JUDGEMENT
P.S.PATWALIA, J. -
(1.) The petitioner has filed the present writ petition challenging the
notifications issued under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
(hereinafter to be referred as, 'the Act') dated 15.2.2002 and 15.6.2002
respectively. At the time of hearing, the only argument raised by the petitioner
was that the respondents have wrongly invoked the urgency provisions under
Section 17 of the Act in the present case and deprived the petitioner of its right to
raise objections under Section 5A of the Act. In response thereto the respondents
have pointed out that in 50th Year of Independence, the State of Haryana had
published a New Industrial Policy in the year 1997 for rapid industrialisation of the
State. The said policy contemplated the establishment of Industrial Parks/Estates
falling within the National Capital Region as well as outside. An Industrial Estate
had been developed at Kundli which is located on National Highway No.1 and
falls within the National Capital Region. Notifications were issued under Sections
4 and 6 of the Act in August, 1997 and July, 1998 respectively for acquiring over
323 acres of land for development of Phase IV of Industrial Estate, Kundli. Even
award for the same was announced on 15.12.1998. While acquiring the
aforementioned land, a very small tract of land (about 4 kanals) which is subject
matter of dispute in the present petition was inadvertently left out. This land was
otherwise part of the land acquired in 1998. On this account, the development
work in the area could not be undertaken and continuity of the project was
hampered. It is therefore that the emergency provisions had to be invoked in the
present case. The relevant extract of the written statement is as hereunder:-
"It is submitted that in the above mentioned declared
Industrial Policy, the Respondent State has provided for acquisition
of about 400 acres of land for developing Phase-IV, Industrial Estate,
Kundli.
The notification dated 05-08-1997 under section 4 of the Land
Acquisition Act 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was issued
and thereafter the Notification dated 29-07-1998 under section 6 of
the Act was issued for acquiring the land measuring 323 Acre 4
Kanal 8 Marla of village Kundli, Sersa & Nangal Kalan for
development of Phase-IV of Industrial Estate, Kundli and the award
of the same was announced on 15-12-1998. The true copy of the
award dated 15-12-1998 is being annexed herewith as (Annexure R-
1).
That while acquiring the land measuring 323 Acre 4
Kanal 8 Marla, the land in dispute of the petitioner was left
inadvertently. So, the Notification No.2/6/4-11B-11-98 dated 15-2-
2002 under section 4 of the 'act' read with clause of Sub Section
(2) of Section 17 of the Act was issued and ther5eafter vide
Notification No.2/6/4-11B-II 98 dated 19-6-2002 under section 6
read with clause of sub Section (2) of Section 17 of the Act, the
land measuring 4 Kanal 18 Marla of village Kundli including the
land in dispute of the petitioner was acquired. The award of the said
land was announced on 25-4-2003. Thus the land in dispute of the
petitioner is a part of the main land acquired vide award dated 15-12-
1998 for development of Phase-IV of Industrial Estate, Kundli.
That the land in dispute of the petitioner was acquired under
the emergency provisions of the Act as the development work could
not be under taken and the continuity of project was hampered...."
(2.) On going through the aforementioned averments, we are of the
opinion that the respondents have invoked the emergency provisions after due
application of mind and for a justified reason.
Counsel for the petitioner has relied upon a judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court titled Union of India and others v. Mukesh Hans etc. etc., AIR
2004 SC 4307. A reading of the judgment would show that it has been held
therein that the record must show application of mind of relevant material for
dispensing with the requirement of Section 5A of the Act. In the present case, we
are satisfied that there is application of mind and good reasons for invoking the
emergency provisions.
(3.) Apart from the aforementioned, it has also been pointed out by the
State Government that a part of the petitioner's land had been acquired in the
earlier acquisition in the Industrial Estate also. The petitioner had filed Civil Writ
Petition No.4761 of 1999 challenging the said acquisition proceedings as well.
That writ petition as also a Bunch of other connected matters were dismissed by
this Court on 8.4.2002 and 25.4.2003. It is further pointed out that land of the
petitioners measuring 15 Kanals 3 Marlas on which he had constructed a building
and was running an existing unit under the name of M/s Kashmir Katha Industries
Private Limited was exempted/released under Section 6 of the Act, as it did not
come under the way of planning. For the aforementioned reasons as well, we are
not inclined to interfere in the exercise of our jurisdiction under Articles 226 and
227 of the Constitution of India.
For the reasons aforementioned, the present writ petition is
dismissed.;
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