FAUJI Vs. FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this petition the petitioners have challenged the orders of the respondents No.1 and 3 declining an application for computation of rent.

(2.) The issue revolves around the interpretation given to the amendment of Section 14A of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 (hereinafter referred to as 'Act of 1953'). Brief facts are that the petitioners were the tenants of the private respondents No.4 to 10 who had filed application for ejectment on 05.10.1988 on the ground of non-payment of rent. During the pendency of the application, the Act of 1953 was amended by the Haryana Act No.5 of 1991 and proviso was added to Clause (1) of Section 14A of the Act of 1953. The said amended section is read as under:-

(3.) After the amendment, which took place on 22.04.1991 the petitioners moved an application on 24.09.1991 for depositing the arrears of rent. The respondent No.3 rejected the application on the ground that the stage of first hearing had elapsed. The order having been ultimately upheld the petitioners are before this Court.