Mr. Justice S.S. Dewan, President—This is a complaint filed by Shri M.L. Sharma for the allotment of a plot in the Urban Estate, Mohali. He has also claimed interest at the rate of 12% on the earnest money deposited by him in the Estate Office, Mohali.

2. It arises in this way:—

The complainant who is an ex-serviceman applied for a residential plot of 10 Maria size in the Urban Estate, Mohali in the month of December, 1977. He paid earnest money amounting to Rs. 1500/- to the Estate Officer, Urban Estate, Mohali and registration No. 1485 was issued to him by the said office. It is alleged that revised option for the plot was issued to the complainant by the Estate Officer on 10.2.1982 and the complainant then opted for 8 Marla Plot. He also deposited the enhanced earnest amount of Rs. 2500/- in the said office on 26.8.1983 in addition to Rs. 1500/- paid by him in 1977. It has been averred in the complaint that the complainant was discharged from the defence services in the year 1984 and remained unemployed for a pretty long time and that in the year 1985-86 due to domestic needs and financial hardship he requested for the refund of earnest amount of Rs. 4000/- deposited by him i