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Petitioner: TAJ DIN And Others VS Respondent: ZILLAH COUNCIL And 2 Other
Court Name: Lahore High Court Judge(s): Zia Mahmood Mirza Title: TAJ DIN And Others vs ZILLAH COUNCIL And 2 Other Case No.: Writ Petitions Nos. 2174 of 1986 and 148 of 1987 Date of Judgment:1987-05-10 Reported As: 1989 MLD 270 Result: Order accordingly
JUDGMENT
JUDGMENT By this judgment I propose to dispose of the present W.P. No. 2174 of 1986 as also the connected W.P. No. 648 of 1987 since common questions of law and facts are involved in both the petitions which are directed against the Zila Council, Kasur and the same relief is claimed by the petitioners in each case. 2. Petitioners in both the petitions claim that they have been doing the business of sale and purchase of the cattle as brokers and commission agents for the last two decades or more in their own private premises situate within the municipal limits of Pattoki where they have made arrangements for tethering and feeding the cattle brought for sale and have provided all the necessary amenities to facilitate the assemblage of the cattle-owners and the intending buyers. Petitioners in. W.P. No. 2174 of 1986 have further stated that the local market committee had been issuing licences to them and charging fee from them. According to these petitioners, Zila Council, Kasur never held any cattle market within the local limits of Municipal Committee, Pattoki. In fact, it had no space within the municipal limits for holding the cattle market. It is averred that the Zila Council had been auctioning the cattle-market which used to be held once in. a month at Multan Road on an open space one mile outside the Municipal limits. It is further stated that on 8-2-1984, Zila Council auctioned the cattle market to be held in the open space outside the Municipal limits. Malik Nazar Hussain respondent No. 2 being the highest bidder became a lessee for three years and he instead started holding the cattle market in his own Khata within the municipal limits and at his instance, the Zila Council started intermeddling with the petitioners' business on the plea that only the auction-purchaser from it had the exclusive right to hold the cattle market in the local area of municipal committee, Pattoki and the petitioners were not entitled to carry on their
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business of the sale and purchase of the cattle. A case was also got registered against the petitioners at police station Pattoki. They were thus obliged to file the present writ petition to seek a direction to Zila Council, Kasur to refrain from interfering in their business of sale and purchase of the cattle which they were carrying on in their own private premises. It may be stated that during the pendency of the writ petition, lease in favour of Malik Nazar Hussain respondent expired. Zila Council again auctioned the lease and it was granted to Ch. Sher Muhammad who being the new lessee was impleaded as a respondent. 3. Almost identical facts have been pleaded in W.P.No. 648 of 1987. Petitioners therein have stated that they had originally started the business of the purchase and sale of the cattle in Pattoki in the year 1950. They have submitted that Zila Council, Kasur has been auctioning the rights of holding Public Mandi at Pattoki from time to time but their business was not interfered with. Grievance of the petitioners is that Sher Muhammad respondent, the new auction-purchaser has prevailed upon the Zila Council to obstruct their business and the Zila Council through its officers "attempted to stop the petitioners' business on 4th Feb. 1986. The officers told the petitioners that they would not be permitted to continue their business. Hence the writ petition praying that "Respondent No. 1, the Zila Council, Kasur be directed to refrain from interfering with the lawful business of the petitioners namely the sale and purchase of Cattle as brokers and Commission agents and as traders, in their own premises situate in Pattoki Town." 4. It may be noted that neither the Zila Council nor the private respondents have filed any written statement with the result that the facts afore-noted have not been controverted on oath. Zila Council has, however, filed the para-wise comments in W.P. No. 2174 of 1986 denying the allegation that its cattle market was held outside the municipal limits of Pattoki. It is stated in the comments that the Cattle Mandi of Zila Council was held "within the municipal limits of Pattoki". Position taken by the Zila Council is that under the. Punjab Local Government Ordinance as amended (hereinafter called the Ordinance), it was authorised to establish the cattle-fair within the municipal limits and another persons and bodies including the Municipal Committee were accordingly precluded from holding the Cattle-Mandi. 