M/S Punjab Timber v. Union Of India And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CWP-1793-2023 (O&M) Date of decision:- 31.01.2023 M/s Punjab Timber

...Petitioner(s)

Versus

Union of India and others

...Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI SHANKER JHA, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN PALLI

Present:

Mr. H.S. Brar, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Gaurav Datta, Advocate, and Mr. Ranjit Singh Kalra, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. R.S. Madan, Advocate, Mr. Mahender Joshi, Advocate, for respondents No. 2 and 3.

Mr. Avinit Avasthi, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. * * * * RAVI SHANKER JHA, C.J. (ORAL) The petitioner in the present writ petition only seeks a direction to the respondent-authorities for refunding the amount alongwith interest already lying deposited with them in respect of allotting a lot of standing trees to it. Mr. Avinit Avasthi, learned Assistant Advocate General, Punjab, on instructions from Mr. Sukhminder Chauhan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Bureau, Mohali as well as Ms. M. Geethanjali, Chief General Manager, Punjab State Forest Corporation Limited, submits that in respect of the demand of bribery from the petitioner, FIR No. 26 dated 19.12.

2022, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been registered against one Gurdarshan Singh, working in the Head Office of the Forest Department, Sector 68, Punjab SAS Nagar, at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, F.S.-1, Punjab, Mohali, District SAS Nagar and the matter is under investigation and would be taken to its logical conclusion. He further submits that in case the concessionaire i.e. M/s Varaha Infra Limited approaches them for refund of the amount already lying deposited with them, they would return it in accordance with law.

Faced with this, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks withdrawal of the writ petition.

AMODH SHARMA 2023.02.01 14:52 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgement

CWP-1793-2023 (O&M) In view of the aforesaid submission made by learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the statement of learned State counsel, the writ petition stands disposed of as withdrawn.

(RAVI SHANKER JHA) CHIEF JUSTICE (ARUN PALLI) JUDGE 31.01.2023 Amodh Sharma Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No AMODH SHARMA 2023.02.01 14:52 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgement