JUDGEMENT
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(1.) BEING aggrieved by the order dated 15.09.2011
passed by the Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I,
Hanumangarh, this petition for writ is preferred.
By the order aforesaid, the Executive Engineer while
acting upon the Government of Rajasthan order dated
08.08.2011 restored the order that was cancelled under an order dated 28.02.2011.
The factual matrix necessary to be noticed is that the
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I, Hanumangarh
vide order dated 23.11.2010 decided to transfer certain part of
land from Chak 46 LLW-B to Chak 10 TKW. Being aggrieved by
(2)
the same, the petitioner preferred an appeal before the
Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Circle, Hanumangarh
and that appeal came to be disposed of under the judgment
dated 10.12.2010. Learned appellate authority held that the
transfer of land from Chak 46 LLW-B was transferred to Chak 10
TKW without adhering the procedure prescribed to do so and
also without taking into consideration the instructions given by
the State Government in this regard. A direction was accordingly
given to the Executive Engineer to reconsider the entire issue
and pass appropriate order. The Executive Engineer while acting
upon the order passed by the appellate authority cancelled its
earlier order dated 23.11.2010. It appears that subsequent
thereto, the respondents No.4 and 5, whose land was
transferred to Chak 10 TKW approached the State Government
and the State Government instructed the Chief Engineer, Water
Resources (North), Hanumangarh to make necessary
amendments pertaining to transfer of land from Chak 46 LLW-B
to Chak 10 TKW. Acting upon the directions so given, the
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I, Hanumangarh
by the office order dated 15.09.2011 withdrew the order dated
28.02.2011 and restored the order dated 23.11.2010. The argument of learned counsel for the petitioner is
that as per the provisions of the Rajasthan Irrigation and
Drainage Act, 1954 (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'the Act
(3)
of 1954'), the appellate authority, i.e. the Divisional Irrigation
Officer (Superintending Engineer) concerned, has set aside the
order dated 23.11.2010, therefore, the Executive Engineer was
under obligation to examine the merits of the case remanded to
him under the order dated 10.12.2010. It is pointed out that as
per Section 21 of the Act of 1954, any person desiring
construction of new water course may apply in writing to the
Divisional Irrigation Officer stating certain eventualities and to
act upon such application, a definite procedure given under
Section 22, 23 and 24 of the Act of 1954 is required to be
adhered. In the instant case, no such performance was made. It
is asserted by learned counsel for the petitioner that as per the
provisions of the Act of 1954, the order passed by the Divisional
Irrigation Officer is a final order and no further appeal for that is
provided in the statute.
Per contra, the stand of the respondents is that as a
matter of fact, the entire issue regarding transfer of land
concerned from Chak 46 LLW-B to Chak 10 TKW was examined
by the Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I,
Hanumangarh under an order dated 07.06.2006 and the order
dated 23.11.2010 is nothing but a consequent of that, as such,
without giving challenge to the original order dated 07.06.2006,
no challenge could have been given by the petitioner to the
order dated 23.11.2010. It is further pointed out that the
(4)
interference of the State Government in the matter was must in
view of Rule 11 of the Rajasthan Irrigation and Drainage Rules,
1955 (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules of 1955'). The rule aforesaid prescribes that no order relating to change in
shape, size and establishment of any water course shall be made
without having specific orders of the State Government. Looking
to this provision, the Government under the order dated
08.08.2011 granted necessary permission to make adequate changes in water outlets pertaining to the land transferred from
Chak 46 LLW-B to Chak 10 TKW.
Heard learned counsel for the parties and also
examined the record.
It is not at all in dispute that the petitioner by way of
filing an appeal before the Superintending Engineer, Water
Resources Circle, Hanumangarh gave challenge to the order
dated 23.11.2010 as well as the order dated 07.06.2006. The
Superintending Engineer after considering both the orders
arrived at a definite conclusion that before making an order for
transfer of land from Chak 46 LLW-B to Chak 10 TKW, the
procedure prescribed under the relevant law was not adhered.
The appellate authority, thus, remanded the matter to the
Executive Engineer for fresh disposal in accordance with law.
The necessary implication of the order is that neither the order
dated 23.11.2010 nor the order dated 07.06.2006 are in
(5)
existence. The Executive Engineer is required to examine the
entire case of the respondents No.5 and 6 for transfer of land
and water outlets afresh by adhering the procedure prescribed
under the Act of 1954 and the Rules framed thereunder. In view
of this legal position, the order dated 15.09.2011 passed by the
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I, Hanumangarh is
apparently bad. The permission granted by the State
Government is also required to be read only to the extent of
grant of sanction as required under Rule 11 of the Rules of
1955. In view of the discussion made above, this petition
for writ deserves acceptance. Accordingly, the same is allowed.
The order dated 15.09.2011 passed by the Executive Engineer,
Water Resources Division-I, Hanumangarh is quashed. The
Executive Engineer, Water Resources Division-I, Hanumangarh is
directed to act upon the order dated 10.12.2010 passed by the
Superintending Engineer (Divisional Irrigation Officer, Water
Resources Circle, Hanumangarh expeditiously as far as possible
within a period of three months from today.;