SURJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order shall dispose of LPA Nos.1827 to 1843, 1987 of 2014 as all the appeals are directed against the order dated August 28, 2014 whereby learned Single Judge has dismissed a bunch of 19 writ petitions in which, the appellant(s) laid challenge to the respective eviction orders passed against them under the Punjab Public Premises and Land (Eviction & Rent Recovery) Act, 1973 (in short, 'the 1973 Act'). Since the point in issue is common and for brevity as well, LPA No.1827 of 2014 is being treated as the lead case.

(2.) The facts may be briefly noticed. One Mohammed Abdul Bari Khan was a big landlord of village Saidanwala @ Naiwala, Tehsil and District Patiala who owned land measuring 3490 bigha and 19 biswa. He was under the State debt for a sum of Rs. 50,000/- with interest accrued thereupon, and with a view to discharge that debt liability, firstly he hypothecated his land measuring 1010 bigha and 8 biswa in favour of PEPSU State (Patiala and East Punjab State Union) and then transferred the said land to the State Government towards full and final settlement of the loan amount vide agreement dated 05.03.1954 (Annexure P1) duly signed by the Chief Secretary, PEPSU State and the loanee-cum-landlord. Two Khasra Nos.100 & 113 were, however, excluded for the reason that those Nos. had already been acquired by the State Government for construction of Bhakra canal.

(3.) The ownership of the subject-land was thus transferred in favour of the State Government free from all encumbrances.