BALBHIM Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) RULE returnable forthwith.

(2.) LEARNED Assistant Government Pleader, Mr. B.V. Wagh, waives service of Rule on behalf of respondent nos.1 to 3. Learned Counsel, Mr. H.I. Pathan, instructed by learned Counsel, Mr. P.P. Dama, waives service of Rule on behalf of respondent no.4. By consent taken up for hearing.

(3.) THE grievance of the petitioner is that though possession of the land was taken on 16th February 2003, formal procedure for acquisition of his land was not commenced and he was not paid any compensation. It appears that after our order dated 1st March 2012 passed in this petition, the respondents woke up and have sent the notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for publication in the Government Gazette on 13th January 2012. Though the affidavit of the respondent nos.2 and 3, dated 30th January 2011, does not specify the actual date of publication, we assume that the publication must have been made soon after 13th January 2012, when the respondent no.2 sent it to the Government Press for publication in the official gazette. As formal proceedings for acquisition of the land of the petitioner have been commenced with issuance of a notification dated 13th January 2012, the respondents are required to complete the acquisition proceedings expeditiously. Taking into consideration the long lapse of time between the date of possession and the date of issuance of a notification, we direct the respondents to complete the acquisition proceedings as expeditiously as possible, and in any event within two years hereof.