5. Learned counsel for the parties were heard. They addressed elaborate and lengthy arguments in support of their respective contentions. Main question-- debated was whether the Zila Council had been given an exclusive right to hold the cattle markets in the limits of an Urban Local Council so as to take away the right of the individual citizens to do the business of the sale and purchase of animals in their private markets. 6. Provisions of law (Punjab Local Government Ordinance as amended upto date) and of the Constitution which have been relied upon by the learned counsel for the parties and are relevant for the purpose of the present-cases may be reproduced hereunder for facility of reference:-- Section 3 (v) defines `Cattle' to mean cows, buffaloes, bulls, oxen, bullocks, heifers, calves, camels, sheep and goats; Section 3(xix)defines `Market' as a place where persons assemble for the sale and purchase of meat, fish, poultry, fruit, vegetables or other eatable of food or for the sale and purchase of livestock or animals and' includes any place which may from time to time be notified as a market; Section 51(xxv)Functions of Zila Council--A Zila Council may and if Government so directs shall undertake all or any of the following functions; Provision, regulation and maintenance of markets other than private markets. Section 51(xxxix-a)holding of cattle, fairs, shows and markets in the limits of its local area in accordance with the bye-laws: Provided that a Zila Council which had been holding cattle fair shows and markets in the limits of the local area of an urban local council in the district before 17th January, 1980 may continue holding such cattle shows, fairs and markets in accordance with the bye-laws:
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Provided further that a Zila Council shall not hold Bakar Mandis for sale of cattle meant for slaughter in the limits of local area of an urban local council but may hold cattle fairs, shows and markets in such area even air 17th January, 1980 and in that case it shall pay to the concerned urban local council such share of the pet income from cattle fairs; shows and markets as may be fixed by Government: Provided further that if an urban local council which had been holding cattle shows and fairs before 17th January, 1980 within the limits of its local area, continue to hold the same, a Zila Council shall not hold cattle fairs, shows and markets within a radius of three miles of the limits of local area of that local council. Section 51(xxxix-b)Compulsory registration of sale of cattle and other animals at cattle fairs and markets. Section 62. Private markets. (1) No private market for the sale of articles of food or drink or animals shall be established or maintained within the local area of an urban local council except under a licence granted by the urban local council and in conformity with conditions of such licence. (2) An urban local council may levy fees in respect of private markets in the prescribed manner. (3) An urban local council may, by notice, require the owner of any private market to construct such works, provide such conveniences and make such arrangements for the maintenance of the market and within such period as may be specified in the notice. Section 101. Public markets (1) An Urban Local Council may establish and maintain public markets or may provide places for use as public markets for the sale of articles of food and drink and of animals and secure the proper management and sanitation of such markets. (2)An urban local council may in respect of a public market, provide by bye-laws-- (a)the fees to be charged for the use of or for right to expose goods in the market; (b)the fees to be levied on vehicles and animals bringing goods therein for sale; (c)the fees to be charged for the use of shops, stalls, pens or stamps; (d)the fees to be charged in respect of animals brought for sale or sold; and (e)the fees to be charged from brokers, commission agents, weigh men and other persons practising their calling therein. Section 106. Cattle shows, zoo, etc. (1)An urban local council shall not hold cattle shows and fairs within the limits of its local area, but may hold Bakar Mandi for sale of cattle meant for slaughter and charge such fee per cattle-head sold as the bye-laws may provide; Provided that an urban local council which had been holding cattle shows and fairs before 17th January, 1980 within the limits of its local area may continue holding such cattle shows and fairs and charge such fees from the people attending such shows or fairs as the bye-laws may provide. (2) Section 161. Offences. An act or omission specified in the Third Schedule shall be an offence under the Ordinance. The third Schedule (Offences under the Ordinance). Item No. 34.Doing an act without licence or permission when the doing of such act requires a licence or permission under any of the provisions of the Ordinance or the rules or bye-laws. Item No. 62.Contravening any of the provisions of the Ordinance, rules or bye-laws, or any order, direction, notice or declaration made or issued hereunder. Second Schedule (Taxes to be levied by local councils). Part II (Taxes of Zila Councils) Item No. 17. Fees on sale of cattle at cattle markets/fairs.
