- (1.) In the year 1979, State of Punjab decided to construct a Dam for storage of water and hydro power generation on the river Ravi near village Thein situated in the territory of Jammu and Kashmir. For the aforesaid purpose, thousands of acres of land situated in the States of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh was acquired. The land of the petitioners, which was in the names of their fathers, was also acquired to the extent of hundred percent.
(2.) The State of Punjab framed a policy for rehabilitation and resettlement of the oustees of the Ranjit Sagar Dam, for which various rehabilitation packages were introduced. One of the rehabilitation measures was to appoint one of the members of family of the landless and affected families according to the qualifications and availability of vacancies on the project. A copy of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Scheme dated 18 th November, 1993 has been annexed as Annexure P-1 with this petition. According to the petitioners, many of the similarly situated oustees of the Dam have already been provided employment as per the aforesaid Scheme. However, the petitioners are being denied the same without any rhyme or reason. The petitioners have further relied upon a judgment of this Court rendered in CWP No.787 of 2008 titled as Dharam Singh and others v. State of Punjab and others , decided on 26 th November, 2009, which has been upheld by a Division Bench in LPA No.1412 of 2009 titled as State of Punjab and others v. Dharam Singh and others decided on 21 st January, 2010 as well as Hon ble the Supreme Court while dismissing SLP (Civil) No.9521 of 2010 on 28 th February, 2011.
(3.) The petitioners have further relied upon a judgment dated 12 th August, 2011 passed in CWP No.14771 of 2011 titled as Ravinder Kumar and others v. State of Punjab and others to contend that the case of the petitioners is fully covered by the aforesaid judgments, and thus, a mandamus has been sought to be issued to direct the respondentauthorities to provide employment to the petitioners as per the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Scheme dated 18 th November, 1993. Issue notice of motion.;