PREM CHAND Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment will dispose of Civil Writs No. 2559 of 1969, 3575, 3576, 3577, 3640, 3641, 3642 and 3643 of 1970, 10, 1209, 1214, 1215, 1216, 1221, 1246, 1247, 1248, 1249, 1250, 1251, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1317, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1323, 1324, 1328, 1344, 1408, 1416, 1490, 1572, 1616 and 1679 of 1971 as they involve common questions of law and fact.

(2.) IN all the above mentioned writ petitions the point raised is whether the State Government can under the relevant law and the rules exploit shora (saltpetre) found in the soil or on the surface of the lands belonging either to the individuals or to the Gram Panchayats. Civil Writ 1221 of 1971 would be taken as a typical case where the land belonged to an individual and Civil Writ 1328 of 1971 as a typical case where the land belonged to the Gram Panchayat concerned.

(3.) WE will first take up Civil Writ 1221 of 1971. On 25th February, 1971, a notification was issued by the Department of Industries, Haryana, notifying for the information of the general public that saltpetre bearing areas in various villages, detailed in that notification, including village Mayoli which is mentioned at serial number 19 and with which village we are concerned in this writ petition, will be put up for auction on 2nd April, 1971 at 10 a. m. in the office of the District Industries Officer, Panipat. The notification also detailed the terms and conditions of the auction with which we are not concerned.