- (1.) BUREAUCRATIC harassment and blatant disregard of the directions of this Court are what stand out in such bold relief here.
(2.) TO give the factual background, about 55 acres of land owned by the petitioners at Ballabgarh were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act An area of 14 Kanals and 13 Marlas, out of the land acquired was subsequently released from acquisition. This happened several years ago The petitioners being the owners thereof were entitled to its return but this was stalled by the respondents by the return of this land being made conditional upon the petitioners paying external development charges, not merely for the 14 Kanals and 13 Marlas of land which had been released from acquisition but for the entire land acquired i. e. about 55 acres The petitioners paid a sum of Rs. 81,000/- odd (though under protest) towards external development charges which covers such expenses for the said 14 Kanals and 13 Marlas of land but contested their liability to pay such charges of the entire land acquired. The unrelenting stance of the respondents, in this behalf, eventually impelled them to move this Court in writ proceedings to challenge this demand. This matter is now pending before this Court in Civil Writ Petition No. 4739 of 1990
(3.) THE petitioners thereafter moved this Court again in Civil Writ Petition 1934 of 1992 to challenge the refusal of the respondents to hand back the said 14 Kanals and 13 Marlas of the land to them. The Division Bench by its order of July 30, 1992, held that withholding of the 14 Kanals and 13 Marlas of land from their rightful owners was devoid of any legal cover or authority and the condition imposed upon the petitioners for its return namely payment of external development charges for the entire land was quashed. The respondents were consequently directed to return the land to the petitioners forthwith. It is non compliance of this direction that led to the filing of the present petition under the Contempt of Courts Act against Mrs. Surina Rajan and Shri Manik Sonawana, the Administrator and the Chief Administrator respectively to the Haryana Urban Development Authority.;