2025 INSC 407
SUPREME COURT
OF INDIA
(HON’BLE B.V.
NAGARATHNA, J. AND HON’BLE SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA, JJ.)
STATE OF
HARYANA & OTHERS
Appellants
VERSUS
AALAMGIR 8B
OTHERS
Respondent
Civil Appeal No. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.32689 of 2018) WITH CIVIL APPEAL
NOS.401-403 OF 2024 CIVIL APPEAL NO.2220 of 2024 CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9553 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025
(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9554 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL
NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16448 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.22215 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16462 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.28518 of 2017) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 26841 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.28697 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.
28698 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.30627 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 22213 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 22221 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.32100 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos.22216-22217 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.
OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out
of Diary No.32119 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.32369 of 2017) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16454 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16440 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) Nos. 16294-16297 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos.22218-22219 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.
OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16281 of 2024) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16284 of
2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16283 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. 16293 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16282 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16321 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16291 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16288 of 2024) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.37830 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16316 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.26842 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16315 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No.37948 of 2017) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. 16313 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16314 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 16303-16312 of 2024 CIVIL APPEAL NO.
OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16275 of 2024) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16280 of
2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16298 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. 16456 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16279 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16277 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16437 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16276 of 2024) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16302 of
2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16292 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. 16301 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16299 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 16266-16270 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL
NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16445 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.30 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.39 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.26833 of
2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
Nos.26835-26839 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.2691 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL
NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.3661 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.5317 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.5319 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.5941of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.6950 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16435 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16453 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16464 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16442 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16443 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16449 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. 16436 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16441 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16459 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 16451 of 2018) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 19843 of
2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.23152 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.23156
of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.23157 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No.23161 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.8876 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL
NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9787 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9788 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No.9789 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.5437 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.29106 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.28377
of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No.5550 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.24250 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos.26833-26839 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.7997 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.7999 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No.31944 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.31946 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.8003 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.8880
of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. 10236 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No.9790 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9791 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10228 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 14950 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10808 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 16733 of 2024) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18345 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 18349 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18352 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18354 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.
18355 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18357 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No. 18359 of 2019 CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18367 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 18369 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18373 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18908 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.
18912 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18928 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No. 18960 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 19565 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 19598 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 19751 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 19829 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20291
of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20292 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20293
of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20296 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No.20585 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.24835 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20755 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.24990 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.2454/2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.2554/2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.29104 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.29107 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.29108 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.36905 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) (C) No.30217 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.30218 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 151 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No.6582 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 12898 of
2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.25051 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 1099
of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.27679 of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No.28405 of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.29160 of 2021) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.29614 of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.31454 of 2021) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.31463 of 2021) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.31552 of 2021) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 149 of 2022) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.22628 of 2022) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No.22632 of 2022) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.22636 of 2022) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 18908 of 2023) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 19265 of
2023) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
Nos. 19325-19328 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.21895 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10198 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.7993 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025
(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.32691 of 2018) CIVIL APPEAL
NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 1541 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.4232 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No.2991 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No.4228 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.5257 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.8002 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025
(Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary
No.8670 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No.9556 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. 10227 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.9786 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10231 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10807 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 10993 of
2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. 11859 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave
Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No. 18364 of 2019) CIVIL
APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising
out of Diary No. 18371 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of
Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 14271 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.28351
of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No.28204 of 2019) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special
Leave Petition (Civil) No.6563 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out
of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.24255 of
2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil)
No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.28725 of 2020) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising
out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.
18989 of 2023) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of Diary No.20110 of 2023) CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF
2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. of 2025 arising out of
Diary No.60331 of 2024)-Decided on 18-03-2025
Land
Acquisition
Land
Acquisition Act, 1894, Section 4, 6 – Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013,
Section 24(2) - Land acquisition – Lapse of proceedings – Challenge as to – Cases decided by High Court relying
upon judgment of Apex Court in the case of Pune Municipal Corporation vs.
Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, (2014) 3 SCC 183 - Thereafter, the matter was
considered by a five-Judge Bench of Apex Court which was the case of Indore
Development Authority vs. Manoharlal, (2020) 8 SCC 129 ("Indore
Development Authority"), which overruled the earlier judgment of this
Court in Pune Municipal Corporation - Determination of the factual aspects in
each of these cases would inevitably call for the consideration of the original
records and hearing of the arguments by the respective parties on the factual
aspects of each of these cases - In the circumstances, find it just and proper
to set aside the impugned orders and remand these matters to the High Court for
reconsideration of the Writ Petitions filed by the respondents- land
owners/subsequent purchasers and to dispose of those Writ Petitions on the
basis of the recent judgment of this Court in Indore Development Authority by
applying the ratio and the observations of the said judgment to the facts of
each case as they emanate in each of the cases - Order of status quo which were
prevailing in those cases may be continued till the disposal of the writ
petitions by the High Court - Liberty to the respondents-land owners/subsequent
purchasers to raise all available contentions with regard to the validity of
the acquisition which have been undertaken under the LA Act of 1894 before the
High Court – Those contentions would be considered on their own merits de hors
any contention raised under sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the 2013 Act.
(Para 9 to 15)
ORDER
1. Applications seeking
condonation of delay in filing applications for setting-aside abatement in the
case of deceased respondents/parties are allowed. Abatement is set-aside.
Consequently, the applications seeking substitution of the legal
representatives of the deceased respondents/parties are allowed.
1.1 Amended memos of parties
shall be filed either by the learned counsel for the appellant-State or by the
learned counsel who are appearing for the respondents.
1.2 The applications for
condonation of delay in filing the Special Leave Petitions have been filed by
the State of Haryana and other parties.
1.3 Learned counsel for the
State submitted that in certain cases, delay in filing the Special Leave
Petitions has been condoned subject to payment of costs in the range of Rs.
10,000/- etc. In certain other cases, the delay has been condoned without
imposition of any costs as such.
1.4 In some of these cases,
the applications have been allowed and the delay has been condoned subject to
payment of costs in certain cases. The details of the said cases are given in a
tabular form as under:
|
Sr. No. |
Item No. |
Case No. |
Delay in Filing the SLP(s)
(In Days) |
|
01 |
28 |
SLP(C) No.32689/2018 |
257 |
|
02 |
28.3 |
SLP(C) No. 16448/2018 |
156 |
|
03 |
28.4 |
SLP(C) No.22215/2018 |
176 |
|
04 |
28.5 |
SLP(C) No. 16462/2018 |
156 |
|
05 |
28.7 |
SLP(C) No.26841/2018 |
189 |
|
06 |
28.11 |
SLP(C) No.22213/2018 |
218 |
|
07 |
28.12 |
SLP(C) No.22221/2018 |
213 |
|
08 |
28.14 |
SLP(C)
Nos.22216-22217/2018 |
198 |
|
09 |
28.17 |
SLP(C) No. 16454/2018 |
220 |
|
10 |
28.18 |
SLP(C) No. 16440/2018 |
204 |
|
11 |
28.19 |
SLP(C) Nos.
16294-16297/2024 |
214 |
|
12 |
28.20 |
SLP(C)
Nos.22218-22219/2018 |
233 |
|
13 |
28.21 |
SLP(C) No. 16281/2024 |
237 |
|
14 |
28.22 |
SLP(C) No. 16284/2024 |
237 |
|
15 |
28.23 |
SLP(C) No. 16283/2024 |
237 |
|
16 |
28.24 |
SLP(C) No. 16293/2024 |
286 |
|
17 |
28.25 |
SLP(C) No. 16282/2024 |
224 |
|
18 |
28.26 |
SLP(C) No. 16321/2024 |
145 |
|
19 |
28.27 |
SLP(C) No. 16291/2024 |
248 |
|
20 |
28.28 |
SLP(C) No. 16288/2024 |
248 |
|
21 |
28.30 |
SLP(C) No. 16316/2024 |
252 |
|
22 |
28.31 |
SLP(C) No.26842/2018 |
252 |
|
23 |
28.32 |
SLP(C) No. 16315/2024 |
254 |
|
24 |
28.34 |
SLP(C) No. 16313/2024 |
254 |
|
25 |
28.35 |
SLP(C) No. 16314/2024 |
254 |
|
26 |
28.36 |
SLP(C) Nos.
16303-16312/2024 |
269 |
|
27 |
28.37 |
SLP(C) No. 16275/2024 |
273 |
|
28 |
28.38 |
SLP(C) No. 16280/2024 |
267 |
|
Sr. No. |
Item No. |
Case No. |
Delay in Filing the SLP(s)
(In Days) |
|
29 |
28.39 |
SLP(C) No. 16298/2024 |
267 |
|
30 |
28.40 |
SLP(C) No. 16456/2018 |
267 |
|
31 |
28.41 |
SLP(C) No. 16279/2024 |
267 |
|
32 |
28.42 |
SLP(C) No. 16277/2024 |
267 |
|
33 |
28.43 |
SLP(C) No. 16437/2018 |
267 |
|
34 |
28.44 |
SLP(C) No. 16276/2024 |
267 |
|
35 |
28.45 |
SLP(C) No. 16302/2024 |
267 |
|
36 |
28.46 |
SLP(C) No. 16292/2024 |
245 |
|
37 |
28.47 |
SLP(C) No. 16301/2024 |
245 |
|
38 |
28.48 |
SLP(C) No. 16299/2024 |
245 |
|
39 |
28.49 |
SLP(C) Nos.
