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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Sanjeev Sachdeva, J.
Prem Ghai - Appellant
Versus
District Magistrate North - Respondent
W.P.(C) 1371 of 2021
Decided On : 27-07-2021




The court emphasized that failure to receive notices does not negate the petitioner's right to due process, allowing reconsideration of their application for an alternative plot.

Headnote:(A) Land Acquisition Act - Issue of allotment of alternative plots for acquired land - The petitioner's application for an alternative plot was rejected due to non-submission of documents. The court allowed the writ petition, directing the petitioner to furnish requisite documents within four weeks and for respondents to consider the application within sixteen weeks thereafter. (Paras 2-10)

(B) Legal Procedure - Failure to receive notices cannot prejudice the petitioner's right to be heard; the court emphasized reconsideration of the application under similar circumstances as held in Rishi Pal vs. Land & Building Department. (Para 7)

(C) Costs - The court imposed a cost of Rs.10,000/- to be deposited with the PM Cares Fund as a prerequisite to processing the application. (Para 8)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner contested the rejection of their application for an alternative plot after land acquisition, citing non-receipt of notices due to the death of the predecessor-in-interest in 2009 and their residence in another state.

Findings of Court:
The court deemed it appropriate for the respondents to reconsider the application for an alternative plot, stressing procedural fairness.

Issues: Whether the petitioner's lack of awareness regarding document submission should affect their application for an alternative plot due to land acquisition.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the petitioner should not be penalized for the non-receipt of notices; thus, the application warrants reconsideration as per precedent.

Result: Petition allowed.

Table of Content
1. petitioner claims non-receipt of notices. (Para 2 , 4 , 5 , 6)
2. court allows petition, imposing conditions. (Para 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11)
3. reference to precedent for reconsideration of application. (Para 7)
4. order to be formally processed and communicated. (Para 12 , 13)

JUDGMENT

Sanjeev Sachdeva, J. (Oral)--The hearing was conducted through video conferencing.

2. Petitioner impugns order dated 28.10.2020 whereby the application of the petitioner dated 15.01.2004 for allotment of an alternative plot in lieu of his land acquired in village Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi has been rejected.

3. With the consent of parties, the petition is taken up hearing today.

4. The impugned order dated 28.10.2020 records that two notices were issued to the petitioner but petitioner failed to submit the requisite documents.

5. The case of the petitioner is that petitioner never received the said notices or became aware of any notice published in the newspaper as their predecessor-in-interest i.e. their father had expired in the year 2009.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioners are residents of Jalandhar, Punjab and as such were never aware of the requirement of furnishing any further documents to the respondents.

7. Learned counsel for the petitioner relies on a judgment dated 01.10.2018 in W.P(C)11557/2017 titled Rishi Pal vs. Land & Building Department wherein in similar circumstances the matter has been remitted to the respondents to reconsider the application for allotment of an alternative plot, putting petitioner to terms for the delay in furnishing the documents.

8. In view of the above, the writ petition is allowed subject to petitioner depositing costs in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with the PM Cares Fund.

9. Petitioner shall furnish the requisite documents to the respondents within a period of four weeks from today and thereafter the respondents shall consider the application of the petitioners expeditiously preferably within a period of sixteen weeks from the furnishing of documents by the petitioner.

10. The case of the petitioner shall be considered in accordance with law and rules and the seniority of the petitioner.

11. Petitioners shall furnish the receipt of deposit of cost before the competent authority along with submitting his documents within four weeks.

12. Petition is disposed of in the above terms.

13. Copy of the Order be uploaded on the High Court website and be also forwarded to learned counsels through email.

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