P&H HC Gives Haryana 12 Weeks To Decide 20 IMT Rohtak Oustees’ Residential-Plot Claims

The petitioners in 20 connected writ petitions sought residential plots under Haryana’s Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2010, after their land was acquired for setting up IMT Rohtak.

They asserted that they had been found eligible and had deposited 10% of the tentative plot price, but had not received allotments despite the passage of more than 13 years.

The petitioners had issued separate legal notices and agreed that their petitions could be disposed of if the competent authority considered those notices within a fixed period.

The State submitted that the cases were under consideration and that a final decision would be taken within 12 weeks.

The Court did not apply or discuss any specific statutory provision, precedent, or substantive rule governing entitlement to allotment under the R&R Policy.

It exercised its writ jurisdiction under Articles 226/227, invoked in the petitions, to direct the competent authority to consider the petitioners’ representations and pass reasoned decisions; the Court expressly reserved the merits for independent consideration by that authority.

The petitioners accepted time-bound consideration of their legal notices, and the State represented that the matters were under consideration and could be decided within 12 weeks.

In light of those submissions, the Court directed the competent authority to pass a speaking order on each notice within that period. It did not assess eligibility or determine whether any petitioner was entitled to a plot, leaving those questions to the authority’s independent consideration in accordance with law.

If a claim was found meritorious, the authority was to take the necessary action in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible. The Court expressed no opinion on the merits of any claim.