Bhambool Singh and Ors v. State of Haryana and Others

CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -1-ooooooooo2023:PHHC:039546-DB INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARH.o o Reservedoon:o07.02.2023 Dateoofodecision:o17.03.2023

(1) CWP-27471-2022 SUBEGHoSINGHo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(2) CWP-15980-2022o(O&M) BHAMBOOLoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(3) CWP-15690-2022o GIANoCHANDo@oGIANoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS

(4) CWP-15698-2022o JANAKoRAJoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS

(5) CWP-15890-2022o SHIVoKUMARoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo oo...oRESPONDENTS

(6) CWP-15896-2022o AVTARoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS

(7) CWP-15898-2022o KAMALoSINGHoANDoANR. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS

(8) CWP-16071-2022o GURBACHANoSINGHoANDoORS.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(9) CWP-16154-2022o RINKUoSAINIoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS KAVNESETT SIANGHTEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -2-

(10) CWP-16157-2022o MAANoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(11) CWP-16243-2022o PARAMJEEToKAURo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERS o ooo...RESPONDENTS

(12) CWP-16261-2022o RAMoPALoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooooooooooooo...RESPONDENTS

(13) CWP-16311-2022o RAMESHoKUMARoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(14) CWP-16341-2022o GURCHARANoSINGHo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(15) CWP-17226-2022o AMRIKoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(16) CWP-16365-2022o GARIBoDASSoANDoORS.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(17) CWP-16424-2022o AJAYoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(18) CWP-16465-2022o RANBIRoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(19) CWP-16505-2022o HARBHAJANoSINGHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS KAVNE(E2T S0IN)GH CWP-16666-2022o CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -3-NARoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(21) CWP-16696-2022o GURJANToSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(22) CWP-16700-2022o JAIoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(23) CWP-16573-2022o BALJIToSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(24) CWP-16628-2022o RAJINDERoKAURo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(25) CWP-16705-2022o RAJINDERoKAURo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(26) CWP-16911-2022o DHANoPAToANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(27) CWP-17494-2022o MANGAoRAMoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(28) CWP-17495-2022o RAVISHoTREHANoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(29) CWP-17510-2022o SADHUoRAMoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(30) CWP-17550-2022o ROOPoCHANDoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -4-STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(31) CWP-17667-2022o TEJPALoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(32) CWP-17713-2022o DALBIRoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(33) CWP-17833-2022o JEEToSINGHoANDoANR.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(34) CWP-17910-2022o DULIoCHANDoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(35) CWP-18015-2022o SUBASHoRANAoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(36) CWP-18208-2022o SANJUoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(37) CWP-18332-2022o RAJENDERoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(38) CWP-18346-2022o ZILEoSINGHoANDoORS. ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(39) CWP-18540-2022o M/SoKARAMYOGIoSHELTERSoPVToLTDo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(40) CWP-19033-2022o ASHOKoKUMARoANDoORS.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORS.o ooo...RESPONDENTS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -5-

(41) CWP-19887-2022o GURDEVoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(42) CWP-19689-2022o NASIBoSINGHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(43) CWP-20320-2022o GIANoCHANDoANDoANRo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUSo STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(44) CWP-20761-2022o MAHABIRoPRASADoSHARMAoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoORSoooo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(45) CWP-14843-2022o KULDEEPoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(46) CWP-14949-2022o SATYAoPALoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSoo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(47) CWP-19203-2022o DALWINDERoSINGHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(48) CWP-20131-2022o ROSHNIoDEVIoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(49) CWP-20432-2022o SEETAoRAMoANDoANR.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(50) CWP-20982-2022o YASHPALoSINGHoANDoORS.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(51) CWP-23145-2022o KAVNERET ASINNGHJIToSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -6-VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(52) CWP-25671-2022o SHINGARAoSINGHoANDoANR.o oo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(53) CWP-28217-2022o VEDoPARKASHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(54) CWP-28174-2022o BANTAoRAMoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(55) CWP-28463-2022o AMIToINDERoSINGHoANDoANOTHERo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo oo...RESPONDENTS

(56) CWP-28218-2022o UMEDoSINGHoANDoORS.o ...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(57) CWP-29062-2022o RANJEEToSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(58) CWP-29363-2022o GURBAXoSINGHoANDoORS.o ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(59) CWP-28792-2022o ASHOKoKUMARo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSooo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(60) CWP-26653-2022o SUBEGHoSINGHo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(61) CWP-25490-2022o SUMITRAoNEGIoANDoANRo ooooo...PETITIONERS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -7-STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoORSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(62) CWP-25670-2022o KULDEEPoSINGHo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUSo STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(63) CWP-29334-2022o NIRMALoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(64) CWP-27294-2022o SUKHWINDERoSINGHo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(65) CWP-230-2023o ALIoSHERoANDoOTHERSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(66) CWP-30230-2022o SUKHDEVoSINGHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoANOTHERo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(67) CWP-27917-2022o BHUPINDERoSINGHoALIASoBALWINDERoSINGH oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(68) CWP-425-2023o KULDEEPoSINGHo ooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(69) CWP-563-2023o GEHALoSINGHoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(70) CWP-26059-2022o MOHANoLALoSHARMAo oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(71) CWP-2003-2023 o MANOJoKUMARoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo oo...RESPONDENTS CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -8-

(72) CWP-23797-2022 o o SANDEEPoKUMARoANDoORSo ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(73) CWP-24085-2022 SULEoKHANoANDoORS ooooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(74) oooooooooCWP-4396-2023o(Reservedoon:o02.03.2023) RAMoDASSoALIASoRAMoKALAN oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(75) oooooooooCWP-4670-2023o(Reservedoon:o14.03.2023) NAVEENo@oNAVEENoBALA oooooooo...PETITIONER VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS

(76) oooooooooCWP-2591-2018o(Reservedoon:o16.03.2023) BHARAToPALoANDoOTHERSo oooo...PETITIONERS VERSUS STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSo ooo...RESPONDENTS CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSURESHWARoTHAKUR oooooooo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoKULDEEPoTIWARI Arguedobyo:Mr.oKushagraoMahajan,oAdvocateo forotheopetitionersoinoCWP-26653-2022oandoCWP-27471-2022. Mr.oS.S.DinarpurowithoMr.ArvindoSinghoandoMr.oSumitoGujjar,o AdvocatesoforotheopetitionersoinoCWP-15890-2022,oCWP-15690-2022,o16154-2022, o 16157-2022, o 16243-2022, o 16261-2022, o 16311-2022, o 16341-2022, o 16911-2022,o16628-2022,o 16705-2022,o17494-2022,o17510-2022,o 17550-2022,o17667-2022oandoCWP-23797-2022. Mr.oDanishoDawesar,oMr.oNipunoBhardwaj andooMr.oVinodoBhardwaj,oAdvocatesoforotheopetitionerso inoCWP-20131-2022. Mr.oPiyushoAggarwal,oAdvocate forotheopetitionersoinoCWP-425-2023. Mr.oRavneetoSinghoJoshi,ooMr.ShivamoSharma andoMr.oAkashoPatyal,oAdvocates forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-20432-2022. o Mr.oV.K.Jindal,oSr.AdvocateowithoMr.oVijayveeroSingh,oAdvocate forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-20761-2022. Mr.oVikramoSinghoDhakla,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionerso inooCWP-2355-2018(O&M), KAVNEET SINGH 18514-2019,o6204-2019,o6213-2019,o CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -9-9165-2019,o19663-2019,oCM-963-CWP-2023oin/ando CWP-15980-2022(O&M), 15698-2022,o15896-2022, 15898-2022,o16071-2022,o 17226-2022,o 16365-2022,o16424-2022,o16465-2022,o 16505-2022,o16666-2022,o16696-2022,o16700-2022,o 17713-2022,o17833-2022,o17910-2022,o18208-2022,o 18332-2022,o18346-2022,o19689-2022,o20320-2022,o 14843-2022,o14949-2022,o19203-2022,o23145-2022,o28174-2022, 28217-2022,o29062-2022,o29363-2022,o27294-2022,o 230-2023,o563-2023,oCM-19890-CWP-2022oin/ando CWP-24085-2022(O&M)oandoCWP-4396-2023oandofororespondentoGram o PanchayatoinoCM-2178-2023oin/andoCWP-25147-2014o(Oo&oM). Mr.oBrijenderoKaushik,oAdvocate, fororespondentono.5oinoCWP-230-2023. Mr.oUditoGarg,oAdvocate fororespondentono.6oinoCWP-19033-2022. Mr.oAashishoAggarwal,oSr.Advocate withoMs.oNidhioGabbhar,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionerso inoCWPoNos.18015,o19033-2022,o25490oando18093oalloofo2022. Mr.oAdarshoJain,oAdvocateoforoMs.oKamaldeepoKaur,oAdvocate forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-17495-2022oandoinoCWP-2591-2018. Mr.oSushiloJain,oAdvocate, forotheopetitionersoinoCWP-24085-2022. Mr.oAbhinavoSinglaoandoMr.oRakeshoGupta,oAdvocates, forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-18540-2022. Mr.oHiteshoMalik,oAdvocateowithoMr.oJiveshoMalik,oAdvocateo forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-20982-2022. Mr.oVikas,oAdvocate,oforotheopetitioneroinoCWP-27917-2022. Mr.oHimanshuoSharmaoandoMr.oRavioKantoSharma,oAdvocateo forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-28218-2022. Mr.oLajpatoRaioSharma,oAdvocate foroMr.oVivekoKhatri,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoinoCWP-16573-2022. Mr.oSumitoGujjar,oAdvocateo foroMr.oS.S.Dinarpur,oAdvocate forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-4670-2023. Mr.oRamanoSharma,oAddl.oA.G.Haryana. Mr.oManinderoSingh,oDAG,oPunjab. Ms.oMonikaoJalota,oSr.DAG,oPunjab. Mr.oP.P.Chahar,oDAG,oHaryana. Mr.ArvindoBansal,oAdvocateo KAVNEET SINGH fororespondentono.6o–oGramoPanchayato I attest to the accuracy and inoCWP-25490-2022oandoCWP-25670-2022. CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -10- -oneoforotheore)ainingopetitioners. "URE"H ARoTHA)UR9oJ.

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¶3?heo 'tateoofo;artianao first10o issuedo instructionso datedo 21.0$.2022, re1evantoparto(hereoforeadsoasofo11o(s:# "All the Deputy Commissioners in the State Memo No DLR-7202 Chandigarh. Dated-21-06-2022 Subject: Implementation of the Apex Court judgment dated 07.04.2022 pertaining to vesting of Shamlat Deh and Jumla Mushtarka Malkan in the Panchayat Deh or Municipal Bodies concerned. On the subject cited above, it is brought to your kind notice that the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal no.6990 of 2014 titled as The State of Haryana through Secretary to Government of Haryana versus Jai Singh & others and other connected civil appeals has given a detailed judgment dated 07.04.2022 arising primarily out of Jai Singh & ors versus State of Haryana. 2003(1) PIJ 429: 2003 SCC online P & 11 409 (FB) in short Jai Singh II and Suraj Bhan & ors versus State of Haryana & another. 2017(2) RCR (Civil) 934 P&II (FB). The judgment is available on the website of Supreme Court of India. ic. https://main.sci.gov.in/ . Annexure I summarises the salient features of the judgment. From a detailed perusal of the shove Judgment dated

07.04.2022, there is imminent need to carry out the following actions by 2023.03.18 15:05 the officers of Revenue Department:- CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -11-1) Mutations shall be entered by halqa patwari of land recorded as Shamlat Deh. Shamlat Deh hasab rasad zare khewat or Shamlat Deh hasab rasad paimana malkiyat in the revenue records, i.e.. latest jamabandi or misil-haquial. ie., first jamahandi after revenue settlement or consolidation, as per section 2(g)(1) of the 1961 Act immediately in favour of the Panchayat Deh concerned, compared by the Field Kanungo and thereafter, sanctioned positively by the Assistant Collector 2 Grade i.e. Circle Revenue Officer concerned. 2) It is further made clear that any person can subsequently take recourse to section 13A of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 before the Collector, if falling in any of the exceptions mentioned from (i) to (ix) of the section 2(g) of the 1961 Act. It is worthwhile to mention here that exception (i) of the ibid section has been deleted by the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Haryana Amendment Act. 2020 (Haryana Act No.30 of 2020) pertaining to river action, Further, exception (vii) was deleted by the Haryana Act no 18 of 1995 pertaining to 14 Bhojas of Morni. 3) In case of merger of any revenue estate in the municipal limit at any time. wherein previously panchayat was in existence, one mutation of Shamlat Deh lands as detailed above shall be entered and sanctioned in favour of Panchayat Deh and subsequent mutation entered & sanctioned in favour of concerned Municipal body. 4) Mutations shall also be made and sanctioned accordingly for lands described as Jumla Malkan or Jumla Malkan Wa Digar Hagdaran Arazi Hassab Rasad, Jumla Malkan or Mushtarka Malkan, which are created by making a prorata cut of land for common purposes during consolidation of holdings as described in Section 2(g)(6) of the Act of 1961. Entries shall also be made in the cultivator column of the Jamabandi, by writing Maqbuza Panchayat Deh/ Maqbuza Municipal Committee Council Corporation, and same shall be sanctioned by CRO concerned. These lands cannot be alienated or partitioned in any manner at any stage. 5) All pending cases of partition of Shamlat Deh & similar lands, and funds Mushtaraka Malkan & similar lands, which are with Revenue Courts, be filed consigned in view of the Apex Court Judgment, and no fresh cases to be entertained.

