SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2021 Supreme(Gau) 144

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Songkhupchung Serto, J.
Geeta Mihu - Appellant
Versus
State Of Arunachal Pradesh - Respondent
Writ Petition (C) No. 511 of 2019
Decided On : 19-03-2021

Advocates Appeared:
Rintu Saikia, Advocate

The obligation of the State to ensure just and reasonable compensation for the deprivation of property, as per the Constitution and relevant statutes.

Headnote:

Land Acquisition - RFCT & LARR Act, 2013 - Section 10, Section 11(1), Section 40 - The court directed the respondents to obtain the sanction and pay the compensation to the petitioner as per the award made by the Deputy Commissioner/Collector of the District concerned within 6 months from the date of receipt of the order.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner's land was handed over to the Indian Army on lease for 5 years without payment. The Deputy Commissioner initiated land acquisition process under section-10 of the Jhum Land Regulation, 1947. The Army occupied the land without completing the acquisition process. The State Government approved the cancellation of the acquisition proceedings and the award, citing lack of sanction from the Ministry of Defence.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the possession of the petitioner's land by the Army had been ongoing since 2012 and that the State Government and the Ministry of Defence were aware of this. The court concluded that the petitioner's constitutional and human rights had been violated due to the failure to pay compensation and the absence of proper acquisition procedures.

Issues: The main issue was the cancellation of the acquisition proceedings and the award by the State Government due to lack of sanction from the Ministry of Defence, despite the ongoing possession of the land by the Army.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the possession of the land by the Army and the ongoing need for the land indicated that the acquisition had become final. The court also emphasized the obligation of the State to ensure just and reasonable compensation for the deprivation of property, as per the Constitution and relevant statutes.

Final Decision: The court directed the respondents to obtain the sanction and pay the compensation to the petitioner as per the award made by the Deputy Commissioner/Collector of the District concerned within 6 months from the date of receipt of the order.

JUDGMENT

Songkhupchung Serto, J. - Heard Mr. R. Saikia, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and also heard Mr. K. Ete, learned Sr. Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents No. 3 assisted by Ms. G. Ete, learned Addl. Senior Government Advocate, Mr. D. Kamduk, learned Standing counsel, Land Management department appearing on behalf of the respondents No. 1 & 2 and Mr. M. Kato, learned ASGI appearing for the respondents No. 4 to 8.

2. The facts and circumstances which led to the filing of this writ petition are briefly stated as follows;

2.1. Vide letter dated 18.02.2010, the Colonel, Headquarters, 2 Mountain Division requested the Commissioner, Land Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh for acquisition of land measuring 105.14 acres at Dibang Valley District for the purpose of accommodating Army units, logistic bases etc. Accordingly, the Commissioner (Land Management), Government of Arunachal Pradesh directed the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley at Anini, vide his letter No. LM-36/2010/938, dated 16.08.2010 to submit a proposal. Thereafter, the Director, Land Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh vide his letter No. LM-36/2010/3433, dated 20.03.2012, also requested the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley to identify and arrange joint inspection of the land. Following the steps taken thereafter, the land of the petitioner measuring 105.14 acres situated at Koyla village in Dibang Valley was handed over to the Indian Army by the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley for 5(five) years on lease for the period 2012- 2017 and pursuant thereto, the 19 JAK RIF of Indian Army (2 Mountain Division) occupied the land but without making any payment. Since no rent was received, the petitioner asked the respondents to acquire the land or else allow him to re-possess the same. In the year 2016, the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley District, who is the land acquisition authority of the District, initiated land acquisition process under section-10 of the Jhum Land Regulation, 1947. Thereafter, the Deputy Commissioner, vide his letter No. DV/LM-171/16-17/8394-599, dated 23.09.2016, forwarded the purpose notification under section-10 of the Jhum Land Regulation, 1947, for acquiring the land of the petitioner for logistic Base and accommodation of the Indian Army to the Director of Land Management. The above stated action of the Deputy Commissioner was prompted by the letter dated 30.04.2015, of the Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India which conveyed the In-Principle approval/endorsement of the Raksha Mantri for acquisition of the land. On received of the proposed notification, the Deputy Director, Land Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh requested the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley to re-submit the proposal along with sketch map/strip plan for taking further necessary action, vide his letter No. LM-327/2016/992 dated 07.11.2016. In compliance thereto, the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley submitted the same to the Director, Land Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, vide his letter No. DV/LM-171/2016-17/1023-26, dated 06.12.2016.

2.2. Thereafter, the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley District at Anini vide his letter No. DV/LM/171/16-17/10025-30, dated 18.11.2016 once again forwarded the notification under section 10 of the Jhum Land Regulation, 1947 for approval of the same. Subsequent thereto, the Secretary of Land Management, Government of Arunachal Pradesh issued the notification under section 10 for acquiring the land under Balipara, Tirap, Sadiya Frontier Tract Jhum Land Regulation vide his Office Memo No. LM-327/2016, dated 18.01.2017 wherein the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley District, Anini was directed to take possession of the land of the petitioner. Just two days prior to that the Defence Estate Officer, Jorhat Circle vide his letter dated 16.01.2017, requested the Deputy Commissioner, Dibang Valley District at Anini to stop any further action under the J

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top