Tasvir Singh and Others v. State of Haryana and Others

CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 1 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CM No. 2871-2023 in/and Civil Writ Petition No. 10947oofo2019o(O&M) Date of Decision: 21.07.2023

TasviroSinghoandoothers …..Petitioners

versus

ooStateoofoHaryanaoandoothers …..Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAVI SHANKER JHA, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN PALLI, JUDGE

Present : Mr. S.P.Khatri, Advocate, for the petitioners.

Mr. Ankur Mittal, Addl. Advocate General, Haryana with Mr. Saurabh Mago, Deputy Advocate General, Haryana, Ms. Kushaldeep Kaur, Advocate and Mr. Shivam Garg, Advocate, for the respondents.

****

RAVIoSHANKERo HA!o"HIE#o $STI"Eo "%oNo&o2'71oofo202(o The instant petition came to be dismissed for want of prosecution vide order dated 23.01.2023. The present application has been filed on behalf of the petitioners seeking restoration of the writ petition. For the reasons set out in the application, the same is allowed and the writ petition is restored to its original number. Main case is taken up for hearing on board today itself and the arguments of the respective parties have been heard with respect to the main petition. %AINo)ETITI*N

¶1The petitioners have approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition praying for quashing of the notifications dated 18.10.2002 and

08.09.2003 issued under Sections 4 and Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred as "Act of 1894") respectively, followed by CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 2 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

the award dated 05.09.2005,o inter-alia, on the ground that acquisition proceedings have lapsed under Section 24 (2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred as "Act of 2013") as neither the petitioners have received the amount of compensation awarded by the Collector nor it was deposited in the Court and possession of the acquired land is still with the petitioners.

¶2The petitioners claimed to be owners in possession of 280 sq. yards of land comprised in Killa no. 12//9 (8-0) and 12//26 (0-11) and further owners to the extent of their respective shares in Killa no. 12//13(4-0), 18/1 (0-17), 18/2 (1-13), 23 (4-0) total measuring 10 Kanal 10 Marlas situated within the revenue estate of Village Sehjanpur, Tehsil and District Sonepat.

¶3As regards the prayer of seeking lapsing of acquisition proceedings under Section 24(2) of Act of 2013, learned counsel for the petitioners fairly concedes that the said prayer is squarely covered against them in terms of the Indoreo DevelopmentoAuthorityov.o Manoharlalo ando otherso(2020)o o!""o129. However, he asserts that there is another plea which the petitioners would like to press as regards to the "nullityoofoaward" on account of non-payment of compensation amount.

¶4Learned counsel for the petitioners further contends that even though the award was announced on 05.09.2005, but no compensation amount was awarded to the land owners up to 12.07.2007 on account of the fact that the award statement and kabja vasool were not complete and therefore, the Land Acquisition Collector was not in a position to offer any amount to the land owners even after two years from the date of award. In this regard, the petitioners have placed reliance on a letter dated 12.07.2007 CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 3 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

written by Land Acquisition Collector, Rohtak, which is appended with the petition as Annexure P-4. Based upon this, learned counsel for the petitioners has contended that the award itself was illegal, non-est in the eyes of law and thus, was a nullity as it was announced without tendering of compensation amount required in accordance with Section 31 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. As per the petitioners, the contention of the earlier award being a nullity stands fortified from the fact that the State Government had announced the revised award on 05.06.2015, thereby assessing compensation in accordance with the provisions of Act of 2013. In sum and substance, the contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioners is that once award itself was a nullity on account of non-compliance of the statutory requirement of section 31 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, therefore, acquisition proceedings cannot be said to have validly culminated in accordance with law.

¶5Even though the petitioners have sought to challenge the award dated 05.09.2005 by terming it to be a nullity, it is pertinent to mention that for all these years, the petitioners did not even plead so and the petition simply got adjourned awaiting the decision of the Apex Court as regards the applicability of Section 24(2) of Act of 2013. As a result of which the instant petition remained pending in this Court awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court of India as regards the interpretation and applicability of Section 24

(2) of the Act of 2013 which came to be decided by a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in Indoreo Developmento Authorityo #s.o Manoharlalo ando otherso(2020)o o!""o129 and it was thereafter that the instant petition was CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 4 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

¶6Controverting the pleas raised by the petitioners, a short reply of the Land Acquisition Collector, Urban Estate Department, Rohtak was filed after the pronouncement of the judgment in Indoreo Developmento Authorityo(supra). Placing reliance on the same, Mr. Ankur Mittal, learned Additional Advocate General, Haryana has contended that the land claimed in the petition along with other lands was acquired by the State of Haryana through Department of Urban Estates vide notifications dated 18.10.2002 and 08.09.2003 issued under Sections 4 and Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894; followed by the award dated 05.09.2005 for the public purpose namely, development and utilization of land as residential, institutional and commercial Sector – 16, Sonepat. Neither any objections were filed under Section 5-A of Act of 1894 nor there was any construction existing on the land claimed in the petition as it was lying completely vacant. After conclusion of the acquisition proceedings and announcement of the award dated 05.09.2005, the possession of the land in question was taken by recording rapatorojnamcha No. 20 dated 05.09.2005 which implies that due possession was taken and the land stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances. The compensation amount qua the land in question alongwith other acquired land was duly tendered at the time of announcement of award and was made available to the landowners.

¶7Learned State counsel further submits that even though in the head note of the petition, it has been so mentioned by the petitioners that neither the compensation amount was paid nor was deposited in the Court and has sought to lay challenge to the award by terming it as a nullity, however, fact of the matter is that the petitioners have already received the amount of original award dated 05.09.2005 except for Khasra no. 12//26 CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 5 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

(0-11). Once the petitioners have received the amount qua majority of the landholding, it does not leave any spec of doubt that the compensation was duly tendered and was made available for disbursement to the landowners. In such an eventuality, the argument being canvassed by the petitioners that the award is nullity on account of non-payment of the compensation amount or depositing it in Reference Court falls flat.

¶8Learned State counsel further argued that validity of award is to be seen only against the touchstone of Sections 11 and 11-A of Act of 1894 which primarily would include two aspects i.e., award is announced within 2 years from the last date of publication of declaration under Section 6 of Act of 1894 and the award was announced with approval of the State Government. Validity of award under section 11 of Act of 1894 is not dependent on Section 31 of Act of 1894 which postulates about the manner in which the compensation amount, pursuant to announcement of award is to be paid or deposited in the Court. He places reliance on the observations made by the Supreme Court of India in the case of IndoreoDevelopmento Authorityov.oManoharlalo(!upra) to contend that stage of Section 31 i.e., Payment of Compensation under Act of 1894 comes only after the passing of award under Section 11 of Act of 1894, except in the case of invocation of urgency clause under section 17 of Act of 1894, where 80% of estimated compensation amount has to be tendered and paid before taking possession of the land.

¶9As per Section 31(1), the Collector has to tender payment of the compensation amount awarded to the persons interested and shall pay such amount unless he is prevented from doing so, for any of three contingencies provided under Sub-Section (2) of Section 31 in which case he CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 6 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

has to deposit the amount of compensation in the Court. The three contingencies are (i) refusal to receive the amount of compensation, (ii) if there is no person competent to alienate the land; (iii) if there is any dispute as to the title to receive the compensation or if there is dispute as to the apportionment. The effect of non-compliance of Section 31 is envisaged in Section 34 of Act of 1894. It deals with a situation where any of the obligations under Section 31 are not fulfilled i.e., when the amount of compensation is not paid or deposited on or before taking possession of the land; the Collector shall pay the amount awarded with interest thereon @ 9% per annum from the time of taking possession until it is paid or deposited and after one year from the date on which possession is taken; interest payable shall be @ 15% per annum. Thus, as per the Scheme of the Act of 1894, when the award is announced under Section 11, thereafter the possession is taken under Section 16, the land vests in the State. At this stage, the announcement of the award and taking of possession is not dependent on the payment of compensation; therefore, the question of compliance of Section 31 of the Act of 1894 does not arise at all. The only consequence of non-compliance of Section 31 is provided under Section 34 of Act of 1894 which can by no stretch of imagination, would relate back to the validity of the award announced under Section 11 of the Act of 1894. Therefore, he prays for rejection of the plea taken by the the petitioners as regards the award being nullity as misconceived and clearly against the scheme of the Act of 1894 itself.

¶10As regards the aspect of compensation, learned State counsel submits that pursuant to the announcement of the award on 05.09.2005, the compensation amount was duly tendered and was made available to the CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 7 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

landowners. He has further stated that earlier the award was announced on

05.09.2005 @ Rs. 12,50,000/- per acre. However, since there was a spurt of litigations seeking lapsing of acquisition proceedings under Section 24 (2) of the Act of 2013, only 31.11% of amount of compensation was disbursed among the landowners and as per the law prevalent at that time, the word 'paid' used in Section 24(2) of the Act of 2013 was interpreted to mean actual payment or deposited in the Court; in order to save the acquisition proceedings from lapsing. The decision was taken by the State Government to pay compensation in accordance with the provisions relating to assessment of compensation of Act of 2013, qua which the directions were also issued by this Hon'ble Court vide order dated 26.05.2014 passed in CWP No. 8052 of 2009. Accordingly, the additional award was announced on 05.06.2015 for the entire acquired land @ Rs. 414/- per square yard as fixed on 03.06.2015 based upon the assessment made by the Court of learned Additional District Judge in reference cases under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 including 100% solatium multiplier factor and 12% increase in the market value from the actual date of notification under Section 4 of the Act of 1894 till the assessment of compensation as per the Act of 2013. The total amount of the compensation of the additional award i.e., Rs. 1,78,92,06,315/- was also tendered, out of which Rs. 57,25,46,020/- has been disbursed to the land owners. The petitioners are at liberty to receive the compensation amount. No fault can be attributed to the State agencies for non-payment of compensation as they have fulfilled their obligation to pay the compensation amount after tendering the same. He submits that this aspect is also covered by the decision of the Apex Court in Indoreo Developmento Authorityo (!upra) wherein it was held that the CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 8 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

"tender" of compensation is sufficient discharge of the obligation to pay compensation and actual payment or deposit in the Court is not required.

¶11In view of the afore-stated facts and placing reliance on the ratio laid down by the Apex Court in IndoreoDevelopmentoAuthorityo#s.o Manoharlaloandootherso(supra), learned Additional Advocate General has contended that none of the grounds seeking lapsing of acquisition proceedings as required under Section 24(2) of the Act of 2013 are fulfilled, as the possession of the land stands duly taken and the compensation amount has also been tendered, besides the land owners are being paid amount assessed in accordance with the provisions of Act of 2013 even though the award under Section 11 of the Act of 1894 was announced way back on

05.09.2005. For declaring the acquisition proceedings to have been lapsed, it is incumbent upon the landowners to show that both the contingencies prescribed in section 24(2) of Act of 2013 i.e. "non-payment of compensation" and "non-taking of possession" co-exist. If one of the contingencies remains unfulfilled, there can be no declaration as regards the lapsing of acquisition proceedings. Since in the case at hand the possession of the land in question stands taken and the compensation also stands tendered, there can be no declaration as to lapsing of acquisition proceedings as none of the contingencies as prescribed in section 24(2) of Act of 2013 is fulfilled.

¶12We have heard the arguments made by learned counsel for the respective parties at length. Even though learned counsel for the petitioners has conceded that the matter is covered against the petitioners as regards the plea of lapsing of acquisition proceedings under section 24(2) of Act of 2013 in view of the judgment of the Apex Court rendered in Indoreo CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo9 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

DevelopmentoAuthorityo(supra).oHowever,osinceorepliesowereofiledolongobacko andotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheoStateohasoassertedoalloclaims,oweo deemoitoappropriateotoodealowithoissueoofolapsingoasowell,obesidesoconsideringo theoissueoasotoowhetheronon-complianceoofotheoprovisionsoofosectiono31oofoActo ofo1894owouldorenderoanoawardonullity.oo

13.k oooooooooooooTheo interpretationo ofo Sectiono 24(2)o ofo Acto ofo 2013o hado remainedosubjectomatteroofocontroversyoforoquiteoaowhile,ountiloitowasosettledo byo ao Constitutiono Bencho ofo theo Apexo Courto ino Indoreo Developmento Authorityo (Supra).o Theo principleso ofo interpretingo theo provisiono wereo summarizedoinotheopenultimateoparagraphoofotheojudgmentocitedosupraoinotheo manneroasofollows:o-o "…366.oIno viewo ofo theo aforesaido discussion,o weo answero theo questionsoasounder:o

366.1.oUnderotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono24(1)(a)oinocaseo theo awardo iso noto madeo aso ono 1-1-2014,o theo dateo ofo commencemento ofo theo 2013o Act,o thereo iso noo lapseo ofo proceedings.oCompensationohasotoobeodeterminedoundero theoprovisionsoofotheo2013oAct.o o

