(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed by the petitioners ostensibly in public interest, who have essentially prayed, that the land, which belonged to them and had been acquired decades ago, should be released from acquisition. In order to substantiate this principal relief, the petitioners appear to have designed a plan and urged that the Agricultural Seed Multiplication farm which has been set up on the acquired land should be directed to function properly.
(2.) IN fact, on hearing the counsel for the petitioner and on perusal of the contents of the petition, it is obvious that the petitioners are essentially interested in the release of the acquired land and for this purpose, it has been alleged that the farm is not functioning properly. But even if the petitioners have genuinely raised a cause that the farm is not functioning properly, it was the duty of the petitioners to substantiate this part of the allegation by making out a case regarding mismanagement, which also is missing. Mere allegation that the farm is not functioning properly and hence the land should be released in favour of the land holders, i.e. the petitioners herein, obviously cannot be treated to be a public cause, as it clearly has been filed to suit the personal interest of the petitioners. The land having been acquired more than 20 years ago, the same cannot be ordered to be released by way of a public interest petition. This petition, therefore, is dismissed.