KARNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST Vs. RAM PARKASH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) KARNAL Improvement Trust (hereinafter referred to as the Trust) vide resolution dated 20. 8. 1973 resolved to develop Scheme No. 37 for an area measuring approximately measuring 1,215 square yards. Notification under Section 36 of the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 (for short the Act) was issued on 7. 9. 1973 and declaration under Section 42 of the Act was issued on 14. 1. 1976. What was acquired was built-up area and open area lying between various shops acquired by the Trust. The Collector awarded Rs. 100/- per sq. yd. as compensation for the built-up area but nothing was paid for the open spaces known as Phar area as it was found to be public property. Land-owners sought reference before the Tribunal where they not only asked for the enhancement of compensation for the built-up area but also claimed that they were entitled to compensation with regard to Phar area because that belonged to them. Tribunal enhanced the compensation to Rs. 1,336/- per sq. yd. for the built-up area and in some cases it awarded Rs. 1,072/- per sq. yd. but did not award anything for Phar area as it was also of the view that it formed part of the street and vested in the Municipal Committee and the landowners had no right to claim compensation. Tribunal also found that the claimants were entitled to allotment of plots as locally displaced persons, as provided under the Karnal Improvement Trust (Land Disposal) Rules, 1970 (for short the Rules ). The Trust as well as the landowners filed various writ petitions in this Court which were disposed of by G. R. Majithia, J, vide order dated 15. 9. 1989. The contention of the land-owners that Phar area was their private property, was accepted and it was held that claimants are entitled to compensation for the same. With regard to built-up area, it was held that claimants are entitled to compensation at the same rate as awarded for the built-up area i. e. Rs. 1,336/- per sq. yd. For determining the compensation for Phar area, the case was remanded to the Tribunal. Against the order of learned Single Judge, Letters patent Appeal was preferred by the Trust which was dismissed. Order of Letters Patent Appeal was impugned before the Supreme Court in Civil Appeals No. 3603 to 3614 of 1991. The Supreme Court passed the following order:" in the circumstances, we set aside the findings of the Tribunal as well as the orders of the High Court and direct the Tribunal to reconsider the question as aforesaid as regards the Phar and pass appropriate orders. It will be open to the parties to urge all their contentions relating to title and possession of property. We are not expressing any view of the questions raised in these appeals and they are left open. The parties shall appear before the Tribunal on 7th November, 1991 for further directions of the Tribunal. The appeals are disposed of accordingly. "

(2.) PURSUANT to this order, dispute regarding title of Phar area is pending consideration before the Tribunal. During the pendency of this consideration, an application was filed by the claimants for receiving compensation for the built-up area and in execution of that, certain F. D. Rs. of the Trust were got attached. Objections were raised by the Trust against these attachments inter alia on the ground that the Supreme Court had remanded the entire case to the Tribunal. The Executing Court dismissed the objection and found as follows:

(3.) THE Executing Court thus found that the Supreme Court remanded the case only in regard to Phar area. Before the Executing Court, landowners had also claimed benefit under Section 23 (1-A) of the Act. Their entitlement to this benefit is still to be considered. The Executing Court, on finding that the matter was remanded only with regard to Phar area, ordered that the claimants would get 50 per cent of the amount claimed by them which nearly comes to Rs. 20,00,000/- in all the five cases. Consequently, F. D. Rs. of the Trust of the value of Rs. 60,00,000/- which had been ordered to be attached vide order dated 10. 5. 1991, were ordered to be released with the direction that the F. D. R. of the value of Rs. 20,00,000/- would be encashed and the said amount would be remitted to the Court for payment to the claimants. The Trust has impugned the order of the Executing Court in this civil revision.