The petitioners herein, 27 in number, claim to have constructed shops on Panchayat land at the Vegetable Market in the old bus stand of Sultanabad in the year 2001 with their own funds, and to be carrying on petty business thereat. They place reliance on resolution No.23 of the Gram Panchayat wherein it is recorded that the lease, for the 28 shops, expired on 31.03.2006; these shops were sought to be re-auctioned as per the order of the District Panchayat Officer dated 02.12.2008; a notice was issued to the existing leaseholders intimating them that they have to deposit Rs.10,000/-, and pay Rs.15/- per month, as rent; and the lessees had replied that they had constructed their shops with their own funds, and had requested that, since the cost of construction of Rs.11,280/- was incurred by then in the year 2004 and the shops were constructed by them with their own funds, these shops should be allotted to them without insisting on any deposit. It is their case that, when they had constructed shops in the year 2001, Sultanabad was a minor Gram Panchayat, and it is only because the Gram Panchayat did not have any funds available with them that the petitioners were permitted to construct small shops with their own funds, and to carry on business thereat.
