Khushpal Singh v. State of Punjab and Ors

o o 2023:PHHC:071103o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 891o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o ooooCWP-3140-2015o o Dateoofodecision:o05.05.2023o o KHUSHPALoSINGHo o o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSooo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:-oo Mr.oKanwaljeetoSinghoDerabassi,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o Ms.oNiharikaoSharma,oAAG.oPunjab.o o o o o o *****oo o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o o TheoinstantopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoArticleso226/227oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndiaoforotheoissuanceoofoaowritoinotheonatureoofoCertiorarioando settingoasideoofotheoorderodatedo15.10.2014o(AnnexureoP-11)owherebyotheo auctionoofolandoinofavouroofotheopetitionerohadobeenocancelledoafteroaoperiodo ofonearlyo16oyears.oo

2.o o LearnedoCounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitionerocontendso thatotheorespondentoNo.o3oi.e.otheoDepartmentoofooU.B.D.C.oAmritsaroCircle,o Amritsarohadoissuedo publico noticeo inotheo leadingonewspaperso foroinvitingo biddersoforotheoexcessolandsowithotheoIrrigationoDepartment.oTheoreservedo pricesoasowelloasootherotermso&oconditionsoofotheolandowereodulyomentionedo inotheoauctiononotice.oTheoauctionowasotoobeoheldoono25.06.1998oandoasopero o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -2-o o theo saidonotice,o lando measuringo 1.02o acreo atovillageo Gaggarbhana,o Tehsilo BabaoBakala,oDistrictoAmritsarowasoalsooputoupoforoauction.oTheopetitionero participatedoinotheoaforesaidoauctionoproceedingsoheldoono25.06.1998oando waso theo highesto biddero foro theo aboveo parcelo ofo lando ato ao priceo ofo Rs.o

2.56,000/-operoacre.oAsoperotermso&oconditionsoofoauction,o10%oofotheobido amountowasorequiredotoobeodepositedoatotheospotowhileotheoremainingoamounto couldobeooptedotoobeodepositedobyotheoauctionobidderoinofouroinstallments.o Theopaymentomoduleoofotheobidoamountowasoasounder:o o o o 24.7.1998oo o theoauctionoamountowitho10%o o o o o 24.7.1999oo o 15%oofoauctionoamountowithointerest.o o o o 24.7.2000o o 15%oofoauctionoamountowithointerest.o o o o 24.7.2001o o Sameoasoaboveo o o o o o o 24.7.2002oo o Sameoasoabove.oo

3.o o Heocontendsothatoinsteadoofotheoaforesaidomodule,otheopetitionero paidotheoamountoasounder:o o o o 24.07.1998ooo 15%oofotheoauctionoamountowithoo o o o o o o interest.o o o o 18.09.1998o o 15%owithointerestowereodeposited.o o o o 22.06.2000o o Sameoasoabove.o o o o 14.07.2001o o Sameoasoabove.oo o

4.o o Itoisosubmittedothatotheolastoinstallmentowasodepositedobyotheo petitioneroalbeitoafterosomeodelay.oItoisoaverredothatotheopetitionerohadothuso depositedoanoamountoofoRs.2,76,421/-oowhichosuchofactsostandoverifiedobyotheo respondentsoino theiroownointer-departmentalo communicationoaso well.o Itoiso averredo thato theo petitionero haso beeno diligentlyo pursuingo theo respondent-authoritieso foro registrationo ofo theo saleo deedo ino hiso favour,o however,o notwithstandingo thato theo respondentso acknowledgedo theo receipto ofo theo o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -3-o o aforesaido amount,o however,o theo auctiono ino favouro ofo theo petitionero waso cancelledo video lettero bearingo Memoo No.o 7256/79-R/1o datedo 15.10.2014o wherebyo ito waso communicatedo too theo petitionero thato theo bido ino questiono whichowasoinofavouroofotheopetitionerohasobeenocancelledoonoaccountoofotheo petitioneronotodepositingotheoinstallmentsoonotime.oAggrievedothereof,otheo presentopetitionohasobeenofiled.ooo

