The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh to take suitable action in accordance with law in the matter of consolidation of 6500 acres of land situated in village Nindana (Mohammadpur, Khas, Titari), Tehsil Meham, District Rohtak.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the petitioner for quashing the order dated 28.05.2024 , whereby the act of consolidation of 6500 acres of land situated in village Nindana (Mohammadpur, Khas, Titari), Tehsil Meham, District Rohtak has been allegedly done in violation of the order dated 24.04.2024 passed by respondent No. 2 – Director, Consolidation of Land Holdings and Land Records, Panchkula, Haryana.
After having gone through the record and heard the counsel for the rival parties at length, the attention of the Court was invited to a letter dated 01.07.2022 written by the Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak to the Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh, whereby on the question of certain irregularities, the Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak held that the revocation of consolidation is already rejected by his predecessor on 04.09.2019 and the said order has not been disturbed by this Court.
However, the Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak further finds that individual grievances can be pursued before the Consolidation Officer and with the said observation the detailed report submitted by the Committee vide letter dated 23.06.2022 along with has been forwarded to the Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh for further necessary action.
The counsel for the petitioner has submitted that no action pursuant to the letter dated 01.07.2022 has been taken by respondent No. 1 – Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh.
In view of the above, the Court without commenting upon merits of the Public Interest Litigation, which involves several disputed questions of fact, relegates the petitioner to avail his remedy before the Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh.
On receipt of copy of this order, the Financial Commissioner, Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Haryana, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Chandigarh shall look into the letter dated 01.07.2022 of the Commissioner, Rohtak Division, Rohtak and take suitable action in accordance with law, if not already taken. Let the action be taken by passing a speaking order, if necessary, and communicating the same to the petitioner within a period of 60 days, the High Court directed.