366.2.oIno caseo theo awardo haso beeno passedo withino theo windowoperiodoofofiveoyearsoexcludingotheoperiodocoveredo byoanointerimoorderoofotheocourt,othenoproceedingsoshallo continueoasoprovidedounderoSectiono24(1)(b)oofotheo2013o Actounderotheo1894oActoasoifoitohasonotobeenorepealed.oo o

366.3.oTheo wordo "or"o usedo ino Sectiono 24(2)o betweeno possessionoandocompensationohasotoobeoreadoaso"nor"ooro aso "and".o Theo deemedo lapseo ofo lando acquisitiono proceedingsounderoSectiono24(2)oofotheo2013oActotakeso placeowhereodueotooinactionoofoauthoritiesoforofiveoyearso oro moreo prioro too commencemento ofo theo saido Act,o theo possessionoofolandohasonotobeenotakenonorocompensationo hasobeenopaid.oInootherowords,oinocaseopossessionohaso beenotaken,ocompensationohasonotobeenopaidothenothereoiso noo lapse.o Similarly,o ifo compensationo haso beeno paid,o possessionohasonotobeenotakenothenothereoisonoolapse.oo o

366.4.oTheoexpressiono"paid"oinotheomainopartoofoSectiono 24(2)o ofo theo 2013o Acto doeso noto includeo ao deposito ofo compensationoinocourt.oTheoconsequenceoofonon-deposito isoprovidedoinotheoprovisootooSectiono24(2)oinocaseoitohaso CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo10 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

noto beeno depositedo witho respecto too majorityo ofo landholdingso theno allo beneficiarieso (landowners)o aso ono theodateoofonotificationoforolandoacquisitionounderoSectiono 4oofotheo1894oActoshallobeoentitledotoocompensationoino accordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofotheo2013oAct.oInocaseo theoobligationounderoSectiono31oofotheoLandoAcquisitiono Act,o1894ohasonotobeenofulfilled,ointerestounderoSectiono34o ofo theo saido Acto cano beo granted.o Non-deposito ofo compensationo(inocourt)odoesonotoresultoinotheolapseoofo landoacquisitionoproceedings.oInocaseoofonon-depositowitho respectotootheomajorityoofoholdingsoforofiveoyearsooromore,o compensationounderotheo2013oActohasotoobeopaidotootheo "landowners"o aso ono theo dateo ofo notificationo foro lando acquisitionounderoSectiono4oofotheo1894oAct.oo o

366.5.oIno caseo ao persono haso beeno tenderedo theo compensationo aso providedo undero Sectiono 31(1)o ofo theo 1894oAct,oitoisonotoopenotoohimotooclaimothatoacquisitiono hasolapsedounderoSectiono24(2)odueotoonon-paymentooro non-depositoofocompensationoinocourt.oTheoobligationotoo payoisocompleteobyotenderingotheoamountounderoSectiono 31(1).o Theo landownerso whoo hado refusedo too accepto compensationo oro whoo soughto referenceo foro highero compensation,o cannoto claimo thato theo acquisitiono proceedingsohadolapsedounderoSectiono24(2)oofotheo2013o Act.oo o

366.6.oTheoprovisootooSectiono24(2)oofotheo2013oActoisotoo beotreatedoasopartoofoSectiono24(2),onotopartoofoSectiono 24(1)(b).oo o

366.7.oTheomodeoofotakingopossessionounderotheo1894oActo andoasocontemplatedounderoSectiono24(2)oisobyodrawingo ofo inquesto report/memorandum.o Onceo awardo haso beeno passedoonotakingopossessionounderoSectiono16oofotheo1894o Act,otheolandovestsoinoStateothereoisonoodivestingoprovidedo underoSectiono24(2)oofotheo2013oAct,oasoonceopossessiono hasobeenotakenothereoisonoolapseounderoSectiono24(2).oo o

366.8.oTheo provisionso ofo Sectiono 24(2)o providingo foro ao deemedo lapseo ofo proceedingso areo applicableo ino caseo authoritieso haveo failedo dueo too theiro inactiono too takeo possessionoandopayocompensationoforofiveoyearsooromoreo beforeotheo2013oActocameointooforce,oinoaoproceedingoforo landoacquisitionopendingowithotheoauthorityoconcernedoaso ono1-1-2014.oTheoperiodoofosubsistenceoofointerimoorderso passedobyocourtohasotoobeoexcludedoinotheocomputationoofo fiveoyears.oo o

366.9.oSectiono24(2)oofotheo2013oActodoesonotogiveoriseotoo newocauseoofoactionotooquestionotheolegalityoofoconcludedo proceedingsoofolandoacquisition.oSectiono24oappliesotooao CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 11 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

proceedin.o pendin.o ono theo dateo ofo enforcemento ofo theo (,1$o-ctoi.e.o1-1-(,1).o todoe!onotoreviveo!taleoandotime- /arredo claim!o ando doe!o noto reopeno concludedo proceedin.!o noro allowo landowner!o too "ue!tiono theo le.alityo ofo modeo ofo ta5in.o po!!e!!iono too reopeno proceedin.!ooromodeoofodepo!itoofocompen!ationoinotheo trea!uryoin!teadoofocourtotooinvalidateoac"ui!ition…4o o

¶14The sum and substance of the interpretation of Section 24 (2) of the Act of 2013 by the Apex Court is that both the contingencies provided i.e., about the physical possession and the payment of compensation are to be fulfilled, meaning thereby, if either of the conditions is not satisfied, there would be no lapsing. As far as the obligation to make the payment in lieu of the land acquired is concerned, it has been clarified that such obligation to pay is complete by tendering the compensation which would mean that the compensation amount was made available to the land owner and if the same has not been accepted, it will not be available for the land owner to claim that the compensation has not been paid. Similarly, word "depo!it4 has been interpreted to mean depositing with the Land Acquisition Collector or the treasury or the Reference Court. Drawing of panchnama has been considered to be a valid proof of taking physical possession and once the land stands vested in the State, there is no divesting provided under Section 24 (2) of the Act of 2013. The Apex Court has further clarified that the period for which any interim order was in operation will be excluded while computing the gap period of five years. Similarly, it has been clarified that Section 24 (2) of the Act of 2013 does not give rise to a new cause of action to question the legality of concluded proceedings of land acquisition as it applies to only those cases wherein the proceedings were pending on the date of enforcement of Act of 2013. CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo12 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

