High Court Upholds Land Allocation Decision: Petitioner Failed To Prove Their Claim

In a significant ruling, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana today upheld the order of the Financial Commissioner, Punjab Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, in a contentious land allocation dispute involving 12 Bighas 10 Biswas of land in the village Kalauli Jattan.

The Bench, consisting of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Hon'ble Ms. Justice Sudeepti Sharma, dismissed the writ petition filed by the petitioners, Bachan Singh and others, against the State of Punjab and others. The petitioners had sought direction for possession of the disputed land, claiming it was allotted for the construction of their houses.

In a pivotal observation, the Court noted, "the petitioner has failed to prove their claim over the above land." This statement reflected the crux of the judicial findings, emphasizing the lack of substantiation in the petitioner's claim to the specific land parcel in Khasra No. 80 of the village.

The case involved a detailed examination of various legal proceedings, reports, and orders, tracing back to previous writ petitions and a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. The dispute centered around the partition and allocation of land between Gram Panchayat Kalauli and Kalauli Jattan. The division of land was based on voter counts and the geographical location of the respective Panchayats.

The Court's decision also referenced the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, underscoring the legal framework guiding their judgment.

Date of Decision:12 January 2024

Bachan Singh and others VS The State of Punjab and others