JUDGMENT

Syed Shah Mohammed Quadri, J.-Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. Leave is granted.

3. The judgment and order of a learned Single Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in S.A.O.No. 28 of 2000, made on August 16, 2001, is assailed in this appeal filed by the first defendant in the suit.

4. The short question that arises for our consideration is : whether provisions of Section 13 read with Section 10-A of the Act bar jurisdiction of a civil court to entertain the suit filed by the respondents.

5. The factual matrix giving rise to the question may be noticed here. The appeal arises out of the suit filed by respondents (plaintiffs), in representative capacity, challenging the validity of the lease of land measuring 280 kanals situated within the revenue estate of village Madnaka, Tehsil Hathin, District Faridabad (for short, the suit land ), granted by the Gram Panchayat Madnaka for a period of 10 years for Rs.10 lacs in favour of the appellant on October 1, 1997. It is alleged that the lease is in violation of the provisions of Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 (referred to in this judgment as the Act )* and the Rules made there