P CHANDRASEKHARA REDDY Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition is filed for a writ of mandamus to declare the inaction of the respondents in referring the claim of the petitioner under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, 'the Act')to the extent of his land acquired under Award No. 13 of 1984 dated 30/3/1984, as illegal and arbitrary.

(2.) HEARD Sri C. B. Rammohan Reddy, learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for land Acquisition.

(3.) AN extent of Ac. 2. 56 cents in sy. No. 3 of Boravelli Village, Manopad mandal, Mahabubnagar District belonging to the petitioner was acquired for providing house sites to the weaker sections. Award no. 13/1984 dated 30. 3. 1984 was passed fixing the market value at Rs. 2,500/- per acre. The petitioner was paid a sum of rs. 4,002/- on 17. 5. 1984 towards first instalment under protest. On the same day, he applied for reference of the dispute to civil Court under Section 18 of the Act regarding enhancement of market value. This was followed up by another request dated 20. 6. 1984. As no action was taken for more than 20 years, the petitioner caused legal notice dated 17. 6. 2005 issued to the respondents. Respondent No. 1 called for report from the Revenue Divisional Officer, gadwal and after considering report dated 16. 9. 2005 submitted by the Revenue divisional Officer, he rejected the petitioner's request on the ground that the claim suffers from laches.