CWP No.18698 of 2007 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No.18698 of 2007 Date of decision:27.07.2010 Harjit Singh and another ...... Petitioners VERSUS State of Punjab through the Secretary, Panchayat, Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, and others ......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAJIVE BHALLA. Present: Mr.R.K.Joshi, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr.C.S.Brar, DAG, Punjab for respondents no.1 to 3. Mr.Nakul Sharma, Advocate for respondent no.4. ***** RAJIVE BHALLA.J (Oral) After addressing arguments for some time, counsel for the petitioners gives up challenge to the validity of the impugned orders of ejectment, passed under Section 7 of the of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) 1961, Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) but prays that as the land in dispute, does not belong to the Gram Panchayat, the petitioners may be granted liberty to file an application under Section 11 of the Act, seeking adjudication of the question of title. It is further prayed that operation of the impugned orders may be kept in abeyance till the petitioners file an appropriate application under Section 11 of the Act. Counsel for the Gram Panchayat states that as the question of ownership has already been decided, though in proceedings under Section 7 of the Act, the writ petition should be dismissed. I have heard counsel for the parties and perused the impugned orders. The land in dispute is recorded as the ownership of the Gram CWP No.18698 of 2007 -2- Panchayat. The petitioners however, assert that this land is Jumla Mushtarka Malkan but was mutated in the name of the Gram Panchayat, pursuant to a letter issued by the Government. The petitioners further assert that they are owners in possession, as proprietors and therefore, are entitled to remain in possession of this land as it was neither reserved nor used for common purposes. As the petitioners have given up challenge to the orders of ejectment, the orders dated 26.11.2002 and 06.09.2007, passed by the Collector-cum-District Development and Panchayat Officer, Amritsar and the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat (exercising the powers of Commissioner), Punjab, Chandigarh, directing the petitioners ejectment are affirmed, however with liberty to the petitioners to file an appropriate application under Section 11 of the Act, seeking adjudication of the question whether the land vests or does not vest in the Gram Panchayat. In case, such an application is filed within one month from the receipt of a certified copy of this order, the operation of the impugned orders shall remain stayed during this period of one month. While considering the petitioners application under Section 11 of the Act, the Collector shall disregard any observation made in the impugned orders except in so far as they are relevant for deciding the controversy. The petition stands disposed of accordingly. 27.07.2010 [RAJIVE BHALLA] shamsher JUDGE