AMARJIT SINGH Vs. JOINT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a petition for quashing orders dated August 3, 1998 and September 17, 1999 passed by the Collector-cum-District Development and Panchayat Officer, Patiala and the Commissioner respectively under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act').

(2.) Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that Gram Panchayat, Dudar filed an application dated February 2, 1981 under Section 7 of the Act for eviction of the petitioner from 12 Kanals 10 Marlas of the land situated in Village Dudar. In the application, it was averred that the land in question vests in it and Amarjit Singh had unauthorisedly occupied the same. The petitioner controverted the averments contained in the application and claimed that he was owner of the land in dispute. An alternative plea taken by him was that he was tenant under the Gram Panchayat.

(3.) After hearing the parties, the Collector-cum-District Development and Panchayat Officer, Patiala allowed the application of the Gram Panchayat vide order dated March 31, 1982 and ordered the eviction of the petitioner. Appeal filed by his was dismissed by the Commissioner vide his order dated May 27, 1983.