IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI, ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH AT ITANAGAR BENCH
ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY, J.
Biki Talum S/o Shri Biki Tamo – Petitioner
Versus
The State of A.P. and Others – Respondents
W.P. (C) No. 14 of 2021
Decided On : 30-05-2022
Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 21, 300A – Petitioner is aggrieved by an order, whereby Land Possession Certificate issued in his favour by Additional Deputy Commissioner, District was cancelled and it was declared that said land be remain as community land of Biki clan of Gai-III village to avoid law and order problems – Held, Opinion of this Court, action of cancellation of Land Possession Certificate of petitioner by way of impugned order is violative of principles of natural justice and therefore, same is set aside and quashed and Land Possession Certificate of petitioner is to be restored forthwith – However, it is made clear that this order shall not preclude respondent State to take action against petitioner including cancellation of Land Possession Certificate by giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners, if State so desire and as per law – Writ petition allowed.
JUDGMENT :
ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY, J.
1. The petitioner is aggrieved by an order dated 05.10.2020, whereby the Land Possession Certificate issued in his favour by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pania, Kra Daadi District was cancelled and it was declared that the said land be remain as community land of Biki clan of Gai-III village to avoid law and order problems.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that his father was in possession of a plot of land measuring 1,50,000 Sq. Mtrs. in the village Gai-III. The said property is ancestral property and since long back his forefathers are enjoying the same without any hindrance from any corner whatsoever.
3. Subsequently, as the petitioner was possessing and harvesting in one part of the said land, he applied Land Possession Certificate before the competent authority so as to develop the land as well as developed his business. Accordingly, on his application, the authority on the basis of the report of the Divisional Forest Officer, Kurung Kumey District as well as from the Circle Officer, of Kurung Kumey district issued a Land Possession Certificate on 23.10.2013 under the signature of the Additional Deputy Commissioner with specific boundary and area.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that though the petitioner was enjoying the said plot of land, on the basis of certain complaint which the petitioner was not made aware of, the impugned order dated 05.10.2020 was issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pania, Kra Daadi District, cancelling the earlier Land Possession Certificate issued in favour of the petitioner.
5. Mr. Rai, learned counsel for the petitioner also submits that while cancelling such certificate, the petitioner was not given any opportunity of hearing and the order regarding cancellation of Land Possession Certificate was issued on the basis of certain complaint, which was also not furnished to the petitioner and the order reflects that there are certain allegations against the petitioner that he has encroached the land of the School and community land. However, he has not been given a chance to refute such allegation. Therefore, such cancellation order is violative of principle of natural justice and therefore, by way of the same, the petitioner’s right to livelihood and property as protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India as well as protected under Article 300 A of the Constitution of India has been violated. Such course of action is not permitted under law, submits Mr. Rai, learned counsel for the petitioner.
6. Per contra, Ms. P. Pangu, learned Junior Government Advocate, State of Arunachal Pradesh submits that after a due enquiry, the District Administration came to a conclusion that earlier Land Possession Certificate was issued wrongly inasmuch after due verification they could learn that the land falls under the community land of the Biki clan since long and it is also effected the land allotted to Govt. Primary School building, Anganwadi Centre building, water tank etc. of Gai-III village. Therefore, as the petitioner has encroached the community land as well as land belonging to public property, the State authority is within its competence and jurisdiction to cancel the Land Possession Certificate which was issued without verification. Accordingly, this writ petition is devoid of any merit, submits Ms. P. Pangu, learned Junior Government Advocate, State of Arunachal Pradesh.
7. I have given anxious consideration to the submission made by the learned counsel for the parties.
8. It is an admitted position in the present case in hand that the Land Possession Certificate dated 23.10.2013 was issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pania, Kurung Kumey District, Arunachal Pradesh. This is also not in dispute that before cancelling such land allotment certificate by the order impugned, the respondent authority has not issued any notice or has not show caused the petitioner herein in respect of possession of th
The cancellation of the Land Possession Certificate without an opportunity to the petitioner constitutes a violation of the principles of natural justice, warranting the order's reversal.
Natural justice principles require that parties affected by administrative actions be given the opportunity to be heard; failure to do so renders such actions arbitrary and unsustainable.
Violation of principles of natural justice and failure to consider objections raised in the writ petition before passing the impugned order.
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