16266-16270/2024 |
246 |
|
40 |
28.50 |
SLP(C) No. 16445/2018 |
284 |
|
41 |
28.53 |
SLP(C) No.26833/2024 |
276 |
|
42 |
28.54 |
SLP(C)
Nos.26835-26839/2024 |
281 |
|
43 |
28.61 |
SLP(C) No. 16435/2018 |
459 |
|
44 |
28.62 |
SLP(C) No. 16453/2018 |
440 |
|
45 |
28.63 |
SLP(C) No. 16464/2018 |
406 |
|
46 |
28.64 |
SLP(C) No. 16442/2018 |
489 |
|
47 |
28.65 |
SLP(C) No. 16443/2018 |
406 |
|
48 |
28.66 |
SLP(C) No. 16449/2018 |
406 |
|
49 |
28.67 |
SLP(C) No. 16436/2018 |
407 |
|
50 |
28.68 |
SLP(C) No. 16441/2018 |
398 |
|
51 |
28.69 |
SLP(C) No. 16459/2018 |
492 |
|
52 |
28.70 |
SLP(C) No. 16451/2018 |
462 |
|
53 |
28.71 |
SLP(C) No. 19843/2018 |
465 |
|
54 |
28.77 |
SLP(C) No. 9787/2019 |
390 |
|
55 |
28.78 |
SLP(C) No. 9788/2019 |
341 |
|
56 |
28.79 |
SLP(C) No. 9789/2019 |
341 |
|
57 |
28.80 |
SLP(C) No. 5437/2020 |
848 |
|
58 |
28.81 |
SLP(C) No. 29106/2019 |
949 |
|
59 |
28.83 |
SLP(C) No. 5550/2018 |
112 |
|
60 |
28.84 |
SLP(C) No. 24250/2018 |
195 |
|
61 |
28.85 |
SLP(C) No.
26833-26839/2018 |
188 |
|
62 |
28.86 |
SLP(C) No. 7997/2019 |
110 |
|
63 |
28.87 |
SLP(C) No. 7999/2019 |
114 |
|
64 |
28.88 |
SLP(C) No. 31944/2018 |
556 |
|
65 |
28.89 |
SLP(C) No. 31946/2018 |
559 |
|
66 |
28.90 |
SLP(C) No. 8003/2019 |
715 |
|
67 |
28.92 |
SLP(C) No. 10236/2019 |
390 |
|
68 |
28.93 |
SLP(C) No. 9790/2019 |
341 |
|
69 |
28.94 |
SLP(C) No. 9791/2019 |
341 |
|
70 |
28.95 |
SLP(C) No. 10228/2019 |
390 |
|
Sr. No. |
Item No. |
Case No. |
Delay in Filing the SLP(s)
(In Days) |
|
71 |
28.96 |
SLP(C) No. 14950/2019 |
404 |
|
72 |
28.97 |
SLP(C) No. 10808/2019 |
337 |
|
73 |
28.98 |
SLP(C) No. 16733/2024 |
349 |
|
74 |
28.122 |
SLP(C) No. 24835/2019 |
447 |
|
75 |
28.125 |
SLP(C) No. 2454/2020 |
526 |
|
76 |
28.126 |
SLP(C) No. 2554/2020 |
527 |
|
77 |
28.127 |
SLP(C) No. 29104/2019 |
588 |
|
78 |
28.128 |
SLP(C) No. 29107/2019 |
582 |
|
79 |
28.129 |
SLP(C) No. 29108/2019 |
946 |
|
80 |
28.133 |
SLP(C) No. 30217/2019 |
596 |
|
81 |
28.134 |
SLP(C) No. 30218/2019 |
556 |
|
82 |
28.136 |
SLP(C) No. 6582/2020 |
692 |
|
83 |
28.157 |
C.A. No. 401-403/2024 |
188 |
|
84 |
28.158 |
SLP(C) No.
