Law: Punjab Enforcement of Womens Property Rights Act, 2021

Section: X,7

Punjab Enforcement of Woman's Property Rights Act (X of 2021)-------S. 7---Complaint to Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) in case proceedings in a Court of law---Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) Punjab---Jurisdiction---Report in terms of S. 7(3) of the Punjab Woman Enforcement of Property Rights Act, 2021 submitted by the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) with the concerned Civil Court, but no response was received, whereafter Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) proceeded to decide the complaint--Petitioners invoked constitutional jurisdiction of the High Court against the decision passed by the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) on the complaint of the private respondents---Contention of the petitioners was that parties to the civil suit(s) were neither impleaded as party to the complaint nor were heard before ordering partition of the property owned by the parties---Validity---Civil Courts where civil suits are pending are required to respond to the report, failing which Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) had to proceed in accordance with the jurisdiction conferred as the exercise of such jurisdiction cannot be stalled or held in abeyance merely because the concerned Court is not responding to the report---However, in the present case, partition of property was ordered by the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) merely because partition proceedings otherwise pending before the Tehsildar, were adjourned sine die, for which the complainants (private respondents) failed to justify that, merely on sait fact, per se jurisdiction was exercisable by the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib)--Further, no discussion was found in the impugned order regarding the scope of civil suit filed by the complainants themselves, which proceedings were still pending--Impugned order passed by the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) was deficient on various counts---High Court set-aside the impugned order and remanded the matter to the Ombudsperson (Mohtasib) to decide the same afresh while observing necessary steps like impleadment of parties in the complaint, issuing notices etc.--Constitutional petition was allowed in circumstances.ORDERASIM HAFEEZ, J.---Order of respondent No.1 is under challenge on inter alia various grounds, primary being the question relating to the scope of…