(II) Departments of Development & Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies may be requested to take following action on the following issues

¶1Wherever Jumla Mushtarka Malkan and similar common purpose lands have been partitioned/alienated, the process regarding reclaiming the property in light of the Supreme Court Judgement, may be decided and acted upon. If cases pertaining to Jumla Malkan and Mushtarka Malkan are pending in the High Court an application may be moved before the same, as per the Apex Court Judgment to request formal dismissal and closure of such cases. The revenue department will help in KAVNEET SINGH identifying such partitioned lands. CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -12-

¶2The land of Jumla Mushtarka Malkan is reserved during consolidation by applying a pro-rata cut from the lands of all landowners. In this land, there are two categories:

(a) That which falls within permissible ceiling limit.

(b) That which falls outside permissible ceiling limit. It is mentioned in the judgment that the land of common purposes not necessarily falling within permissible ceiling limits would vest with Gram Panchayat. Therefore, irrespective of the description of land in the Revenue Records, all lands reserved for common purposes must be entered in the property register of Gram Panchayat.

¶3It has also come to the notice of the Government that several lands which were entered in revenue record as Shamlat Deh and similar entries have been wrongly partitioned/alienated. This was never permissible under the Act. Therefore, Department of Development and Panchayat may move to restore such land to Panchayat.

¶4Urban Local Bodies Department may take action as proposed for the Development and Panchayat Department above, in respect of Jumla Mushtarka Malkan lands and Shamlat Deh lands included in extended municipal bodies limits, wherein these lands were received as legacy from the erstwhile gram panchayats. Keeping in view the gravity and sensitivity of the matter, the above directions be implemented urgently in letter and spirit, and especially in conformity with the Apex Court Judgment as enunciated above. A fortnightly progress report may be filed on action taken Sd/- Director, Land Records For Financial Commissioner. Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Govt. of Haryana Revenue & Disaster management Department." &. Bto)atio:eoseenofro)otheoa:oveoreproducedoinstructions,othatotheo'tateoof ;artianaoissuedoo)ni:usoad)inistrativeoinstructionsotooentero)utationsoinorespectoof the o1andso (hicho(ereorecordedoas oShamlat Deh Hasab Rasad Zare Khewat or Shamlat Deh Hasab Rasad Paimana Malkiyat inotheoRecordsoofoRights,oi.e.,o1atest 2a)a:andio:utoafterotheoRevenueo'ett1e)entooro onso1idationoasopero'ectiono24g74i7oof theo"unja:o/i11ageo o))ono<andso4Regu1ation7oAct,o1,$1o4foroshortoCtheo1,$1oActC7. ?heo)utationso(ereodirectedotoo:eosanctionedoinorespectoofotheo1andsorecordedoas Jumla Malkan or Jumla Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Arazi Hassab Rasado(hich KAVNE(ET eSIrNeGHocreatedo:0otheoproprietorsoofoaovi11age,othrough,o)a3ingoaopro#rataocutoofo1and, CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -13-henceoforoco))onopurposeso:utoduringoconso1idationoofoho1dings ounderotheo@ast "unja:o;o1dingso4 onso1idationoando"reventionoofoDrag)entation7o Act,o1,&+.o A11 pendingocasesoofopartitionoof oShamlat Deho orosi)i1aro1andso(ereodirectedotoo:e consigned.o?heoDepart)entsoofoDeve1op)entoando"anchatiatsoaso(e11oaso9r:ano<oca1 .odieso(ereodirectedotoota3eonecessartioactionofororec1ai)ingotheoproperttioinotheo1ight ofo2udg)entoofotheo;onC:1eo'upre)eo ourt. %. ?hereafter,otheo'tateoofo;artianaoissuedoanotherosetoofoinstructionsodated 1+.0+.2022,ore1evantoparto(hereoforeadsoasofo11o(s:# "Subject: Instructions regarding implementation of the Apex Court judgment dated 07.04.2022 pertaining to vesting of 'Shamlat deh' and 'Jumla Mustarka Malkan' in the Panchayat deh or Municipal Bodies concerned-clarification thereof. Kindly refer to this office Memo No. DLR-7202 dated 21.06.2022 on the subject noted above.

¶2The instructions issued vide above referred letter are hereby reiterated with following clarifications:-

(i) The lands recorded as shamlat in the revenue record at the time of consolidation/settlement and later on changed in the ownership of other persons may be corrected in the revenue record only after issuing a notice to those persons recorded as owner in revenue records and after providing adequate opportunity of hearing to them. Pending the hearing, in the column of remarks of the record of rights, an entry may be made that till decision of the notice, the said land is a subject of scrutiny and not to be transferred to third party.

(ii) In respect of Jumla/Mustarka Malkaan Land, in the column of possession/cultivation, the entries, whatsoever is in record, be corrected/ changed as 'through Gram Panchayat/Municipality concerned'. However, in case any individual(s) is recorded in cultivation column, that may be got corrected by following due procedure of law such as by filing eviction petition or application of correction of girdawari.

(iii) The pending partition proceedings in respect of Jumla/Mustarka Malkaan lands, as mentioned above (ii), may be decided by the concerned authority keeping in view the law laid down by the Apex Court in the above mentioned judgment. Relevant Para 84 of the judgment of the Apex Court is reproduced below for ready reference:- "... we find that the land reserved for common purposes cannot be repartitioned among the proprietors only because at a particular given time, the land so reserved has not been put to common use..............Since, 'common purpose' is a dynamic expression, as it keeps changing due to the change in requirement of the society and the passing times, therefore once the land has been reserved KAVNEET SINGH for common purposes, it cannot be reverted to the proprietors for CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -14-redistribution. Therefore, the conclusion no. (iii) arrived at by the High Court is set aside as unutilized land is not available for redistribution amongst the proprietors. The finding recorded by the different benches of the High Court are clearly erroneous and not sustainable. Thus, the conclusion no. (iii) arrived at by the High Court in Jai Singh II is set aside."

(iv) In those cases where the lands originally recorded as shamlat or Mustarka Malkan had already been partitioned or alienated and third party rights have been created, the Panchayats Department and the Urban Local Bodies Department may initiate proceedings in accordance with law to get back/restore such lands. You are, therefore, requested to strictly implement the instructions issued vide above referred memo dated 21.06.2022 in view of the above clarifications. Sd/- Deputy Secretary, Revenue for Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, Revenue and Disaster Management and Consolidation Departments Chandigarh." $. ?heoon10osignificantochangeoinotheorevisedoinstructionsodatedo1+.0+.2022 (asothatotheo'tateo*overn)entorea1iEedothatothereo(ereosevera1oinstanceso(here Mustarka Malkan 1andso hado:eenoa1readtiopartitionedooroa1ienatedoorothirdoparttiorights hado:eenocreated.o?heo"anchatiatoDepart)entoando9r:ano<oca1o.odiesoDepart)ent (ere,othus,odirectedotooinitiateoFproceedings in accordance with Law to get back/ restore such lands".

¶7Asoregardsotheo'tateoofo"unja:,oitoissuedoinstructionsodatedo11.10.2022, re1evantoportionso(hereofoareotootheofo11o(ingoeffect:# "Sub: Instructions regarding vesting of shamlat land and jumla mushtarka malkan land in the concerned Gram Panchayat or concerned municipal Bodies in compliance with judgment titled as State of Haryana versus Jal Singh and others reported as 2022(2)RCR(Civil)803, decided on 07.04.2022. It has been observed that grabbing of Panchayat land in the periphery of Chandigarh has been taking place from time to time and other parts of 2023.03.18 15:05 State since long. CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -15-2 Thousands of acres of Panchayat land has been grabbed by some persons. Several cases have come to notice that Governmental authorities have taken indifferent attitude towards a patent fraud being committed in respect of such lands. The Additional Directors/Directors Consolidation have passed many orders changing ownership of land from Shamlat Deh' to 'Hassab Rasad Ragba Khewar or Jumla Mushtarka Malkan enabling further distribution of such land to private owners. These orders are patently illegal and smack of fraud, collusion and conspiracy,

¶3In a recent judgment titled as State of Haryana versus Jai Singh and others reported as 2022 (2) RCR (Civil) 803, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in para no. 106 and 108 of the Judgment, has held as under:

¶106Neither 1961 Act nor 1948 Act contemplates re-distribution of land to the proprietors. It is irrevocable act which cannot be undone. Therefore, once land vest with Panchayat, it can be used for common purposes of Community and will never revert back to the proprietors.

¶108The entire land reserved for common purposes by applying pro rata cut to be utilized by Gram Panchayat for present and future of village community and that no part of land can be re-partitioned amongst proprietors."

¶4To implement the above judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, it has become necessary to issue the following directions to all the concerned officers in the State:- i. Mutations shall be entered by Halqa Patwari of land recorded as Shamlat Deh, Shamlat Deh Hasab Rasad Zare Khewat or Jumla Malkan or Jumla Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Arazi Hassab Rasad or Mushtarka Malkan in the revenue records, in favour of the Gram Panchayat concerned, and thereafter, sanctioned by the Circle Revenue Officer concerned. ii. Any person can subsequently take recourse to section 11 of The Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 before the Collector, if he is aggrieved by the sanctioning of mutation. iii.In case of merger of any revenue estate in the municipal limit. mutation of Shamlat Deh lands, as detailed above be entered and CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -16-sanctioned in favour of Gram Panchayat and subsequent mutation be entered & sanctioned in favour of concerned Municipal body. iv. All the pending cases before various authorities under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 or The East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948 shall be disposed of by the concerned authorities in view of the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court referred above. An Affidavit in all the CWPs pending in the Hon'ble High Court in respect of such matters be filed by the respective authorities, referring to the Hon'ble Supreme Court judgment in the case of State of Haryana vs. Jai Singh and others.

¶5Departments of Rural Development & Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies are requested to take following action on the following i. Wherever Jumla Mushtarka Malkan and similar common purpose lands have been partitioned/alienated, the process regarding reclaiming the property in light of the Supreme Court Judgment, may be initiated immediately. The Revenue Department will help in identifying such partitioned lands. ii. It has also come to the notice of the Government that several lands which were entered in revenue record as Shamlat Deh and similar entries have been wrongly partitioned/alienated. This was never permissible under the The East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948. Department of Rural Development and Panchayat may move to restore such land to Panchayat. iii. Urban Local Bodies Department may take action as proposed for the Rural Development and Panchayat Department above. in respect of Jumla Mushtarka Malkan lands and Shamlat Deh lands included in extended municipal bodies limits, wherein these lands were receive an legacy from the erstwhile gram panchayats.

¶6You are requested to take the following steps for the implementation of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India cited as State of Haryana versus Jai Singh and others reported as KAVNEET SINGH 2022(2)RCR(Civil)803-CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -17-i. Issue directions to all the revenue officers/revenue officials for strict compliance of the directions and to sanction mutations in favour of the Gram Panchayat, at the earliest. Any lapse on the part of concerned authorities shall be subject to strict departmental action. Possession of the land may be taken by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats by adopting due course of law. ii. Issue directions to start with the work primarily focusing on the panchayat lands falling or adjoining the cities/urban areas, to "rectify the illegalities/transfer of Panchayat/ municipal land to private persons/ proprietors. iii. If Issue directions to the concerned officers for taking action as per ratio of the Judgment for the land falling under the jurisdiction of Urban Local Bodies Fortnightly status report regarding the progress of work be also sent to this department. Sd/- Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue...." +. ?hereafter,otheoDistricto o11ectorsoa1sooissuedoinstructionsotootheo irc1e Revenueo5fficers,o1i3eodatedo2$.10.2022oissuedo:0otheoDistricto o11ector,o'A'o-agar, (hichoareoinotheofo11o(ingoter)s:# .OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, S.A.S. NAGAR PH:0172-2219500, FAX: 0172-2219501 EMAIL:Sk.sasnagar@gmail.com To All Circle Revenue Officers, Mohali, Kharar, Derabassi No.2955-57/SK/SKC.2/dated 26.10.2022 Subject:- Instructions regarding vesting of shamlat land and jumla mushtarka malkan land in the concerned Municipal Bodies in compliance with judgment titled as State of Haryana Vs Jai Singh & others reported as 2022(2) RCR (Civil) 803, decided 07.04.2022 On the subject it has been written by Government of Punjab KAVNEET SINGH that it has come to the notice that the Panchayati Area adjacent to CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -18-Chandigarh Periphery is being grabbed at different times in different areas of the State due to which thousands of Acres of Panchayat Land has been grabbed by different persons. Many cases have come into the notice of the Government in this regard. In this regard many orders have been passed by Additional Director/ Director Consolidation many times to not to transfer Shamlat Deh, Hasab Rasad Rakba Khewat or Jumla Mushtarka Malkan Area in favour of private owners. In this regard the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has passed to following order in State of Haryana Vs Jai Singh and others reported as 2022 (2) RCR(Civil) 803 decided on 07.04.2022 in para no. 106 and 108 as under:- "106. Neither 1961 Act nor 1948 Act contemplates re-distribution of land to the proprietors. It is irrevocable act which cannot be undone. Therefore once land vest with Panchayat it can be used for common purposes of Community and will never revert back to the proprietors.......