15.k ooooooooooTestingotheofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoagainstotheotouchstoneoofo theoprinciplesolaidodownobyotheoApexoCourt,oitotranspiresothatotheopossessiono ofotheolandoclaimedoinotheopetitionowasotakenobyorecordingorapatoNo.o20odatedo

05.09.2005.oTheoApexoCourtoinoIndoreoDevelopmentoAuthorityo(Supra)ohaso categoricallyoheldothatorecordingoofopanchnamaoisoaovalidomodeoofotakingo possessionoofotheolandoandoamountsotootakingoofophysicalopossessionoofotheo land.oOnceotheopossessionoofotheolandoisotaken,oitovestsoinotheoStateofreeofromo alloencumbrancesoandoanyopersonowhooretainsotheopossessionoofotheolando thereaftero iso ao trespasser.o Theo referenceo ino thiso regardo iso madeo too theo followingoparagraphsofromotheojudgment:-oo ooooooooooo"…InoreoIssueo4o:oModeoofotakingopossessionounderotheo1894o Acto o

246.oSectiono16oofotheo1894oActoprovidedothatopossessionoofolandomayo beo takeno byo theo Stateo Governmento aftero passingo ofo ano awardo ando thereupono lando vesto freeo fromo allo encumbranceso ino theo Stateo Government.oSimilaroareotheoprovisionsomadeoinotheocaseoofourgencyo inoSectiono17(1).oTheowordo"possession"ohasobeenousedoinotheo1894o Act,o whereaso ino Sectiono 24(2)o ofo theo 2013o Act,o theo expressiono "physicalo possession"o iso used.o Ito iso submittedo thato drawingo ofopanchnamaoforotakingooverotheopossessionoisonotoenoughowhenotheo actualophysicalopossessionoremainedowithotheolandowneroandoSectiono 24(2)o requireso actualo physicalo possessiono too beo taken,o noto theo possessionoinoanyootheroform.oWhenotheoStateohasoacquiredotheolando andoawardohasobeenopassed,olandovestsoinotheoStateoGovernmentofreeo fromoalloencumbrances.oTheoactoofovestingoofotheolandoinotheoStateoiso withopossession,oanyopersonoretainingotheopossession,othereafter,ohaso toobeotreatedoasotrespasseroandohasonoorightotoopossessotheolandowhicho vestsoinotheoStateofreeofromoalloencumbrances.o o o 247.oTheoquestionowhichoarisesowhetherothereoisoanyodifferenceo betweeno takingo possessiono undero theo 1894o Acto ando theo expressiono "physicalo possession"o usedo ino Sectiono 24(2).o Aso ao mattero ofo fact,o whatowasocontemplatedounderotheo1894oAct,obyotakingotheopossessiono meanto onlyo physicalo possessiono ofo theo land.o Takingo overo theo possessiono undero theo 2013o Acto alwayso amountedo too takingo overo physicalo possessiono ofo theo land.o Wheno theo Stateo Governmento acquiresolandoandodrawsoupoaomemorandumoofotakingopossession,o thatoamountsotootakingotheophysicalopossessionoofotheoland.oOnotheo largeo chunko ofo propertyo oro otherwiseo whicho iso acquired,o theo Governmentoisonotosupposedotooputosomeootheropersonoorotheopoliceo forceoinopossessionotooretainoitoandostartocultivatingoitotillotheolandoiso CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 13 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

u!edo /yo ito foro theo purpo!eo foro whicho ito ha!o /eeno ac"uired.o 3heo <overnmentoi!onoto!uppo!edotoo!tartore!idin.oorotoophy!icallyooccupyo itoonceopo!!e!!ionoha!o/eenota5eno/yodrawin.otheoin"ue!toproceedin.!o foroo/tainin.opo!!e!!ionothereof.o-hereafter+oifoanyofurtheroretainin.o ofo lando oro anyo retientryo iso madeo ono theo lando oro someoneo startso 'ultivationoonotheoopenolandoorostartsoresidin.oinotheoouthouse+oet'.oiso deemedotoo*eotheotrespasseroonolando)hi'hoisoinopossessionoofotheo !tate.o-heopossessionoofotrespasseroal)aysoinuresoforotheo*enefitoofo the real owner that is the State Government in the case."

¶16With respect to the status of compensation, there are categorical pleadings in the reply that the amount of compensation for the entire awarded land was made available to all the landowners. Not only this, original amount of award has also been received by the petitioners except for the land comprised in Khasra No. 12//26 (0-11), thus, the compensation was not only tendered but was also paid to the petitioners. In the case at hand, even though there was no requirement in law to announce additional award for paying the compensation in terms of the Act of 2013, yet the State Government in its wisdom took a decision, which is so recorded in the direction issued by this Court in order dated 26.05.2015 passed in Civil Writ Petition No. 8052 of 2009, to announce an additional award by making the assessment of compensation, thereby applying the provisions of determination of compensation of the Act of 2013 i.e. Sections 26 to 30 of the Act. This appears to have happened owing to the perplexity prevailing as regards the interpretation of the proviso to Section 24(2) of the Act of 2013, because as stated before us, the actual payment made to the land owner on the date of coming into effect of 2013 Act, was approximately 31.11% and thus, to save the land in question so as to achieve the public purpose, the Government announced the additional award which in any eventuality will relate back to the original award having been announced on 05.09.2005, as the law contemplates drawn of only one award which had been validly done CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo14 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

inotheocaseoatohandoinotheoyearo2005.oSeeingotheosameofromotheoperspectiveoofo interpretationomadeobyotheoIndoreoDevelopmentoAuthorityo(supra),otheoStateo wasonotounderoanyoobligationotooannounceotheoadditionaloawardobutoitohavingo doneosoowithotheoapparentointentotoosaveotheoacquisitionoandotheosameobeingo notoanoissueobeforeous,oweodoonotowantotoodeliberateoanyofurtheroasoregardsooo thisoaspectoexceptotoosayothatothisostepoofotheoStateoGovernmentooconclusivelyo indicatesotheoessentialityoofotheolandoinoquestionosooasotooachieveotheopublico purposeoforowhichoitowasosoughtotoobeoacquired.o

