G.C.GARG, J. - (1.) THE petitioners aggrieved by the order of the Land Acquisition Collector, Urban Estate, Panchkula whereby he refused to refer the application Under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act (for short the 'act') to the District Judge have filed the present revision.
(2.) AWARD was given by the Collector on September 23, 1986. The petitioners who are claimants moved an application dated September 8,1989 received in the office of the Land Acquisition Collector on September 14, 1988 seeking reference Under Section 18 of the Act. The Land Acquisition Collector by the impugned order declined to refer the reference by observing that the application was barred by time by one year and 357 days. It is how the present revision came to be filed. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the Land Acquisition Collector passed the impugned order in the absence of any notice to the petitioners and even otherwise, the Collector could not enter into the merits of the application including limitation and he was duly bound to refer the application of the petitioners to the District Judge leaving it open to the respondent-State of Haryana, to raise the question of limitation before the District Judge.
(3.) LEARNED counsel for the parties have been heard at some length.;