19325-19328/2019 |
211, 225, 226 |
|
85 |
28.159 |
SLP(C) No. 21895/2018 |
249 |
|
86 |
28.161 |
SLP(C) No. 10198/2019 |
26 |
|
87 |
28.162 |
SLP(C) No. 7993/2019 |
111 |
|
88 |
28.163 |
C.A. No. 2220/2024 |
494 |
|
89 |
28.164 |
SLP(C) No. 32691/2018 |
257 |
|
90 |
28.165 |
SLP(C) No. 1541/2019 |
281 |
|
91 |
28.166 |
SLP(C) No. 4232/2019 |
617 |
|
92 |
28.167 |
SLP(C) No. 2991/2019 |
316 |
|
93 |
28.168 |
SLP(C) No. 4228/2019 |
316 |
|
94 |
28.169 |
SLP(C) No. 5257/2019 |
360 |
|
95 |
28.171 |
SLP(C) No. 8002/2019 |
715 |
|
96 |
28.173 |
SLP(C) No. 9556/2019 |
390 |
|
97 |
28.174 |
SLP(C) No. 10227/2019 |
390 |
|
98 |
28.175 |
SLP(C) No. 9786/2019 |
341 |
|
99 |
28.176 |
SLP(C) No. 10231/2019 |
408 |
|
100 |
28.177 |
SLP(C) No. 10807/2019 |
322 |
|
101 |
28.178 |
SLP(C) No. 10993/2019 |
333 |
|
102 |
28.179 |
SLP(C) No. 11859/2019 |
333 |
|
103 |
28.182 |
SLP(C) No. 14271/2020 |
519 |
|
104 |
28.184 |
SLP(C) No. 28204/2019 |
513 |
|
105 |
28.185 |
SLP(C) No. 6563/2020 |
772 |
1.5
The extent of delay in all these above cases is also noted by us. In the
following cases there is no delay in filing the Special Leave Petitions:
|
Sr. |
No. |
Item |
No. |
|
|
Case No. |
|
|
1. |
28. |
1 |
SLP(C) |
No |
.9553/2017 |
|
|
2. |
28. |
2 |
SLP(C) |
No |
.9554/2017 |
1.6 Having regard to the
nature of the order which we propose to pass in these cases, we condone the
delay in those Special Leave Petitions where applications are pending for
condonation of delay. Consequently, in these cases where delay has not yet been
condoned, the applications are allowed and the delay in filing the Special
Leave Petitions is condoned, subject to payment of costs which is determined as
follows:
|
S. No. |
Delay in Filing the SLPs |
Costs Imposed per SLP (In
Rs.) |
|
01. |
Upto 200 Days |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
02. |
201 - 500 Days |
Rs. 10,000/- |
|
03. |
501- 1000 Days |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
04. |
1001-1500 Days |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
05. |
1501 -2500 Days |
Rs.40,000/- |
|
06. |
2501 -3000 Days |
Rs.50,000/- |
1.7 In view of the above
determination, the costs are ordered to be imposed in the following matters
where delay has not been condoned:
|
Sr. No. |
Item No. |
Case No(s). |
Delay In Filing the SLP(s)
(In Days) |
Costs Imposed per SLP |
|
01 |
28.6 |
Diary No.28518 of 2017 |
190 |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
02 |
28.8 |
Diary No.28697 of 2017 |
186 |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
03 |
28.9 |
Diary No.28698 of 2017 |
187 |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
04 |
28.10 |
Diary No.30627 of 2017 |
192 |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
05 |
28.13 |
Diary No.32100 of 2017 |
220 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
06 |
28.15 |
Diary No.32119 of 2017 |
180 |
Rs.5,000/- |
|
07 |
28.16 |
Diary No.32369 of 2017 |
223 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
08 |
28.29 |
Diary No.37830 of 2017 |
253 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
09 |
28.33 |
Diary No.37948 of 2017 |
251 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
10 |
28.51 |
Diary No.30 of 2018 |
310 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
11 |
28.52 |
Diary No.39 of 2018 |
298 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
12 |
28.55 |
Diary No.2691 of 2018 |
327 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
13 |
28.56 |
Diary No.3661 of 2018 |
295 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
14 |
28.57 |
Diary No.5317 of 2018 |
310 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
15 |
28.58 |
Diary No.5319 of 2018 |
310 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
16 |
28.59 |
Diary No.5941 of 2018 |
313 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
17 |
28.60 |
Diary No.6950 of 2018 |
320 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
18 |
28.72 |
Diary No.23152 of 2018 |
480 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
19 |
28.73 |
Diary No.23156 of 2018 |
459 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
20 |
28.74 |
Diary No.23157 of 2018 |
478 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
21 |
28.75 |
Diary No.23161 of 2018 |
468 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
22 |
28.76 |
Diary No.8876 of 2019 |
737 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
23 |
28.82 |
Diary No.28377 of 2021 |
783 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
24 |
28.91 |
Diary No.8880 of 2019 |
723 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
25 |
28.99 |
Diary No. 18345 of 2019 |
380 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
26 |
28.100 |
Diary No. 18349 of 2019 |
471 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
27 |
28.101 |
Diary No. 18352 of 2019 |
457 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
28 |
28.102 |
Diary No. 18354 of 2019 |
440 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
29 |
28.103 |
Diary No. 18355 of 2019 |
457 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
30 |
28.104 |
Diary No. 18357 of 2019 |
428 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
31 |
28.105 |
Diary No. 18359 of 2019 |
380 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
32 |
28.106 |
Diary No. 18367 of 2019 |
428 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
33 |
28.107 |
Diary No. 18369 of 2019 |
391 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
34 |
28.108 |
Diary No. 18373 of 2019 |
440 |
Rs. 10,000/- |
|
35 |
28.109 |
Diary No. 18908 of 2019 |
474 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
36 |
28.110 |
Diary No. 18912 of 2019 |
443 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
37 |
28.111 |
Diary No. 18928 of 2019 |
394 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
38 |
28.112 |
Diary No. 18960 of 2019 |
446 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
39 |
28.113 |
Diary No. 19565 of 2019 |
453 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
40 |
28.114 |
Diary No. 19598 of 2019 |
453 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
41 |
28.115 |
Diary No. 19751 of 2019 |
393 |
Rs. 10,000/- |
|
Sr. No. |
Item No. |
Case No(s). |
Delay In Filing the SLP(s)
(In Days) |
Costs Imposed per SLP |
|
42 |
28.116 |
Diary No. 19829 of 2019 |
394 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
43 |
28.117 |
Diary No.20291 of 2019 |
449 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
44 |
28.118 |
Diary No.20292 of 2019 |
440 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
45 |
28.119 |
Diary No.20293 of 2019 |
455 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
46 |
28.120 |
Diary No.20296 of 2019 |
449 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
47 |
28.121 |
Diary No.20585 of 2019 |
444 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
48 |
28.123 |
Diary No.20755 of 2019 |
449 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
49 |
28.124 |
Diary No.24990 of 2019 |
609 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
50 |
28.130 |
Diary No.36905 of 2019 |
588 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
51 |
28.135 |
Diary No. 151 of 2020 |
1045 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
52 |
28.137 |
Diary No. 12898 of 2020 |
818 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
53 |
28.138 |
Diary No.25051 of 2020 |
1357 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
54 |
28.139 |
Diary No. 1099 of 2021 |
1049 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
55 |
28.140 |
Diary No.27679 of 2021 |
776 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
56 |
28.142 |
Diary No.28405 of 2021 |
399 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
57 |
28.143 |
Diary No.29160 of 2021 |
783 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
58 |
28.145 |
Diary No.29614 of 2021 |
800 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
59 |
28.146 |
Diary No.31454 of 2021 |
809 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
60 |
28.147 |
Diary No.31463 of 2021 |
802 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
61 |
28.148 |
Diary No.31552 of 2021 |
761 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
62 |
28.149 |
Diary No. 149 of 2022 |
1400 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
63 |
28.152 |
Diary No.22628 of 2022 |
836 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
64 |
28.153 |
Diary No.22632 of 2022 |
1237 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
65 |
28.154 |
Diary No.22636 of 2022 |
836 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
66 |
28.155 |
Diary No. 18908 of 2023 |
2936 |
Rs.50,000/- |
|
67 |
28.156 |
Diary No. 19265 of 2023 |
2939 |
Rs.50,000/- |
|
68 |
28.172 |
Diary No.8670 of 2019 |
722 |
Rs.20,000/- |
|
69 |
28.180 |
Diary No. 18364 of 2019 |
380 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
70 |
28.181 |
Diary No. 18371 of 2019 |
391 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
71 |
28.183 |
Diary No.28351 of 2019 |
465 |
Rs.10,000/- |
|
72 |
28.186 |
Diary No.24255 of 2020 |
1379 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
73 |
28.187 |
Diary No.28725 of 2020 |
1394 |
Rs.30,000/- |
|
74 |
28.190 |
Diary No. 18989 of 2023 |
2937 |
Rs.50,000/- |
|
75 |
28.191 |
Diary No.20110 of 2023 |
2296 |
Rs.40,000/- |
|
76 |
28.192 |
Diary No.60331 of 2024 |
753 |
Rs.20,000/- |
The
costs imposed shall be deposited with the Supreme Court Mediation Centre on or
before 05.05.2025.
