JUDGMENT :

DEEPAK MANCHANDA, J.

1. By this common order, the bunch of aforementioned writ petitions shall stand disposed of, as they involve similar questions of law with respect to the reliefs claimed by the petitioners–oustees. Arguments have been heard in the petitions, in relation to issues arising out of the settled law and the policies so framed. The said issues are being dealt with collectively in the present writ petition, i.e. CWP-22302-2024. Further, though some questions do not arise out of facts of the same but findings recorded herein would be relevant for most of the writ petitions. Accordingly, the facts of CWP No.22302-2024 are being considered for the purpose of adjudication of all the connected petitions.

2. That the facts giving rise to the present writ petition are that the land of the petitioners was acquired vide Notification dated 17.11.2005 issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, and Award was announced on 02.03.2006. Subsequently, in the year 2010, the respondents framed a policy for allotment of residential plots to the oustees whose land had been acquired for the aforesaid project. Applications were invited from eligible landowners and the last date for submission of applications was 25.07.2010. The petitioners, being eligible oustees, duly applied within the prescribed period and deposited an amount of Rs.50,000/- as earnest money along with their respective application forms. Thereafter, the respondents issued allotment letters dated 19.03.2019, 20.03.2019, 26.03.2019 and 29.07.2019 (Annexures P-12 to P-16) demanding a rate of Rs.19,200/- per square meter and imposed erroneous conditions requiring the petitioners to deposit 25% of the total cost within 30 days and the balance amount within 60 days, failing which the allotments were liable to be cancelled.

3. It is pleaded that similarly situated oustees were granted the benefit of instalment payments vide letter dated 25.01.2017 (Annexure P-8), whereby they were permitted to deposit the remaining 75% amount in six equal annual instalments spread over six years. Aggrieved by the arbitrary terms, the petitioners earlier filed CWP No.571 of 2024, which was dismissed as withdrawn on 06.02.2024 with liberty to approach the respondent-authority. However, instead of granting relief, the respondents rejected the claim of the petitioners vide speaking orders dated 12.07.2024 (Annexures P-22 & P-22-A).

4. It is further pleaded that, despite timely submission of applications by the petitioners, the respondents failed to conduct the draw of lots for several years. Consequently, similarly situated landowners were constrained to file petition bearing CWP No.25952 of 2014, which resulted in directions being issued to conduct the draw of lots on or before 31.08.2015, however, despite such directions by this Court, compliance by the respondents remained partial and delayed and even in the case of the petitioners, vide the impugned speaking orders dated 12.07.2024 (Annexures P-22 and P-22-A), rejected the claim on the alleged ground of delay and cancelled the allotment of residential plots under the oustees quota. The petitioners through this petition have challenged the said cancellation and sought quashing of allotment letters dated 19.03.2019, 20.03.2019, 26.03.2019, 29.07.2019, (Annexures P-12 to P-16), requiring deposit of the entire cost in lump sum within a short period, where non-payment thereof has resulted in cancellation of the allotments. The petitioners have further prayed for issuance of directions to charge the rate applicable for the year 2010- 11, i.e. Rs.3,960/- per square metre, being the rate charged from SRM University, Chennai, which had applied in the same financial year. It has also been prayed that directions be issued to the respondents to issue fresh allotment letters to the petitioners on the same terms and conditions as extended to similarly situated oustees, perm