5.o o Pursuantotootheonoticeobeingoissued,otheorespondentsofiledotheiro replyo whereino theyo acknowledgedo thato theo auctiono proceedingso wereo undertakenobyotheorespondentoandothatoinotheobiddingoprocess,ootheopetitionero wasotheohighestobidderoforotheoaforesaidolandomeasuringo1.02oacres.oTheyo furthero acknowledgedo thato ao sumo ofo Rs.o 2,76,420/-o hado alreadyo beeno depositedobyotheopetitioner.oHowever,osinceotheopetitionerowasoinodefault,otheo sameohasobeenoforfeitedobyotheodepartmentoinoaccordanceowithotheoRulesoando thatosuchoactionoofotheoGovernmentoisofullyojustified.ooTheorespondentsoino theiro replyo haso giveno theo detailso ofo theo followingo amounto thato hado beeno deposited:o o o 1.o Totaloamountodueooo o o o261120.00o o o 2.oo 10%oamountodepositedoatotheoo o o26112.00o o o o EndoofoauctionovideoreceiptoNo.o o o o 75/37266odatedo24.07.1998o o o o 3.oo 25%oamountodepositedovideoo o 65308.00o o o o ReceiptoNo.o03/40344odatedo18.09.1998o o o o Withino60odays.oo o o o o o o Totaloamountodepositedo o o o91420.00o o o o Balanceoamountowasotoobeodepositedo o169700.00o o

6.o o Theorespondentsohaveofurtheroaverredoasounder:o o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -4-o o o o "Aso pero termso ando conditionso ofo auctiono noticeo balanceoamountowasotoobeodepositedoinooneolotooroalongowitho 15%o interesto annuallyo withino fouro annualo installment.o 1sto Installmentowasodueoono24.09.1999,o2ndowasodueoono24.09.2000,o 3rdoinstallmentowasodueoono24.09.2001oandoFourthoInstallmento waso dueo ono 24.09.2002.o Petitionero submittedo affidavito (Agreement)oono21.09.1998o(PhotoocopyoattachedoasoAnnexureo R-1)oinowhichoheocommittedothatoifoIowillonotodepositotheobalanceo amountothenoamountoalreadyodepositedomayobeoforfeited.o o PetitionerodidonotodepositotheoIstoinstallmentoonodueodateo sootheopetitionerowasodefaulter.oDueotoononocomplianceoofotermso andoconditionsoofobidotheoAmountodepositobyobidderowithotheo Executiveo Engineero Jandialao Divisiono UBDCo Amritsaro No.o 1177/79-R/o 1o Datedo 17-04-2000o waso forfeitedo (photoo copyo Attached/R-2o Petitionero gaveo hiso applicationo ono 08.05.2000o alongo witho affidavito thato dueo too someo bado circumstanceso heo couldonotodepositotheoamountoandobutodepartmentoalreadyorelaxo orogivenochanceotootheopetitioner/bidderoheomayobeoallowedotoo deposito theo amounto byo Superintendingo Engineer,o Uppero Bario Doabo Canalo Circle,o Amritsaro video hiso lettero No.o 3988/4-Mo Datedo 12.06.2000o (Copyo attachedo aso Annexure-R-3)o allowedo thatobalanceoamountoalongowithointerestomayobeodepositedoino oneolotobutotheopetitioneroagainofailedotoodepositotheoamount."o Petitionerodepositotheoamountoasoperodetailsogivenobelow:o Sr.oNo.o DueoDateoofo Dateo ono Amounto Receipto Installmento whicho theo depositedo No.o &o amounto Date.o deposito byo theobidder.o 1o 24.09.1999o Noto o o depositedo

24.09.2000o2o 28.06.2000o 145000o Receipto o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -5-o o No.o 97/39268o Datedo

28.06.2000o

24.09.2000o3o 14.07.2000o 4000o Receipto No.o 01o Datedo

14.07.2000o o Rs.39428/-owasobalanceoamountotoobeodepositedobutotheobiddero dido noto deposito theo saido amount.o Soo theo biddero waso againdo defaulter.o Shrio Khuspalo Singho gaveo ano applicationo ono

17.02.2003o(PhotoocopyoattachedoasoAnnexure-R-4)oinowhichoheo requestedo thato heo couldo noto deposito theo amounto aso heo waso InvolvedoinoCriminaloCaseoandoheomayobeoallowedotoodepositotheo amount.oAfterothatoheoneveroapproachedoconcernedoExecutiveo Engineer."o

