V.NARAYANA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) None for the appellants. Ms. P.Bhavana Rao, learned Government Pleader for Land Acquisition for respondents No.2, 5, 6 and 7.

(2.) This intra court appeal emanates from an order dtd. 21/3/2006 passed by the learned Single Judge by which the writ petition preferred by the appellants, namely W.P.No.21788 of 2000, has been dismissed on the ground of delay and laches.

(3.) Facts giving rise to filing of this writ appeal briefly stated are that the appellants No.1 to 3 claim to be the legal heirs of one V.Venugopal Chary, who was the pattadar of land measuring Acs.26.00 in Survey No.128/2 situated at Quthbullapur Village and Mandal, Ranga Reddy District. Appellants No.4 to 7 are the legal heirs of G.Veeraiah, P.Bhoomaiah, N.Narsimha and Mr.Ramaiah respectively, who were assigned an extent of Acs.2.00 of land each in Survey Nos.133/2, 330/2, 332 and 331/9 situated at Quthbullapur Village and Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, vide Circular No.14 of 1954 under the Laoni Rules of 1950. The predecessors of the appellants were in continuous possession and enjoyment of their land till the same was taken possession by the General Manager, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited along with the land of the other villagers on 11/1/1962. The appellants thereupon filed the writ petition in the year 2000 assailing the action of the respondents No.3 to 6 in acquiring the land of the appellants No.1 to 3 in Survey Nos.128/2 measuring Acs.14.00 and appellants No.4 to 8 in Survey Nos.133/2, 330/2, 332, 331/9 and 331/12 measuring Acs.10.00 situated in Quthbullapur Village and Mandal, Ranga Reddy District (hereinafter referred to as, 'the subject land') without initiating any land acquisition proceedings and without payment of any compensation as illegal and arbitrary and violative of Article 300 A of the Constitution of India. The learned Single Judge by order dtd. 21/3/2006 inter alia held that the appellants have approached the Court after an inordinate delay of 38 years which disentitles them to any relief. In the aforesaid factual background, this writ appeal has been filed.