JUDGMENT

— Special Leave granted.

2. We have heard appellant in person and Mr. R.B. Dattar for the Delhi Administration and Mr. V. B. Saharya for the Delhi Development Authority. The appellant was the owner of certain land which was subjected to acquisition for purposes of development and expansion of Delhi under the preliminary notification of November, 1959 and award was made between 13-2-1962 and 7-2-1973 in instalments. Under the scheme for acquisition then obtaining, the owner of the land, who was losing his property on account of acquisition, was entitled to allotment of a plot of land. There is considerable difference between the appellant on one side, and counsel for the respondents on the other, as to what exactly was the ratio of the area between the land acquired and plot to be allotted.

3. Appellant did not lay claim for allotment within a reasonable time and no action was, therefore, taken by the respondents to fulfil their obligation under the scheme. In 1981, the additional compensation was paid to the appellant. It is only thereafter that he made an application for allotment of the land stipulated in the scheme and when that was not given, he approached the Delhi High