7.o o Ito iso thuso averredo ino theo responseo thato theo petitionero himselfo acknowledgedo non-paymento ofo theo amounto ono accounto ofo personalo exigenciesoandounavoidableocircumstances.ooHence,othereowasonoolapseoonotheo partoofotheorespondent-departmentoandothatotheocaseoofotheopetitionerowasoalsoo forwardedotooSuperintendingoEngineeroforoaccordingosanctionotooexecuteotheo saleodeedoinofavouroofotheopetitioner.oHowever,otheoSuperintendingoEngineeroo notobeingotheocompetentoauthorityotooaccordosanction,oforwardedotheocaseotoo theo competento authorityo i.e.o theo Secretaryo too Punjabo Government,o DepartmentoofoIrrigation,oChandigarh.oTheosaidoauthorityohadonotoapprovedo ofoexecutionoofotheosaleodeed.oAccordingly,otheoorderoofocancellationoofotheo bidoandoforfeitureoofotheoamountoalreadyodepositedohadobeenorightlyopassed.oo

8.o o LearnedoCounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitionerocontendso thatotheostandoofotheorespondentsoisodishonestoandothatotheorespondentsowanto o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -6-o o toocauseoprejudiceotootheopetitionerobyonotodisplayingotheocorrectopicture.oHeo refersotootheodocumentoAnnexureooP-8otoocontendothatotheocommunicationoofo theo respondent-authoritieso itselfo showso thato theo petitionero hado earliero depositedoaosumoofoRs.2,76,420/-.oHeowasoconveyedobyotheoDepartmentotoo deposito ano amounto ofo Rs.39,428/-o ono 14.07.2000.o However,o ao sumo ofooooooooooooooooo Rs.o86,700/-owasothereafterodepositedobyotheopetitioneroono09.02.2011.oAftero receiptoofotheoaforesaidoamount,otheoExecutiveoEngineerohadorecommendedo thato theo entireo amounto haso alreadyo beeno depositedo ando theo saleo deedo iso requiredo too beo registeredo ino hiso favour.o Theo relevanto extracto ofo theo saido communicationoreadsothus:o o "Aso pero theo termso ando conditionso ofo theo auction,o theo successfulobidderowasorequiredotoodeposito10%oatotheotimeoofo auctionooutoofotheototalobidoamountoando25/%oamountoofototalo bido amounto withino ao periodo ofo 60o dayso ando theo remainingo amountoeitheroinooneogoooroino4oequaloinstallmentsoalongowitho 15%ointerest.oTheototalolandoconcerningothisocaseoiso1.02oacreo ando theo highesto biddero ofo thiso auctionedo lando waso Khushpalo SinghosonoofoShrioHarminderoSingh,oresidentoofoKothioNo.o51,o MalloMandi,obackosideodentalocollege,onearoAjitoPublicoSchool,o AmritsaroandoheohadoofferedotheohighestobidoofoRs.o256000/-pero acreoandothusototaloamountoofothisobidocomesotooRs.o261120.oSoo asoperotheotermsoandoconditionsoofotheoauction,othisobidderohado depositedo10%ooutoofotheototalobidoamountoi.e.oRs.o26112/-oaftero theo bido waso finalizedo ando 25%o amounto ofo theo bido i.e.o Rs.o 65308.00owasodepositedobyohimowithinoaoperiodoofo60odays.oThiso bidderowasorequiredotoodepositohisofirstoinstallmentoono22.9.1999o buto heo dido noto deposito thiso firsto installment.o Thereaftero thiso bidderodepositedoRs.o145000/-ovideoreceiptoNumbero97/39268o datedo 28.6.2000,o ando video receipto No.o 01/39268o datedo

14.7.2000o depositedo ano amounto ofo Rs.o 40000/-o Thus,o heo o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -7-o o depositedototaloamountoofoRs.o276420/-owhichowasomoreothano theoprincipaloamountoofotheobidoi.e.o261120/-oNowothisobiddero wasorequiredotoodepositoanoamountoofoRs.o39428/-obyo14.7.2000o butoonodatedo9.2.2011oheosubmittedoanoapplicationotootheoeffecto thato hiso householdo circumstanceso areo noto favourableo soo heo couldo noto deposito theo amounto ando nowo theo sameo mayo beo deposited.oSookeepingoinoviewotheoapplicationoofothisobidder,otheo thenoExecutiveoEngineerohadogotodepositedofromohimoanoamounto ofo86700/-.oNowoasoperotheoopinionoofothisoofficeotheosaleodeedoiso requiredotoobeoregistered.oThusotheodescriptionoofotheoamounto depositedobyothisobidderoandotheoreceiptothereofocopyoofoauctiono notice,oJamabandi,oSiteoplanoandocopyoofotheocuttingoofotheonewso papero areo beingo forwardedo witho ao requesto thato approvalo beo giveno foro gettingo theo saleo deedo registeredo ino favouro ofo theo bidder.oTheoapprovaloinorespectoofotheobidoofferedobyotheobiddero waso giveno byo youro officeo video lettero No.o 6596/4-Lo datedoooooooooooooooo

