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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.1231 OF 2017

[ARISING FROM SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.18817 OF 2013]

STATE OF U.P.                             APPELLANT(S)                                 VERSUS

AYODHYA PRASAD PAL & ORS. RESPONDENT(S) J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. Leave granted.   

2. Heard the counsel on both the sides. 3. The State of U.P. is aggrieved, since it did not get  an  opportunity  before  the  High  Court  to  file their counter affidavit and argue their case. 4. On going through the judgment, it is seen that the  State  was  impleaded  only  for  the  sake  of completing the procedural formality at the time of passing the final order.  However, certain directions were issued to the State in the impugned order. 5. In the nature of order we propose to pass, it may not be proper for us to go into the merits, since we intend to remit the matter to the High Court. 6. The  impugned  order  is  hence  set  aside,  the appellant  herein  is  impleaded  as  additional respondent before the High Court.  The appellant is given  a  period  of  one  month  to  file  counter affidavit,  if  any,  before  the  High  Court  and  two weeks thereafter for the writ petitioner to file the rejoinder affidavit, if any. 7. Thereafter, we request the High Court to dispose of the matter on merits.

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8. The  appeal  is  allowed  to  the  extent  indicated above. 9. Pending  application(s),  if  any,  shall  stand disposed of. 10. There shall be no orders as to costs.

.......................J.               [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

.......................J.               [A.M. KHANWILKAR]  

NEW DELHI; JANUARY 30, 2017.

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