17.k ooooooooooItoisotheostandoofotheoStateothatotheoamountodueotootheopetitionerso asoperoadditionaloawardoisoavailableoforodisbursementoandotheopetitionersoareo atolibertyotooreceiveotheosame,othisoshowsothatotheocompensationoamountowaso dulyotendered,oandotheoobligationotootheoStateotoopayotheocompensationostandso dulyo discharged.o o Ino viewo ofo theo expositiono ino Indoreo Developmento Authorityo(supra),otheoobligationoofotheoStateotoopayotheocompensationoiso dischargedo ifo theo amounto ofo compensationo iso tenderedo whicho haso beeno interpretedotoomeanothatotheoamountowasomadeoavailableotootheolandoownerso asoobservedoinoParao205owhichoisoreproducedohereoinobelow:-oo o'….205.oTheowordo"paid"oinoSectiono31(1)otootheolandownero cannotoincludeoinoitsoambitotheoexpressiono"deposited"oinocourt.o Deposito cannoto beo saido too beo paymento madeo too landowners.o Depositoisoonobeingopreventedofromopayment.oHowever,oinocaseo thereoisoaotenderoofotheoamountothatoisotoomeanoamountoiso madeoavailableotootheolandownerothatowouldobeoaodischargeoofo theoobligationotoomakeotheopaymentoandoinothatoeventosuchoao persono cannoto beo penalisedo foro theo defaulto ino makingo theo payment.oInodefaultotoodepositoinocourt,otheoliabilityoisotoomakeo theo paymento ofo interesto undero Sectiono 34o ofo Acto ofo 1894.o Sectionso 32o ando 33o (whicho hado beeno reliedo upono byo theo landowners'ocounselotoosayothatovaluableorightsoinohere,oinotheo eventoofodepositowithocourt,othusomakingodepositounderoSectiono 31o mandatory)o provideo foro investingo amountso ino theo Governmentosecurities,ooroseekingoalternativeolands,oinolieuoofo compensation,oetc.oSuchodeposits,ocannotofetchohigherointeresto thanothe15operocentocontemplatedounderoSectiono34,owhichoiso CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo15 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

pariomateriaotooSectiono80oofoActoofo2013.oSectiono34oisopario materiaotoosectiono80oofoActoofo2013oinowhichoalsootheosimilaro rateoofointerestohasobeenospecified.oEvenoifotheoamountoisonoto depositedoinoReferenceoCourtonorowithotheotreasuryoasoagainsto theonameoofotheopersonointerestedowhooisoentitledotooreceiveoit,oifo Collectoro haso beeno preventedo too makeo theo paymento dueo too exigencieso providedo ino Sectiono 31(2),o interesto too beo paid.o However,oinocaseotheodepositoisomadeowithoutotenderingoitotoo theopersonointerested,otheoliabilityotoopayotheointerestoundero sectiono 34,o shallo continue.o Eveno assumingo deposito ino theo Referenceo Courto iso takeno too beo mandatory,o ino thato caseo tooo interesto haso too followo aso specifiedo ino sectiono 34.o However,o acquisitionoproceedingocannotolapseodueotoonon-deposit….'o o

18.k ooooooooooAsofaroasotheorelianceoonoAnnexureoP-9oisoconcerned,oitowouldo haveonoobearingoinoviewoofotheofactothatoitowasomerelyoanointer-departmentalo communicationo too sendo theo mano powero foro disbursingo compensation.o Ito wouldo ino noo mannero implyo thato theo compensationo waso noto tenderedo ando depositedo witho theo LandoAcquisitiono Collector.o Ino viewo ofo theo saido fact,o secondocontingencyoforoclaimingotheolapsingoofoacquisitionoproceedingsoiso alsoonotoavailableotootheopetitioners.o

19.k ooooooooooTheo Apexo Courto ino Indoreo Developmento Authorityo v.o Manoharlalo (supra)o haso clearlyo observedo thato foro deemedo lapsingo ofo acquisitionoproceedingsounderoSectiono24o(2)oofotheoActoofo2013,obothotheo conditionsoi.e.,opaymentoofocompensationoandotakingoofopossessionomustonoto beo fulfilledo i.e.,o ifo eithero ofo theo conditiono iso fulfilled,o theo lapsingo cannoto happen.oTheoApexoCourtohasoobservedothatowordo"or"ooccurringoinoSectiono 24o(2)oofotheoActoofo2013omustobeoreadoaso"and/nor".oRelevantoparasofromotheo judgmentoareoreproducedohereoinobelow:-oo o '…100.oInothisoCourt'soconsideredoview,oasoregardsotheo collationo ofo theo wordso usedo ino Sectiono 24(2),o twoo negativeo conditionsohaveobeenoprescribed.oThus,oevenoifooneoconditionoiso satisfied,othereoisonoolapse,oandothisologicallyoflowsofromotheoActo ofo1894oreadowithotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono24oofotheoActoofo CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo16 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

2013.o Anyo othero interpretationo wouldo entailo illogicalo results.o Thato apart,o ifo theo ruleo ofo interpretationo witho respecto too twoo negativeoconditionsoqualifiedobyo"or"oisoused,otheno"or"oshouldo beoreadoaso"nor"ooro"and".o xxxxo o o xxxxo o o xxxxo o o xxxxo

102.o Ino M/s.o Ranchhoddaso Atmaramo ando Anr.o v.o Theo UnionoofoIndiaoandoOrs.77,oaoConstitutionoBenchoofothisoCourto observedo thato ifo thereo areo twoo negativeo conditions,o theo expressiono"or"ohasotoobeoreadoasoconjunctiveoandoconditionsoofo bothotheoclausesomustobeofulfilled.oItowasoobserved:o "(13)o Ito iso clearo thato ifotheo wordsoformo anoaffirmativeo sentence,othenotheoconditionoofooneoofotheoclausesoonlyoneedobeo fulfilled.oInosuchoaocase,o"or"oreallyomeanso"either"o"or."oInotheo ShorteroOxfordoDictionaryooneoofotheomeaningsoofotheowordo"or"o iso giveno aso "Ao particleo co-ordinatingo twoo (oro more)o words,o phrasesooroclausesobetweenowhichothereoisoanoalternative."oItoiso alsoo thereo stated,o "Theo alternativeo expressedo byo "or"o iso emphasisedobyoprefixingotheofirstomemberooroaddingoafterotheo last,otheoassociatedoadv.oEITHER."oSo,oevenowithouto"either,"o "or"o aloneo createso ano alternative.o If,o therefore,o theo sentenceo beforeousoisoanoaffirmativeoone,othenoweogetotwooalternatives,o anyo oneo ofo whicho mayo beo choseno withouto theo othero beingo consideredoatoall.oInosuchoaocaseoitomustobeoheldothatoaopenaltyo exceedingoRs.o1,000ocanobeoimposed.o

