IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.R. No.2927 of 2007 Date of Decision:- 25.02.2008 Ujagar Singh ....Petitioner(s) through Mr.Surjit Singh Swaich, Advocate vs. Addl.Deputy Commissioner (D) Fatehgarh Sahib and others ....Respondent(s) through Mr.T.P.Singh, Advocate. *** CORAM:-HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. *** 1) Whether Reporters of the 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 civil revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution is directed against the orders dated 8.4.2005 and 8.2.2007 passed by the Collector, Fatehgarh Sahib. Vide the first order, the petitioner was proceeded ex parte in a petition filed by the Gram Panchayat under Section 11 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 ( in short, 'the Act') whereas vide the subsequent order, the application for setting aside the ex parte proceedings has been dismissed. Notice of motion was issued and in response thereto, learned counsel for the parties have been heard. From the material on record, it is apparent that the Gram Panchayat has filed a petition under Section 11 of the Act seeking declaration of its ownership qua the subject agricultural land allegedly C.R. No.2927 of 2007 -2- under the unauthorized occupation of respondents No.1 to 27. It appears that the above-stated private respondents being in possession of the suit property, they intend to delay the adjudication of those proceedings. However, in the interest of justice, it would be expedient to give one more and last opportunity to the petitioner to join the pending proceedings from the present stage only and that too on payment of costs of Rs.5,000/- to the Gram Panchayat. Accordingly, the impugned orders dated 8.4.2005 and 8.2.2007 are set aside to the extent above. In other words, the petitioner shall be permitted to file his written statement only if the proceedings are at the stage of completion of the pleadings. The Collector, Fatehgarh Sahib, shall ensure that the proceedings are decided expeditiously and if any of the private respondents attempts to adopt one or the other delaying tactics, the best recourse would be to give them opportunity to defend themselves but on payment of exemplary costs payable to the Gram Panchayat. These observations, however, shall have no bearing on the merits of the case. Disposed of. February 25, 2008 ( SURYA KANT ) poonam JUDGE