MURALIDHARAN NAIR Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both these cases relate to the dismissal of reference applications filed by the petitioners under S.18 of the Land Acquisition Act. The award notices were served on first and second petitioners in O. P. 3495/98 on 5.6.1996 and 7.6.1996. They filed the reference applications on 21.6.1996 and 11.7.1996. Similarly the notices were served on the petitioners in O. P. No. 23038/97 on 7.6.1996 and 5.6.1996. In both the cases reference applications were filed within six weeks from the date of receipt of the award of notice. But the Land Acquisition Officer rejected the reference application on the ground that these reference applications are beyond six months from the date of the award. The orders challenged in O. P. 3495-98 are Exts. P13 and P14. In the other O. P. the order challenged is Ext. P8. There is a prayer for direction in both these cases to refer the reference applications to court. Counter affidavit has been filed in both these cases. The justification or reasons for not to refer the case is that the reference applications were filed 6 months after the date of the award. S.18 of the Land Acquisition Act is as follows: