Smt Marlingamma vs State Of Karnataka on 27 January, 2025

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Karnataka High Court

Smt Marlingamma vs State Of Karnataka on 27 January, 2025

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                                                      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
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       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
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     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.
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      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,
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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.
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     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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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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.
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(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 -
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                                             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
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                                                  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 -
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                                         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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