¶108The entire land reserved for common purposes by applying pro rata cut be utilized by Gram Panchayat for present and future needs of Village community and that no part of land can be re-partioned amongst proprietors." The Government has written to abide by the orders passed by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the above said case as under :-

i) Issue directions to all the revenue officers/revenue officials for strict compliance of the directions and to sanction mutation in favour of Gram Panchayat, at the earliest. Any lapse on the part of concerned authorities shall be subject to strict departmental action. Possession of the land may be taken by department of Rural Development and Panchayats by adopting due course of law.

ii) Issue direction to start with the work primarily focusing on the panchayat/municipal land to private persons/proprietors.

iii) Issue directions to the concerned officers for taking action as per ratio of judgment for the land falling under the jurisdiction of Urban Local Bodies. In this regard the copy of the letter received is being attached herewith for compliance in toto. KAVNEET SINGH Sd/- CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -19-Deputy Commissioner, SAS Nagar"

¶9Bnopurportedoco)p1ianceoofotheoa:oveoreproducedoinstructions,othe Revenueo5fficers,o1i3eo-ai:o?ehsi1dar,oMajri,oDistricto'A'o-agar,oa1sooissued circu1arodatedo27.10.2022o(hichoisoreproducedoasounder:# "To Area Kanungo, Majri, Mullanpur Garibdas, Khizrabad. No: 1915-17/ Reader dated 27.10.2022 Subject:-Instructions regarding vesting of Shamlat Land and Jumla Mushtarka, Malkan Land in the concerned Gram Panchayat or concerned Municipal Bodies in compliance with Judgment titled as "State of Haryana VS Jai Singh and others" reported as 2022 (2) RCR (Civil) 803 decided 07.04.2022. Reference: In regard to Letter No.-2955-57/S.K.K.C. Dated 26.10.2022 On the above subject and letter under reference it is being written that Panchayati Area adjacent to Chandigarh periphery is being usurped in the different areas at different times in state due to which thousands of acres of Panchayati land has been usurped by different -different persons. Many such cases have come to knowledge of Government. In this regard it is being written to you that orders have been passed to not to change Shamlat Deh to Hassab Rasad Khewat or Jumla Mushtrarka Malkan enabling further distribution of such land to private owners. These orders are patently illegal and smack of fraud, collusion and conspiracy. By annexing the copy of the above orders with this letter, the mutation of above said lands be entered in the name of Gram Panchayat and be produced. No negligence be done regarding these orders and importance be given to it. (Attached-Report) Sd/-Naib Tehsildar Majri" CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -20-

¶10TheoaboveoreproducedoExecutiveoInstructionsoissuedobyotheoStatesoof HaryanaoandoPunjaboareounderochallengeoinothisobatchoofowritopetitionsoonovarious grounds.oOnotheootherohand,obothotheoStates,odulyosupportedobyotheoGramoPanchayats/ Municipalitiesohaveodefendedotheseoinstructions,oasoaccordingotoothem,otheosameohave beenonecessitatedotooensureotheocomplianceoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoJudgment inoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra).

¶11Itois,otherefore,onecessary,oatothisostage,ofirstlyotoounderstandotheonatureoof controversyoandotheoimportoofooJudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoasorenderedoin JaioSingh'socaseo(supra).oItomayobeonoticedoatotheooutsetothatothereocannotobeoany quarreloandoevenotheopetitionersohaveonotoarguedotoothatoeffect,othatotheoJudgmentoof theoSupremeoCourtohasotoobeogivenoeffectoinoitsotrueoletteroandospirit.oItois,otherefore, firstonecessaryotoounderstandoasotoowhatowasotheocontroversyobeforeotheoHon'ble SupremeoCourtoandowhatohasobeenoeventuallyolaidodownothereinsoasolawoofotheoland, andothus,oisorequiredotoobeoimplementedobyotheoStatesoofoPunjaboandoHaryana.o

¶12Aocarefuloreadingoofotheoelaborateoandoself-explanatoryoJudgmentoofothe Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra),ounfoldsotheoprinciplesoasotoohow theoconceptoofoShamlatoDehocameointooexistence.oItoisosufficientotoomentionothatothe thconceptoofoShamlatoDeh/oShamlatoLawooriginatedowayobackoino19 ocenturyoandothe natureoandopurposeoofotheolandsowhichowereoearmarkedoororeservedoasoShamlatoDeh/ ShamlatoLaw,oasodulyoexplainedoinotheotreatisedoandovariousoreferenceobooks,ohave beenoquotedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotooeloquentlyoexplainotheseoconcepts.o

¶13Inotheocontextoofotheolimitedocontroversyobeforeous,othisoCourtoisoonly requiredotooreferotootheorelevantoprovisionsoofotheotwooStatutes,onamely,o(i)ooTheoEast PunjaboHoldingso(ConsolidationoandoPreventionoofoFragmentation)oAct,o1948]o(for shorto'theo1948oAct')oandoo(ii)otheo1961oAct,oi.e.,otheoPunjaboVillageoCommonoLands I attest (toR the agccuuralcay tainodn)oAct,o1961.oItomayoalsoobeoputoforthoatotheooutsetothatotheolimitedoscopeoof CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -21-judicialoreviewotoobeoexercisedobyothisoCourtois,otoofindooutowhetherobothotheoStatesoof HaryanaoandoPunjabocorrectlyounderstoodotheoscopeoandoimportoofotheojudgmentoofothe ApexoCourt.oThisoCourtowillonavigateothroughosuchoareasoonlyowhichowereoneither raisedonoroadjudicatedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtobutohaveocroppedoupoasoaoresult ofotheoimpugnedoadministrativeoinstructions.

¶14Soofaroasotheo1948oActoisoconcerned,oitowasooriginallyoenactedotooprovide for o compulsory o consolidation o of o agricultural o holdings o and o to o prevent o their fragmentation.oSubsequently,oSectiono2(bb)owasoinsertedobyotheoPunjaboActo22oof 1954,owhereby,odefinitionoofo'CommonoPurpose'owasoaddedotoomeanoanyopurposeoin relationotoocommononeed,oconvenienceoorobenefitoofotheovillageoandoitoincludedo(a) extensionoofotheovillageoabadi;o(b)oprovidingoincomeoforotheoPanchayatoofotheovillage;

(c)ovillageoroadsoandopaths,odrain,owells,opondsoorotanks,owaterocourseoetc.;o(d)oschools andoplaygrounds,odispensaries,ohospitalsoandoinstitutionsoofolikeonatureoetc.

¶15Sectiono18oofotheo1948oAct,othereafter,oempoweredotheoConsolidation Officerotooreserveotheolandsoforo'commonopurposes'oatotheotimeoofoconsolidation. Sectiono18oofo1948oActoreadsoasofollows:-"18.oLandsoreservedoforocommonopurposes.--oNotwithstandingoanything containedoinoanyolawoforootheotimeobeingoinoforce,oitoshallobeolawfulofor theoConsolidationoOfficerotoodirect-

(a)othatoanyolandospecificallyoassingedoforoanyocommonopurposeoshall ceaseotoobeosooassignedoandotooassignoanyootherolandoinoitsoplace;

(b)othatoanyolandounderotheobedoofoaostreamoorotorrentoflowingothroughoor fromotheoShiwalikomountainorangeowithinotheo[State]oshallobeoassigned foroanyocommonopurpose;

(c)othatoifoanyoareaounderoconsolidationonoolandoisoreservedoforooany commonopurposeoincludingoextensionoofotheovillageoabadi,ooroifotheoland sooreservedoisoinadequate,otooassignootherolandoforosuchopurpose."

¶16Sectiono19oofotheo1948oActoprovidesoforopublicationoofotheoDraftoScheme ofoConsolidationobyotheoConsolidationoOfficeroafteroinvitingoobjectionsofromoany 2023.03.18 15:05personowhooisoaffectedobyosuch oScheme, owhereas oSectiono20oofotheo1948oAct CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -22-conte)p1atesoconfir)ationoofotheo'che)e.o'ectiono20oofotheo1,&+oActoisotoothe fo11o(ingoeffect:o "20% oCon!'r1at'onoo!osche1e%-o (1) The [State] Government may by notification appoint one or more persons to be Settlement Officers (Consolidation) and, by like notification, specify the area in which each such officer shall have jurisdiction. The Consolidation Officers in the area under the jurisdiction of the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) shall be subordinate to him subject to any conditions which may be prescribed. [(2) If no objections are received to the draft scheme published under 6sub-section (1) of section (1) of Section 19 {---} and also if no written or oral objections to {the draft scheme} are received under sub-section (3) by the Settlement Officer (Consolidation), he shall confirm the scheme.

(3) If any objections are received to the draft scheme published under 8sub-section (1) of section 19 {---} or if any written or oral objections are received by the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) before the confirmation of {the draft scheme} by him, the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) may after taking the objection into consideration together with the remarks thereon of the Consolidation Officer and also after considering the written or oral objections, either confirm the scheme with or without modifications, or refuse to confirm it. In case of such refusal the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) shall return the draft scheme, with such directions as may be necessary, to the Consolidation Officer, for reconsideration and re-submission. ]

(4) Upon the confirmation of the scheme under sub-section (2) or (3), the scheme as confirmed shall be published in the prescribed manner in the estate or estates concerned."

¶17?heo1,&+oActofurtheroprovidesothatoonceotheo onso1idationo'che)eohas :eenooconfir)edoounderoo'ectiono20oofotheoActooandootheoo1andsooofotheoproprietors8 1and#o(ners ohaveo :een o conso1idated, o thus, o the oRecords o of oRights o (ou1d o :e according10opreparedoundero'ectiono22oofotheo1,&+oActoandosuchoRecordsoofoRights sha11o:eodee)edotoohaveo:eenopreparedoundero'ectiono32oofotheo"unja:o<andoRevenue Act,o1++7.o'ectiono22 ohasoao)ateria1o:earingoonotheocontroversti oandoitosatis oas fo11o(s:#ooo "22% oPre2arat'onoo!orecord-o!-r'(hts.- (1) The Consolidation Officer shall cause to be prepared a new record-of-rights in accordance with the 2023.03.18 15:05 provisions contained in Chapter IV of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -23-1887 (XVII of 1887) in so far as these provisions may be applicable for the area under consolidation, giving effect to the repartition [and order in respect thereof made] under the preceding section.

(2) Such records of rights shall be deemed to have been prepared under Section 32 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 (XVII of 1887)." 1+. 'u:se>uent10,ovideo"unja:oActo3,oofo1,$3,o'ectiono23#Ao(asoinsertedoin theo1,&+oActo(here:0oC)anage)entCoandoCcontro1Coofotheo1andsoreservedoforoJco))on purposesHo(ereodirectedotoovestoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiat oorotheo'tateo*overn)ent. 'ectiono23#Aoreadsoasofo11o(s:#oo "23o*%oMana(e1entoandocontro4oo!o4andso!oroco11ono23r2osesotootiest 'noPancha#atsooro tateo5otiern1ent – As soon as a scheme comes into force the management and control of all lands assigned or reserved for common purposes of the village under section 18, -

(a) in the case of common purposes specified in sub-clause (iv) of clause

(bb) of section 2 in respect of which the management and control are to be exercised by the State Government, shall vest in the State Government; and

(a) in the case of any other common purpose, shall vest in the Panchayat of that village; and the state Government or the Panchayat , as the case may be , shall be entitled to appropriate the income accruing therefrom for the benefit of the village community, and the rights and interests of the owners of such lands shall stand modified and extinguished accordingly: Provided that in the case of land assigned or reserved for the extension of village abadi or manure pits for the proprietors and non-proprietors of the village, such land shall vest in the proprietors and non-proprietors to whom it is given under the scheme of consolidation." 1,. 5noaoconjointoreadingoofotheoprovisionsoofotheo1,&+oAct,oreferredoto a:ove,oitostandsocrtista11iEedothatotheo1egis1ativeoo:jectoofotheoActo(asotooconso1idate theo1andsoofothe ovi11ageo proprietorsosooasotooavoidofrag)entation.o?heoActoa1so conceptua1iEedoreservationoofoso)eo1andsoforoCco))onopurposesHoofotheovi11ageCoand theo onso1idationo5fficero(asoauthoriEedotooreserveoaopoo1oofo1andoforosuchoJco))on purposesH.o?heoproposedoreservationoofo1andoforoJco))onopurposesHoaso(e11oasothe Drafto'che)eoofo onso1idationoofotheo1andsoofoproprietorso(asore>uiredotoo:e 2023.03p.1u8 1:5:10i5shedotooinviteoo:jectionsoandoafteroconsiderationoofosuchoo:jections,othereo(asoan CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -24-

i)perativeore>uire)ento>uaopu:1icationoofotheoDina1o'che)e,oonotheo:asisoofo(hich, Recordsoof oRights,oi.e.,oentriesoinotheorevenueorecordsoregardingoo(nershipoand cu1tivatingopossession,othus,o(asotoo:eo)ade.o'uchoentriesodoocarrtioaopresu)ptionoof trutho>uaotheorecordedoo(nership4s7oandopossession4s7.o'i)i1ar10,o:0ovirtueoofo'ection 23#A,otheo)anage)entoandocontro1oofotheo1andsoreservedoforoJco))onopurposesHo(as orderedotoo:eovestedoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiats8o'tateo*overn)ent,oasotheocaseo)atio:e. Bnothiso)anner,otheo1,&+oActo)adeoaostatutortiosche)eoofoear#)ar3ingoofoaoparticu1ar parce1oofo1andoasoreservedoforoJco))onopurposesH,otheo)anage)entoandocontro1oof (hicho(asohanded#overotootheo*ra)o"anchatiatsoorotheo'tateo*overn)ent.

