupied through their employment. Their service-linked occupancy ended on retirement, and deposits made directly to the Housing Board contrary to the university’s directions created no independent right in these proceedings. The university could pursue eviction and penal rent through the competent authority. Verified deposits were refundable with reasonable interest within three months of demand.
Issues
- Whether former employees acquired a personal right to flats allotted to the university.
- What remedies remained available for possession, penal rent and refund of deposits.
Held
- The employees entered possession through the university under service conditions. Their right to occupy ended with employment, and continued possession after retirement was unauthorised. (¶¶ 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- The university withdrew its request for personal allotments and warned employees against direct dealings. Their deposits did not create an independent entitlement or impair the university’s rights. Acceptance of subsequent university payments restored the original allotment on these facts. (¶¶ 23, 24, 25)
- The alleged separate contractual claims against the Board could not be resolved in these writ proceedings; no suit for specific performance had been filed. (¶ 25)
- The appeal was allowed, the Single Judge’s decision restored and the writ petitions dismissed. The university could seek eviction and penal rent through appropriate proceedings before the competent authority, and resolve outstanding allotment matters with the Board and State. (¶¶ 27, 28, 29)
- Occupants could demand refund of verified deposits with reasonable interest. The Board was to refund within three months of demand as the outer limit; intervention and impleadment applications were disposed of. (¶¶ 30, 31, 32)
Result
Appeal allowed; Single Judge’s decision restored and writ petitions dismissed. Liberty reserved for statutory eviction and penal-rent proceedings. Verified employee deposits refundable by the Board with reasonable interest within three months of demand.