Ritu Bala And Others v. State Of Punjab And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH (104) Date of Decision : August 26, 2025 Ritu Bala and others .. Appellants

Versus

The State of Punjab and others .. Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS SURI

Present:

Mr. B.S. Sidhu, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Himmat Singh Sidhu, Advocate, Mr. Vikram Sharma, Advocate and Mr. Chandan Singh, Advocate, for the appellants. Mr. T.P.S. Chawla, Sr. Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI J. (ORAL) 1.

In the present appeal, the grievance being raised by the appellants is that the Deputy Commissioner is in possession of the land over which the ownership is of the appellants without ascertaining the aspect that whether the said land falls within the subject matter of the Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha Committee which dealt with the property of Pearls Agro Corporation Ltd. (PACL).

2.

Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants argues that the land owned by the appellants has no nexus with the land being owned by the Pearls Agro Corporation Ltd. (PACL) and therefore, the

jurisdiction being exercised by the Deputy Commissioner on the recommendation of the Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha Committee is incorrect and without verifying qua the aspect of ownership of land being owned by the appellants, with the closed eyes, the possession of the land is being taken by the Deputy Commissioner.

3.

Learned Senior Counsel for the appellants submits that the appellants intend to approach the Deputy Commissioner with all the facts so as to prove that the land owned by the appellants has no nexus with the Pearls Agro Corporation Ltd. (PACL) in any manner and hence, cannot be made the subject matter of investigation under the Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha Committee and therefore, the Deputy Commissioner concerned be directed to look into the said grievance of the appellants and decide the same by passing appropriate speaking order.

4.

Learned counsel for the respondent-State submits that in case, any representation is received at the hands of appellants raising any claim that the land owned by them is not a subject matter of the Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha Committee, which was sought to be attached keeping in view the letter received from the Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha Committee which Committee was looking into the land being owned by Pearls Agro Corporation Ltd. (PACL), appropriate order will be passed by the Deputy Commissioner after giving due opportunity of hearing to the appellants and going through the revenue record qua the said land in question as to whether, the said land was in any manner related to the ownership of the Pearls Agro Corporation Ltd. (PACL) at any given point of time and the said speaking

order will be passed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of any such representation at the hands of the appellants. 5.

Learned Senior Counsel for the appellants submits that keeping in view the statement of learned State counsel, the present appeal may kindly be disposed of having been not pressed any further with liberty to the appellants to approach the Deputy Commissioner by filing appropriate representation.

6.

Ordered accordingly.

(HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI) JUDGE August 26, 2025 (VIKAS SURI) harsha JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes Whether reportable : No