- (1.) Evacuee house No. 80, situate at village Bajuha Kalan, Tehsil Nakodar, District Jullundur, is in occupation of the petitioner. Its reverse price is Rs. 35,000/- . It was put to auction on Sept. 3, 1964, and again on Oct. 7, 1964, but nobody offered any bid. This house was put to auction for the third time on Feb. 23, 1968, and the highest bid offered was that of the petitioner for Rs. 8,000/- . The highest bid offered by the petitioner being inadequate was not approved. The house was put to auction for the fourth time on Nov. 27, 1972, and the highest bid again was that of the petitioner for Rs. 12,000/- . Since the highest bid offered by the petitioner was less than the reserve price it was referred to the Deputy Secretary Rehabilitation-cum-Settlement Commissioner for approval. The Settlement Commissioner inspected the house. Before the Settlement Commissioner could approve the highest bid of the petitioner, Gurdev Singh respondent submitted an application that he was prepared to pay Rs. 20,000/- for the said house and in support of his offer he deposited Rs. 14,400/- as challenge money. The Settlement Commissioner heard the petitioner and Gurdev Singh respondent and by order dated Nov. 1, 1973, (P. 1) approved the highest bid of the petitioner. Gurdev Singh feeling aggrieved by the order P. 1 filed a petition under Section 33 of the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act (hereinafter the Act). The Financial Commissioner (Taxation), who exercised the powers under Section 33 of the Act treated the application under Rule 15 of the Package Deal Rules and by order dated July 29,. 1975, (P. 3) set aside the order P. 1 and further directed that the house be put to auction with the first bid of Gurdev Singh respondent for Rs. 20,000/- . The petitioner has assailed the order P. 3 in the present writ petition.
(2.) The learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the order of the Deputy Secretary Rehabilitation-cum-Settlement Commissioner (P.1) was final under the Package Deal Rules (hereafter the Rules) and could not be assailed under Section 33 of the Act. The argument proceeds that the Financial Commissioner Taxation wrongly treated the petition filed by Gurdev Singh under S. 33 of the Act as one under R. 15 of the Rules. The Secretary of Government, Punjab, Rehabilitation Department, can be best give n award under R. 15 of the Rules and has no jurisdiction to pass an order like P. 3. The order P.3 is, therefore, liable to be quashed. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner must prevail. It is not disputed that the highest bid of Rs. 12,000/- offered by the petitioner was subject to approval by the Settlement Commissioner or an officer appointed by him for the purpose. The relevant part of Rule 5 which deals with the procedure for the sale of Punjab Deal properties by public auction reads :-- "5. Procedure for sale of property by public auction ....... ........ ......... ........... ........ .......... ....... ........... ......... . .......... ......... .......... ......... . The highest bid in respect of which an initial deposit has been made shall be subject to the approval of the Settlement Commissioner or an officer appointed by him for the purpose. Provided that no bid shall be accepted until after the expiry of fifteen days from the date of the auction."
(3.) Rule 9 of the Rules deals with complaints. The relevant part of this rule reads :-- "9. Complaints. Where a person desires that the sale of any property should not be approved under Rule 5(I)(2) or Rule 6(c)(2) or Rule 7 (h) because of any alleged irregularity or fraud in the conduct of the (including the case of a sale by public auction in the notice of the sale) or on the ground of any transferee not being eligible to purchase the land in his occupation at fixed price, he may make an application to that effect to the Settlement Commissioner or any other Officer authorised by him in this behalf, to approve the acceptance of the bid or tender, as the case may be. Provided that every such application for setting aside a sale shall be made :-- (a) to (c) ... .... ... ... ... ... (d) if after consideration of the facts alleged the Officer to whom the application is made is satisfied that any material irregularity or fraud has been committed in the publication or the conduct of the sale, or the transfer, he may withhold approval and make an order that the property be reauctioned or resold by inviting fresh tenders or pass such other order as may be appropriate.";