Appealability of dropped eviction proceedings confirmed where "every order" includes termination orders by a quasi-judicial authority.

An order dropping eviction proceedings under Section 4 of the Bombay Government Premises (Eviction) Act, 1955 is appealable under Section 7 because the phrase "every order" covers any determination made by the competent authority, including termination of proceedings. The competent authority is treated as acting in a quasi-judicial capacity, since the statutory scheme requires notice, hearing, consideration of objections, and inquiry powers similar to a civil court. The article notes that the Supreme Court rejected the view that the authority is merely an administrative arm and stated that statutory appeals may be maintained against such dropped proceedings.

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Issues: Whether an order dropping eviction proceedings under Section 4 of the Bombay Government Premises (Eviction) Act, 1955 is an appealable order under Section 7 of the Act, and whether the competent authority acts as a quasi-judicial authority while deciding such proceedings.

Analysis: Section 7 confers an appeal from every order of the competent authority made under Section 4 or Section 5. The expression "every order" was held to be comprehensive and not confined only to an order expressly directing eviction. An order recording that proceedings are dropped is still a determination of the proceedings and is not outside the ambit of Section 7. The competent authority was also held to function in a quasi-judicial capacity because the Act requires notice, opportunity of hearing, consideration of objections, and vests the authority with powers akin to a civil court for inquiry under Section 6-A. The statutory scheme, read as a whole, does not support the view that the competent authority is merely an administrative arm of the Government whose decision cannot be appealed by the State.

Conclusion: An order dropping proceedings under Section 4 is appealable under Section 7, and the competent authority's decision is a statutory quasi-judicial order.

Final Conclusion: The State's appeal succeeded, the High Court's view was set aside, and the matter was remitted for disposal of the statutory appeals on merits.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a statute provides an appeal from "every order" of a competent authority under a specified provision, that phrase includes an order terminating or dropping proceedings after notice and hearing, and the authority making such order is to be treated as exercising quasi-judicial powers.

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