ZARIN KHAN vs CHAIRMAN, EVACUEE TRUST PROPERTY BOARD, LAHORE Ss — 2025 SCMR 773 SUPREME-COURT

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ZARIN KHAN VS CHAIRMAN, EVACUEE TRUST PROPERTY BOARD, LAHORE Ss.42 & 54---Suit for declaration and injunction---Auction of land---Matching bid of highest bid---No concluded contact vesting interest in property---Appellants/plaintiffs were occupants of suit land who were given option to match the highest bid during auction of suit land---Suit filed by appellants/plaintiffs against respondent/Evacuee Trust Property Board was dismissed by Trial Court but Lower Appellate Court decreed the same against respondent/Board---High Court in exercise of revisional jurisdiction set aside judgment and decree passed by Lower Appellate Court---Validity---Bid at an auction was only an offer and without confirmation or approval it did not create any right in the property in favour of successful bidder---By matching bid of the highest bidder, appellants/plaintiffs merely stepped into their shoes---Status of appellants/plaintiffs upon exercising the option was no different from the highest bidder---Decision was made to re-auction suit land, and there was nothing preventing appellants/plaintiffs from participating in auction---Rejecting of highest bid and order of re-auction had afforded equal opportunity to persons whose bid had been rejected---Principles of natural justice were not deemed to have been violated---Acceptance of highest bid was subject to approval or confirmation by competent authority and unless and until such approval was granted or confirmation was made there was no concluded contract vesting the highest bidder with an interest in the property subjected to auction---Since approval contemplated by terms and conditions of auction was never issued in favour of appellants/plaintiffs, they were not entitled to a declaration to the effect that respondent/ETPB was legally bound to receive remaining amount of the highest bid and vested the appellants/plaintiffs with ownership rights in suit land---Supreme Court declined to interfere in judgment passed by High Court---Appeal was dismissed.

ZARIN KHAN vs CHAIRMAN, EVACUEE TRUST PROPERTY BOARD, LAHORE Ss — 2025 SCMR 773 SUPREME-COURT

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