25.08.1998."o

9.oo o Counseloforotheopetitionerofurtherocontendsothatoasoaomatteroofo facto theo delayo ino deposito ofo theo aforesaido amounto occuredo sinceo theo respondentoauthoritiesodidonotocommunicateotheointerestotootheopetitioner.oHeo continuedotoovisitotheoofficeoofotheorespondentsoforobeingoinformedoaboutotheo interestoandothatoasoandowhenotheyocommunicatedotheoamountooverdue,oheo depositedotheosameowithoutoanyofurtherodelay.oHeocontendsothatotheosaidofacto wasodulyoenquiredointoobyotheoauthoritiesoandoaochargesheetowasoissuedotootheo thenoExecutiveoEngineerovideoletterodatedo15.05.2013ounderoRuleo8oofotheo Punjabo Civilo Serviceso (Punishmento &o Appeal)o Rules,o 1970.o Theo chargeo againstohimowasotootheoeffectothatotheodepositoofotheoamountoinoquestionowaso acceptedobyotheosaidoExecutiveoEngineerowithoutoanyogovernmentoapproval.o HeocontendsothatoduringotheodepartmentaloenquiryoagainstotheothenoExecutiveo Engineer,otheochargeoagainstotheoofficerowasodroppedoandonotoestablished.oVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -8-o o Theo Enquiryo Officero rathero recordedo ao findingo thato theo amounto waso goto depositedobyotheoExecutiveoEngineerotoosafeguardotheointerestoofotheoStateo Governmentoandotooavoidoanyofinancialoloss.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheoordero passedobyotheocompetentoauthorityoi.e.otheoAdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotootheo GovernmentoofoPunjab,oDepartmentoofoIrrigation,oreadsothus:o o That,o Sh.o Ashwanio Kumaro Sharma,o Executiveo Engineero (noworetired)oagainstowhomochargeosheetohadobeenosubmittedoaso peroGovt.oLetterono.o19/26/2015-1oSiproo(1)/486620/1-3,odatedo

15.05.2013accordingo too theo Ruleo 8o Punjabo Civilo Serviceso (Punishmento ando appeal).o Ruleso 1970.o Theo allegationo ino theo chargeosheetowereoplacedoasofollows:o

1.o"Ono24/05/2011,otheobidderoforo1.02oacresoofoadditionalo lando ofo villageo Gagarbharha,o whicho waso soldo througho openoauctionoono24.07.1998oconductedobyoyou,oagainsto theoconditionsoofotheobid,oamountoofoRs.86700/-oDepositedo withoutoGovt.oapproval.o

2.oNegligentoonotheopartoofoduty."o

2.o Aso pero Mr.o Ashwanio Kumaro Sharma,o Executiveo Engineero (Noworetired).oAnsweringotheoallegationsolevelledoagainstohimoino thisochargeosheetovideohisoletteroNo.o3985/UOodatedo28.08.2015,o bothotheseoareodenied.oAndoaocomment/reportowasosoughtofromo theo Chiefo Engineer,o Canals,o Irrigationo Department,o Punjab,o Chandigarh.o

3.oThatoChiefoEngineeroCanals,oIrrigationoDepartment,oPunjab,o Chandigarho video hiso lettero No.o 5293/6o EE,o commento reporto regardingothisocaseowasosentoono27.11.2015.oAfteroconsideringo theocommentoreportosentobyotheoChiefoEngineeroCanals,omarkotoo Mr.o MSo Rattu,o Additionalo Districto ando Sessionso Judgeo (Retd.)appointedo aso investigatingo officero video Government'so o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -9-o o letteroNo:o787489/1,odatedo01.07.2016oforoconductingoregularo investigationoofothisocase.o