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Part III (Taxes of urban local councils) Item No. 17. Market fees. Item No. 20: Tax on animals and sale of animals. Constitutional provision relied upon by the petitioners is Article 18 which reads as follows:-- "Subject to such qualifications, if any, as may be prescribed by law, eve citizen shall have the right to enter upon any lawful profession o occupation, and to conduct any lawful trade or business: Provided that nothing in this Article shall prevent-- (a)the regulation of any trade or profession by a licensing system; or (b)the regulation of trade, commerce or industry in the interest of free competition therein; or (c)the carrying on, by the Federal Government or Provincial Government or by Corporation controlled by any such Government, of any trade, business, industry or service, to the exclusion, complete or partial, of other persons." 7. First contention raised by 'the learned counsel appearing in support of W.P. No. 2174 of 1986 was that from the facts averred in the petition which have not been denied by the respondents on oath, it was quite clear that the respondent-Zila Council or for that matter its contractors/ lessees did not hold the cattle market within the Municipal limits of Pattoki before the target date mentioned in the proviso to clause (xxxix) of section 51 of the Ordinance viz. The 17th January, 1980 and consequently the Zila Council was not entitled to hold the cattle market in the limits of the local area of municipal committee, Pattoki in terms of the first proviso. The contention even if accepted as valid does not make any material difference because the second proviso to the aforesaid clause in any case allows the Zila Council to hold the cattle market in the area of the urban local council even after 17-1-1980 though in that case it is required to pay a part A of its income from the cattle market to the urban local council concerned. Mr. Abid Hassan Minto, counsel for the petitioners in W.P. No. 648 of 1987, however, argued that the second proviso was only a clarification of the first proviso. According to the learned counsel, the clarification sought to be made was that a Zila Council shall not hold Bakar Mandis and that if it holds the cattle markets after 17-1-1980, it shall share its income with the urban local council. The interpretation sought to be placed on the second proviso cannot be accepted for the simple reason that all the three provisos were enacted simultaneously by Ordinance X of 1982 and as such there was hardly any need or occasion for making any clarification. Moreover, the language employed in the two provisos shows that they are making a provision for two different situations. Under the first proviso, Zila Council holding a cattle market in the limits of the local area of an urban local council before 17-1-1980 has been allowed to continue to hold it in accordance with the bye-laws whereas in the second proviso, a Zila Council has B been allowed to hold the cattle market in such area even after 17-1-1980 with the rider that it shall pay a share of its income from the cattle market to the concerned urban council. To me, it appears that the second proviso gives an independent right to the Zila Council to hold a cattle market within the local limits of an urban local council even though it was not holding such a cattle market before 17-1-1980. The scheme envisaged in the provisos to clause (xxxix---a) of section 51 coupled with section 106 of the Ordinance appears to be that (i) That an urban Local Council shall not hold cattle shows and fairs within the limits of its local area but if it was holding such shows and fairs before 17-1-1980, it may continue to hold them and in that event, Zila Council shallot hold cattle fairs, markets and shows within a radius of 3 miles from the limits of Urban Local Council, (ii) A Zila Council shall not hold Bakar Mandis for the sale of cattle meant for slaughter in the limits of local area of the Urban Local Council which function has been assigned exclusively to Urban Local Council. (iii) If Zila Council was holding cattle fairs, markets and shows in the limits of Urban Local Council before 17-1-1980 it may continue to hold the same in accordance with its bye-laws, (iv) Even if Zila Council was not holding cattle fairs, markets and shows before 17-1-1980, it may hold