(14)oIf,ohowever,otheosentenceoisoaonegativeoone,othenotheo positiono becomeso different.o Theo wordo "or"o betweeno theo twoo clauseso wouldo theno spreado theo negativeo influenceo overo theo clauseofollowingoit.oThisoruleoofogrammaroisonotoinodispute.oIno 1suchoaocaseotheoconditionsoofobothotheoclausesomustobeofulfilledo andotheoresultowouldobeothatotheopenaltyothatocanobeoimposedo canoneveroexceedoRs.o1,000.'o

(15)o Theo questiono theno reallyo comeso too this:o Iso theo sentenceobeforeousoaonegativeooroanoaffirmativeoone?oItoseemsotoo usothatotheosentenceoisoanoaffirmativeosentence.oTheosubstanceoofo theosentenceoisothatoaocertainopersonoshallobeoliableotooaopenalty.o Thatisoaopositiveoconcept.oTheosentenceoisothereforeonotonegativeo inoitsoimport."oo (emphasisosupplied)o o Thus,o foro lapseo ofo acquisitiono proceedingso initiatedo underotheooldolaw,ounderoSectiono24(2)oifobothostepsohaveonoto beeno taken,o i.e.,o neithero physicalo possessiono iso taken,o noro compensationo iso paid,o theo lando acquisitiono proceedingso lapse…'o o o o CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 17 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

¶20Since the possession of the acquired land stands duly taken and the compensation amount has also been tendered and received (original amount of compensation) for majority of land holdings, we hereby hold that none of the conditions prescribed in Section 24(2) of the Act of 2013 are fulfilled, therefore, the said provision cannot be relied upon by the petitioners to claim lapsing of the acquisition proceedings.

¶21Even though the petitioners all throughout maintained a stand that the present writ petition is only limited and confined to applicability of Section 24(2) of Act of 2013, yet they have now sought to raise additional plea as regards the "nullityo ofo award4 on account of non-payment of compensation. It is incomprehensible that plea sought to be raised by the petitioners runs counter to the facts of the case as the petitioners have received the original amount of compensation awarded in the year 2005 for majority of land. Once it is so, aforesaid plea of the petitioners falls flat and shows that they are only making an attempt to keep litigation alive on one ground or the other. It is pertinent to mention that even otherwise such plea cannot be entertained at this stage because if the petitioners were aggrieved of the said fact, they should have approached this Court at the time when the award was announced in the year 2005, whereas they are approaching in 2019 anchoring their claim entirely on Section 24(2) of Act of 2013, which is also barred by delay and laches as cause of action to claim lapsing also had arisen five years back on 01.01.2014. Therefore, observing from every angle, the instant petition deserves dismissal.

¶22Nonetheless, even in law the argument of the petitioners that award becomes nullity if compliance of section 31 of Act of 1894 is made, is completely misconceived and rests on faulty foundation and interpretation of CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 18 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

scheme of Act of 1894. We are ad-idem with the submissions made by the learned State counsel that plea sought to be set up by the petitioners runs antithesis to scheme of the Act of 1894. The acquisition proceedings (other than for Company) are carried out under Part-II of the Act of 1894 which commence from Section 4 providing therein the procedure of publication of preliminary notification and culminates with Section 17 which provides for the procedure to be undertaken in case the land is to be acquired in cases of urgency. It is pertinent to note that pursuant to the issuance of notification and declaration under Sections 4 and Section 6 of the Act of 1894 respectively and after undertaking all the procedure prescribed in the Act, the acquisition proceedings are finalized only with the announcement of award under Section 11 of Act of 1894. Requirements of a valid award are twofold i.e., it shall be made with the previous approval of the appropriate Government as provided in Sub Section 1 of Section 11 and further, it shall be announced within a period of 2 years from the last date of publication of declaration under Section 6 of the Act of 1894 as envisaged in section 11-A of Act of 1894. Pursuant to the announcement of award, Section 16 authorizes the Collector to take possession of the land whereafter, the land vests absolutely in the Government free from all encumbrances. Till this stage of announcement of award and taking possession of the acquired land, the legislature has not put any obligation on the collector to pay the compensation amount either at the time of announcement of award or taking possession of the acquired land. It is only in the case of acquisition proceedings undertaken by invoking urgency clause under Section 17 of the Act of 1894 that it is mandatory to tender payment of 80% of compensation for land being acquired and pay it to the person interested unless prevented CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo19 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

byooneooromoreoofotheocontingenciesomentionedoinoSectiono31o(2)oofoActoofo 1894.o

23.k ooooooooooooTheopaymentoofocompensationoamountoisoprovidedoinoPartoVoofo theoActoofo1894.o Itocommenceso withoSectiono31,o whicho providesothatoono makingoanoawardounderoSectiono11,otheocollectoroshallotenderopaymentoofo compensationo too theo interestedo personso entitledo theretoo accordingo too theo awardoandoshallopayoitounlessopreventedobyooneooromoreoofotheocontingencieso mentionedoinoSuboSectiono(2)oofoSectiono31.oSectiono31oisoextractedohereino belowoforotheoreadyoreference:-oo "31.oPaymentoofocompensationoorodepositoofosameoinoCourt.o–oo

(1)oOnomakingoanoawardounderosectiono11,otheoCollectoroshallotendero paymento ofo theo compensationo awardedo byo himo too theo personso interestedoentitledotheretooaccordingotootheoawardoandoshallopayoitotoo themo unlesso preventedo byo someo oneo oro moreo ofo theo contingencieso mentionedoinotheonextosub-section.oo o

(2)oIfotheyoshallonotoconsentotooreceiveoit,ooroifothereobeonoopersono competentotooalienateotheoland,ooroifothereobeoanyodisputeoasotootheotitleo too receiveo theo compensationo oro aso too theo apportionmento ofo it,o theo CollectoroshallodepositotheoamountoofotheocompensationoinotheoCourtotoo whichoaoreferenceounderosectiono18owouldobeosubmitted:oo o Providedothatoanyopersonoadmittedotoobeointerestedomayoreceiveo suchopaymentounderoprotestoasotootheosufficiencyoofotheoamount:oo o Providedo alsoo thato noo persono whoo haso receivedo theo amounto otherwiseothanounderoprotestoshallobeoentitledotoomakeoanyoapplicationo underosectiono18:oProvidedoalsoothatonothingohereinocontainedoshallo affectotheoliabilityoofoanyoperson,owhoomayoreceiveotheowholeooroanyo partoofoanyocompensationoawardedounderothisoAct,otoopayotheosameotoo theopersonolawfullyoentitledothereto.oo o