¶20!eo)ationo(oadvertotootheo'che)eoofotheo1,$1oActo(hicho(asoenacted forotheopurposeoofovestingoo(nershipoofoShamlat Deho1andsoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiats, definingoasotoo(hato(i11ofor)opartoofotheoShamlat Dehoandotheno>uaoo(nershipoofosuch Shamlat Deho1andsovestingoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiat.oDorotheopurposesooforeso1vingothe controversti,oito(i11o:eofirstonecessartiotooreproduceo'ectiono2o4g7oofotheo1,$1oAct (hichodefinesooShamlat Deh, asoitoeAistedoo:eforeoitsoa)end)entovideo;artianaoActo, ofo1,,2,oandotheosa)eoreadsoasounder:#oo "(g) 'shamilat deh' includes-

(1) lands described in the revenue records as shamilat deh excluding abadi deh;

(2) shamilat tikkas;

(3) lands described in the revenue records as shamilat, tarafs, pattis, pannas and tholas and used according to revenue records for the benefit of the village community or a part thereof or for common purposes of the village;

(4) lands used or reserved for the benefit of village community including streets, lanes, playgrounds, schools, drinking wells or ponds within abadi deh or gorah deh; and

(5) lands in any village described as banjar Qadim and used for KAVNEET SINGH common purposes of the village according to revenue records; CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -25-Provided that shamilat deh at least to the extent of twenty-five per centum of the total area of the village does not exist in the village."

¶21'ectiono3oofotheo1,$1oAct,oasoapp1ica:1eotoo;artiana,oprovidedothatothe Actosha11oapp10otootheo1andso(hicho(ereogovernedo:0otheoShamlat Deh 1a(oaso(e11oas 1andso(hichohaveo:eenodefinedoasoShamlat Deh ounderotheo1,$1oAct.oRights,otit1eoand interestoinosucho1andso(ereovestedoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiatothougho'ectiono&oofotheoAct.

¶22?heodefinitionoofoShamlat Deh oundero'ectiono24g7oofotheo1,$1oActo(as su:se>uent10oeApandedo:0otheo'tateoofo;artianaovideo;artianaoActo,oofo1,,2,o(hich ca)eointoo:eingo(.e.fo11.02.1,,2. o?heoa)endedodefinitiono(here:0oso)eo)ore categoriesoofo1ando(ereoinc1udedoinoShamlat Deh read4s7oasounder:#o "( g) " s hamilat deh " includes- ( 1) lands described in the revenue records as [shamilat deh or Charand]excluding abadi deh;

(2) shamilat tikkas;

(3) lands described in the revenue records as shamilat, Tarafs, Pattis, Pannas and Tholas and used according to revenue records for the benefit of the village community or a part thereof or for common purposes of the village; [(4) lands used or reserved for the benefit of the village community including streets, lanes, playgrounds, ·schools, drinking wells, or ponds situated within the sabha area as defined in clause (mmm) of Section 3 of the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952 excluding lands reserved for the common purposes of a village under section 18 of the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948 (East Punjab Act 50 of 1948), the management and control whereof vests in the State Government under Section 23-A of the aforesaid Act;] [(4a) vacant land situate in abadi deh or gorah deh not owned by any person;]

(5) lands in any village described as banjar qadim and used for common purposes of the village, according to revenue records;"

¶23Btoisoe>ua110osignificantotoonoteoatothisostageothatocertainocategoriesoof 1andsohaveo:eenoeApress10oeAc1udedo:0otheo<egis1atureoandotheosa)eodoonotofor)opart CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -26-of oShamlat Deh o asoisoevidentofro)otheofo11o(ingoeAc1usionoc1auseocontainedoin 'ectiono2o4g7oofotheo1,$1oAct:# "but does not include land which:-

(i) becomes or has become shamlat deh due to river action or has been reserved as shamlat in villages subject to river action except shamlat deh entered as pasture, pond or playground in the revenue records;

(ii) has been allotted on quasi-permanent basis to a displaced person; [(ii-a) was shamilat deh, but has been alloted to any person by the Rehabilitation Department of the State Government, after the thcommencement of this Act bur on or before the 9 day of July, 1985;]

(iii) has been partitioned and brought under cultivation by individual landholders before the 26th January, 1950;

(iv) having been acquired before the 26th January, 1950, by a person by purchase or in exchange for proprietary land from a co-sharer in the shamlat deh and is so recorded in the jamabandi or is supported by a valid deed;

(v) is described in the revenue records as shamlat taraf, pattis, pannas and thola and not used according to revenue records for the benefit of the village community or a part thereof or for common purposes of the village

(vi) lies outside the abadi deh and is used as gitwar, bara, manure pit or house or for cottage industry, immediately before the commencement of this Act;]

(vii) [-----]

(viii) was shamlat deh, was assessed to land revenue and has been in the individual cultivating possession of co-sharers not being in excess of their respective shares in such shamlat deh on or before the 26th January, 1950; or

(ix) is used as a place of worship or for purposes subservient thereto;" 2&. o)ingo:ac3otootheogenesisoofotheocontroversti,oito(ou1do:eonoticedoon10 asoao)atteroofohistortiothatotheoconstitutiona1ova1idittioofotheo;artianaoActoo,oofo1,,2 (hichoca)eointooforceoono11.02.1,,2,o(asocha11engedo:eforeotheoDu11o.enchoofothis ourtoandotheoa:oveostatedoa)end)ento(asostruc3odo(no:utotheo2udg)entoofotheoDu11 .encho(asosetoasideo:0otheo;onC:1eo'upre)eo ourtoino ivi1oAppea1o-o.o%&+0oofo1,,% CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -27-decidedoonoti$.0+.1,,+oandotheo)attero(asore)ittedoforofreshoadjudicationoofothe >uestionsoofo1a(onoticedo:0otheo;onC:1eo'upre)eo ourt.o 2%. ?hereafter,oaofu11o.enchoofothiso ourtoinoJo&a'o 'n(hooao ndoothersoo$s%o tateo o!o"ar#anao2003o ooCoCo ooOn4'neoP&"o409-o)o o:road10,oacceptedotheoc1ai)oofothe proprietorsoofotheovi11ageootootheoeAtento:e1o(:#o "49. The lands which, however, might have been contributed by the proprietors on pro-rata basis, but have not been reserved or earmarked for common purposes in a scheme, known as Bachat land, it is equally true, would not vest either with the State or the Gram Panchayat and instead continue to be owned by the proprietors of the village in the same proportion in which they contributed the land owned by them. The Bachat land, which is not used for common purposes under the scheme, in view of provisions contained ino Section 22 of the Act of 1948, is recorded as Jumla Mustarka Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Hasab Rasad Arazi Khewat but the significant difference is that in the column of ownership proprietors are shown in possession in contrast to the land which vests with the Gram Panchayat which is shown as being used for some or the other common purpose as per the scheme. xxx xxx xxx

¶62In view of the discussion made above, we hold that:-

(i) sub-section (6) of Section 2(g) of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 and the explanation appended thereto, is only an elucidation of the existing provisions of the said Act read with provisions contained in the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948;

(ii) the un-amended provisions of the Act of 1961 and, in particular, Section 2(g)(1)read with Section 18 and 23-A of the Act of 1948 and Rule 16(ii) of the Rules of 1949 cover all such lands which have been specifically earmarked in a consolidation scheme prepared under Section 14 read with Rules 5 and 7 and confirmed under Section 20, which has been implemented under the provisions of Section 24and no other lands;

(iii) the lands which have been contributed by the proprietors on the basis of pro-rata cut on their holdings imposed during the consolidation proceedings and which have not been earmarked for any common purpose in the consolidation scheme prepared under Section 14read with Rules 5 and 7 and entered in the column of ownership as Jumla Mustarka Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Hasab Rasad Arazi Khewat and in the column of possession with the proprietors, shall not vest with the I attest to the accuracy and Gram Panchayat or the State Government, as the case may be, on the
 

       dint of subsection (6) of Section 2(g)and the explanation appended thereto or any other provisions of the Act of 1961 or the Act of 1948;

(iv) all such lands, which have been, as per the consolidations scheme, reserved for common purposes, whether utilised or not, shall vest with the State Government or the Gram Panchayat, as the case may be, even though in the column of ownership the entries may be Jumla Mustarka Malkans Wa Digar Haqdaran Hasab Rasad Arazi Khewat etc." $  ':> 10 D2.     36 7 $%  ! "#

 

/,

)1:  Jai Singh's case (supra)       1     (    *)  " 0      Jumla Mushtarka Malkan Land, ()  1 ?1)8 1 (   (0 (  0 

?:#D11.    Jai Singh's case, Suraj Bhan's case and one Vir Singh's case 1 :): ) 11 :; C:1')  :1';0   *)" 0     1 ( 8  ( (110#(D11.    Jai Singh's case B(1  0 ; C:1')    

&      ! "# $% &' '( 

)

*+,



 -

)1)  (: )    (   + B ; C:1')  1   110;0  ,,, 1 ( (: 1    Shamlat Deh  :0 ) )     :  1            *)  " 0     1)0: ?; C:1') 111( # "53. We find that such conclusion in Parkash Singh or Suraj Bhan that 'Jumlan Malkan' or 'Mushtarka Malkan' land so described in the revenue record would not vest with the Panchayat is not based on the CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -29-correct reading of judgment of this Court in Ranjit Singh. Once land had been reserved for common purposes, irrespective of description in the revenue record, such land would vest with Panchayat or the State. The only condition is that it should not be within permissible limits of the proprietors.

¶54Still further, in Parkash Singh, it has been held that the forum available to a person, who raises a dispute regarding title in "Jumla Mushtarka Malkan" is the principal Court of civil jurisdiction having jurisdiction in the matter, as provided by Section 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, i.e., a Civil Court. Though the said judgment is in the context of the State of Punjab, but the said finding is not sustainable for the reason that "Jumla Mushtarka Malkan" is a land reserved for common purposes during consolidation. Though Rule 16(ii) of the 1949 Rules prescribes that the common purposes land after applying pro-rata cut would be described in the revenue record but the expression "Jumla Mushtarka Malkan" or "Mushtarka Malkan" is a land of the proprietors for the benefit of the village community for common purposes. Therefore, if the revenue records as "Jumla Mushtarka Malkan" or "Mushtarka Malkan" in the ownership column, it is the authority under the 1961 Act and the machinery provided thereunder which would exercise jurisdiction to determine the dispute as to whether it is reserved for common purposes or not.

¶55We do not find any merit in the arguments raised by learned counsel for the proprietors that the explanation enlarges the scope of the common purposes for which land was reserved under the scheme in terms of 1948 Act. Rule 16(ii) of 1949 Rules specifically mentions that the entry in the column of ownership of records would be Jumla Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Arazi Hassab Rasad. The other expression used in the explanation is Jumla Mustarka Malkan or Mustarka Malkan, which means the ownership of all the proprietors. They are commonly used in the revenue record but they are not larger in scope than the entry contemplated in the revenue record as Jumla Malkan Wa Digar Haqdaran Arazi Hassab Rasad. Therefore, neither sub-section6 nor the explanation is contrary to Article 300-A as the land stood acquired without payment of compensation being part of the agrarian reforms, when pro-rata cut was applied on the land of the proprietors.

¶56We do not find any merit in the arguments raised that on the basis of insertion ofSection 13C and 13D by virtue of amendment in the year 1981 and insertion of Section 5A and 5Bby virtue of amendments carried out in 2007 or on the strength of Section 11 of the 1961 Act as originally enacted, the legality and validity of the Amending Actis any way affected. The Panchayat was conferred ownership rights over the land when pro-rata cut was applied on the land of the proprietors to reserve land for the common purposes under the 1948 Act. The Panchayat is therefore the absolute owner of such property which came to be vested in the Panchayat with the commencement of shamilat law. The entire right, title or interest in the said land forming part of second category mentioned above vests with the Panchayat in view of the judgment of this Court in Ranjit Singh.

¶106The argument of the proprietors that the land which is not capable 2023.03.18 15:05 of being used for common purposes of the inhabitants of a particular CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -30-village shall be reverted to the proprietors is untenable and unsustainable. The land has been put to common pool by applying pro-rata cut. Once pro-rata cut has been applied, the management and control of such land vest with the Panchayat. There is no question of reverting the land to the proprietors. As discussed above, the land which is not part of the permissible limits under the land ceiling laws stand acquired and vested with the Panchayat in terms of judgment of this Court in Ranjit Singh. However, in respect of the land forming part of permissible limits of the proprietor under the land ceiling laws, the management and control vest with the Panchayat. Neither the 1961 Act nor the 1948 Act contemplates redistribution of land to the proprietors. It is an irrevocable act which cannot be undone. Therefore, once land vest with the Panchayat, it can be used for common purposes of the community and will never revert back to the proprietors.

¶108Consequently, we hold that Act No. 9 of 1992, the Amending Act is valid and does not suffer from any vice of constitutional infirmity. The entire land reserved for common purposes by applying pro-rata cut had to be utilized by the Gram Panchayat for the present and future needs of the village community and that no part of the land can be re-partitioned amongst the proprietors." 2,. Asonoticedoatotheooutset,otheoi)pugnedoinstructionsohaveo:eenoissuedo:0 theo'tatesoofo"unja:oando;artianao(ithoaovie(otooi)p1e)entotheodictu)oofotheo;onC:1e 'upre)eo ourt,ore1evantopartso(hereofohaveo:eenoeAtractedoa:ove.

