AVULA PAPAIAH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) None for the appellants.

(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.23637 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 admittedly the appellants were pattadars of the agricultural land measuring Acs.14.00 in Survey No.127 situated at Quthbullapur Village and Mandal, Ranga Reddy District. They have been in continuous possession of the said land. Subsequently, the General Manager, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited, has taken possession of the appellants' land measuring Acs.8.04 guntas in Survey No.127 (hereinafter referred to as, 'the subject land') as well as 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 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.