2011 Supreme(All) 1528
[2011(9) ADJ 503]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
S.U. KHAN, J.
JASVEER AND OTHERS .....Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS .....Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 43222 of 2000, decided on 23rd May, 2011)
B. Malik for the Petitioner; P.K. Bishria and V.K. Singh, C.S.C. for the Respondents.
Headnote:Allotment—Land—By Gaon Sabha Land Management Committee—Cancellation of—Land allotted for agricultural purpose—Fathers/husbands of almost all the allottees were already having agricultural land and some of the allottees were members of Panchayat also—Cancellation of such allotment, of land, not illegal. [Paras 7 to 9]
Hon’ble S.U. Khan, J.—Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. Some land was allotted to the petitioners, who are 14 in number, by Gaon Sabha/Land Management Committee (different parcels of land to each petitioner). Proceedings for cancellation of the allotment were initiated and both the Courts below cancelled the allotment hence this writ petition.
3. One set of allotment was made for agricultural purposes and another set for residential purposes. Both the cancellation orders were challenged. However, the impugned judgments in both the writ petitions were mixed up. Thereafter, correct judgments were filed in both the writ petitions. The other writ petition has already been disposed of by me. The prayer clause has correctly been drafted in this writ petition and through the same, order passed by A.D.M. Finance and revenue on 16.6.1999 in case No. 4 of 1997-98 and order of revisional Court/Additional Commissioner Meerut, Division Meerut passed on 17.8.2000 in revision No. 135 of 1998-99 have been challenged. However, Annexures 1 and 2 to the writ petition are copies of orders passed in case No. 2 of 1997-98 and revision No. 136 of 1998-99. Orders passed in these cases related to allotment for housing sites. Copies of orders passed in case No. 4 by A.D.M. and revision No. 135 by Revisional Court challenged through this writ petition have been separately supplied.
4. Allotment by Gaon Sabha/land management Committee of Village Vidyapur, Safaidabad pargana Jalalabad Tehsil Modinagar, District Ghaziabad was made through resolution dated 21.6.1992 to 16 allottees. It was approved by the S.D.O. on 5.9.1992. Proceedings for cancellation were initiated suo motu on the report of Deputy Collector Modi Nagar dated 9.3.1998. The report was that out of 16 allottees 7 belonged to higher castes and it was further reported that fathers/husbands of almost all the allottees were already having agricultural land and some of the allottees were members of panchyat also. Father of Jasvir (petitioner No. 1), S/O Kripal (or Krishnapal) was having 22 bigha kachcha land and was also member of panchayat, husband of Smt. Birmati petitioner No. 3. Father of Kunwar Pal was having 25 bigha Kaccha agricultural land.
5. It appears that earlier also proceedings were initiated for cancellation of patta. However, that case was dismissed in default and not on merit . Accordingly, both the Courts below held that the proceedings in question were not barred by principles of res judicata. Plea of the cancellation application being time barred was also decided against the allottees. It was also the allegation against the allottees that some public utility land ear marked for Khalian, Panchayat Ghar and manure pits etc. during consolidation had also been allotted.
6. The earlier case was instituted by one Ved Prakash which was numbered as case No. 61 of 1995-94. The A.D.M. (Finance and Revenue) Ghaziabad who decided the matter in question on 16.6.1999 summoned the file of the earlier case also. The earlier case was dismissed in default on 9.12.1997. The A.D.M. in the impugned order also found that in the date of Munadi there was cutting and there after 14.6.1992 was mentioned and in that plot numbers and area were not mentioned which was required to be mentioned in accordance with Rule 173 of U.P.Z.A.L.R. Rules. It is also mentioned that no list of deserving persons was preprepared and the list of allottees had already been prepared before the start of the meeting. It was also found by A.D.M. that Khasra plot No. 84 area 3 bigha fasli which was entered as Khalian was changed to Navin Parhti. Some other irregularities were also found by the A.D.M. Revisional Court also fully approved the finding of the A.D.M. I am of the opinion that on the ground of minor irregularities allotment cannot be set aside. However, the fact that fathers, husbands or sons of the allottees were already having agricultural land was sufficient ground to cancel the allotment. Similarly, conve