¶30<earnedocounse1oforotheopetitionersohaveoraisedo)u1tip1eocha11engesotoothe

i)pugnedo@AecutiveoBnstructionsIointer-alia, contendingothat:#o 4i7 ;artianaoActo,oofo1,,2o(here:0one(ocategoriesoofo1andso(ith differentono)enc1aturesohaveo:eenoinc1udedoinotheoShamlat Deh ca)e intooforceoono11.02.1,,2.o?heo1andso(hicho(ereofirstoti)eodec1aredoas partoofooShamlat Deh o:0ovirtueoofothisoa)endedoprovision,o(ereoear1ier notopartoofotheooShamlat Deh. ?heo1,,2oa)end)entoActo(hichohasofirst ti)eovestedoright,otit1eoandointerestoinofavouroofotheo*ra)o"anchatiatoin respect oofotheseone(ocategories oofo1ands,o:eing oano eA#proprietarti <egis1ation oin o nature o has o co)e o into o force o prospective10. o Bt o (as vehe)ent10ourgedothatotheo<egis1atureohado neitheroeApress10onoro:0

i)p1icationointroducedotheo1,,2oAct,o(ithoretrospectiveoeffect.o?he 2023.03.18 15:05 i)pugnedo@AecutiveoBnstructionsohaveodra(nonoodistinctionoinore1ation CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -31-theretooandotheosameohaveobeenoissuedoonotheopresumptionothatotheolands whichowereofirstotimeoincludedoin oShamlatoDeh oino1992,oareopartoof ShamlatoDehoasoitostoododefinedounderotheooriginaloActoofo1961;

(ii)o TheoLegislatureoinoExplanationotootheonewlyoinsertedoclauseo(6)ohas expresslyoprovidedothatotheolandsoenteredoinotheocolumnoofoownershipoof recordsooforightsoasoJumlaoMalkanoWaoDigaroHaqdaranoArazioHassan Rasad,oo'JumlaoMalkanooroMustarkaoMalkano'SHALLoBE'oShamlatoDeh withinotheomeaningoofothisoSection.oItoisopointedooutothatotheoexpression 'shallobe'oisoofogreatosignificanceoandoitoboostsotheirocontentionothat HaryanaoActo9oofo1992ohasocomeointooforceoprospectively;

(iii)o AospecificoargumentowasoraisedobeforeotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt onobehalfoofotheoStateoofoHaryanaothatoSectiono2(g)(6)oofotheo1961oAct, addedobyowayoofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992oisoonlyo'clarificatory'o oand 'declaratory'oamendmentoofotheoexistingoLaw.oInothisoregard,otheyoreferred tooParao35oofotheoJudgmentoofotheoSupremeoCourt,owhichoreadsoasounder:- "35.ooItowasofurtherocontendedothatooSectiono2(g)(6)ooino1961o Actoisonotoaonewoprovisionobutoisoonlyoaoclarificatoryoand declaratoryoamendmentoofotheoexistingolaw.oShamilatoDehois theolandoownedobyoGramoPanchayatotoobeousedoforocommon opurposes o under ooSection o 2(g)(1)oo f o 1961 o Act o beforeo consolidation. o This o Court o in o a o judgment o reported o as SukhdevoSinghoV.oGramoSabhaoBariokhado(1997)o2oSCCo518 heldothatolandorecordedoinotheorevenueorecordoasoshamilatodeh inotheoyearo1914-15ocouldonotodetractofromotheonatureoofothe landoasoitowasomerelyorecordedotoobeoinopossessionoofothe owners o as o per o respective o shares o in o khewat o in o a o pre-consolidationoshamilatoland.oTheoCourtoheldoasounder: "2…………….oFirstly,otheoentryoino'jamabandi'oofo1914-15 whichorecordedothatotheolandowasoinopossessionoofothe ownersowasoquiteo innocuous,obecauseoitowasomadeoforothe reasonothatoitowasoinonobodyoelse'sopossession.oTheofactothat evenothenoitowasorecordedoinotheo'Jamabandi'oaso"shamlat deh"oshowsothatotheoparticularocharacteroofotheolandowas recognisedoevenoasofarobackoaso1914-15,oandoitocouldonot detractofromothatonatureoofotheolandomerelyobecauseoitowas 2023.03.18 15:05 furtherostatedoinotheo'jamabandi'othatoitowasoinotheopossession CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -32-ofotheoownerso"asoperorespectiveosharesoinokhewat."oo oooo[emphasisoapplied]

(iv)oo Itowasocontendedothatotheoabove-statedoargumentohasonotobeen acceptedobyotheoSupremeoCourtoandoitoisowellosettledothatoaopleaoraisedoon behalfoofoaopartyowhichohasonotobeenoexpresslyoacceptedoshallobeodeemed toohaveobeenorejected;o

(v)o AsoregardsovestingoofolandsoinoGramoPanchayats, owhichowere reservedoforocommonopurposesounderoSectiono18oofotheo1948oAct,olearned counselsoforotheopetitionersopointedooutonumerousoinstancesowhichohave been o specifically o pleaded o in o their orespective owrit o petitions o that o a substantialopartoofotheolandsowhichowereoinitiallyoproposedotoobeokeptofor 'commonopurposes'owereoreturned/redistributedoamongstotheoproprietors ofotheovillageobyotheoConsolidationoOfficers oundero theoConsolidation Scheme oitself oand,othus,otheoentriesoinothe oRecordoof oRightsowere accordinglyomadeoasoperoSectiono22oofotheo1948oAct.oTheoownershipoand cultivatingopossessionoofosucholandohasobeenoconstantlyorecordedoinothe namesoofoproprietorsoofotheovillage.oTheseolandsowereoneveroutilizedoor ear-markedoforoanyocommonopurpose.oSectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oAct, therefore,odoesonotoapplyotoosucholands.oHowever,omerelyobecauseoatoone pointoofotime,obeforeofinalizationoofoConsolidationoScheme,osucholands wereo shown o in o the o common o pool, o thus, o the o impugned oExecutive Instructions oare o being o construed o to o mean oas o if osuch o lands o also, irrespectiveoofosubsequentoredistribution,oamongstoproprietors,ocontinue tooformopartoofolandsoreservedoforo'commonopurposes'oand,othus,oare amenableotooSectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oAct.oNoodistinctionoisobeingomade inorespectoofotheseolandsounderotheogarboofoimplementationoofothe KAVNEET SINGH JudgmentoofotheoHon'bleooSupremeoCourt.oItoisopointedooutothatothereoare CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -33-variousocasesowhereotheolandsowereoear-markedoforo'commonopurposes' inotheoConsolidationoSchemeobutosuchoinclusionowasochallengedobyothe proprietorsoandovillagersobeforeotheoAssistantoCollector(s).oTheiroclaims wereoacceptedoandoquasi-judicialoordersowereopassedobeforeoHaryanaooAct 9oofo1992ocameointooforce.oSucholandsowereodirectedotoobeoreturnedotoothe proprietors,owhoohadocontributedotheirorespectiveolandsoonopro-rataobasis. Theo GramoPanchayats o never o challenged o these o orders o before oany StatutoryoForumo andotheosameohaveoattainedofinalityoinotheolastoover 50/60oyears.oTheseoordersopassedobyotheocompetentoCourtsowereoduly implementedoandoRecordoofoRightsowereopreparedoshowingosucholands underotheoexclusiveoownership,otitle,oandopossessionoofotheoproprietors. Since, o these o lands o have oalready o been oredistributed o amongst othe proprietorsobeforeoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992ocameointooforce,oClauseoo(6) addedotooSectiono2(g)oofotheo1961oActohasonooapplicabilityoatoalloquaothese lands.

(vi)oo Thereoareoseveraloinstancesowhereolandsowereoinitiallyoproposedofor 'commono purposes' o but o were o later o on o distributed o amongst o the proprietorsomuchobeforeoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992ocameointooforce.oThe entryoofoownershiporightsoofosuchoproprietorsowasoneverochallenged before o the o Revenue o Court o or o the o Civil o Court. o These o proprietors subsequentlyosoldotheseolandsoforoconsiderationobyowayooforegisteredosale deedsoandotheolandsohaveoexchangedohandsoseveralotimes.oTheosaleodeeds wereoregisteredobyotheoStateoAuthoritiesodecadesobackoandotheosubsequent bona-fideopurchasersohaveobeenorecordedoasotrueoownersoofotheolands o for allointentoandopurposes.oNeitherotheirosaleodeedsonoropossessoryorights haveobeenoquestionedobyotheoGramoPanchayatsoorotheoMunicipalities. CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -34-Theyohaveoverifiedotheotitleowithodueodiligenceoandohavingofoundothat theirovendorsowereoownersoonotheobasisooforegisteredosaleodeeds,oas, executedoforoconsideration,orather oforoseveralodecades,othus, otheosaid landsowereopurchasedoorosold.oInoallosuchocases,otheosaleodeedsocannotobe setoasideoexceptobyowayoofodeclarationobyotheoCiviloCourtoandotheoland ownersoareoentitledotoostatutoryoprotectionoofoSectiono41oofotheoTransfer ofoPropertiesoAct,o1882;

(vii)oo Theoquestionowhetheroaoparceloofolandohadobeenopartitioned amongstotheoproprietorsobeforeoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992oorowhetherosuch landocontinuedotoobeoreservedoforo'commonopurposes'oevenothereafter,ois essentiallyoaoquestionoofo factoandoitovariesofromocaseotoocase.oNooomnibus executiveoinstructionsocanobeoissuedotootransferoownershipoofosucholands merelyobyochangingomutations/revenueorecords;

(viii)ooIt o was o contended o that o onus o was o on o the o Gram o Panchayat/ MunicipalityoorotheoStateoGovernment,oasotheocaseomayobe,otooestablish onoaocaseotoocaseobasis,othatotheolandocontinuesotoobeoreservedofor 'commonopurposes',owhetheroutilizedooronot,oand,othus,osucholandsoare liableotoobeoincludedoinoShamlatoDehooinoviewoofoamendedodefinition whichocameointooforceow.e.fo11.02.1992;

(ix)ooo Theopetitionersolaidoaospecificorelianceoonoclauseo(iii)oofoExclusion ClauseoofoSectiono2(g)oofotheo1961oAct,owhichoprovidesothatotheoland whicho'hasobeeno partitioned o and o brought o under o cultivation o by individualoland-holdersobeforeo 26.01.1950', o is o excluded o from o the definitionoofoShamlatoDeh.oReferenceotooClauseo(iv)ohasoalsoobeenomade too pointo out o that o where o theo lands o were o originallyo owned o by o the KAVNEET SINGH proprietorsobeforeo26.01.1950,oandoifosucholandsohaveobeenosubsequently CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -35-eAchangedooropurchasedothroughova1idoconvetianceodeeds,osa)eoareoa1so eAc1udedofro)otheoa):itoofooShamlat Deh.

¶315notheootherohand,o1earnedo'tateo ounse1oaso(e11oasocounse1soforothe *ra)o"anchatiatsodefendedotheo*overn)entoBnstructions,ointer-alia,ocontendingothat:# 4i7o Bnovie(oofotheo2udg)entoofotheo;onC:1eo'upre)eo ourtoin Jai Singh's case (supra), theoo(nershipoofo1andso (hichofa11o(ithino 1auseo4$7 ofo'ectiono24g7oofo theo1,$1oAct,oareore>uiredotoo:eodec1aredotoohave vestedoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiatI 4ii7o ;artianaoActo,oofo1,,2,othoughonotifiedoono11.02.1,,2,ohad retrospectiveoeffectI 4iii7o theo1andso(hicho(ereoreservedoforoJco))onopurposesHounderothe onso1idation o'che)eopreparedounderotheo1,&+oAct,oareo1ia:1eotoo:e vestedoinotheo*ra)o"anchatiat,oand,othus,otheoa)endingoprovisionsore1ate :ac3otootheo statusoofotheo1andsoreservedoforoco))onopurposesoeven :eforeotheo1,$1oActoca)eointooforceI 4iv7o theo:oundenoduttioofotheo'tateotooi)p1e)entotheodecisionoofothe ;onH:1eo'upre)eo ourto(asourgedoti)eoandoagainI 4v7o 'trongore1ianceo(asop1acedoupono'ectiono%4.7oofotheo1,$1oAct (hichohaso:eenoinsertedo:0o;artianaoActo+oofo2007oandoreadsoasounder:#oo "57%oCerta'notrans!eronototooa!!ectoPancha#at-sor'(hts%- (1) Any transfer of land, gifted, sold, exchanged or leased before or after the commencement of this Act, made in contravention of the prescribed terms and conditions, shall be void and the gifted, sold, exchanged or leased land so transferred shall revert to, and reinvest in, the Panchayat free from all encumbrances.

