DOMNIC ALEX FERNANDES (D) THROUGH LRS. & ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

DOMNIC ALEX FERNANDES (D) THROUGH LRS. & ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

Bona fide tenants’ rights are not automatically terminated upon forfeiture of property under SAFEMA; whether appellants are bona fide tenants and have no nexus with illegal acquisition must be determined independently by the competent authority.

Parties
Appellants: DOMNIC ALEX FERNANDES (D) THROUGH LRS. & ORS.; Respondents: UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
17 August 2017
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against High Court Order
Outcome
Appeal allowed; High Court order set aside; matter remitted to competent authority.
Legal Topics
Forfeiture of Property, SAFEMA, COFEPOSA, Tenancy Rights, Bona Fide Tenant Protections

Case Brief

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Parties

DOMNIC ALEX FERNANDES (D) THROUGH LRS. & ORS.

Appellants

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against High Court Order

  1. 1 Whether tenancy rights of a bona fide tenant are automatically terminated by forfeiture of property under SAFEMA
  2. 2 Scope of forfeiture under Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976

Ratio Decidendi

Bona fide tenants’ rights are not automatically terminated upon forfeiture of property under SAFEMA; whether appellants are bona fide tenants and have no nexus with illegal acquisition must be determined independently by the competent authority.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; High Court order set aside; matter remitted to competent authority.

Orders

  • Order of High Court set aside.
  • Matter remitted to competent authority for fresh determination.