Karnataka High Court
Smt Marlingamma vs State Of Karnataka on 27 January, 2025
-1- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO. 13917 OF 2008 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. MARILINGAMMA AGED ABOUT 80 YEARS W/O. LATE LINGAIAH 2. SRI. PUTTARAJAIAH .L AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS S/O. LATE LINGAIAH DEAD REP. BY HIS LRS 2a SMT. MUNIRATHNA W/O. LATE PUTTARAJAIAH.L AGED 50 YEARS 2b. MAHENDRA S/O. LATE PUTTARAJAIAH.L AGED 27 YEARS, VN BOTH ARE RESIDING AT: BADIGER NO.12, GROUND FLOOR, 3RD MAIN, CHAMUNDESHWARI LAYOUT, VIDYARANAPURA POST, Digitally BENGALURU- 560 097. signed by V N BADIGER Date: 3. SRI. PUTTASWAMY .L 2025.01.29 AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS 15:13:13 +0530 S/O. LATE LINGAIAH 4. SRI. NARAYANA .L AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS S/O. LATE LINGAIAH 5. SRI. KAMALAMMA .L AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS -2- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 D/O. LATE LINGAIAH 6. SRI. SHIVALINGAIAH .L AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS S/O. LATE LINGAIAH 7. SRI. L. RAVIKUMAR AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS S/O. LATE LINGAIAH ALL ARE R/AT NO 296, 1ST BLOCK, 3RD MAIN ROAD, PEENYA, BANGALORE-58. ... PETITIONERS (BY SRI. K.N.PHANIDRA, SR. COUNSEL FOR SRI. B. RAMESH, ADVOCATE FOR P1, P2(A&B), P3 TO P7) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, VIDHANA SOUDHA, DR. B. R. AMBEDAKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT, BENGALURU. 3. THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER PODIUM BLOCK VISHWESHWARAIAH TOWERS, BENGALURU. 4. RAILWAYMEN'S HOUSE BUILDING CO-OPERATIVE SOCEITY LTD., A SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT HAVING THEIR OFFICE AT SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY INSTITUTE BUILDING -3- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 M.G. RAILWAY COLONY, BENGALURU - 560023. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 5. SRI. B. S. LAKSHMAPPA S/O. H. SANJEEVAPPA, AGED YEARS BUILDING CONTRACTOR S N ESTATE, GOKULA EXTENSION, BANGALORE-560054. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. GURUSWAMY, AGA FOR R1 TO R3; SRI. SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE FOR R4; R5 - DELETED) ------ THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR SUCH OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDERS OR DIRECTIONS, QUASHING THE NOTIFICATION BEARING NO.LAQ(1) SR10/88-89 DATED 05.08.1988 PUBLISHED IN THE KARNATAKA GAZETTE DATED 25.08.1988 I.E., ANNEXURE-'C' AND THE FINAL NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 6(1) OF THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT BEARING NO.RD 170 AQB 84 (3) DATED 31.08.1989 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE DATED 31.08.1989 I.E., ANNEXURE-'G', INCLUDING THE NOTIFICATION ISSUED UNDER SECTION 16(2) OF THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT DATED 30.04.1999 PUBLISHED IN THE KARNATAKA GAZETEE DATED 06.05.1999 I.E., ANNEXURE-'Q' AND THE OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM DATED 23.07.1999 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.3 AT ANNEXURE-'Q-1' AND ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS THEREON IN SO FAR AS IT RELATES TO THE LAND IN SY.NO.1062/2 OF MALLTHAHALLI VILLAGE I.E., THE SCHEDULE PROPERTY AND TO DECLARE THAT, THE ACQUISITION PROCEEDINGS INITIATED IN RESPECT OF THE PROPERTY BEARING SY NO.106 MEASURING TO AN EXTENT OF 3-00 ACRES SITUATED AT MALLATHAHALLI VILLAGE, YESHWANTHPUR HOBLI, BENGALURU NORTH TALUK PURSUANT TO THE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION DATED 25.08.1988 AND FINAL NOTIFICATION DATED 31.08.1999 IS LAPSED IN VIEW OF THE SECTION 24(2) OF THE RIGHT TO FAIR COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT ACT 2013. -4- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 THIS WRIT PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED ON 13.01.2021 COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDER THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH The petitioners are assailing the notification dated 05.08.1988 (Annexure-C), Final Notification dated 31.08.1989 (Annexure-G) and notification dated 30.04.1999 (Annexure-Q) published in the Karnataka Gazette dated 06.05.1999 and Official Memorandum dated 23.07.1999 (Annexure-Q1) and sought for quashing of all further proceedings in respect of the subject land interalia to declare that acquisition proceedings being lapsed in view of Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (for short, Act, 2013). 2. It is the case of the petitioners that, the petitioners are the absolute owners in possession of the land bearing Sy. No.106/2, measuring 03 acres, -5- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 situate at Mallathahalli village, Yashwanthpur Bangalore North Taluk. It is stated that, the petitioners are having a factory named as "Navarathna Granites", and a portion of the land is being cultivated in the schedule property. It is stated in the petition that, husband of the petitioner No.1 and father of the petitioner Nos.2 to 7-late Lingaiah, had purchased the schedule property as per registered Sale Deed dated 12.11.1984 (Annexure-B) and thereafter, the revenue records transferred into the name of the father of the petitioner Nos.2 to 7. The petitioners have produced the RTC extracts and tax paid receipts as per Annexure-B series. When the things stood thus, the respondent-authorities have issued Preliminary Notification dated 04.08.1988 (Annexure-C) under Section 