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them even after that date but in that case, it shall have to pay a prescribed share of its not income from such shows, fairs and markets to the Urban Local Council concerned. The not result that emerges from the foregoing discussion is that even if the Zila Council was not holding the cattle market within the municipal 'emits of Pattoki before 17-1-1980, it could still hold such cattle market even after 17-1-1980 in terms of the second proviso to clause (xxxix-a), of course, subject to the provision contained in the third proviso. It may be noted here that Municipal Committee, Pattoki not being a party in the present proceedings, its stand is not known. In any case, it has not been canvassed by either of the parties that the Municipal Committee had been holding cattle shows and fairs before 17-1-1980 or that it continues to hold them even now. 8. Be that as it may, assuming that the Zila Council is empowered to hold cattle market within the municipal limits of Pattoki to the exclusion of the Municipal Committee, question which really requires consideration/ determination in these cases is whether the Zila Council can also thereby lawfully stop the petitioners from carrying on their business of the sale and purchase of the cattle/animals in their own private premises. Contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that Zila Council has not been given any such authority in law. On the contrary, section 51 clause (xxv) rather shows that Zila Council was not to have any concern with the private markets. Reliance in this behalf was placed on the words "other than private markets" added in clause (xxv) through amendment made vide Punjab Ordinance III of 1982. Learned counsel further argued that the petitioners had a right guaranteed under Article 18' of the Constitution to enter upon any lawful occupation and to conduct any lawful trade or business which right could not be interfered with by the Zila Council particularly when law has not given to it the exclusive right to hold the cattle market in the Municipal limits. According to the learned counsel, private markets set up within the Municipal limits are regulated by the Urban Local Council as provided under section 62 of the Ordinance. 9. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents submitted in reply that since the law was amended to authorize the Zila Council to hold the cattle fairs /markets to the local area of Urban Local Council, it necessarily implied that no one else shall hold the cattle market in that irea. Reference was made to the proviso added to clause (xxxix-a) of section 51 and amended section 106 of the Ordinance. It was further contended on behalf of the respondents that section 62 which provided for private markets within the Urban Limits stood impliedly repealed by virtue of the amendments made in section 51 clause (xxxix-a) and section 106 and in any case, it was of no avail to the petitioners. Argument of the learned counsel was that under section 62, no private markets could be established or maintained except under a licence granted by the Municipal Committee and since the Municipal Committee itself was precluded from holding a cattle market as a result of the aforementioned amendments made in clause (xxxix-a) and section 106, it would not be available to it to issue license to the petitioners for private markets. Learned counsel for the respondents also categorically asserted at the Bar during the course of his arguments that the petitioners had not obtained any licence from the Municipal Committee, Pattoki for holding their private markets. According to him, they had never applied for it. His submission, therefore, was that they were doing unlawful business and as such they could not rely upon Article 18 of the Constitution. It was contended by the learned counsel that the petitioners by doing business without the requisite licence were committing offence under section 161 read with items Nos. 34 and 62 of Third Schedule of the Ordinance. It was argued that in these circumstances, petitioners were not entitled to any relief in discretionary writ jurisdiction. 10. I have considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties. The proposition canvassed on behalf of the respondents in respect of implied repeal and the exclusive right of the Zila Council to hold the cattle market in the urban limits has not impressed me. 1t has not been denied that the petitioners in each case have been holding the private cattle `market' within the
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Municipal limits of Pattoki. In fact, case was argued by both the 'sides 'on F premises that the petitioners had set up their own Market where they were doing the business of sale and purchase of animals. It may be relevantly observed that the 'market' as noted above has been defined in the Statute as a place where the people assemble, inter alia, for the sale and purchase of livestock or animals. The Ordinance contemplates markets of two kinds, private and public. Public markets are established and maintained by the Urban Local Council under section 101 and private markets are owned by private individuals though they are to be run under a licence granted by the Urban Local Council. Section 62 makes a provision for private markets-for sale of food or drink or animals within the local area of an Urban Local Council which is empowered to levy market fee vide Item No. 17, Part III of Second Schedule. Urban Local Council is also authorised to impose tax en the sale of animals vide Item No. 20, Part III of Second Schedule. The word `animal' used in the aforementioned provisions has not been defined in the Statute. Its dictionary meaning, however, shows that it is a term of F wide connotation which would include the `cattle' as defined in section 3(xix) of the Ordinance. According to the Black's Law Dictionary, Third ED., `animal' means any animate being which is endowed with the power of voluntary motion: According to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, `animal' is (1) a living being endowed with sensation and, voluntary motion, ------..