(2) The Government or any officer authorized by it may, either suo motu or on application made to him by a Panchayat or an inhabitant of the village or the Block Development and Panchayat Officer, examine the record for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality or propriety KAVNEET SINGH of any sale, lease, gift, exchange, contract or agreement executed before I attest to the accuracy and or after commencement of this Act, if such sale, lease, gift, exchange, CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -36-contract or agreement is found detrimental to the interest of the villagers and is no longer required in the interest of the Panchayat, the Government may, after making such enquiry as it may deem fit, cancel the same and no separate proceedings under any law shall be required to cancel the sale, lease, gift or exchange. The Panchayat shall be competent to take over the possession of such premises including the constructions thereon, if any, for which no compensation shall be payable.]"

32.o ?heseo(ritopetitionso(ereoheardoono1%.0,.2022oandoono13.01.2023,oand, thenotheofo11o(ingosu:stantia1o>uestionsoofo1a(o(ereorespective10ofor)u1ated:# "83est'ono9o%1: As to whether the verdict pronounced by the Hon'ble Apex Court in case "The State of Haryana through Secretary to Govt. of Haryana Vs. Jai Singh and Others", verdict whereof, became rendered in Civil Appeal No.6990 of 2014, can be assigned retrospective effect, inasmuch as, even to those lands which were otherwise saved from vestment under the previous Acts respectively nomenclatured as "The Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961" as well as "The Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1953". 83est'ono9o%2: Learned counsels appearing for some of the writ petitions submit, that though prima facie the verdict drawn by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in ":heo tateoo!o"ar#anaothro3(ho ecretar#oto 5otit%oo!o"ar#anao$s%o&a'o 'n(hoandoothers'oC'0'4o*22ea4o9o%6990oo! 2014)odoes have retrospective affect but they also submit that since in some of the writ petitions, sale transactions or some other transactions, did occur, and, that such transactions occurred prior to 2007. Therefore, they submit that the assented legislative enactment as made by the State of Haryana, thus incorporating Section 5-B in Haryana Village Common Land (Regulation) Act, 1961, when has not been assigned any retrospective effect nor when the said amendment has been considered in Jai Singh's case (Supra). Therefore, they submit that a further substantial question of law is also required to be formulated by this Court, with respect to the applicability of the amendment of 2007 (Supra) as made in the Haryana Village Common Land (Regulation) Act, 1961 hence to all those sale transaction(s) which occurred much prior thereto. The said submission is not opposed by the counsels for the CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -37-oppositeoside.oTherefore,othisoCourtoisoconstrainedotooalsooformulateothe hereinafterosubstantialoquestionoofolawo"whetheroinotheowakeoofothe assented o to o amendment, o madeo byo the o Haryana o State o Legislative Assembly,owherethrough,oSectiono5-Bobecameoincorporatedoinothe HaryanaoVillageoCommonoLando(Regulation)oAct,o1961,odoesoorodoes not,ocoverotheosaleotransactionowhichooccurredopriorothereto,oand, especiallyowhenosuchoissueowasonotounderoconsiderationobeforeothe Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(Supra),obesidesoespecially alsoowhenoitohasonotobeenoassignedoanyoretrospectiveoeffect." QuestionoNo.o1:-

¶33Asoaogeneraloprincipleoofolaw,oitoisowellosettledothatotheodistinguishing factor o which o determines o whether o there o may o be o retrospective o or o prospective applicationoofoamendmentsoinoLegislation,oisowhetheroitoimpactsosubstantiveoor proceduralorights.oWhereosubstantiveorightsoareoinvolved,othereocannotobeoanyoimplicit retrospectivityoofoanyoamendingolaw,ounlessothereoisoanoexplicitoprovisionotoogive retrospectiveoeffect.oSubstantiveorightsoremainounaffectedobyochangesoinotheomain legislation,oasodeclaredoinotheoJudgmentoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtodeliveredoinocase ShyamoSunderoandoOrs.oVs.oRamoKumar,oreportedoino2001o(8)oSCCo24,othatoany subsequentlyointroducedoamendingoprovision,odoesocarryoaopresumptionothatoitohas onlyoaoprospectiveoeffect,ounlessoexpresslyooroimpliedlyoassignedoretrospectivityotoothe appositeoamendedostatutoryoprovision.oMoreover,oitohasoalsoobeenopronouncedoand propoundedotherein,othatosinceothereoisoaopresumptionoagainstotheoretrospective applicationoofoanyoamendingostatuteooroagainstotheoretrospectiveoapplicationoofoaonewly introducedoprovision,owherebyotheoearlieroinvestedosubstantiveorightsoareocontemplated toobeosnatched.oTherefore,otheoburdenoliesoonotheopartyoclaimingoretrospective application,otootheoamendedoprovision,otooshowothatotheoimpugnedostatueowasointended eitheroexpresslyooroimpliedlyotoohaveoretrospectiveoeffect.oAosimilaroviewohasobeen underlinedobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinojudgmentsorenderedoinocaseoThirumalai I attest Cto the eacmcuraicy aanldsoLtd.oVs.oUnionoofoIndiao(2011o(6)oSCCo739o;oMotioRamoVs.oSurajoBhan CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -38-andootherso(AIRo1960oSCo655)o;oParkashoandoOthersoVs.oPhulavatioandoothers (2016o(2)oSCCo36)o;oKattaoSujathaoReddyoVs.oM/soSiddamsettyoInfraoProjectso(AIR 2022oSCo5435).

¶34o Therefore,oanyoindefeasibleosubstantiveorightocannotobeoabridgedothrough aosubsequentoamendment.oMoreso,owhenoitohasoalsoobeenoexpostulatedoinojudgment (supra),othatothereoisoaopresumptionoagainstoretrospectivityoapplicationoofoaostatute. However,owithoaoriderothat,oassigningooforetrospectivityotooanoexpropriatoryolegislation orotooanoamendingoprovisionooroanoamendingostatuteoorotooaolegislativeoprovisionobut snatchingoanoindefeasiblyoinvestedosubstantiveoright,oratheroisotoobeoeitheroexpresslyoor impliedlyomade.oThus,oanoexpropriatoryolegislativeoprovisionoisotoobeoeitheroexpressly oroimpliedlyoassignedoretrospectivity.oIf,otooanoexpropriatoryolegislativeomeasureooroto anoexpropriatoryoamendedoprovisionoratheronooexpressooroimpliedoretrospectivityois assigned.oThus,oitowouldoholdoonlyoprospectiveoeffect.o

¶35Havingobestowedoourodeepoattentionotootheorivalosubmissionsoinolightoof theosettledolaw,oweofindothatoquestionoNo.o1oessentially opertains oto otheo dateoof effectivityoofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992oasoalsoooSectiono5-B,owhichocameotoobeoinserted inotheoyearo2007.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992,ohavingobeen upheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasotoobeogivenoitsofulloeffectoinoaccordance withotheoLegislativeointentment.oInothisoregard,oaocomparativeoanalysisoofothe definitionoofoShamlatoDehooasoitoexistedobeforeoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992ocameointo force,owhenoClauseo(6)ocameotoobeoinserted,othrowsosignificantolight.oItomayobeoseen thatotheolandsowhichowereoreservedoforo'commonopurposes'ounderoSectiono18oofothe 1948oActowereohandedooverotootheoGramoPanchayatoforotheopurposesoofo'management' ando'control'oonlyothroughoSectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oActoinotheoyearo1963.oThereoisono quarrelothatoSectiono23-AoneverovestedoownershipoorotitleoofosucholandsoinotheoGram Panchayat.oHadoitobeenoso,othereowouldohaveobeenonoonecessityoforotheoLegislatureotoKAVNEET SINGH CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -39-enactoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992.oItomayofurtherobeoseenofromotheoExplanationoappended tooClauseo6oofoSectiono2(g)oofo1961oAct,oasoaddedoino1992,osayingothatotheolands recorded oas oJumlaoMalkanooroJumlaoMalkanoWaoDigar oHaqdaranoArazioHassab Rasad, oJumla oMalkanoor oMushtarka oMalkan, owereofirstotimeoincludedoinothe definitionoofooShamlatoDehoandotheoLegislatureohasoconsciouslyousedotheowordo'shall be',othus,oexplicitlyodeclaringothatotheseolandsowereotoobeotreatedoaso oShamlatoDeh hithertooonly.oHowever,otheootheroimportantoaspectoisothatotheomanagementoand controloofosucholandohadoalreadyobeenovestedoinotheoGramoPanchayatobyovirtueoof Sectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oAct.oOnoaoharmoniousoconstructionoofobothotheoprovisions, weohaveonoodoubtoinoouromindothatoifotheolands,oear-markedoforo'commonopurposes', whichowereorecordedoasoJumlaoMalkanoWaoDigaroHaqdaranoArazioHassaboRasad, JumlaoMalkan,owereoreservedobyotheoConsolidationoOfficerooforo'commonopurposes' underoSectiono18oofotheo1948oAct, oandoif otheseolandsodidonotorevertobackotoothe proprietors,obeforeo11.02.1992,oandotheomanagementoandocontrolothereofohadoalready gotovestedoinotheoGramoPanchayatounderoSectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oAct,othenobyovirtue ofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992,otheoownershipoandotitleoofosucholandsogetsovestedoinothe GramoPanchayats.oTheolitmusotest,othus,otoobeoappliedoisothat,oifoinotheocolumnoof ownershipoinotheoRecordsoofoRights,otheolandsowereorecordedoasoJumlaoMalkanoWa DigaroHaqdaranoArazioHassaboRasad,oJumlaoMalkan,oatotheotimeoofoconsolidation andosucholandsowereoreservedoforocommonopurposesoinotheoConsolidationoScheme, followed oby otheir o management o and o control o with o the o Gram o Panchayats, o then ownershipoofosucholandsomayostandovestedoinotheoGramoPanchayatsobyovirtueoofothe Haryanao Acto9oofo1992.oHowever,oifosucholandsohadoalreadyobeenoreturned oand partitionedoamongstoproprietorsoandoinotheocolumnoofoownershipoinoRecordsoofoRights theseolandsowereoshownotoobeoownedoandopossessedobyoindividualoproprietors,othus, theomanagementoandocontroloofosucholandsoneverocameobeovestedoinotheoGram CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -40-Panchayats,oand,obutoasoaonaturalocorollary,oClauseo(6)oaddedobyoHaryanaoActo9oof 1992ocannotobeomadeooperativeoquaotheseolands.oItois,othus,oheldothatowhereotheolands whichowereoatooneopointoofotimeoproposedotoobeomeantoforo'commonopurposes'obutoat theotimeoofoconsolidationoorothereafterobeforeo11.02.1992,oratherowereoreturnedotoothe proprietorsoandowereoneveroreservedooroear-markedoforocommonopurposes,othenosuch landsodidonotocomeounderotheomanagementoandocontroloofotheoGramoPanchayatsoand ownershipoandotitleoofosucholandsoremainedounaffectedobyoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992. Theseolands,otherefore,ocannotobeosubjectedotootheorigoursoofotheo1992oAct,omerely becauseoatooneopointoofotimeothereowasoaostrayoentryoshowingothemotoobeoear-marked oroproposedoforoao'commonopurpose',oevenothoughotheosameowereosubsequently returnedotootheooriginaloproprietorsounderoordersomadeobyoempoweredorevenueoofficers concerned.o

¶36Similarly,owhereotheolands,othoughowereokeptoforo'commonopurposes' underotheoConsolidationoScheme,obutosubsequentlyoonoaccountoofoanyolisobetweenothe proprietorsoandotheoGramopanchayats,osucholandsohadobeenopartitionedoamongstothe proprietorsoandotheyocontinuedotoobeorecordedoasoownersoinopossessionoforodecades, thus,oalsootheomanagementoandocontroloofosucholandsocannotobeostatedotoohaveovested inotheoGramoPanchayat.oWeohaveobeenopersuadedotooscanotheoRevenueoRecordsofor decades,oincludingobeforeooroafteroSectiono23-Aoofo1948oActocameointooforce,oto fortifyotheopetitioners'ocontentionothatotheolandsoownedoandopossessedobyothemonever everocameoundero'management'oando'control'oofotheoGramoPanchayat.oTheoconsequent effectowillobeothatoClauseo(6)oaddedoby oHaryana oActo9oofo1992owilloremain inapplicableoquaotheseolandsoalso.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatoanoorderopassedobyothe competentoRevenueooroCiviloCourtoshallobeobindingoonotheopartiesounlessosetoasideobyoa superioroforum.oIfoitohasoattainedofinalityoandohasobeenoimplemented,otheoclockocannot beoreversedoandoitocannotobeodeemedotoohaveobeenosetoasideobyoimplicationoofoaoLaw. CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -41-Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoinoStateoofoPunjaboVsoGurdevoSingh,oAIRo1992, oSCo,o111oothatoorder,ohowsoeveroillegaloitomayobe,owouldocontinueotoohaveoexistenceofor alloostensibleopurposesounlessoset-asideoinoappropriateoproceedingsotakenoagainstoit.

