PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT, CHANDIGARH *** CWP No. 14428 of 2009 Date of Decision: September 16, 2009. *** Balbir Singh and another Vs. State of Punjab and others. *** CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.S.Thakur, Chief Justice and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kanwaljit SinghAhluwalia. *** Present: Ms. G.K.Mann, Advocate, for the petitioners. *** T.S.Thakur, Chief Justice (Oral) Issue notice of motion to the respondents. Mr. Rupinder Khosla, Addl: A.G. Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. With consent the petition has been heard for final disposal. This petition purports to have been filed in public interest. It prays for a mandamus directing the respondents to remove the illegal and un-authorized encroachments / blockages made by some of the residents of Village Chauhan Tehsil and District Amritsar in the village pond, common street, market and in a religious place situate in the village. The petitioners' case appears to be that despite representations, copies whereof have been marked Annexures P-4 and P-5 to the writ petition, the Deputy Commissioner and the District Development and Panchayat Officer, respondents No. 2 and 3 have not cared to look into the matter or pass any order on the same. Learned counsel for the petitioners argued that the least the authorities ought to do is to examine the grievance made in the representations and take appropriate action wherever the same is called for. Mr. Khosla, learned Addl: A.G. appearing for the State of Punjab very fairly conceded that the limited prayer made by the petitioners -2- CWP No. 14428 of 2009 for disposal of their representations pending before the authorities concerned, can be allowed without much ado. He urged that given three months time, the Deputy Commissioner and the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Amritsar will look into the matter and take action in accordance with law wherever the same is called for, under intimation to the petitioners. In the circumstances, therefore, we dispose off this petition with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner and the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Amritsar, respondents No. 2 and 3, to examine the allegations made in the representations marked Annexure P-4 and P-5 to the writ petition, expeditiously and as far as possible within three months from the date a copy of this order is served upon them. An intimation about the orders passed by the said officers shall also be served upon the petitioners who shall in case they feel dis-satisfied with that order have the liberty to seek such redress as may be available to them in the law. We make it clear that this order shall not be construed as an expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations made by the petitioners in the representations about the alleged illegal encroachments, blockages or occupation of any public place or any place of worship. The matter is left entirely to the authorities concerned to examine and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. No costs. (T.S.Thakur) Chief Justice September 16, 2009 (Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia) Malik Judge