Summary
In contempt petitions alleging non-compliance with the Court's 2024 direction that the Agra Development Authority return non-judicial stamp papers worth Rs. 3,99,100, the Court, without going into the merits, directed the impleaded State of Uttar Pradesh to refund that sum to the petitioner upon return of the stamp papers, and closed the contempt against the Authority's officer.
Issues
- Whether respondent no. 1 had wilfully disobeyed the direction to return stamp papers worth Rs. 3,99,100, the stamp papers having been returned after they expired and the refund of their value having been refused by the stamp authorities as time-barred.
- What relief should follow where the State, though it had refused the refund under the U.P. Stamp Rules, tendered an apology and accepted that it was bound to implement the Court's directions.
Provisions considered
- Rule 218, U.P. Stamp Rules, 1942The State's affidavit said the refund was refused under Rule 218 (as amended), which bars refund of physical non-judicial stamp papers after eight years, and that this was a bona fide reading of the rule. The Court did not decide the scope of the rule and issued a direction simpliciter instead. (¶¶ 4, 7, 8)
Held
- No question of law was decided. Noting that the State had candidly accepted that it acted on a bona fide reading of Rule 218, tendered an unconditional apology and accepted its duty to implement the Court's directions, the Court declined to enter into the merits of issues that arose after the civil appeals were disposed of and directed the State to refund Rs. 3,99,100 to the petitioner, upon return of the stamp papers he had received from respondent no. 1, within two months. (¶¶ 7, 8)
Result
Contempt petitions disposed of; State of Uttar Pradesh (respondent no. 2) directed to refund Rs. 3,99,100 to the petitioner within two months upon return of the stamp papers; contempt petitions closed against respondent no. 1.