Jagdish Prasad Ranakoti vs State Of Uttarakhand And Another

Alok Kumar Verma, J

The petitioner, aged about 66 years, has filed the present Writ Petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India with the following prayers:-

“(i) Issue an order or direction, directing the learned Assistant Record Officer, Rishikesh, District Dehradun/ Court of Assistant Collector – Ist Class, Rishikesh, District Dehradun to decide and conclude the proceedings of the Case No.28/2023-24 (old Case No.174/2018-19), “Jagdish Prasad Ranakoti vs. Gram Sabha”, (Annexure No.5 to this Writ Petition) as expeditiously as possible, or within the time granted by this Hon’ble Court, which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the light of facts and circumstances of the present case.

(ii) Pass such other or further order in favour of the petitioner, which this Hon’ble Court may deem, fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

(iii) Award the cost of writ petition in favor of petitioner.”

Heard Mr. Sagar Kothari, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Suyash Pant, learned Standing Counsel and Mr. Yogesh Chandra Tiwari, learned Standing Counsel for the State and Ms. Pooja Yadav, learned counsel holding brief of Ms. Anjali Bhargava, learned counsel for the respondent no.2, Gram Sabha.

On 18.04.2022, the Coordinate Bench of this Court directed the Record Officer/ Assistant Record Officer to decide the Case No.174 of 2018-2019, “Jagdish Prasad Ranakoti vs. Gram Sabha”, preferred under Section 54 of the U.P. Land Revenue Act, 1901, as expeditiously as possible, but not later than two months from the date of production of certified copy of the order. The said case is still pending.

In the facts and circumstances of this case, the present writ petition is decided with a direction to the Record Officer/ Assistant Record Officer to decide the Case No.28 of 2023-2024 (old Case No.174 of 2018-2019), “Jagdish Prasad Ranakoti vs. Gram Sabha” expeditiously, but not later than two months from the date of receipt of the certified copy of this order.

It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merit of the case.