IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.18483 of 2009 Date of decision: 7th December, 2009 Rameshwar Dass and others … Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Arihant Jain, Advocate for the petitioners. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) 24 residents of Malerkotla have approached this Court with a prayer that notices (Annexure P-3 and P-4) dated 10th and 22nd September, 2009 issued by the Executive Officer, Nagar Council, Malerkotla, whereby they have been asked to vacate the sites immediately, be quashed. During the course of arguments, counsel for the petitioners has stated that construction of flyover is need of the hour and the city requires the same. Counsel submits that the petitioners do not want to create hurdle in the construction of flyover, but as and when the construction of the flyover is to commence, they themselves will vacate the site to facilitate construction of flyover, provided 15 days notice is given in advance from the day when the construction of flyover is to commence. To fortify this submission, counsel for the petitioners relies upon Annexure P- 5. Issue notice of motion. Civil Writ Petition No.18483 of 2009 On the asking of Court, Mr.Anil Kumar Sharma, Additional Advocate General, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the State. Mr.Anil Kumar Sharma is also on the panel of Municipal Council, Sangrur, therefore, he accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.2 as well. Two copies of the petition have been handed over to him. Counsel for the State submits that let petitioners file an undertaking before the District Magistrate that they will voluntarily vacate the site to facilitate construction of the flyover. Counsel for the State further submits that in case such an undertaking is filed by the petitioners, a 15 days notice in advance shall be given to them from the date when construction of the flyover is to commence. In view of the submissions made by counsel for the petitioners and respondents, which are not contrary to each other, this Court is of the view that petitioners should file an undertaking before the District Magistrate within ten days from today that from the date the actual construction of the flyover is to commence, they will themselves hand over the possession to the respondents. However, before the commencement of the construction, in case machinery, equipment is to be parked at the site or any other procedure/measurement etc. is to be undertaken for preparation of the commencement of construction of flyover, petitioners will not cause any hurdle in the same. On furnishing of the undertaking, 15 days advance notice will be given to the petitioners to vacate the site, from the date when actual construction has to commence. Counsel for the petitioners has made an alternative prayer and has stated that from the shops/khokhas, petitioners are earning their livelihood, therefore, Municipal Council may consider grant of an alternative site to the petitioners for carrying on their business. 2 Civil Writ Petition No.18483 of 2009 I have no doubt that in case, there is any policy of the Government, the claim of the petitioners for alternative site shall be considered by the Municipal Council according to prevailing policy. With these observations, present petition is disposed of. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE December 7, 2009 rps 3