MR. JUSTICE S.RAVINDRA BHAT

1. In these two writ proceedings, the petitioner questions to the decision of the Central Government, which in effect rejected his claim for allotment of 6 standard acres and 7-15/16 units, under the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1964 and Rules framed under it (hereafter called the Act and the Rules, respectively).

2. Briefly the facts pertaining to WP(C) No.2613/1981 are that the petitioner claimed ownership of lands in erstwhile Punjab (present day in Pakistan) and had to flee during the partition when he came and settled in India. The scheme of the Act and Rules prescribed that such individuals, i.e. “displaced persons” were to lodge claims that were to be verified having regard to the records available. The petitioner was allotted agricultural land in Tehsil Ballabhgarh (present day in Haryana), in lieu of the land owned by him in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). It is contended that the petitioner’s claim was not fully satisfied and continued to be pending till 28.12.1977 when a letter was issued acknowledging that as against his entitlement to 32 standard acres and 11/16 units (after the permissible ded