BHAGWAN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A bunch of writ petitions has been filed, which are being disposed off by the present judgment, challenging acquisition of land by the respondents under the relevant provisions of the Land Acquisition Act (hereinafter referred to as the said Act).

(2.) By Notification dated 27th January, 1984 issued under section 4 of the said Act, it was notified that land measuring about 3550 Hectares was proposed to be acquired for a public purpose, namely, for planned development of Delhi. This notification was followed by notification dated 18th Septembr, 1984 under section 6 of the said Act. The aforesaid two notifications related to land situated in 13 different villages which formed a compact plot. It is alleged by the petitioners that there was a news item which appeared on 21st May, 1986 in which it was stated that land would be allotted to different Group Housing Societies in the Palam area. In September, 1986 awards were made with regard to each of the 13 villages. The land which was to be acquired was mentioned therein.

(3.) There are 3 sets of writ petitions which havae been filed. In October/November, 1986 3 writ petitions were filed being C.W. Nos. 2122, 2634 and 1816 of 1986. One writ petition was filed in 1987, another was filed in 1988 but as many as 11 writ petitions were filed in 1989. Most of the writ petitions which have been filed pertain to village Nasirpur though there are two other petitions which pertain to Kakrola and Badgola. In dealing with the common contentions, in this judgment, we are, therefore, referring to the award with relation to the village Nasirpur. As we will presently sec, the facts with relation to the two other villages are not very different.