Ashok B. Hinchigeri, J. :

1. The Petitioners have raised the challenge to the notification, dated 02.07.2010 (Annexure-A) acquiring their lands for the purpose of widening the National Highway No.7 (Hyderabad-Bangalore Road).

2. Sri Reuben Jacob, the learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the objections raised by the petitioners are not considered by the competent authority. The objections filed by the petitioners on 25.01.2010 are required to be allowed or disallowed by the competent authority by passing the order. In the instant case, some of the objections raised by the petitioners are considered and rejected not by the competent authority but by the Project Director, as is evident from the Project Director’s letter dated 21.06.2010 (Annexure-N2). Based on the said letter, the competent authority is called upon to send reply to the petitioners.

3. The learned counsel submits that the available vacant lands belonging to the Government/National Highways Authority ought to have been utilized for the road widening purpose. He submits that without exhausting the said available lands, the respondents have restored to acquiring the petitioners’ lands lying on the wes