CWP-2768-2025 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH (136) CWP-2768-2025 Date of Decision: 31.01.2025 Malkit Singh .....Petitioner Versus Joint Development Commissioner (Panchayat Land), SAS, Nagar and others ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURESHWAR THAKUR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS SURI Present: Mr. Jatinder Singla, Advocate and Ms. Shivani Singla, Advocate for the petitioner. Dr. Dharminder Singh Lamba, DAG, Punjab. **** SURESHWAR THAKUR , J. (Oral) 1. By filing the present writ petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has shown an apprehension of his being dispossessed from the disputed lands, thus on the strength of an order dated 24.03.2023, as, passed by the Collector concerned, in a petition cast under Section 7 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, whereby the petitioner was found in unauthorized possession of the petition lands, thus resulting in a verdict of eviction being made against him, by the authority concerned. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits, that he has filed a statutory appeal (Annexure P-9) before the Appellate Authority concerned, DIWAKER GULATI 2025.01.31 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-2768-2025 2 against the order dated 24.03.2023, and the same is pending before the learned Commissioner concerned. He further submits that a prayer for interim relief has also been made within the statutory appeal. The relief of stay has been declined by the learned Commissioner concerned, through the impugned order of 16.01.2025, as embodied in Annexure P-12. In case the petitioner are yet dispossessed from the disputed land, the whole purpose of filing the statutory appeal would be rendered infructuous. 3. Notice of motion to respondents at this stage. 4. Dr. Dharminder Singh Lamba, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondents No. 1, 2 and 4 and has not disputed the factum of filing of the apposite appeal against the passing of the impugned order of eviction. He very fairly submits that as of today, the parties may be directed to maintain status-quo during the pendency of the appeal and respondent No.1-Commissioner concerned, be directed to decide the pending appeal in a time bound manner. 5. Since the matter is pending before the statutory Appellate Authority, therefore, it would not be appropriate for this Court to express any opinion on the merits of the case. 6. Considering the above factual aspects, it would be appropriate to issue a direction to the statutory Appellate Authority to, by passing a speaking order, decide the statutory appeal within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order, but after affording an adequate opportunity of hearing to all the concerned. 7. In consequence, the impugned order (Annexure P-12) is quashed, and, set aside, to the extent of declining the relief qua stay, and, the parties are directed to maintain status-quo regarding possession. DIWAKER GULATI 2025.01.31 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-2768-2025 3 8. Disposed of accordingly. (SURESHWAR THAKUR) JUDGE JANUARY 31, 2025 (VIKAS SURI) d.gulati JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No DIWAKER GULATI 2025.01.31 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document