HONOURABLE JUSTICE R.C. LAHOTI & HONOURABLE JUSTICE ASHOK BHAN | Supreme Court of India State of U.P& others v/s LaljiTandon (Dead) Decided On, 03 November 2003

….…the government policy of conversion of lease rights into free hold casts a duty on the administrative authorities to pass orders within a reasonable time, however, as observed in the present case, the authorities failed to act in a reasonable time. Several cases pertaining to grant of free hold arises and are pending in the High Court which reveal a similar story………The authorities are enjoined by the statute concerned to perform their duties within a reasonable time, and as such they are answerable to the Court why such duties have not been performed by them, which has caused injury to claimants. …………on other hand as per the own policy of the State Government even the possession of unauthorized occupants is being legitimized by converting freehold rights in their favour, this according to the counsel for the petitioner, smacks of arbitrariness and thus the stand taken by the State Government against the petitioner is violative of his rights enshrined under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. …………now that the covenant for renewal has been referentially incorporated without any reservation in the lease deed of 1945 the exercise of option for renewal cannot be denied to the respondent.