4(1) of Land Acquisition Act, and Final Notification dated 31.08.1989 (Annexure-D) under Section 6(1) of Land Acquisition -6- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 Act, proposing to acquire four items of the land in favour of the respondent No.4-Society. It is stated that, land bearing Sy.No.106 of Mallathahalli village, which is a subject land in this writ petition belonging to the petitioners and it is a part of the said land is sought to be acquired by the respondent authorities as per impugned notifications. It is stated in the petition that, the respondent No.4-Society has indulged in real estate business involving middlemen to grab the land and also have agreement with the private contractors and other unscrupulous persons to acquire the land property illegally. It is stated in the writ petition that, certain criminal cases have been filed against the office bearers of the respondent No.4-Society, as per Annexure-G1 and also it is reflected in G.V.K. Rao Committee report that the respondent No.4-Society is being acting illegally and in furtherance of the same, the State Government has appointed Administrator as -7- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 per Annexure-H. It is also stated in the writ petition that, an enquiry has been conducted insofar as administration of the respondent No.4-Society and therefore, it is contended that the impugned acquisition proceedings has been issued by the respondent-authorities to help the respondent No.4- Society. It is further case of the petitioners that, though the notifications have been issued for acquisition of the land, however, respondent- authorities have not taken possession of the land in question and therefore, contended that, impugned notifications have become lapsed due to efflux of time. It is further stated in the writ petition that, the petitioners have received notice dated 28.12.2007 (Annexure-N) issued by respondent No.4-Society calling upon the petitioners to vacate the schedule land and thereafter, respondent No.4-Society threatened the petitioners for having not vacate the -8- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 schedule property and as such, the petitioners have filed suit in OS No. 1274 of 2008, seeking relief of declaration with consequential relief of injunction against the respondent No.4. It is also stated in the writ petition that, the possession of the schedule land is with the petitioners only despite the same, the respondent-authorities have issued Notification dated 30.04.1999 (Annexure-Q) issued under Section 16(2) of Land Acquisition Act, to substantiate that they have taken possession of the land in question. It is also stated in the writ petition that, no enquiry has been conducted under Section 5(A) of the Land Acquisition Act, and the show-cause notice dated 29.10.2007 (Annexure-T) was issued by the Government of Karnataka to the respondent No.4-Society for having not taken possession of the land in question, would establish that the possession is with the petitioners. The Bangalore Development Authority (for short, BDA) -9- NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 also addressed letter dated 28.07.2008 (Annexure-V) to the Government to drop the acquisition proceedings on the ground of not taking possession of the land in question. Hence, it is the case of the petitioners that, as the petitioners are in possession of the land in question and acquisition proceedings has not reached finality for having taken possession of the land in question and also as the Government is willing to drop the acquisition proceedings, the petitioners have presented this petition challenging the impugned notifications, as lapsed under Section 24(2) of Act, 2013. 3. I have heard Sri. K.N.Phanindra, learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of Sri. B. Ramesh; Sri. Guruswamy K., learned AGA appearing on behalf of respondent-State and Sri. Saravana .S, learned counsel for the appearing for the respondent No.4. - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 4. Sri. K.N.Phanindra, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners drew the attention of the court to the Preliminary Notification issued by the respondent-authorities, proposed for acquiring the schedule property, bearing Sy.No.106, showing the extent of land as 10 acres, however, land bearing Sy.No.106 comprises only 03 acres of the land and therefore, learned Senior Counsel submitted that, the acquisition proceedings have been initiated to help the respondent No.4-Society. He also refers to the Final Notification, wherein, extent has been shown as 03 acres, in Sy. No.106/2 which makes it clear that the intention of the respondent-authorities to help the respondent No.4-Society. Referring to the irregularities committed by the respondent No.4 in connivance with the land grabbers in the vicinity, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that, the petitioners have filed OS No.1274 - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 of 2008 against the respondent No.4-Soceity. Emphasizing on these aspects, Sri. K.N.Phanindra, learned Senior Counsel referred to Annexures-T and V, and argued that, the Government has addressed letter to the respondent No.4-Society along with the report of spot inspection conducted by the Land Acquisition Officer of BDA, wherein, respondent- Government has abandoned the acquisition proceedings and as such, sought for quashing the impugned notifications. 