G.KRISHNARAJ Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr.D.Shivakumaran, learned counsel for the appellants; Mr.P.H.Aravind Pandiyan, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Anandhamoorthy, learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3; and Mr.P.T.Ramkumar, learned Standing Counsel for the 4th respondent.

(2.) These appeals have been filed against the common order passed in a batch of writ petitions, in W.P.Nos.37498 of 2017 and etc., batch dated 21.12.2018.

(3.) The appellants challenged the award passed by the third respondent, namely, the Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), Mass Rapid Transit System ? Phase II Extension, Thirumailai Station, Mylapore, Chennai, dated 20.09.2016. The lands owned by the appellants are situated in Adambakkam Village, Alandur Taluk, Kanchipuram District and the Government of Tamil Nadu issued a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as "the Central Act, 1894") stating that the lands are needed for a public purpose, to wit for the purpose of implementation of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) alignment between Velachery to St.Thomas Mount. The notification states that in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-Section (2) of Section 4 of the Central Act, 1894, the Government authorizes the third respondent, Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), MRTS, to exercise the powers conferred under the said sub-Section.