LACHHMI NARAIN Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of two civil writs Nos. 976 and 977 of 1961, as they involve a common question of law for consideration.

(2.) The petitioners in these two cases are Lachhmi Narain and Smt. Vidya Wati respectively. They owned considerable land in village Bishan Pura, District Sangrur. A part of their holding was declared as surplus area by the Collector Agrarian Reforms, Sangrur, respondent No. 3, under the Pepsu Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1955, by his order, dated the 13th February, 1961, which forms Annexure 'A' to each of the petitions. That order having been upheld in appeal by the Commissioner of Patiala Division, Patiala, Lachhmi Narain and Vidya Wati have approached this Court under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution impugning the validity of these orders of the Collector and the Commissioner.

(3.) Sub-section (1) of Section 32-A of the Pepsu 'Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1955, under which action has been taken against the petitioners, provides -