Vikas v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Ors

1. This is a petition under Article 226 ofConstitution ofIndia filed by the petitioner seeking a declara:tiOn that the acquisition proceedings with respect to (00-10) 1/144"^ share of the land comprised in Khasra No. 89/3/1 (07-16) and 89/3/2 (64-05), admeasuring 72 Bighas 01 Biswa,situated in the revenue estate ofvillage Ghonda Gujran Khadar, Shahdra,Delhi(hereinafter referred as the'subject land') is deemed to have lapsed in view of Section 24(2) of the Rightto Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter refeiTcd to as '2013 Act') as neither the actual physical possession of the W.P.(C)19/201S 2^2 Page[1] of[6] 2018:DHC:8665-DB subjectland has been taken northe compensation in respectthereof has been paid to the petitioner.

2. In this case,a notification under Section 4 ofthe Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as 'Act') was issued on 23.06.1989 and a declaration under Section 6 was made on 20.06.1990. Thereafter, an Award bearing no. 8/1992-93 was passed on 19.06.1992.

3. Mr. Sunil K Goel, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the actual physical possession of the subject land has not been taken and compensation in respect thereofhas not been paid, thus the petitioner would be entitled to a declaration under Section 24(2)ofthe 2013 Act. He further submits that his submission is further fortified by the stand taken by the LAC in the.counter affidavit. Learned counsel further relies on the decision rendered by the Supreme Court in Govt. of NCT of Delhi Vs. Manav Dharma Trust and another, reported at 2017(6) SCC 751, in response to the stand taken by LAC in the counter affidavitthatthe petitioner has no locus standito file the present petition as he is not the recorded owner.Reliance is placed on para 28 ofthisjudgment which reads as under:- "28. Thus, the subsequentpurchaser, the assignee, the successor in interest, the power-of-attorney_ holder, etc., are all persons who are interested in compensation/landowners/affected persons in terms of the compensation ofthe 2013Actandsuchpersons are entitled tofile a casefor a declaration that the land acquisition proceedings have lapsed by virtue of operation of Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act. It is a W.P. (C)19/2018 Page 2of[6] declaration qua the land wherein indisputably they have an interest and they are affected by such acquisition. For such a declaration, it cannot be said that the respondent-writ petitioners do not have any locus standi." Mr. Yeeshu Jain, learned counsel for the LAC has raised an objection that predecessor-in-interest ofthe petitioner was not the recorded owner ofthe subjectland and the Gaon Sabha was shown as the recorded owner in the revenue records, hence the petitioner has no right on the subject land. In support of his submissions, counsel for LAC relies on paragraph 5 and 6 of the counter affidavit, which reads as under:-

W.P.(C)19/2018 ^of^ subject landsfalling in khasra number 89/3/T (7-16) and89/3/2(64-05)was taken on thespot bypreparing possession proceedings dated 21.3.2007 and handed over to the DDA on the spot whereas the compensation was assessed in the name of Gaon Sabha as the recorded owner ofthe subject land was shown to be Gaon Sabha."

5. The counter affidavit has been filed by the Respondent No.3/Delhi Development Authority and the relevant portion is reproduced hereinafter "(k)...The physical possession of the land bearing Khasra No. 89/3/1 (7-16) and 89/3/2 (61-05), village Ghonda Gujran Khadar, Shahdra Delhi was handed over to the DDA by the LAC/L&B Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi on 21.03.2007 and the land was further transferred to J.E./SDV/ED-2 on 19.9.2007. it isfurther submitted that the amount ofcompensation for the Award to the tune ofRs. 4,10,04,5837-(Rupees Four Crore Ten Lakh Four Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Three only) waspaid vide Cheque No. 088808 dated 28.2.2007 to the Land & Building Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. Copy of the possession proceedings are annexed as

6. We have heard learned counsels for the parties and considered their rival submissions.

7. The learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that neither physical possession of the subject land has been taken nor compensation has been paid to the petitioner. Counsel has also submitted that the objections ofthe LAC regarding locus standi of the petitioner is misplaced in view ofthe observations made by the W.P. (C)19/2018 Supreme Court in Manav Dharma Trust(supra) where the rights of the predecessor-in-interest/subsequent purchaser have been recognized.

8. As far as the objection with regard to maintainability is concerned, we find the same to be.misplaced in view ofthe observations made by the Supreme Court in the case of Manav Dharma Trust (supra). We are ofthe considered view that,the submissions made by the counsel for the LAC that the petitioner has no locus standi to file the present petition as the predecessor-in-interest of the petitioner was not the recorded owner ofthe subject land,holds no ground.

9. In relation to the objection raised by the counsel for the LAC with regard to the land being vested in the Gaon Sabha is concerned, we deem it appropriate to follow a decision rendered by the Division Bench of this, court in the case of Sanjeev Solanki Vs. Delhi DevelopmentAuthority and Ors, W.P.(C)1999/2015, decided on 24.01.2017,paragraph 5 ofwhich reads as under:- "5. While we have declared that the subject acquisition has lapsed, it is made clear that this would not amount to giving title to the petitioner or perfecting the petitioner's title inasmuch as Mr. Jain has taken the plea in the counter affidavitfiled on behalfofthe respondent no.2that the Gaon Sabha has been shown as the recorded owner. This fact is disputed by the learned counselfor thepetitioner. But, we are not entering into the controversy oftitle which may besortedoutelsewhere.Insofar as the acquisition is concerned, the same has lapsed because neither physicalpossession was taken over nor compensation waspaid." W.P.(C)19/2018 Page5of[6]

10. As per the counter affidavit filed by LAC, the possession of the subject land has been taken on the spot by preparing possession proceedings on 21.3.2007 and the compensation ofthe subject land has not been tendered to the petitioner as being assessed in the name ofGaon Sabha.

11. Having regard to the avennents made in the counter affidavit filed by LAC that the compensation has not been paid in respect ofthe subject land and since the award has been announced more than five years prior to the commencement of the 2013 Act, the petitioner is entitled to a declaration under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act that the acquisition proceedings initiated under the Act with regard to the subject land are deemed to have been lapsed. It is ordered accordingly.

12. However,we make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the title ofthe subject land. The question oftitle ofthe subject land is left open to be decided in the appropriate court of jurisdiction.

13. The writ petition stands disposed ofin above terms.

OCTOBER 10,2018 SANGI jy. G.S.SISTANI,J. SEHGAL,J