AYISHA BEEVI Vs. LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER CIVIL STATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are owners of properties comprised in Sy. Nos. 1829/11 and 1829/4 of Nedumangad Village, Thiruvanantahpuram District. An extent of 8.09 Ares of property in Sy. No. 1829/11 that belong to the petitioners 1 and 2 and an extent of 3.24 Ares of property in Sy. No. 1829/4 of Nedumangad Village that belongs to the 3rd petitioner were acquired by the respondents for the purpose of "E.E.C Assisted Market" at Nedumangad. The notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act is dated 16.06.1992. Thereafter, an award was passed by the Land Acquisition Officer on 30.04.1993. Dissatisfied with the amount awarded, the petitioners submitted applications under Section 18 of the Act for a reference to the Civil Court for the determination of the compensation due to them. However, they complain that their applications were not referred to the Civil Court, though they were submitted within the time stipulated by law.

(2.) According to the learned Government Pleader, the reference applications of the petitioners had been received and had been forwarded to the Sub Court, Thiruvananthapuram.

(3.) In view of the above stand taken by the respondents, a direction was issued by this Court to the Registry to obtain a report from the Sub Court, Thiruvananthapuram on the administrative side regarding the fate of the applications of the petitioners. Accordingly reports have been obtained from the Sub Court, Thiruvananthapuram as well as the Sub Court, Nedumangad. The reports form part of the record.