JUDGMENT

Sanjay Kumar, J.

1. Improvement Trust, Ropar [hereinafter, ‘the Trust’], is in appeal against the directions of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Chandigarh, to allot a plot under discretionary quota to Shashi Bala, a social worker. By order dated 13.05.2008, this Court granted stay and the same was made absolute on 10.08.2009.

2. Heard Shri Birendra Kumar Mishra, learned counsel, appearing for the Trust; and Shri P.S. Patwalia, learned senior counsel, appearing for Shashi Bala.

3. Facts, to the extent relevant, unfold thus: Shashi Bala, a social worker, applied to the Chief Minister of Punjab for allotment of a plot of 500 square yards under his discretionary quota on 28.01.1987. Acting thereupon, by letter dated 11.02.1987, the Government of Punjab approved allotment of a residential plot of 500 square yards in Development Scheme Giani Zail Singh Nagar of Improvement Trust, Ropar, to Shashi Bala out of the Government’s discretionary quota under Rule 4 of the Punjab Town Improvement (Utilization of Land and Allotment of Plots) Rules, 1983 [for brevity ‘the Rules of 1983’], at