4.o Thato theo inquiryo officero video hiso lettero datedo 03.02.2017o submittingohisodetailedoinquiryoreport,otheoallegationsolevelledo againstoMr.oAshwanioKumaroSharma,oExecutiveoEngineero(nowo retd.)owereonotosubstantiated.oTheooperativeopartoofotheoinquiryo reportosubmittedobyotheoInquiryoOfficeroisoasofollows:-o o "TheoallegationsoleveledoagainstotheoC.O.oareothato heoallowedotoodepositoRs.o86,700/-oInofactotheohistoryoofo theocaseoisothatobidderoaskoagainoandoagainotooInformohimo abouto theo interest.o Ito iso revealedo thato Governmento departmento failedo too calculateo theo interesto foro 9o years.o ThisoamountowasogotodepositedobyotheoC.O./oasoaointeresto showsothatoheoactedoinogoodofaithotoohelpotheoDepartmento tooavoidofinancialoloss.oHeohasonotoextendedoanyotimeotoo theobidderooroviolatedoanyoofotheoconditionolaidodownoato theotimeoofoauction.o Inoviewoofotheofactsostatedoaboveocoupleowithotheoevidenceoando documentoplacedoonorecordobyotheoP.O.oandoCO.oTheochargeso leveledoagainstoC.O.oareonotoproved.o o Thato theo saido position,o aftero carefullyo consideringo theo recordsoavailableoinotheocaseoandotheorecordsopresentedobyotheo investigatingo officer,o Mr.o Ashwanio Kumaro Sharma,o Executiveo Engineero (nowo Writso too Punjabo CiviloServiceso (Sentenceoando Appeal),o theo charge,o sheeto issuedo undero theo Rules,o 1976o iso enteredoinotheooffice.o o Thiso Lettero iso issuedo aftero theo approvalo ofo competento authority.oo Dated,oChandigarho06oMarcho2017o o o o o o o o o o o o K.oB.oS.oSidhu,oIASo o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -10-o o

10.o o Ito iso thuso arguedo byo theo counselo foro theo petitionero thato theo respondent-authoritiesohaveotakenoaostandothatotheoacceptanceoofotheoamounto inoquestionobyotheoExecutiveoEngineerowasowithoutoanyoauthorityowhereaso theochargeoagainstotheosaidoofficeroalreadyostandsodropped.oHeothusocontendso thatotheopetitionerohadodepositedotheoentireooverdueoamountoalongwithotheo interestoasoinformedotoohimobyotheorespondent-departmentowayobackoinotheo yearo2011oandothatotheoorderoofocancellationoofotheobidowasoinotheoyearo2014o whenothereowasonoooutstanding/overdueoamountoquaotheosaidoland.oo

11.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheorespondent-State,o however,ocontendsothatotheoamountohavingonotobeenodepositedowelloinotimeo andotheirobeingoaodelayoinotheopaymentoofotheoinstallments,otheopetitionero himselfowasoinobreachoofotermsoandoconditionsoofotheoauction.oHeothusoisonoto entitledotooclaimoexecutionoofoanyosaleodeed.oTheorespondent-Departmentohaso thusorightlyotakenoanoactionoasoperotheotermsoandoconditionsoandohasodirectedo forfeitureoofotheomoneyoalreadyodepositedobyohimoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oo

12.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwitho theopresentopetition.oo

13.o o Twoocrucialodocumentsothatoareonotodisputedobyotheorespondentso areo Annexureo P-8o i.e.o theo Communicationo bearingo Memoo No.o 282o datedo

22.03.2012owhichowasosentobyotheoExecutiveoEngineer,oJandiala,oDivisiono UBDN,o Amritsaro aso wello aso theo ordero Annexureo P-12o datedo 06.03.2017o passedo byo theo o Additionalo Chiefo Secretary,o Governmento ofo Punjab,o Departmento ofo Irrigation.o Ao readingo ofo theo aforesaido documentso clearlyo showso thato notwithstandingo ao delayo byo theo petitionero ino depositingo theo o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -11-o o amountoofotheobidomoney,oheohadodepositedotheoamountoasointimatedotoohimo byotheodepartmentoalongwithointerest.oTheocommunicationoofotheointerestowaso delayedobyotheorespondentothemselves,osuchofactooisodulyoreflectedofromotheo communicationo o Annexureo P-12.o Theo defenceo takeno byo theo Executiveo Engineero foro acceptingo theo amounto ofo Rs.o 86,700/-o aso againsto theo communicationo ofo Rs.39,000/-o ino theo yearo 2000o alongwitho interesto foro delayedo paymento waso acceptedo byo theo Department.o Theo officero himselfo communicatingo thato theo departmento dido noto communicateo theo interesto payableobyotheopetitioneroforoaoperiodoofonearlyo09oyearsoandothatoheohado acceptedo theo amounto ino theo yearo 2011o too mitigateo theo losseso ofo theo Governmentoandotooovercomeotheodelay/lapseoofotheorespondent-departmento itselfo havingobeeno acceptedo toobeo aovalido defense,oliabilityo foro aodelayedo depositoofotheosaidoamountocannotothereafterobeofastenedoonotheopetitioner-theo landoowner.oItowouldobeotravestyoofojusticeoinocaseotheorespondentoauthoritieso areo permittedo too contendo thato eveno thougho theyo mayo beo ato lapseo ino communicatingo theo outstandingo amounto too theo petitioner,o however,o theo responsibilityoforodelayedodepositotheosaidoamountomustostillobeoborneobyotheo bidderohimself.oTheocontemporaneousointernalodepartmentodocumentsoreflecto thato theo respondentso hado acceptedo theo delayo ino deposito too beo attributableo againsto theo department.o Theo acceptanceoofotheobalanceosaleoconsiderationo withointerestoinotheoyearo2011ogaveoriseotooanoexpectationoforotheopetitionero andocreationoofoaorightotooseekoregistrationoofotheosaleodeed.ooooo