2. Leave granted.
3. These appeals assail the
orders passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in several writ petitions in
respect of acquisition of various parcels of land from time to time by issuance
of notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for
short "LA Act, 1894"). The respondents- land owners/subsequent
purchasers have assailed the acquisition process. It may be that in certain
cases the contentions with regard to the validity of the acquisition were
raised in the Writ Petitions filed by them. However, the fact remains that
pursuant to the enforcement of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency
in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter
referred to as "2013 Act"), fresh Writ Petitions were filed seeking
relief under sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the 2013 Act. In certain cases,
amendments to the pending Writ Petitions may have also been made while in
certain other Writ Petitions while assailing the process of acquisition under
Sections 4 and 6 as well as under other provisions of the 1894 Act,
applications seeking relief under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act have also been
made. Various contentions were also raised under sub-section (2) of Section 24
of the 2013 Act before the High Court.
4. At this stage, it is
necessary to note that this Court, in the case of Pune Municipal Corporation
vs. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, (2014) 3 SCC 183 ("Pune Municipal
Corporation") had interpreted sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the 2013
Act by granting relief on the basis of the said interpretation. Thereafter, the
matter was considered by a five-Judge Bench of this Court which was the case of
Indore Development Authority vs. Manoharlal, (2020) 8 SCC 129 ("Indore
Development Authority"), which set aside the earlier judgment of this
Court in Pune Municipal Corporation. Paragraphs 365 to 367 of the judgment in
Indore Development Authority are extracted as under:
"365.
Resultantly, the decision rendered in Pune Municipal Corpn. [Pune Municipal
Corpn. v. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, (2014) 3 SCC 183 : (2014) 2 SCC (Civ)
274] is hereby overruled and all other decisions in which Pune Municipal Corpn.
[Pune Municipal Corpn. v. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, (2014) 3 SCC 183 :
(2014) 2 SCC (Civ) 274] has been followed, are also overruled. The decision in
Sree Balaji Nagar Residential Assn. [Sree Balaji Nagar Residential Assn. v.
State of T.N., (2015) 3 SCC 353: (2015) 2 SCC (Civ) 298] cannot be said to be
laying down good law, is overruled and other decisions following the same are
also overruled. In Indore Development Authority v. Shailendra [Indore
Development Authority v. Shailendra, (2018) 3 SCC 412 : (2018) 2 SCC (Civ) 426]
, the aspect with respect to the proviso to Section 24(2) and whether
"or" has to be read as "nor" or as "and" was not
placed for consideration. Therefore, that decision too cannot prevail, in the
light of the discussion in the present judgment.
366.
In view of the aforesaid discussion, we answer the questions as under:
366.1
Under the provisions of Section 24(1)(a) in case the award is not made as on
1-1-2014, the date of commencement of the 2013 Act, there is no lapse of
proceedings. Compensation has to be determined under the provisions of the 2013
Act.
366.2
In case the award has been passed within the window period of five years
excluding the period covered by an interim order of the court, then proceedings
shall continue as provided under Section 24(1)(b) of the 2013 Act under the
1894 Act as if it has not been repealed.
366.3
The word "or" used in Section 24(2) between possession and
compensation has to be read as "nor" or as "and". The
deemed lapse of land acquisition proceedings under Section 24(2) of the 2013
Act takes place where due to inaction of authorities for five years or more
prior to commencement of the said Act, the possession of land has not been
taken nor compensation has been paid. In other words, in case possession has
been taken, compensation has not been paid then there is no lapse. Similarly,
if compensation has been paid, possession has not been taken then there is no
lapse.
366.4
The expression "paid" in the main part of Section 24(2) of the 2013
Act does not include a deposit of compensation in court. The consequence of
non-deposit is provided in the proviso to Section 24(2) in case it has not been
deposited with respect to majority of landholdings then all beneficiaries
(landowners) as on the date of notification for land acquisition under Section
4 of the 1894 Act shall be entitled to compensation in accordance with the
provisions of the 2013 Act. In case the obligation under Section 31 of the Land
Acquisition Act, 1894 has not been fulfilled, interest under Section 34 of the
said Act can be granted. Non-deposit of compensation (in court) does not result
in the lapse of land acquisition proceedings. In case of non-deposit with
respect to the majority of holdings for five years or more, compensation under
the 2013 Act has to be paid to the "landowners" as on the date of
notification for land acquisition under Section 4 of the 1894 Act.
