IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Writ Petition No. 1848 of 2007 (M/S) Smt. Jernaj K. Engineer W/o Sri K. J. Engineer, R/o Clifton Building, Ayarpatta, Nainital and another. ….Petitioner Vs. State of Uttaranchal, through Secretary, Department of Urban Development, Uttaranchal Shasan, Dehradun and others. …..Respondents Sri Alok Mehra, Advocate holding brief of Sri Manoj Tiwari, learned counsel for the petitioner. Sri Vinod Nautiyal, learned Additional Advocate General for the State-respondent Nos. 1 to 4. Sri Ashish Joshi, learned counsel for the respondent No.5. Hon’ble B.S. Verma, J. Heard Sri Alok Mehra, Advocate holding brief of Sri Manoj Tiwari, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Vinod Nautiyal, learned Additional Advocate General for the State-respondent Nos. 1 to 4 and Sri Ashish Joshi, learned counsel for the respondent No.5. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioners with a following prayer:- (A) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent No.3 to pass appropriate orders regarding conversion of lease hold rights to free hold in respect of Nazul Plot No. 320/1096-A Admeasuring 2404.875 Sq. yards. (B) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent No.3 to pass appropriate orders for grant of free hold rights to the petitioners in respect of adjoining land towards northern and eastern side of the Nazul Plot No. 320/1096-A. (C) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus restraining the respondents from dispossessing or interfering with petitioners possession over the land in question in any manner whatsoever. (D) Issue any other writ, order or direction, which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. (E) Award the cost of the writ petition in favour of the petitioners. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the petitioners have applied for free hold in respect of Nuzul Plot No. 320/1096-A. During the course of arguments, learned counsel for the petitioners’ confines his prayer for a direction to the Collector, Nainital- respondent No.3 to decide the application of the petitioners dated 15.4.2005, contained in annexure No.11 to the writ petition and to take decision thereon expeditiously within a time frame. Prayer is innocuous. In the circumstances of the case, the respondent No.3 i.e Collector, Nainital, is directed to take decision on the application of the petitioner dated 15.4.2005, contained in annexure No.11 to the writ petition, which is pending for disposal, preferably within a period of eight weeks from the date of production of certified copy of this order in accordance with law. With the above observation, the writ petition is disposed of finally. All applications stands disposed of accordingly. (B.S. Verma,J) Dated: - 22-4-2008 M.K.