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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 4078-4079 OF 2016 [@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NOS.  37481-37482 OF 2013]

PARSHOTAM LAL & ANR                        Appellant(s)                                 VERSUS

STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS                      Respondent(s) J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. 1. Leave granted.    2. The issue raised in these appeals pertains to the  discretion  exercised  by  the  Revisional/Appellate  Authority with regard to the percentage of forfeiture  on surrender of plots.    3. Having noticed that there is no uniform approach,  this Court, by order dated 01.04.2016, directed the  respondents to get instruction as to why a similar  treatment, as in Annexure P6, be not granted to the  appellants as well.    4. The learned counsel appearing for the respondents  rightly  submits  that  there  cannot  be  a  uniform  standard because the factual position may vary from  case to case and that has a bearing on the percentage

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of the forfeiture.  It is also pointed out that the  entire  exercise  is  carried  out  only  as  per  the  provisions under the Statute.     5. We  have  no  quarrel  with  the  submissions.  However,  having  regard  to  the  peculiar  facts  and  circumstances of these cases, we are of the view that  the interest of justice would be met if a direction  is issued to have a similar treatment, as in Annexure  P6,  to  the  appellants  herein  as  well.   Ordered  accordingly.    6. The  appeals  are,  accordingly,  allowed  with  a  direction that the percentage of forfeiture in the  case of the appellants herein shall be reduced to 2%.    7. We make it clear that the above order is in the  peculiar facts and circumstances of these cases and  may not be treated as a precedent.   

No costs.      .......................J.

             [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ R. BANUMATHI ]  

New Delhi; April 18, 2016.