INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ITS REGISTRAR Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the Indian Maritime University through its Registrar. The petitioner seeks a declaration that an acquisition of 0.15.0 hectares of land comprised in S.No.3/494B of Uthandi Village, Shollinganallur Taluk, Kancheepuram District, covered by Award No.1/95 dated 14.08.1995 had lapsed.

(2.) It is averred in the affidavit filed in support of the petition that the National Institute of Port Management (NIPM), a Society, which required extensive of lands for its activities had purchased some some 20 acres of lands in comprised in Survey No.3/2B2 correlated to New Survey No.3/494-B of Uthandi village from a certain Ranganthan 21.07.1986,. Necessary mutation was carried out in the revenue records on 27.07.1988, and patta too was issued. The Society began its operation from the said campus and in the year 2006. It was re-christianed as National Maritime Academy and it was later converted into Indian Maritime University Vide an Act of the Parliament, that came into effect on 14.11.2008.

(3.) Be that as it may, sometime in the year 2015, the petitioner came to know that part of the property in Survey No.3/494-B was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 sometime in the year 1993 and an award was passed in August 1995, but without notice of acquisition at any stage prior to the same. In the meantime, a certain representative of Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation visited the University to inform the authorities that the road would be widened and the University might have to pull down its compound wall in Survey No.3/494-B. With much difficulty, the petitioner could obtain a copy of the award passed in the case from where it gathered information that the owner of the property in Survey No.3/494-B was indicated as petitioner's vendor Ranganathan,