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2001 DIGILAW 536 (PNJ)

Sharanjit Singh v. State of Punjab

2001-05-14

JAWAHAR LAL GUPTA, N.K.SUD

body2001
JUDGMENT Jawahar Lal Gupta, J. (Oral) - The third respondent filed a petition alleging inter alia that Sharanjit Singh, the present petitioner, had demolished the existing watercourse. He prayed for its restoration. The Divisional Canal Officer, after thorough consideration of the matter, found that there was an existing, watercourse. It had been demolished by the present petitioner. He, therefore, ordered its restoration. Aggrieved by the order, the petitioner filed an appeal before the Superintending Canal Officer. He perused the "file, spot map and other documents ... ... ... and found that the watercourse is depicted as on points A, B, C, D, E and portion A, B is shown to be running at the spot, whereas portion at points B, D & E is found to be dismantled." He further found that watercourse B, C is also running. He came to the conclusion that the watercourse had been demolished and, thus, ordered its restoration. Copies of the orders passed by the two authorities have been produced as Annexures P-4 and P-5. Aggrieved by the orders, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition. He prays that both the orders be quashed. 2. We have heard Mr. Malkeet Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner. He has made a twofold submission. Firstly, it has been contended that the authorities had acted illegally inasmuch as the enquiry was got conducted through the Ziledar and not by the Divisional Canal Officer personally. Secondly, it has been contended that the watercourse which had allegedly been demolished was, in fact, the personal watercourse of the petitioner. He was using it for irrigating his fields with the help of a tubewell that is installed therein. The respondents have erred in holding that the petitioner had actually demolished the watercourse. On these premises, the Counsel maintains that both the orders are liable to be set aside. 3. As for the first contention, it deserves notice that the Divisional Canal Officer had asked for a report from the Ziledar. After receipt of the report he had examined the record and recorded the findings. No prayer was made to the Divisional Canal Officer that he should personally visit the spot or investigate the matter. 3. As for the first contention, it deserves notice that the Divisional Canal Officer had asked for a report from the Ziledar. After receipt of the report he had examined the record and recorded the findings. No prayer was made to the Divisional Canal Officer that he should personally visit the spot or investigate the matter. Still further, even in the appeal filed by the petitioner before the Superintending Canal Officer, it was not contended that the order of the Divisional Canal Officer was vitiated as he had failed to conduct the enquiry personally. Thus, the contention cannot be accepted. 4. Still more, the question as raised is not one of law alone. It is a mixed question of fact and law. The petitioner had to raise it before the authority so that relevant facts could be considered and a finding recorded. Since the issue was not raised before the Divisional Canal Officer or even the Superintending Canal Officer, we cannot permit the petitioner to raise it for the first time in proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution. Even otherwise, nothing has been pointed out to indicate that any prejudice had been caused to the petitioner. The Ziledar had visited the spot and given a report. A copy of the report has not been produced. It has not been suggested that the report was wrong. There is not even a grievance that any prejudice was caused by the action of the respondents in relying upon the report given by the Ziledar. Taking these facts cumulatively into consideration, we find ourselves unable to accept the first contention. 5. Learned Counsel has then contended that the respondent authorities could not have directed the petitioner to restore a water channel which was being used by him to irrigate his own fields with the water from the tubewell. We are unable to accept even this contention. Firstly, the petitioners case before the authorities was that the alleged water channel did not exist. In fact, according to the petitioner, there was only a passage at the spot. This was found to be false. In view of this finding, the claim now sought to be made is that the water channel connected the petitioners field with the tubewell. 6. No Such contention was raised before the authorities under the Act. In fact, according to the petitioner, there was only a passage at the spot. This was found to be false. In view of this finding, the claim now sought to be made is that the water channel connected the petitioners field with the tubewell. 6. No Such contention was raised before the authorities under the Act. It appears that the new plea is being trotted out only to challenge the impugned orders. 7. No other point has been raised. 8. In view of the above, we find no merit in this petition. It is, consequently, dismissed in limine. Petition dismissed.