Satpal Singh v. State Of Haryana And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CWP-21187-2022 Date of Decision: 21.09.2022 SATPAL SINGH ...... Petitioner(s)

Versus

STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS ..... Respondent(s) CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSH BUNGER

Present:

Mr. Ashish Aggarwal, Senior Advocate with Ms. Aashna Aggarwal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Raman Sharma, Addl. AG, Haryana.

**** LISA GILL, J.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Tehsildar-cumConsolidation Officer, Gharaunda (Karnal) vide common order dated 14.12.2018 (Annexure P-5) decided number of petitions filed under Section 21(2) of the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948, including the petition filed by the petitioner. It is further submitted that petitioner along with others filed appeals challenging said order dated 14.12.2018. Some of the connected appeals i.e. Appeal No.350/DRO/2019, Appeal No.354/DRO/2019 and Appeal No.355/DRO/2019 were decided by the Settlement Officer-cum-District Revenue Officer, Consolidation, Karnal - respondent no.3 vide separate orders of even date i.e. 27.01.2021. Above said three appeals, it is submitted, have been allowed with the impugned order dated 14.12.2018 being set aside and matter remanded to the Tehsildar-cum-Consolidation Officer, Gharaunda (Karnal), for a decision afresh. However, appeal filed by petitioner is still pending with steps being taken for eviction of the petitioner from the land in question.

SUNIL 2022.09.23 13:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-21187-2022 -2Learned counsel for the petitioner raises a limited prayer at this stage for a decision of his pending appeal before the Settlement Officercum-DRO, Consolidation, Karnal in a time bound manner and for protection of his possession till then.

Learned counsel for the State, who had been asked to seek instructions on the last date of hearing, does not raise any objection to the limited prayer addressed and submits that appeal filed by the petitioner would be decided by the competent authority within a period of three months and as of now no steps are being taken for dispossessing the petitioner from the land in question.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances as above and specifically the stand taken on behalf of the respondents, but without any expression of opinion on merits of the matter, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction that appeal filed by the petitioner be decided by the competent authority, in accordance with law expeditiously and definitely within three months from receipt of certified copy of this order. Till then status quo regarding possession qua the land in question, as on today, be maintained.

(LISA GILL) JUDGE (HARSH BUNGER) 21.09.2022 JUDGE Sunil Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No SUNIL 2022.09.23 13:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document