(2) one of the lower animals; a brute or beast, as distinguished from man. Similar meaning is given in Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary. In the language of the law, the term includes all living creatures not human. State v. Winglesworth 93 Kan 610. In Prem's Judicial Dictionary Volume No. 1, it is stated "The common law divides animals having the power of locomotion exclusive of man, into three classes, namely: such as are tame animals; such as are wild animals; and such as, whether wild or tame, are of so base a nature as not to be the subject of larceny." 11. The foregoing discussion shows that the private cattle market held by the petitioners is within the contemplation of section 62 of the Ordinance. Now, in order to examine the precise import, scope and effect of the amendments made in the relevant provisions of section 51 and section 106, it may be worthwhile to refer to the amendments made from time to time in these provisions. Section 51 deals with the functions of Zila Council. Clause (xxv) of section 51 in its original form was as under:- - "Provision, regulation and maintenance of markets." It was amended by Ordinance III of 1982 whereby the words "other than private markets" were added. Amended clause (xxv) thus reads as follows:-- "Provision, regulation and maintenance of markets other than private markets." Ordinance V of 1980 added the following two clauses to section 51:-- (xxxix-a) holding of cattle fairs and markets in accordance with bye---laws. (xxxix-B) Compulsory registration of sale of cattle and other animals at castle fairs and markets. Clause (xxxix-a) was re-cast by Ordinance X of 1982 which also added three provisos thereto. Clause (xxxix-a) as also provisos thereto have been reproduced in para 6 above. Section 106(1) providing for holding of cattle shows and fairs by an Urban Local Council was originally enacted as follows:-- "An Urban Local Council may hold cattle shows and fairs within the limits of its local area and charge such fee from the people attending such shows or fairs as the bye-laws may provide." The afore-quoted provision of section 106 was substituted by Ordinance X of 1982. Substituted provision has been reproduced above in para 6. 12. From the above resume of legislative provisions, it appears that function of holding of cattle fairs and markets (evidently in the limits of its own local area) was assigned to Zila Council for the first time by Ordinance V of 1980. Subsequently, by Ordinance X of 1982, clause (xxxix-a) was recast
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adding the words `shows' and "in the limits of its local area" and provisos were also added thereto enabling/empowering the Zila Council to hold cattle fairs and markets also in the limits of local area of Urban Local Council, of course, subject to certain conditions mentioned therein. Simultaneously, section 106 was also amended to bring it in consonance with clause (xxxix-a). A closer examination of the amendments made in clause (xxxix-a) of section 51 and section 106 would reveal that the object of the amendments was to resolve the conflict between Zila Councils and Urban Local Councils and to re-define their functions in the matter of holding the cattle fairs/markets and Bakar Mandis in the limits of Urban Local Council. These amendments did not in any manner affect the right of the private individuals to hold private cattle markets in the limits of Urban Local Council as envisaged in section 62. In fact, private markets were left outside the domain of Zila Council which is manifest from the amendment made in clause (xxv) of section 51. It may be observed that if the law-maker had intended to create a monopoly in favour of the Zila Council and to exclude the private cattle markets altogether, it would have suitably amended section 62 and the definition of `market' so as to take away the sale and purchase of animals from the ambit of these provisions but significantly enough, this has not been done. It seems that the legislature intentionally and consciously allowed the private cattle markets to continue in the interest of free and healthy competition. As regards the argument of implied repeal, law is very well settled that the Courts do not favour repeal by implication. Inference of repeal should only be drawn if the provisions of a later Act are so inconsistent with, or repugnant to, those of an earlier Act that the two cannot stand together. If the two can be reconciled on a reasonable interpretation, that would be likely to be in consonance with the…
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