366.5
In case a person has been tendered the compensation as provided under Section
31(1) of the 1894 Act, it is not open to him to claim that acquisition has
lapsed under Section 24(2) due to non-payment or non-deposit of compensation in
court. The obligation to pay is complete by tendering the amount under Section
31(1). The landowners who had refused to accept compensation or who sought
reference for higher compensation, cannot claim that the acquisition
proceedings had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act.
366.6
The proviso to Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act is to be treated as part of
Section 24(2), not part of Section
366.7
The mode of taking possession under the 1894 Act and as contemplated under
Section 24(2) is by drawing of inquest report/memorandum. Once award has been
passed on taking possession under Section 16 of the 1894 Act, the land vests in
State there is no divesting provided under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act, as
once possession has been taken there is no lapse under Section 24(2).
366.8
The provisions of Section 24(2) providing for a deemed lapse of proceedings are
applicable in case authorities have failed due to their inaction to take
possession and pay compensation for five years or more before the 2013 Act came
into force, in a proceeding for land acquisition pending with the authority
concerned as on 1-1-2014. The period of subsistence of interim orders passed by
court has to be excluded in the computation of five years.
366.9.
Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act does not give rise to new cause of action to
question the legality of concluded proceedings of land acquisition. Section 24
applies to a proceeding pending on the date of enforcement of the 2013 Act i.e.
1-1-2014. It does not revive stale and time-barred claims and does not reopen
concluded proceedings nor allow landowners to question the legality of mode of
taking possession to reopen proceedings or mode of deposit of compensation in
the treasury instead of court to invalidate acquisition.
367.
Let the matters be placed before appropriate Bench for consideration on
merits."
5. It must be mentioned at
this stage that in some of the impugned judgments, the High Court has followed
the earlier judgment of this Court in Pune Municipal Corporation and has
granted relief to the respondents-land owners/ subsequent purchasers.
6. Being aggrieved by the
said orders, the State of Haryana and others have preferred these appeals.
7. We wish to observe that
if, today, these appeals have to be considered on merits then obviously the
judgment passed by the five-Judge Bench of this Court in the case of Indore
Development
8. Authority would have to
be applied to the facts of each case. It would call for a determination of
facts as stated in Paragraphs 366.3 and 366.4 of the said judgment as well as
the other relevant paragraphs of the said judgment.
9. The determination of the
factual aspects in each of these cases would inevitably call for the
consideration of the original records and hearing of the arguments by the
respective parties on the factual aspects of each of these cases. In the
circumstances, we find it just and proper to set aside the impugned orders and
remand these matters to the High Court for reconsideration of the Writ
Petitions filed by the respondents- land owners/subsequent purchasers and to
dispose of those Writ Petitions on the basis of the recent judgment of this
Court in Indore Development Authority by applying the ratio and the
observations of the said judgment to the facts of each case as they emanate in
each of the cases.
10. At this stage, learned
senior counsel and learned counsel for the respondents submitted that during
the pendency of the Writ Petitions before the High Court and thereafter during
the pendency of these appeals before this Court the respondents had the benefit
of orders of status quo. Since this Court is remanding the matters to the High
Court, the said orders of status quo may be continued in those cases where such
orders prevail till the disposal of the writ petitions.
11. Learned Solicitor
General appearing for the appellants very fairly submitted that since this
Court is remanding the matters to the High Court, the order of status quo which
were prevailing in those cases may be continued till the disposal of the writ
petitions by the High Court.
12. In the circumstances, we
find that the order of status quo prevailing in the Writ Petitions preferred by
the respondents herein ought to continue till the disposal of the Writ
Petitions by the High Court.
13. Learned senior counsel
and learned counsel appearing for the respondents-land owners/ subsequent
purchasers further submitted that there were certain contentions raised with
regard to the validity of the acquisition itself inasmuch as the process
undertaken under Sections 4 and 6 and other provisions of the LA Act 1894 were
also assailed apart from contentions being raised under sub-section (2) of
Section 24 of the 2013 Act. That since the High Court has disposed of the writ
petitions and granted relief on the basis of the earlier judgment of this Court
in Pune Municipal Corporation, the validity of the acquisition as such may not
have been gone into, inasmuch as only sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the 2013
Act may have been applied and relief may have been granted to the parties.