¶37Onotheootherohand,otheolandsowhichowereoreservedoforotheocommon purposesoinotheoConsolidationoSchemeoandoareocontinuingotoobeosooreserved,ofollowed byohanding-overoofotheiromanagementoandocontrolowithotheoGramoPanchayats,othe ownershipoofosucholandsostandovestedoinotheoGramoPanchayats/oMunicipalities,oasothe caseomayobe,oinoviewoofotheoeffectoofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992,owhichohasobeenoheldoto beointra-vires,obyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra).oTheoother importantoaspectoisoinorespectoofothoseolandsowhichostoodoexcludedofromotheodefinition of oShamlatoDeh oevenounderotheounamendedoAct, oi.e,o Clauseo(iii)ooro(iv)oofothe ExclusionoClauseocontainedoinoSectiono2(g)oofotheo1961oAct.oInorespectoofotheoabove landsofallingoinotheoappositeoexclusionaryodefinitionoofoShamlatoDeh,othus,oitoisonot onlyodifficultobutoundesirableoalso,oforoaoWritoCourtotoodetermineotheoquestionsoofofact toofindooutoasotoowhetheroanyoparticularolandofallsowithinotheseotwooexclusionary clausesooronot.oTheseoareodefinitelyofactualoissuesobutowhichocanobeodeterminedoonly byoaocompetent oCourtoofojurisdiction.oIt,ohowever,ogoesowithoutosayingothatoifoa proprietoroisoableotooshowothatotheolandoownedobyohimofallsowithinoanyoofothese ExclusionoClauses,oheoisoentitledotoobeoprotectedofromotheowrathoofotheooHaryanaoActo9 ofo1992.oInootherowords,otheoHaryanaoActoNo.o9oofo1992odoesonotoerodeotheoefficacyoor workability o of o the o relevant o exclusionary o clause(s). o The o reason o being o that o no retrospectivityoisoassignedotootheosaidoAct.oMoreover,oalsooonotheofurtherogroundothat theosaidoexclusionaryoclause(s)ohaveoremainedoun-repealedooroun-annulled.oooo

¶38oooooooItoisoonoaoconjointounderstandingoofotheoSchemeoofoStatutesooofo1948oand 1961,oasodiscussedoabove,ocoupledowithotheoLegalopositionoonoretrospectivityoasoitohas withstoodotheolawotillodate,othatoweoareoofotheoconsideredoviewothatotheoHaryanaoActo9KAVNEET SINGH CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -42-ofo1992ohasotoobeounderstoodoandogivenoprospectiveoeffect,obutoitoisoalsooretroactiveoin caseoofothoseolandsowhichohaveoalreadyobeenoreservedoforocommonopurposesoandowere neverodistributed/repartitionedoamongstotheoproprietors.oWe oholdo so oalso oforothe reasonothatothoughoaospecificoargumentowasoraisedobeforeotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt inoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra)othatoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992oisoclarificatoryoandodeclaratory inonature,obutotheosaidopleaohasonotobeenoacceptedobyotheoApexoCourtoexpresslyoor impliedly.oTheiroLordshipsohaveoheldothatoownershipoofolandsowhichowereounderoothe managementoandocontroloofoGramoPanchayatsounderotheo1948oAct,ostandovestedoinothe GramoPanchayatsobyovirtueoofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992.oTheoownershipoofosucholands would,othus,ostandotransferredofromotheodateowhenotheosaidoActocameointooforceoon

11.02.1992.oItoalsooappearsotoousothatowhereotheoRevenueoCourtsohaveoalready partitionedotheolands,oillustrativelyorecordedoasoJumlaoMustarkaoMalkanoetc.,oamongst theoproprietorsoandotheoGramoPanchayatsohaveoacceptedosuchoOrders,owhichohaveobeen actedouponoforoaolongodurationoofotime,osuchoactionoofotheoauthorizedocourtsowillodraw aopresumptionoofotruthounderoSectiono35oofotheoIndianoEvidenceoAct,o1872oandotheosaid presumptionocannotobeosnatchedounlessoaggrievedoconcernedomakesoaolawfulorecourse eitheroinotheoCiviloCourtoorotooanyoempoweredostatutoryoauthority.oInoouroconsidered view,otheoExecutiveofiatocannotobeopressedointooaidobyotheoStateotooannulosuchojudicial oroquasi-judicialoordersoandotootransferoownershipoofolandsowithoaostrokeoofopenoafter decades.o

¶39Inoshort,otheopresumption,oasoattachableotooanyoorder,omadeobyoany revenueoofficeroinodischargeoofohisopublicoduties,owhenohasobeenoilloattemptedotoobe riddenoofoitsoefficacy,oand,othatotooowithoutoanyoopportunityoofohearingotootheoperson affectedobyosuchoarbitrarilyodrawnoinstruction(s),oletteroorocommunication.oTherefore, itoappearsotoousothatotheoimpugnedoinstruction(s)/lettersohaveobeenoissuedoinoaomostoslip shodoandoperfunctoryomanner,oandowithoutoanyoapplicationoofomind,oeitherotoothe CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -43-JudgmentoofoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra)oorotooanyoofotheoother statutesoorolegaloprinciplesowhichoareocarriedoinotheorespectiveostatutoryoprovisions. Theseoinstructionsorunocounterotooandoareoinotheocompletestoderogationotootheomandate pronouncedobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoin oWaziroChandoVs.oStateoofoHimachal PradeshoAIRo1954oSCo415.oTheoaforesaidoviewohasobeenoreiteratedobyotheoHon'ble SupremeoCourtoinoBishamberoDayaloChandraoMohanoandoOthersoVs.oStateoofoUP

(1982)o1oSCCo39.ooo

¶40oAnotheroimportantoprovisionowhichorequiresoreiterationohereoisoSection 22oofotheo1948oAct.oUnderothisoprovision,otheoentriesoinotheoRecordoofoRights,oi.e.,othe revenueorecordoareoaffectedoonotheobasisoofotheoConsolidationoSchemeopreparedobyothe ConsolidationoOfficer.oSub-Sectiono(2)othereofofurtheroprovidesothato'suchorecordoof rightsoshallobeodeemedotoohaveobeenopreparedounderoSectiono32oofotheoPunjaboLand RevenueoAct,o1887'.oItosoundinglyomeansothat,oonceoaoConsolidationoOfficerocausesoto prepareoaonewoRecordoofoRightsoandopursuantothereto,oentriesoinotheorevenueorecords areomade,osuchoentriesoshallocarryoaopresumptionoofotruthoinorespectoofoownershipoand possessoryorightsoofotheoland.ooTheopetitionersohaveopointedooutonumeorousoinstances where,oafterotheoredistributionoofolandsoamongstoproprietors,oRecordsoofoRightsowere preparedounderoSectiono22oofotheo1948oAct,oandoinothatotheoindividualoproprietorsowere shownotoobeoownersoinoexclusiveopossessionoofospecificokhasra/kilaonumbers.oThat beingoso,osucholandsowhereoownershipoandopossessoryorightsohaveobeenodulyorecorded underoSectiono22oofotheoAct,oshallofallooutsideotheopurviewoofoSectiono18oreadowith Sectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oActoandoasoaonecessaryocorollary,otheseolandsocannotobe subjectomatteroofoinclusionoofoShamlatoDehoinoClauseo(6)oofoSectiono2(g)oofo1961oAct.

¶41ooTheootheroequally,oimportantoquestionoisoofotheobona-fideopurchasers.oIt couldonotobeodisputedoonobehalfoofotheorespondentsoduringotheocourseoofohearingothat variousoparcelsoofoland,owhich,oatooneopointoofotime,olongobeforeoHaryanaoActo9oofKAVNEET SINGH CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -44-1992ocameointooforceowereothoughoproposedooroshownoforo'commonopurposes'obut wereopartitionedoamongstotheoproprietorsoeitherobyoConsolidationoOfficerounderothe ConsolidationoSchemeoitselfoorosubsequentotheretoobyotheoRevenueoCourts.oPursuant toosuchoorders,otheolandoowners/oproprietorsocameotoobeorecordedoasoindividualoowners inorespectotootheiroholdings.oTheyohaveosoldotheirolandsotoobona-fideopurchasersofor valuableoconsiderationoinodueocourseoofotime.oTheovendeeso alsoo actedowithodue diligenceoandoverifiedotheoownershiporightsoinotheorevenueorecord,oi.e.,oRecordoof Rightsoforodecades.oSuchovendeesohavingofoundothatotheovendorsowereodulyorecorded asoexclusiveoownerso inopossessionoofotheolandoinotheorecordooforightsoprepared pursuantotooSectiono22oofotheo1948oAct,othus,oactedouponoandopurchasedotheolandsofor consideration.oInoouroconsideredoviewosuchobona-fideopurchasersostandoonoaltogetheroa differentopedestral.oNotoonlyothis,othereooareoseveraloinstancesowhereotheolandsohave exchangedohandsorepeatedlyoandotheopresentoownershipovests,omayobe,oinotheothirdoor fourthoosetoofovendeesoandosooon.oSuchocases,ostandoonoaodifferentofooting.oWeomay hasteno tooaddothatonoosuchospecificoquestiono oaroseoforoconsiderationobeforeo the Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra).oThisoquestionohasoarisenoonlyoon accountoofotheofactothatoinotheofirstosetoofoinstructionsoissuedobyotheoStatesoofoPunjab andoHaryana,onooprotection oto obona-fide opurchasersowasoextended.oInotheolater instructionsodatedo18.08.2022,oinoClauseo(iv),otheoStateoofoHaryanaohasodirectedothe GramoPanchayatsoandoUrbanoLocaloBodiesotoo'initiateoproceedingsoinoaccordanceowith lawotookeepoback/restoreosucholands.oTheoexpressiono"inoaccordanceowitholaw",oinoour consideredoviewonecessarilyorequiresoaodeclarationoofoannulmentooforegisteredosale deedsoforowhichoonlyoaoCiviloCourtoisocompetentotoodoosooinoaccordanceowithothe provisionsoofotheooRegistrationoAct,o1908.oo(Ref.:oThotaoGangaoLaxmioandooaoonothero oVs.oGovernmentoofoAndhraoPradeshoandoo theroo,o(2010)o15oSCCo207).o CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -45-

¶42Whenoweoholdothatothe obona-fide opurchasersostandoonoaodifferent pedestral,oweoareoexpectedotoorespectotheointendmentobehindoSectiono41oofothe TransferoofoPropertieso Act,o1882.oAsoperotheosaidoprovision,owhereoanoostensible owneroofotheopropertyohasotransferredoownershiporightso foroconsideration,osuch transferoshallonotobeovoidableoonotheogroundothatotheotransferorowasonotoauthorizedoto makeoit.oTheoonlyorequirementoisothatotheotransfereeomustoshowodueodiligenceobefore transferotakesoplace.oSectiono41oofotheoTransferoofoPropertiesoActoreadsoasounder:- "41.oTransferobyoostensibleoowner.—Where,owithotheoconsent,oexpress oroimplied,oofotheopersonsointerestedoinoimmoveableoproperty,oaopersonois theoostensibleoowneroofosuchopropertyoandotransfersotheosameofor consideration,otheotransferoshallonotobeoviodableoonotheogroundothatothe transferorowasonotoauthorisedotoomakeoit:oProvidedothatotheotransferee, afterotakingoreasonableocareotooascertainothatotheotransferorohadopower toomakeotheotransfer,ohasoactedoinogoodofaith."o

¶43Asoweohaveonoticedoearlier,otheoRecordoofoRightsopreparedounderoSection 22oofotheo1948oAct,oreadowithoSectiono32oofotheoPunjaboLandoRevenueoAct,o1887owere theobench-markotoodetermineowhetherotheotransfereeoorotheosubsequentovendeeoacted withodueodiligence.oAfterohavingoverifiedothatotheovendorowasorecordedotoobeoowneroin possessionoofolandoforodecades,osuchovendeeoenteredointooaobona-fideosaleotransaction, itoshallogetodueoprotectionoofoSectiono41oofotheoTransferoofoPropertiesoAct.oTheofactoas toowhetherothereowasonoodueodiligenceoorowhetherotheotransferoofotitleosuffersofromoany typeo of o imperfection,o is o an o onus o which o lies oono theo Gramo Panchayat o oro the Municipality,oforowhichotheyoareorequiredotooapproachotheoCiviloCourtoofoappropriate jurisdiction. QuestionoNo.o2

¶44o Inoallofairness,olearnedoStateoCounseloasowelloas oCounselsoforoGram PanchayatsohaveoplacedoheavyorelianceoonoSectiono5-BoinsertedobyoHaryanaoActoo8oof 2007oinotheo1961oActowhichohasoalreadyobeenoreproducedoinotheoearlieropartoofothis KAVNEET SINGHverdict.oThisoprovisionoprovidedothatoanyotransferoofoland,ogifted,osold,oexchangedoor CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -46-leasedobeforeooroafterotheocommencementoofothisoActomadeoinocontraventionoofothe prescribedotermsoandoconditionsoshallobeovoidoandotheogifted,osold,oexchangedoor leasedolandosootransferredoshallorevertotooandore-vestoinotheoGramoPanchayatofreeofrom alloencumbrances.