(3)oNotwithstandingoanythingoinothisosectionotheoCollectoromay,owitho theosanctionoofotheo[appropriateoGovernment]oinsteadoofoawardingoao moneyocompensationoinorespectoofoanyoland,omakeoanyoarrangemento withoaopersonohavingoaolimitedointerestoinosucholand,oeitherobyotheo grantoofootherolandsoinoexchange,otheoremissionoofoland-revenueoono otherolandsoheldounderotheosameotitle,ooroinosuchootherowayoasomayobeo equitableohavingoregardotootheointerestsoofotheopartiesoconcerned.oo o

(4)oNothingoinotheolastoforegoingosub-sectionoshallobeoconstruedotoo interfereowithoorolimitotheopoweroofotheoCollectorotooenterointooanyo arrangementowithoanyopersonointerestedoinotheolandoandocompetentotoo contractoinorespectothereof."oo o CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 20 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

¶24The very opening line of the aforesaid provision i.e. 5ono ma/in.oanoa)ardoundero!e'tiono113 indicates that the stage of payment of compensation comes only after award under Section 11 is announced. It is after the announcement of award that Section 31(1) requires tender and payment, when the amount is made available to the land owner and in case State is prevented from making such payment owing to any of the three exigencies contemplated in Sub Section (2) of Section 31, the amount has to be deposited in the Court. Failure to do so on the part of the State will result in swinging into motion the provisions of Section 34 of the Act of 1894 which entails payment of interest owing to the delay but in no eventuality, will result into lapsing of the award having been announced validly under Section 11 of the Act of 1894. Much less to claim the award to be a nullity, as being sought to the projected by the counsel for the petitioners which has no legal basis and is completely misconceived. The view taken by us is finding support from a constitution bench judgment of the Apex Court in IndoreoDevelopmentoAuthorityo(supra) wherein the plea raised by the land owner claiming lapsing of award on account of non-payment of compensation and its non-deposit in the reference Court under Section 31 stood conclusively rejected. Relevant extract of the judgment is reproduced herein below:- o 52.117.o6aymentoofo'ompensationounderotheo1 94oA'toisoprovidedo foro*yo!e'tiono$1oofotheoA't+o)hi'hoisotoo*eoafteropassin.oofotheoa)ardo undero!e'tiono11.o-heoe7'eption+oisoino'aseoofour.en'youndero!e'tiono 17+oiso)hereoitohasotoo*eotenderedo*eforeota/in.opossession.o:nceoano awardoha!o/eenopa!!ed,otheoCollectoroi!o/oundotootenderotheopaymentoofo compen!ationo too theo per!on!o intere!tedo entitledo too it,o a!o foundo ino theo awardoando!hallopayoitotoothemounle!!o"prevented4o/yotheocontin.encie!o mentionedoino!u/-!ectiono*(+oofo'ectiono$1.o'ectiono$1*$+ocontain!oaonono o/!tanteoclau!eowhichoauthori!e!otheoCollectorowithotheo!anctionoofotheo appropriateo<overnment,oinotheointere!toofotheomajority,o/yotheo.rantoofo otheroland!oinoetichan.e,otheoremi!!ionoofolandorevenueoonootheroland!ooro ino!uchootherowayoa!omayo/eoe"uita/le.o CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo21 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

o 118.oSectiono 31(1)o enactso thato theo Collectoro haso too tendero paymentoofotheocompensationoawardedobyohimotootheopersonsointerestedo entitledotheretooaccordingotootheoawardoandoshallopayosuchoamountotooao personointerestedoinotheoland,ounlessoheo(theoCollector)oisopreventedofromo doingoso,oforoanyoofotheothreeocontingenciesoprovidedobyosub-sectiono(2).o Sectiono31(2)oprovidesoforodepositoofocompensationoinocourtoinocaseotheo Stateoisopreventedofromomakingopaymentoinotheoeventoof:o

(i)orefusalotooreceiveoit;o

(ii)oifothereobeonoopersonocompetentotooalienateotheoland;o

(iii)o ifo thereo iso anyo disputeo aso too theo titleo too receiveo theo compensation;ooro

(iv)oifothereoisodisputeoasotootheoapportionment.o Ino sucho exigencies,o theo Collectoro shallo deposito theo amounto ofo theo compensationoinotheocourtotoowhichoaoreferenceounderoSectiono18owouldo beosubmitted.o o 119.oSectiono 34o dealso witho ao situationo whereo anyo ofo theo obligationso undero Sectiono 31o iso noto fulfilledo i.e.o wheno theo amounto ofo compensationoisonotopaidoorodepositedoonoorobeforeotakingopossessionoofo theo land,o theo Collectoro shallo payo theo amounto awardedo witho interesto thereono@o9%op.a.ofromotheotimeoofosootakingopossessionountiloitoshallo haveobeenosoopaidoorodeposited;oandoafterooneoyearofromotheodateoono whicho possessiono isotaken,o interesto payableo shallo beo @o 15%op.a.o Theo schemeo ofo theo 1894o Acto clearlyo makeso ito outo thato wheno theo awardo iso passedounderoSectiono11,othereafteropossessionoisotakenoasoprovidedoundero Sectiono16,olandovestsoinotheoStateoGovernment.oUnderoSectiono12(2),oao noticeoofotheoawardohasotoobeoissuedobyotheoCollector.oTakingopossessionoiso notodependentouponopayment.oPaymentohasotoobeotenderedounderoSectiono 31ounlessotheoCollectoroiso"preventedofromomakingopayment",oasoprovidedo underoSectiono31(2).oInocaseoofofailureounderoSectiono31(1)ooro31(3),oalsoo Collectoroisonotoprecludedofromomakingopayment,obutoitocarriesointeresto underoSectiono34o@o9%oforotheofirstoyearofromotheodateoitooughtotoohaveo beenopaidoorodepositedoandothereaftero@o15%.oThus,oonceolandohasobeeno vestedo ino theo Stateo undero Sectiono 16,o ino caseo ofo failureo too payo theo compensationo undero Sectiono 31(1)o too deposito undero Sectiono 31(2),o compensationo haso too beo paido alongo witho interest,o ando dueo too non-complianceoofoSectiono31,othereoisonoolapseoofoacquisition.oTheosameo spiritohasobeenocarriedoforwardoinotheo2013oActobyoprovidingoinoSectiono 24(2).oOnceopossessionohasobeenotakenothoughotheopaymentohasonotobeeno made,otheocompensationohasotoobeopaidoalongowithointerestoasoenvisagedo underoSectiono34,oandoinoaocase,opaymentohasobeenomade,opossessionohaso notobeenotaken,othereoisonoolapseounderoSectiono24(2).oInoaocaseowhereo possessionohasobeenotakenounderotheo1894oActoasoprovidedobyoSectiono16o oro 17(1)o theo lando vestso absolutelyo ino theo State,o freeo fromo allo encumbrances,oifocompensationoisonotopaid,othereoisonoodivestingothereo willobeonoolapseoasocompensationocarriesointeresto@o9%ooro@o15%oaso envisagedounderoSectiono34oofotheo1894oAct.oTheoprovisootooSectiono24(2)o makeso someo wholesomeo provisiono ino caseo theo amounto haso noto beeno depositedowithorespectotoomajorityoofolandholdings,oinosuchoanoevent,onoto onlyo thoseo personso buto allo theo beneficiaries,o thougho foro minorityo ofo holdingo compensationo haso beeno paid,o shallo beo entitledo too highero compensationoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofotheo2013oAct.oTheo expressiono usedo iso "allo beneficiarieso specifiedo ino theo notificationo foro CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo22 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