5. Per contra, Sri. Saravana .S, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.4 sought to justify the impugned notifications and argued that, award is passed on 05.09.1991 (Annexure-R4) and possession was delivered to the respondent No.4- Society on 20.11.1998 (Annexure-R5) and as such, he contended that the land in question is in possession of respondent No.4-Society and work for formation of layout in the schedule land has been commenced and - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 therefore, contended that the writ petition deserves to be dismissed. 6. Sri. Guruswamy, learned AGA appearing for the respondent-State reiterates the averments made in the statement of objections and contended that, as the notification under Section 16(2) of Land Acquisition Act is passed on 06.05.1999 in respect of the subject land is concerned and accordingly, sought for dismissal of the writ petition. 7. In the light of the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, it is not in dispute that the petitioners are the owners in possession of the schedule land as the father of the petitioner Nos.2 to 7 had purchased the land bearing Sy No.106 of Mallathahalli Village to an extent of 03 acres of land as per registered Sale Deed dated 12.11.1994 (Annexure-A). Revenue records stands in the name of the petitioners after the demise of their - 13 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 father. It is forthcoming from the writ petition that, respondent-Government has issued Preliminary Notification dated 25.08.1988 (Annexure-C) under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act and sought to acquire four items of the land in favour of respondent No.4-Society. In the Preliminary Notification, the extent of land in respect of Sy. No.106 was shown as 10 acres, and same was rectified in Final Notification dated 31.08.1989 (Annexure-D) as to an extent of 03 acres. It is also forthcoming from the writ papers that an Administrator was appointed to look into the mal- administration of the respondent No.4-Society. It is also evident from Tripartite Agreement 25.06.1987 (Annexure-E), wherein the respondent No.4 has entered into agreement with private persons in respect of 65.32 acres of land of Malathahalli village. It is also not in dispute that, the respondent- Government has issued notifications under Section - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 16(2) of Land Acquisition Act on 06.05.1999 (Annexure-Q) in respect of land bearing Sy. No.106, however, the nature and survey number of the schedule land was changed and new survey number was assigned as Sy. No.106/2. In the backdrop of the argument advanced by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners that the possession of the land in question has not been taken, and as such, I have carefully given my anxious consideration to the RTC extracts produced at Annexure-W series, which would establish the fact that the name of the petitioners is entered in RTC Extracts. That apart, the State Government has issued show-cause notice dated 29.10.2007 (Annexure-T) to the respondent No.4- Society for utilization of the land in question in furtherance of the impugned notifications and also the letter dated 28.07.2008 (Annexure-V) addressed by BDA to the Government expressing about non-taking - 15 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 of possession of the schedule land by the respondent No.4-Society. The observation made in the letter at Annexure-V, demonstrates that the petitioners are in possession of the land in question even as on 28.07.2008 and in that view of the matter, I am of the opinion that, as the impugned notifications are issued during the year 1988, however, possession of the land in question has not been taken, as per Annexures-T and V, till the year 2008. Though the learned counsel respondents substantiate about taking possession by the respondent No.4-Society, however, the said arguments would run counter to Annexures-T, V and W. and therefore, I am of the opinion that, the impugned notifications are liable to be quashed in respect of the land in question. 8. It is also pertinent to mention here that, this Court by order dated 03.12.2024 and 10.12.2024 directed the learned AGA to secure the relevant - 16 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 records pertaining to deposit of compensation in respect of the subject land in the Civil Court and in furtherance of the same, affidavit of the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bengaluru was filed wherein, it is stated that, the compensation is deposited before the State Treasury and not before the Civil Court. It is also not forthcoming from the said affidavit as to issuance of notice under Section 12(2) of Land Acquisition Act to the land owners/claimants. Therefore, I find force in the submission made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners that possession of the schedule land has not been taken in furtherance of the impugned notifications and also no deposit has been made before the Civil Court as required under Section 31 of Land Acquisition Act. 9. It is also to be noted that, though the learned counsel appearing for the respondents argued on delay and laches on the part of the petitioners, - 17 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 however, same cannot be accepted in the circumstances of the case as the possession has not been taken and compensation is not deposited before the Civil Court. In the light of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the case of the Dharnidher Mishra (D) and another vs. State of Bihar and others reported in 2024 10 SCC 605, the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the respondents relating to delay and laches in filing the petition cannot be accepted. It is also relevant to cite the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Another vs. Bimal Kumar Shah and Others reported in AIR 2024 SC 2819. Paragraphs 28 to 31 reads as under. 