14.o o Itoisoalsoonoticedothatotheoaboveosaidoamountohadobeenodepositedo wayobackoinoFebruary,o2011,ohowever,otheoorderooforepudiation/forfeitureo wasopassedobyotheorespondent-authoritiesoino2014owhenotheoentireoamountoino o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -12-o o questiono hado alreadyo beeno depositedo byo theo petitionero aso pero theo communicationosentobyotheorespondent-authoritiesocouldonotohaveothereaftero unilaterallyowithdrawnoandotakenoaodecisionotootheocontraryoandotoodefeatotheo righto thato stoodo accruedo ino favouro ofo theo petitioner.o Theo actiono ofo theo respondent-authoritiesothusosuffersofromolackoofotransparency,oreasoningoando merit.o Theo authoritieso havingo acceptedo theo explanationo puto fortho byo theo ExecutiveoEngineeroandodroppedotheodisciplinaryoproceedingoagainstohimoandoo wantingotoofastenotheoresponsibilityo&oliabilityoforoaodelayedodepositoonotheo petitioner,osuchoanoactoofotheorespondent-authoritiesocannotobeoupheld.oo

15.o o Theopetitionerobeingoaofarmerocannotobeopresumedotoobeovestedo withotheosameobargainingopowerooroawareoofotheofunctioningohierarchyoofotheo department.oTheodepartmentohadoalreadyodeliveredopossessionoofotheolandotoo theopetitioneroandoheohasobeenoinocontinuousoandoinoexclusiveoenjoymentoofo theosame.oTheodepartmentocannotoclaimothatoitohasosufferedoaoprejudiceobyoao delayedodepositoofotheoamountoespeciallyowhenotheoentireoamountoalongwitho interestowasodemandedo&odeposited.oTheolandownerotooocanobeopresumedotoo haveoexercisedoanooptionoinopurchasingosomeootherolandobutoforotheoassuranceo ofotheodepartment.oItocannotobeosaidotoobeoaocaseoofoconcessionaloallotmento&o isoratheroaobidopriceo&ohighestopriceoonotheosaidodate.oAomereodelayoinodeposito ofotheoentireosaleoconsiderationomayonotothusobeosufficientotoorepudiateotheo agreementoamongstotheoparties.oTheounderlyingointentoofotheopartiesobeingotoo alienateotheolandoinofavouroofotheopetitioner,otheosameoneedsotoobeogivenodueo weightage.oTheorespondentsothusoacknowledgedotheorightoofotheopetitionerotoo theolandoinoacceptingotheomoneyoandoneveroseekingoanyoenforcementoofoanyo breach.ooTheoimpugnedoorderodirectingocancellationoofotheobidoinofavouroofo o CWP-3140-2015o o o o o o o o o -13-o o theopetitionero(AnnexureoP-11)odatedo15.10.2014oisoaccordinglyosetoaside.o Theorespondents-authoritiesoareodirectedotooexecuteotheosaleodeedoinotermsoofo theoauctiononoticeoinofavouroofotheopetitionerowithinoaoperiodoofo03omonthso fromotheodateooforeceiptoofocertifiedocopyoofothisoorder.oo o o Theopetitionoisoallowed.oo o o o oo o o o o o oooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo MAYo05,o2023o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o ooooooWhetheroReportableo ooooooo:o oooooooYes/Noo