acquisitionounderoSectiono4oofotheosaidoLandoAcquisitionoAct"oi.e.otheo 1894o Act,o meanso thato theo personso whoo areo too beo paido highero compensationoareothoseowhoohaveobeenorecordedoasobeneficiariesoasoono theodateoofonotificationounderoSectiono4.oTheoprovisoogivesoeffectoto,oando furthersotheoprincipleothatounderotheo1894oAct,otheopurchasesomadeoaftero issuanceoofonotificationounderoSectiono4oareovoid.oAsosuch,otheobenefitoofo higherocompensationounderotheoprovisootooSectiono24(2)oisointendedotoobeo givenotootheobeneficiariesomentionedoinotheonotificationounderoSectiono4oofo theo1894oAct.o o 120.oIto iso apparento fromo theo 1894oActo thato theo paymento ofo compensationoisodealtowithoinoPartoV,owhereasoacquisitionoisodealtowitho ino Parto II.o Paymento ofo compensationo iso noto madeo preconditiono foro takingo possessiono undero Sectiono 16o oro undero Sectiono 31o reado witho Sectiono 34.o Possessiono cano beo takeno beforeo tenderingo theo amounto exceptoinotheocaseoofourgency,oandodeposito(ofotheoamount)ohasotoofollowo inocaseotheoCollectoroisopreventedofromomakingopaymentoinoexigencieso asoprovidedoinoSectiono31(3).oWhatofollowsoisothatoinotheoeventoofonoto fulfillingotheoobligationotoopayoorotoodepositounderoSectionso31(1)oando 31(2),o theo 1894o Acto dido noto provideo foro lapseo ofo lando acquisitiono proceedings,o ando onlyo increasedo interesto followso witho paymento ofo compensation".o o

25.k ooooooooooooInoviewoofotheoabove,oitoisocrystaloclearothatotheopaymentoofo compensationo(eitherobyowayoofotender,opaymentotootheolandoowneroorodepositoo ino theo Referenceo Court)o iso ano evento whicho followso theo announcemento ofo award.oThus,oanyodelayoonotheopartoofotheoStateotoodischargeotheoobligationso towardsopaymentoofocompensationoinoeitheroofotheoform,opermittedounderolaw,o cannotoaffectotheovalidityoofotheoawardohavingobeenoannouncedoinoaccordanceo witholaw.oIfotheoargumentoofotheocounseloforotheopetitioneroisoacceptedo(whicho otherwiseostandsorejected)othatowouldomeanoputtingotheoclockobackowhichoiso notopermissibleoinolaw.oInotheocaseoatohand,oallothroughout,otheopetitionerso haveo maintainedo theiro challengeo ono theo toucho stoneo ofo deemingo lapsingo providingo undero Sectiono 24(2)o ofo theo Acto ofo 2013,o however,o havingo confrontedo witho theo expositiono ofo lawo ino Indoreo DevelopmentoAuthorityo (supra),otheyohaveosuddenlyochangedotheirocourseoandosoughtotoopleadotheo CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 23 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

¶26As a sequel of the aforesaid, as regards the plea of nullity of award, it is held that validity of award announced under section 11 of Act of 1894, consequential action of taking possession of the land under section 16 of Act of 1894 and vesting of same in the State Government is not dependent on compliance of the provisions of Section 31 of Act of 1894 which deals with Payment of compensation. In the scheme of the Act, the effect and consequence of non-compliance of section 31 of Act of 1894 is provided in section 34 of Act of 1894 i.e., payment of interest on the amount of compensation @ 9% per annum for the first year from the date of taking possession and thereafter @ 15% per annum. In no eventuality, does non-compliance of section 31 of Act of 1894 would render the award announced under section 11 of Act of 1894 a nullity or affect the vesting of land in the State Government in any manner.

¶27As far as the plea of lapsing is concerned, no declaration as regards the lapsing of acquisition proceedings can be made as none of the conditions prescribed in section 24(2) of Act of 2013 are fulfilled since the possession of the land stands duly taken by recording Rapat No. 20 dated

05.09.2005 and the compensation amount as awarded originally vide award dated 05.09.2005 has been received by the petitioners, rest of the amount is available for disbursement. Even the learned counsel appearing for petitioners does not disputes the fact that aspect of lapsing is covered against the petitioners in view of exposition made in IndoreoDevelopmentoAuthorityo v.oManoharlaloandootherso(!upra).

¶28Before parting with the judgment, there is yet another aspect which requires consideration which is "essentiality" of the land in question. As stated in para no. 8 of the reply, the land of the petitioners affects the site CiviloWritoPetitionoNo.o10947oofo2019 24 2023:PHHC:121449-DB

of 24 mtr. road, 12 mtr road, site of group housing as per the development plan. This shows that the land is very much viable for the public purpose for which it was acquired, thus, even considering the pre-eminence of the public purpose, present petition deserves to be dismissed as a litigant cannot be allowed to stall the development process for years altogether.

¶29As a sequel of the discussions made herein above, the instant petition is hereby dismissed and the pending application if any, shall also meet same fate.

(RAVI SHANKER JHA) CHIEF JUSTICE

(ARUN PALLI) JUDGE

21.07.2023 ravinder Whether speaking/reasoned √Yes/No Whether reportable √Yes/No