Point of Law: in case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 where an Award under Sub-Section 11 has been made five years or more prior to Act of 2013 but physical possession of land had not been taken or the compensation paid, said proceedings shall be deemed to have lapsed.

JUDGMENT :

1. The instant writ petition has been filed by the Petitioner challenging the acquisition of the land of the Petitioner in L.A. Case No.4/1979-80, whereby the land of the Petitioner was acquired.

2. The brief facts of the instant case is that the father of the Petitioner was the owner of a plot of land measuring 3 Bighas 3 Kathas 2 Lechas under Dag No. 210 covered by Periodic Patta No.53 under Mouza – Maha Bhairabpad of Village No.1 Dulabari. An acquisition proceeding was initiated under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short “Act of 1894”) which was registered and numbered as L.A. Case No.4/1979-80. Out of the said land of the petitioner, a plot of land measuring 2 Bighas 17 Lechas was acquired and thereupon the revenue records were corrected in favour of N.F. Railway. It is relevant to take note of that though the land was acquired from the Petitioner neither the possession of the land was not taken nor the Petitioner or her predecessor-in-interest was paid compensation.

3. This Court further made a specific query upon Mr. B.J. Talukdar, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue Department as to whether there is any document to show that any amount of compensation was deposited in the Court for acquiring the land of the petitioner. Mr. B.J. Talukdar submits that as per his instructions, no amount of compensation was also deposited in the Court for onward disbursement to the petitioner.

4. This Court further finds it relevant to take note of an affidavit-in-opposition filed by the Railway Authorities, wherein it has been mentioned at paragraph no.4 that it came to the knowledge of the Railway Authorities that after completion of the work, the land acquired on behalf of NEC was handed over to NERIWLM (North East Regional Institute of Water and Land Management), Tezpur, Assam. It was mentioned that if the land of Dag No. 210 of Periodic Patta No.53 of Village No.1 Dulabari under Bhairabpad Mouza is claimed by the Petitioner to be in her possession and if it is not under the occupation of the NERIWLM, then the land of Dag No. 210 under Periodic Patta No.53 of Village No.1 Dulabari by the Railway on behalf of NEC be corrected in favour of the Petitioner after due verification by the Revenue Authorities.

5. This Court further finds it relevant to take into consideration the affidavit-in-opposition filed by the Assistant Commissioner, Tezpur, wherein at paragraph no.6 it was admitted that the entire land measuring 3 Bighas 3 Kathas 2 Lechas was possessed by the Petitioner as reflected in the Field Report submitted by the Lot Mondal. However, the name of the Petitioner was not mutated in respect to the said plot of land.

6. Taking into account the above, this Court have also heard the learned counsel for the parties as to whether the provisions of Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (for short “Act of 2013”) would be applicable to the instant case as regards the land of the Petitioner.

7. Sub-Section (2) of Section 24 of the said Act being relevant is quoted hereinbelow :

“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), in case of land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894), where an award under the said section 11 has been made five years or more prior to the commencement of this Act but the physical possession of the land has not been taken or the compensation has not been paid the said proceedings shall be deemed to have lapsed and the appropriate Government, if it so chooses, shall initiate the proceedings of such land acquisition afresh in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Provided that where an award has been made and compensation in respect of a majority of land holdings has not been deposited in the account of the beneficiaries, then, all beneficiaries specified in the notification for acquisition under section 4 of the said Land Acquisiti