Amar Singh and Others vs State of Haryana and Others

J.S. Khehar, J.—The land of the petitioners was sought to be acquired through a notification issued u/s 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as ''the Act'') dated 20.5.1983 for allotment of residential plots to homeless Harijan, members of backward classes and economical weaker persons in village. The aforesaid tentative determination came to be crystalised with the issuance of a declaration dated 12.7.1983 u/s 6 of the Act. More than 22 years have elapsed since the aforesaid acquisition process came to be finalised through the issuance of the declaration u/s 6 of the Act. Now when proceedings for taking possession of the land still with the petitioners have been initiated, the petitioners have sought to challenge the action of the respondents in acquiring their land on various grounds.

It is not possible for us at this juncture to entertain any claim at the hands of the petitioners, on the basis of which they could have impugned the action of the authorities in acquiring their land as far back as in July 1983.

It would also be relevant to mention, that the petitioners claim, that they also belong to the backward category, and would be rendered homeless and landless in case the acquisition proceedings initiated against the petitioners referred to above, are allowed to be sustained. The instant plea, to our mind, is a plea unsustainable in law. As and when proceedings for acquisition are initiated, a number of land owners are deprived of their residential properties. This consequence is an inevitable result of any acquisition proceedings, and in case the instant plea is accepted, no acquisition proceedings can ever fructify.

For the reasons above, we find no merit in this petition. The same is accordingly dismissed. If the petitioners have any subsisting claim for compensation on account of the acquired land, it will be open to them to initiate proceedings before a Court of competent jurisdiction.