28. These seven rights are foundational components of a law that is tune with Article 300A, and the absence of one of these or some of them would render the law susceptible to challenge. The judgment of this Court in K.T. Plantations (supra)13 declares that the law envisaged under Article 300A must be in line with the - 18 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 overarching principles of rule of law, and must be just, fair, and reasonable. It is, of course, precedentially sound to describe some of these sub-rights as 'procedural', a nomenclature that often tends to undermine the inherent worth of these safeguards. These seven sub-rights may be procedures, but they do constitute the real content of the right to property under Article 300A, non- compliance of these will amount to violation of the right, being without the authority of law. 29. These sub-rights of procedure have been synchronously incorporated in laws concerning compulsory acquisition and are also recognised by our constitutional courts while reviewing administrative actions for compulsory acquisition of private property. The following will demonstrate how these seven principles have seamlessly become an integral part of our Union and State statutes concerning acquisition and also the constitutional and administrative law culture that our courts have evolved from time to time. 30. Following are the seven principles: 30.1. The Right to notice: (i) A prior notice informing the bearer of the right that the State intends to deprive them of the right to property is a right in itself; a linear extension of the right to know embedded in Article 19(1)(a). The Constitution does not contemplate - 19 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 acquisition by ambush. The notice to acquire must be clear, cogent and meaningful. Some of the statutes reflect this right. (ii) Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Section 3(1) of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and Section 3A of the National Highways Act, 1956 are examples of such statutory incorporation of the right to notice before initiation of the land acquisition proceedings. (iii) In a large number of decisions, our constitutional courts have independently recognised the right to notice before any process of acquisition is commenced 14. 30.2. The Right to be heard: (i) Following the right to a meaningful and effective prior notice of acquisition, is the right of the property-bearer to communicate his objections and concerns to the authority acquiring the property. This right to be heard against the proposed acquisition must be meaningful and not a sham. (ii) Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Section 3(1) of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Section 15 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, - 20 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 and Section 3C of the National Highways Act, 1956, are some statutory embodiments of this right. (iii) Judicial opinions recognizing the importance of this right are far too many to reproduce. Suffice to say that that the enquiry in which a land holder would raise his objection is not a mere formality. 30.3. The Right to a reasoned decision: i) That the authorities have heard and considered the objections is evidenced only through a reasoned order. It is incumbent upon the authority to take an informed decision and communicate the same to the objector. (ii) Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Section 3(2) of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Section 19 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and Section 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956, are the statutory incorporations of this principle. (iii) Highlighting the importance of the declaration of the decision to acquire, the Courts have held that the declaration is mandatory, failing which, the acquisition proceedings will cease to have effect. 30.4. The Duty to acquire only for public purpose: (i) That the acquisition must be for a public purpose is inherent and an important fetter on the discretion of the authorities to acquire. This requirement, which - 21 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 conditions the purpose of acquisition must stand to reason with the larger constitutional goals of a welfare state and distributive justice. (ii) Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Sections 3(1) and 7(1) of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Sections 2(1), 11(1),15(1)(b) and 19(1) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and Section 3A(1) of the National Highways Act, 1956 depict the statutory incorporation of the public purpose requirement of compulsory acquisition. (iii) The decision of compulsory acquisition of land is subject to judicial review and the Court will examine and determine whether the acquisition is related to public purpose. If the court arrives at a conclusion that that there is no public purpose involved in the acquisition, the entire process can be set-aside. This Court has time and again reiterated the importance of the underlying objective of acquisition of land by the State to be for a public purpose. 