Therefore, liberty may be reserved to the respondents to raise all available
contentions on the validity of the acquisition itself.
14. Take note of the said
contention in such cases, we reserve liberty to the respondents-land
owners/subsequent purchasers to raise all available contentions with regard to
the validity of the acquisition which have been undertaken under the LA Act of
1894 before the High Court. It is needless to observe that those contentions
would be considered on their own merits de hors any contention raised under
sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the 2013 Act.
15. It was further contended
by learned senior counsel and learned counsel for the respondents-land
owners/subsequent purchasers that between the period of the impugned orders of
the High court and today when the matters are being remanded to the High Court
for reconsideration there have been certain developments, there may be third
party rights created, there may be other developmental activities which have
taken place on the land sought to be acquired. This is because there may have
been quashing of the acquisition notifications and/or orders being passed by
holding that there was lapse of acquisition under sub section (2) of Section 24
of the 2013 Act and further on the basis of other contentions which were
accepted by the High Court and there may also have been release of those lands
to the respondents-land owners/ subsequent purchasers as a consequence.
16. Learned senior counsel
and learned counsel for respondents- land owners/subsequent purchasers
contended that having regard to the long lapse of time between the quashing of
the acquisition or a declaration that they have lapsed and the matters now
being remanded to the High court for reconsideration and there being subsequent
developments with regard to the subject land in question, liberty may be
reserved to the respondents-land owners/subsequent purchasers to raise all
contentions on the basis of equity and in accordance with law. We find that
such a request made is reasonable and in the circumstances, we reserve liberty
to the respondents-land owners/subsequent purchasers to raise those contentions
before the High Court. Obviously appellant-State will have an opportunity to
also oppose those contentions in accordance with law.
17. It is further noted that
in certain cases there may be death of the respondents-land owners/ subsequent
purchasers and there has been no application filed for substitution of the
deceased before this Court. Since we are remanding the matters to the High
Court, it is obvious that the High Court will issue fresh notices to the
respondents-land owners/ subsequent purchasers if they have not appeared before
the High Court in those cases and where there is demise of any respondent, the
legal heirs have to be impleaded having regard to the applications that are to
be filed wherever there are no applications filed for impleadment of legal
heirs of deceased respondents herein.
In respect of other cases
where the parties are represented by their respective counsel before this
Court, we find that they ought to be permitted to appear before the High Court
on 05.05.2025 without expecting any separate notices to be issued to them by
the High Court. However, if for any reason, there is non-appearance of the
respondents-land owners/ subsequent purchasers who are writ petitioners before
the High Court then fresh notices may also be issued to the Writ Petitioners
before the High Court either through their counsel or directly to the said
parties.
18. Learned senior counsel
and learned counsel for the respondents-land owners/subsequent purchasers
submitted that in several cases the State has made concessions before the High
Court and there may have also been consent orders made by the High Court based
on the concessions of the State. Since we are not interfering with the
correctness or otherwise of the impugned order(s) and are remanding the matters
to the High Court purely on the basis of the recent judgment of this Court in
Indore Development Authority, we do not wish to make any observations on the
said concessions made on behalf of the State or any consent orders passed by
the High Court on the basis of the concessions made by the State.
19. It is needless to
observe that if the respondents-land owners/subsequent purchasers wish to take
advantage of the concessions or the consent orders made by the High Court on
the basis of the concessions made by the State, the same shall be considered
having regard to the respective contentions advanced at the Bar and in
accordance with law.
20. All other contentions
which are germane to the adjudication of the Writ Petitions could be raised by
both sides.
21. We place on record our
appreciation for the assistance rendered by learned counsel, Mrs. Vanshaja
Shukla and Ms. Diksha Rai Goswami for the respondents-land owners and Mr.
Akshay Amritanshu and Mr. Samar Vijay Singh for the appellant- State as nodal
counsel in these appeals.
22. The costs imposed shall
be deposited with the Supreme Court Mediation Centre on or before 05.05.2025.
In case the amounts of costs are not deposited, the High Court shall not hear
the appellants herein until the filing of copies of the receipts/acknowledgement
before the Registry of this Court as well as the High Court and by serving a
copy of the same to the respondents' counsel herein.
These appeals are disposed
of in the aforesaid terms.
We reiterate that we have
not made any observation on the merits of the matters.
------