¶45Asoheldoearlier,othereoareotwoodifferentosetsoofolandoincludedoinothe ShamlatoDeh.oTheofirstosetoofolandsoareothoseowhichowereoincludedoinoSectiono2(g)oof theo1961oActoatotheotimeoofoitsooriginaloenactment.oTheosecondosetoofolandsocameotoobe includedoinoShamlatoDehobyovirtueoofoHaryanaoActo9oofo1992.oSectiono5-B,oinoour consideredoopinionoprovidesothatoifoanyoland,oregardlessoofotheofactothatoit owas includedoinoShamlatoDehoandovestedoinotheoShamlatoDeh,ohasobeenosold,otransferred, exchangedooroleasedocontraryotootheoSchemeoofotheoAct,osuchoconveyanceodeedoisoto beodeclaredovoidowithoutoaffectingotheorightsoandotitleoofotheoGramoPanchayat.oThe mostocrucialofactowouldobeoasotoowhetherotheolandowasoeveroincludedoinotheooShamlat Dehoand/oroitocanobeoheldotoohaveovestedoinotheoGramoPanchayatoasooShamlatoDeh?oIf answeroisoinoaffirmative,oandothereoisoanyoconveyanceodeedoinorespectoofosucholands, sameoshallogetoannulledobyovirtueoofoSectiono5-BoofotheoAct.oHowever,oifotheoland neverocameotoobeoincluded,owithinotheopurviewoofotheooShamlatoDehooeitherobyovirtue ofounamendedodefinition,osayoforoexample,ounderotheoExclusionoClause,ooroitonever formedopartoofotheo'commonopurposes'ounderotheo1948oActooroifoitohadoalreadyobeen partitioned/oredistributedoamongstotheolandoowners/proprietors,obeforeo11.02.1992,the landoneverofellowithinotheocontoursoofoShamlatoDehounderoSectiono2(g)oofo1961oAct, whether o originally o or o amended o subsequently. o Therefore, o Section o 5-B o will o be applicableoonlyowhenoitoisoprovedobeforeoaocompetentocourtoofolawothatotheolandowas actuallyoShamlatoDehooandohenceotheoconveyanceodeedoinorelationotheretooshouldobe declaredoinoperative.oTheoconsequentoeffectowouldobeothatotheoauthoritiesowillohaveoto engageothemselvesoinoappropriateolegaloproceedingsobeforeoaoCourtoofocompetent CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -47-jurisdiction,ofirstlyotoodetermineowhetherotheolandoisoShamlatoDehooronot.ooIfoitois finallyoprovedoothatotheolandowasoindeedooShamlatoDeh,oSectiono5-B(2)ocanobeoresorted toorestoreotheolandoinofavouroofotheoGramoPanchayat.oHowever,onoosuchopowerocanoobe exercised ounilaterlyoonlyo onotheobasisoofooneosidedopresumptionothatotheolandois ShamlatoDeh.oTheodeterminationoofotitleoofolandoasotoowhetherooronotoitoisoShamlat Deh obuto throughoproceedingsobeforeoaocourtoofocompetentojurisdictionoandoin accordanceowithotheoprinciplesoofonaturalojusticeoisoaosine-qua-nonoforoinvokingothe powersounderoSectiono5-Boofotheo1961oAct.o

¶46oooooooooThoughomostoofotheowritopetitionersohaveoappendedocopiesoofoRecordsoof Rightsoandootherodocumentsotooshowothatotheolandoownedobyothemodidonotoformopartoof the oShamlatoDeh ounderotheounamendedoprovisionsoand/orosucholandsowereonot reservedoforo'commonopurposes'oorohadobeenoredistributedoamongstotheoproprietors underotheoordersoofotheoConsolidationoOfficersoorotheoRevenueoCourt,oasotheocaseomay be,oweoareonotoinclinedotooacceptosuchoclaimsoforotheoreasonothatoeachocaseoisobased uponoitsoownofacts.oTheopetitioners/oproprietorsoasowelloasoGramoPanchayats/ Municipalitiesobothohaveocorrespondingorightsoandodutiesotooestablishotheirointer-se claimsoagainstoeachootherobeforeoanoappropriateoforum.oWe,othus,oleaveoitoopenotoothe authoritiesoinotermsoofotheodirectionsoissuedohereinafteroforogettingoresolved othe questionoofotheiroproprietorship/otitleofollowedobyoaonecessaryoconsequenceoinotermsoof HaryanaoActo9oofo1992ooroActo8oofo2007oinotheoHaryanaoAct.

¶47oAsoregardotootheoStateoofoPunjab,oweofindothatonooadditionalodiscussionois requiredotoobeoengagedoforotheoreasonothatofirstly,otheoprovisionsoofotheo1961oAct,oas applicableoinotheoStateoofoPunjaboincludingotheoamendmentsocarriedooutothrough PunjaboActo9oofo1922oareobroadlyosimilarotootheocorrespondingoprovisionsoofotheoAct asoapplicableotootheoStateoofoHaryana.oSinceotheodictumoofotheoSupremeoCourt Judgementoin oJaioSingh'socaseo isoequallyobindingoonotheoStateoofoPunjab,otheKAVNEET SINGH CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -48-mechanismotooimplementotheosaidoJudgmentoinobothotheoStatesotherefore,orequires commonality.

¶48Sectiono42-Aoofotheo1948oAct,oprovisionsowhereofohaveobeenoextracted hereafter,oprovideothatotheolandoreservedoforo'commonopurposes'owhetherospecifiedoin theoConsolidationoSchemeooronotoshallonotobeopartitionedoamongstotheoproprietorsoof theoVillageoandoitoshallobeoutilizedoandocontinueotoobeoutilizedoforo'commonopurposes'. TheoaboveoprovisionocameotoobeoinsertedovideoPunjaboActoNo.o6oofo2007oinotheo1948 Actoandohasotooapplyoprospectively.oThus,otheonaturaloconsequenceothereofowouldobe thatotheolandsowhichoalreadyostandopartitioned/re-distributedoamongstotheoproprietors priorotooPunjaboActoNo.o6oofo2007,owouldonotogetoaffectedoandotheoordersopassedoby competentoCourtsoofoJurisdictionounderowhichotheosaidopartition/re-distributionohas beenomade,ocannotobeoerodedothroughorecourseotootheosaidoinsertion. 42-AoProhibitionotoopartitionotheolandoreservedoforocommonopurposes.-- NotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinothisoActooroinoanyootherolawofor theotimeobeingoinoforce,ooroinoanyojudgment,odecree,oorderoorodecisionoof anyocourt,ooroanyoauthorityooroanyoofficer,otheolandoreservedoforocommon purposesowhetherospecifiedoinotheoconsolidationoschemeooronot,oshallonot beopartitionedoamongstotheoproprietorsoofotheovillage,oandoitoshallobe utitlizedoandocontinueotoobeoutilizedoforocommonopurposes.

¶49oLastly,oitoisoclarifiedothatotheofindingsoandoobservationsomadeoherein aboveoareoonlyoinorespectoofotheoissue(s)owhichodidonotoariseoforoconsiderationoofothe Hon'bleoApexoCourt oin ooJaioSoooingh'oosoo Caseo. oAsoaomatteroofofact,otheseoissuesohave croppedoupooasoaoresultantoaftermathoofotheoexecutiveoinstructionsoissuedobyobothothe StatesoforotheosuggestedocomplianceoofotheodictumoofotheoHighestoCourtoofotheoland.oIt isofurtheroclarifiedoasoanoabundantoprecautionothatoweohaveonotoexpressedoanyoopinion onotheoindividualomeritsoofoanyocase,osuchobeingobeyondotheoscopeoofowritojurisdiction ofothisoCourt.oOnofacts,otheoprescribedoauthoritiesounderotheo1961oAct,oGram Panchayats, o Municipalities o o and o the o State o Governments o will o take o appropriate CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -49-decisions,okeepingotheofactsoofoeachocaseoinomindoandoshalloproceedofurtheroasodirected hereinafter. Conclusions:

¶50oooooooooooInotheolightoofotheoaboveodiscussions,oweoholdothat:-

(i)o ExecutiveoInstructionsodatedo21.06.2022oando18.08.2022oissuedoby theoStateoofo Haryanaoandodatedo11.10.2022oissuedobyotheoStateoofoPunjab wherebyoownershiporightsoofotheolandsoinoquestionoareosoughtotoobe transferredoinofavouroofotheoGramoPanchayat/Municipalities, othrough Executiveofiat,oareoheldotoobeocontraryotootheoveryoschemeoofotheoStatute andoareoherebyoquashed,o particularly o in o view o of othe ofact o that othese executiveoinstructionsocannotoresultointooarbitraryocancellationoofoovalid titleooverotheoproperties.

(ii) Accordingly,otheoStatesoofoHaryanaoasowelloasoPunjaboshallogive effectotootheoJudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socase (supra)oinotheofollowingomanner:-

(a)o Whereotheolandsocontinueotoobeoshownoasoreservedofor 'commonopurposes',owhetheroutilizedoorounutilized,otheoownership of o such o land o shall o vest o in o the o Gram o Panchayat o or o the Municipalities,oasotheocaseomayobe.

(b)o However,oifotheolandsowhichowereoproposedooroshownotoobe reservedoforocommonopurposesohaveobeenopartitioned,oamongstothe proprietorsoororedistributedoamongstothem,ounderotheoConsolidation Scheme,osucholandsoareoheldotoohaveoneverocomeounderothe managementoandocontroloofotheoGramoPanchayatsoand,othus, ownershipoinorelationotheretoodoesonotovestoinotheoGramoPanchayats CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -50-by o virtue o of othe oprovisions, o like o Haryana o Act o 9 o of o 1992. Conspicuously,oalsoogivenothatotheoPunjaboActoNo.o6oofo2007oas relatesotootheo1948oAct,oratherohasoonlyoprospectiveoeffect,oand,oit does o not o erode o the o validly o made o orders o either o by o the jurisdictionallyocompetentoCourts,oand,oorobyotheoempowered revenueoauthoritiesowherebyopartitionsoandore-distributionoofolands areomade,omayobeoevenofromotheocommonopool.ooo

(c)oooTheoGramoPanchayatoorotheoMunicipalityoshallobeoatolibertyoto approachotheocompetent oCourtoofolawoforovestingoofoownership rightsoinothemoinorespectoofotheolandsowhereothereoisoseriousodispute asotoowhetherotheosameohadobeenoreservedoforocommonopurposes and/orowereoneverodistributed/oreturnedoamongstotheoproprietors throughoanoorderoofoaocompetentocourtooroofoanyocompetent statutoryoauthority.o

(d)o whereothereoisonoodisputeoinorespectoofolandsoreservedofor commonopurposesoandotheomanagementoandocontrolowhereofohad beenotransferredotootheoGramoPanchayatounderoSectiono23-Aoofothe 1948oAct, oownership oofo sucho landsoshallovesto ino theo Gram Panchayat/Municipalityoinoviewoofotheofactothatoprovisionsolike HaryanaoActo9oofo1992ohaveo beenodeclared ointraovires obyothe Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJaioSingh'soCase;

(e)oo Inotheocaseoofolandsowhichoatooneopointoofotimeowereoshown oroproposedotoobeoreservedoforocommonopurposesobutohaveobeen returned/ore-distributedoamongstotheoproprietorsounderotheoordersoof the o Revenue o Court/ o Consolidation o Officer o and owhen KAVNEET SINGH 'management'ooro'control'oofolandsowasoneverotransferredotoothe CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -51-GramoPanchayatsounderoSectiono23-Aoofotheo1948oAct,osucholands alsoocanonotobeoautomaticallyopresumedotoohaveovestedoinoGram PanchayatsooroMunicipalities;

(f)ooo Where o lands o falling o in o the o categories o as o illustrated o in directionoNo.(b)oando(e)oabove,ohaveobeenosold/re-soldotoobonafide purchasersoafterodueodiligenceoandoforovaluableoconsideration,othe titleooropossessoryorightsoofosuchobona-fideopurchasersoshalloremain unaffected,osaveoandoexcept,owhenotheosaleodeedsoinotheirofavour areosetoasideobyotheocourtsoofocompetentojurisdiction.ooo FinaloorderobyothisoCourt.

¶51Theosubstantialoquestionsoofolawoareoaccordinglyoanswered.oTheowrit petitionsoareodisposedoof.oTheoimpugnedonotifications/instructions,oasorespectively madeobyotheoStateoofoHaryana,oand,obyotheoStateoofoPunjab,oareotootheoextentothatoare militative,otootheoprospectiveoassignmentsoofoforce,obyothisocourt,otootheoHaryana AmendingoAct,o1992,otheoPunjaboAmendingoAct,o2022,oand,otootheoPunjaboActoNo.o6 ofo2007,oareoquashedoandosetoaside,oonotheoabove,oand,otheohereinafteromentionedofive counts,oand,oshallohenceforthohaveonooforceoandooperation.o

i) Theyoareoinobreachotootheomandateoofotheojudgmentomadeobyothe Hon'bleoApexoCourtoinoJaioSingh'socaseo(supra),owherebyoonlyoa veryolimitedoretrospectivityoisoassignedotootheoamendedoprovisions (supra).o

ii) Theyoareoultraoviresotheorulesoofonaturalojustice.

iii) Theyoareoultraoviresotheolawfullyomadeoassignment(s)otoothe assigneesoconcerned,ohenceobyoanyoempoweredorevenueoofficer.

iv) Thatowhenotheyoassignountenableoretrospectivity,otootheoamended provisions,obutoyetotheyodoonotomakeoanyocontemplationsoqua paymentsoofocompensationotootheolandoownersoconcerned.oThus, CWP-15980-2022o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases -52-

v) They o are o ultrao vires otheo constitutional o right o of o property, o as enshrinedoinoArticleo31A,oand,oinoArticleo300oAoofotheoConstitution ofoIndia.

¶56Sinceotheomainocase(s)oitselfohaveobeenodecided,othus,oallotheopending application(s),oifoany,oalsoostand(s)odisposedoof. ooooo o(SURESHWARoTHAKUR) oooooooooo oooooooJUDGEo oooooooooo oooo(KULDEEPoTIWARI) oooooooJUDGE

17.03.2023 kavneetosinghooo Whetherospeaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whetheroreportable : Yes/No