2018 Supreme(P&H) 33
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
AJAY KUMAR MITTAL, ANUPINDER SINGH GREWAL, JJ.
Reham Tula - Petitioner
Versus
The State of Haryana and others - Respondents
CWP-1794-2017
Decided On : 19-02-2018
For the Petitioner: Mr. Sandeep Sharma
For the Respondent: Mr. Sandeep Moudgil, Mr. Deepak Sabharwal
The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's discretion to grant the petitioner the opportunity to file a detailed representation and the authority's obligation to decide the representation expeditiously in a time-bound manner in accordance with the law.
Headnote:
Oustees Policy - Land Allotment - The court disposed of the writ petition by granting the petitioner the liberty to file a detailed representation before the appropriate authority, incorporating the grievances raised in the petition, and directed the authority to decide the representation expeditiously in a time-bound manner in accordance with the law.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner sought a writ for the allotment of a plot as per the oustees policy, and for quashing a policy and public notice related to the same. The petitioner's land was acquired by the Haryana Urban Development Authority for development purposes, and the petitioner was declared eligible for the allotment of a plot but was not allotted one.
Finding of the Court:
The court disposed of the petition by granting the petitioner the liberty to file a detailed representation before the appropriate authority and directed the authority to decide the representation expeditiously in a time-bound manner in accordance with the law.
Issues: The issues involved the allotment of a plot as per the oustees policy, the petitioner's eligibility for the allotment, and the decision to refund the earnest money and start an e-auction of plots.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on granting the petitioner the opportunity to file a detailed representation and directing the authority to decide the representation expeditiously in a time-bound manner in accordance with the law.
Final Decision: The petitioner was granted the liberty to file a detailed representation before the appropriate authority, and the authority was directed to decide the representation expeditiously in a time-bound manner in accordance with the law.
AJAY KUMAR MITTAL, J.
1. In this writ petition filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to allot a plot as per the oustees policy dated 18.3.1992 (Annexure P-9). Further, a writ of certiorari has been sought for quashing the policy dated 11.8.2016 (Annexure P-7) and public notice dated 13.1.2017 (Annexure P-8).
2. The petitioner was owner of the land measuring 4 kanal 13 marlas situated at village Saketri, Panchkula. The said land was acquired by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for the development of sectors 1 to 3, 5-B, 5-C and 6 for Panchkula Extension (MDC) as residential, commercial, institutional and recreational. The award was passed on 9.10.2003 (Annexure P-1). As per the certificate dated 10.7.2014 (Annexure P-2), the land of the petitioner fall in Sector 1, MDC Panchkula where the respondents had developed Gymkhana Club. The petitioner had applied for a 10-Marla plot in Sector 6, MDC, Panchkula alongwith the earnest money by way of draft dated 30.6.2010 (Annexure P-4). Vide proceedings dated 18.7.2014 (Annexure P-5), the petitioner was declared eligible for the allotment of a 10-Marla plot in Sector 6, MDC, Panchkula. Respondent No.4 vide letter dated 20.10.2014 (Annexure P-6) called the petitioner for the draw of lots to earmark the plots out of the oustees quota on 5.11.2014. However, no plot was allotted to the petitioner. Further, the respondents had decided to refund the earnest money vide policy dated 11.8.2016 (Annexure P-7). Respondent No.4 vide public notice dated 13.1.2017 (Annexure P-8) had started the e-auction of 10-marla plots in Sectors 2 and 6, MDC, Panchkula. As per the policies dated 18.3.1992, 28.8.1998 and 27.3.2000 (Annexures P-9 to P-11, respectively), the petitioner was eligible to apply plot under oustees policy in the next residential sector. However, till date no plot has been allotted to the petitioner. Hence, the present writ petition.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner prayed that liberty be granted to the petitioner to file a detailed and comprehensive representation before the appropriate authority by incorporating the grievance as raised in the present writ petition and direction be issued to the authority concerned to decide the representation expeditiously in a time bound manner in accordance with law.
4. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, perusing the present petition and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, we dispose of the present petition by granting liberty to the petitioner to file a detailed and comprehensive representation raising all the pleas as raised in the present writ petition before the appropriate authority. It is directed that in the event of a representation being filed by the petitioner within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order, the same shall be decided in accordance with law by passing a speaking order and after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner within a period of six months from the date of receipt of the representation. The petitioner shall be entitled to lead any evidence to substantiate his claim before the concerned authority.