IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No. 20928 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION: February 05, 2009 Raj Singh .........PETITIONER(S) VERSUS State of Haryana and Others ......RESPONDENT(S) CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAI LAMBA Present: Ms. Monisha Lamba, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Sunil Nehra, AAG, Haryana. Mr. Ashwani Verma, Advocate, for respondent no. 3. AJAI LAMBA, J. (ORAL) This civil writ petition has been filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent no. 2 i.e. Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad for taking action on representation Annexure P-2 made at the instance of the petitioner. It has been brought out that the Sarpanch of Village Dehman Tehsil and District Fatehabad namely Rajinder has given possession of Panchayat land to Ragi Ram. A complaint in this regard was made. From the representation, it is made out that the Sarpanch is taking contradictory stand which indicates his culpability alongwith Ragi Ram. Contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the C.W.P. No. 20928 of 2008 -2- respondents are bound by Statute to have an inquiry conducted and take decision at the earliest in terms of provisions of Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, Chapter VI of the Panchayati Raj Act. Despite the matter having been agitated for the first time in November 2007, no action has been taken till date. Result is that Panchayat land is under illegal occupation. I have considered the issue. The pleadings in the petition make out a case that complaint has been made, however, inquiry has neither been conducted nor action initiated. Without doubt, the Deputy Commissioner at the District level is at the helm of affairs in such matters and is required by law to take notice of such complaints and take appropriate action as necessary. This petition is disposed of with directions to the Deputy Commissioner to consider the allegations made in Representation Annexure P-2 and ensure that enquiry is conducted. In case facts and circumstances of the case warrant taking action, needful be done in accordance with law. The needful be done within four months from the date of receipt of copy of the order. 05.02.2009 (AJAI LAMBA) shivani JUDGE