30.5. The Right of restitution or fair compensation: (i) A person's right to hold and enjoy property is an integral part to the constitutional right under Article 300A. Deprivation or extinguishment of that right is permissible only upon restitution, be it in the form of monetary compensation, rehabilitation or other similar - 22 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 means. Compensation has always been considered to be an integral part of the process of acquisition. (ii) Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Sections 8 and 9 of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Section 23 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and Sections 3G and 3H of the National Highways Act, 1956 are the statutory incorporations of the right to restitute a person whose land has been compulsorily acquired. (iii) Our courts have not only considered that compensation is necessary, but have also held that a fair and reasonable compensation is the sine qua non for any acquisition process 30.6. The Right to an efficient and expeditious process: (i) The acquisition process is traumatic for more than one reason. The administrative delays in identifying the land, conducting the enquiry and evaluating the objections, leading to a final declaration, consume time and energy. Further, passing of the award, payment of compensation and taking over the possession are equally time consuming. It is necessary for the administration to be efficient in concluding the process and within a reasonable time. This obligation must necessarily form part of Article 300A. - 23 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 (ii) Sections 5A(1), 6, 11A, and 34 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Sections 6(1A) and 9 of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act,1952, Sections 4(2), 7(4), 7(5), 11(5), 14, 15(1), 16(1), 19(2), 25, 38(1), 60(4), 64 and 80 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and Sections 3C(1), 3D(3) and 3E(1) of the National Highways Act, 1956, prescribe for statutory frameworks for the completion of individual steps in the process of acquisition of land within stipulated timelines. (iii) On multiple occasions, upon failure to adhere to the timelines specified in law, the courts have set aside the acquisition proceedings. 30.7. The Right of conclusion: (i) Upon conclusion of process of acquisition and payment of compensation, the State takes possession of the property in normal circumstances. The culmination of an acquisition process is not in the payment of compensation, but also in taking over the actual physical possession of the land. If possession is not taken, acquisition is not complete. With the taking over of actual possession after the normal procedures of acquisition, the private holding is divested and the right, title and interest in the property, along-with possession is vested in the State. Without final vesting, the State's, or its beneficiary's right, title and interest in the property is - 24 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 inconclusive and causes lot of difficulties. The obligation to conclude and complete the process of acquisition is also part of Article 300A. ii) Section 16 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Sections 4 and 5 of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, Sections 37 and 38 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and Sections 3D and 3E of the National Highways Act, 1956, statutorily recognise this right of the acquirer. iii) This step of taking over of possession has been a matter of great judicial scrutiny and this Court has endeavoured to construe the relevant provisions in a way which ensures non-arbitrariness in this action of the acquirer 20. For that matter, after taking over possession, the process of land acquisition concludes with the vesting of the land with the concerned authority. The culmination of an acquisition process by vesting has been a matter of great importance. On this aspect, the courts have given a large number of decisions as to the time, method and manner by which vesting takes place. 31. The seven principles which we have discussed are integral to the authority of law enabling compulsory acquisition of private property. Union and State - 25 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 statutes have adopted these principles and incorporated them in different forms in the statutes provisioning compulsory acquisition of immovable property. The importance of these principles, independent of the statutory prescription have been recognised by our constitutional courts and they have become part of our administrative law jurisprudence. 10. Following the declaration of law made by the Hon'ble Supreme Court referred to above, I am of the opinion that, though the impugned notifications have been issued during the year 1988, however, same has not been given effect to and not implemented the same by the respondent authorities and as such the respondent-authorities have abandoned a scheme of acquisition in respect of the subject land and accordingly, the acquisition proceedings have become lapsed for the reasons stated above. In the result, I pass the following: - 26 - NC: 2025:KHC:3964 WP No. 13917 of 2008 ORDER
i) Writ petition is allowed.
ii) Preliminary Notification dated 05.08.1988
(Annexure-C), Final Notification dated
31.08.1989 (Annexure-G) and Notification dated
30.04.1999, published in the Karnataka Gazette
dated 06.05.1999 (Annexure-Q) and Official
Memorandum dated 23.07.1999 (Annexure-Q1)
are hereby quashed as the acquisition
proceedings has lapsed.
Sd/-
(E.S.INDIRESH)
JUDGE
SB
List No.: 19 Sl No.: 1
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