IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 8996 of 2007. Date of Decision: 5th May, 2009. Pritpal Singh & Ors. ....Petitioners through Dr. Balram Gupta, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Sanjiv Manrai, Advocate. Versus State of Punjab & Ors. .Respondents through Mr. G.S.Atttariwala, Addl.AG, Punjab. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? SURYA KANT, J. [ORAL) This order shall dispose of CWP Nos. 8996 and 9337 of 2007 as common questions of law and facts are involved therein. For brevity, the facts are being extracted from CWP No. 8996 of 2007. The three petitioners are Non-Resident-Indians. They seek quashing of the order dated 28.07.2006 [Annexure P-7] passed by the Administrator, New Mandi Township, Punjab whereby auction of 25 plots bearing SCF Nos. 68 to 78, 89 to 96 and 98 to 103 at Mandi Sandhaur, District Sangrur, has not been approved and the amount deposited by them has been directed to be refunded. It may be noticed here that the Competent Authority has refused to confirm the auction on the ground that only one person [G.K.Singh] – a PCS Officer and his Personal Assistant gave bid for these plots which are in continuity. On the contrary, the petitioners, who are three brothers, have come up with the plea that G.K.Singh – their 4th brother was authorized to bid on their behalf on the strength of a Power of Attorney which they had executed in his favour. It is their case that as per the terms and conditions of the auction, there was no restriction against bidding for more than one plot bearing Nos. in continuity. On the last date of hearing, learned counsel for the petitioners was granted time to seek instructions as to whether or not a fresh auction to be held, in a time-bound manner, would be acceptable to the petitioners, especially when the amount deposited by them in response to the previous auction would be adjusted along with interest in the fresh auction. Learned counsel for the petitioners fairly agrees to the aforesaid suggestion. In this view of the matter, these writ petitions are disposed of with a direction that the subject plots along with other plots, if any, in the Mandi at Sandhaur, District Sangrur be again put to an open auction before 31.7.2009 after giving a wide publicity in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner or Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur who shall sign the auction proceedings in token of his presence. The petitioners shall be at liberty to participate in the said auction. The amount already deposited by them against the previous auction along with interest at the rate as is admissible under Section 3 of the Interest Act, 1978 shall be adjusted towards the bid amount for the fresh auction, provided they are successful in such auction. In case the petitioners do not turn out to be the successful bidders in the fresh auction, the amount already deposited by them along with interest as directed above, shall be refunded before 31.8.2009. Disposed of. Dasti. May 05, 2009. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE