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2022 Supreme(Mad) 1960

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. DHANDAPANI, J.
Murugan & Another - Appellant
Versus
The District Collector Office of the District Collectorate Dharmapuri & Others - Respondent
W.P.Nos.14808 & 14812 of 2022
Decided On : 14-06-2022

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioners:J. Ramesh, Advocate. For the Respondents:R4, Su. Srinivasan, Standing Counsel, R1 to R3, Akila Rajendran, Advocate.

The completion of acquisition proceedings and release of compensation may preclude the court from interfering with the impugned order.

Headnote:

Development Charges - Land Acquisition - The court dismissed the writ petitions seeking to quash the impugned order and direct the respondent to pass a fresh award without determining the development charges for the acquired land. The court found that the acquisition proceedings had been completed, the compensation amount had been released, and the disputed lands had been mutated, concluding that there was no merit in the petition and that the court could not interfere with the impugned order.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners' agriculture lands were acquired for public purpose, and the impugned award was passed, with the compensation amount released to the petitioners. The petitioners challenged the deduction of development charges in the award, seeking to quash the same.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the acquisition proceedings had been completed, the compensation amount had been released, and the disputed lands had been mutated, concluding that there was no merit in the petition and that the court could not interfere with the impugned order.

Issues: The issues revolved around the deduction of development charges in the impugned award, the completion of acquisition proceedings, and the release of compensation to the petitioners.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that if the petitioners felt aggrieved by the final award, they could challenge it before the appropriate forum, and that the court could not interfere with the impugned order passed by the respondents.

Final Decision: The writ petitions were dismissed, with no costs, but the petitioners were granted liberty to work out their remedy in the manner known to law.

JUDGMENT

(Prayers: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for the records relating to the Impugned Order in ROC.No.04/2018/LA dated 25.02.2022 passed by the 2nd respondent and quash the same and direct the 2nd respondent to pass fresh award without determining the development charges in respect of the acquired land admeasuring 2631 Sq.Mtrs. in S.No. 231/1B at Chudanur Village, Palacode Taluk , Dharmapuri District.

Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for the records relating to the Impugned Order in ROC.No.04/2018/LA dated 25.02.2022 passed by the 2nd respondent and quash the same and direct the 2nd respondent to pass fresh award without determining the development charges in respect of the acquired land admeasuring 1150 Sq.Mtrs. in S.No. 231/1A at Chudanur Village, Palacode Taluk , Dharmapuri District.)

Common Order:

1. Since the issues in both the cases are one and the same and hence, these cases are disposed of by way of common order.

2. These Writ Petitions have been filed seeking to quash the Impugned Order in ROC.No.04/2018/LA dated 25.02.2022 passed by the 2nd respondent and consequently, direct the 2nd respondent to pass fresh award without determining the development charges in respect of the acquired land ad-measuring 2631 sq. mtrs. And 1150 Sq.Mtrs. respectively in S.No. 231/1A and 231/1B respectively at Chudanur Village, Palacode Taluk , Dharmapuri District.

3. The case of the petitioners is that the petitioners are the absolute owners of the subject lands mentioned in the affidavit. The petitioners' land were acquired by the National Highways for the purpose of laying four way road . After completing the necessary formalities, the second respondent passed award dated 25.02.2022. Challenging the deduction of development charges in the said award, the petitioners have filed the present writ petition before this Court seeking to quash the same.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the second respondent has passed the impugned award on 31.10.2021. But they released the compensation amount to the petitioners only on 25.02.2022 after deducting the development charges, which is unfair and there is no provision available for deducting the development charges from the award. The act of the respondents 2 & 3 is against the principles of natural justice. Hence, the learned counsel prays to quash the impugned awards and allow these writ petitions.

5. The learned Government Advocate submitted that admittedly the petitioners' lands were acquired for public purpose and award was passed on 31.10.2021 and the compensation amount was also deposited to petitioners account. If the petitioners are aggrieved with the compensation, they have to file appeal before the appellate authority. Instead of doing that, the petitioner has come up before this Court, which is not sustainable one. The respondents have rightly passed the impugned order and therefore, this Court does not warrant any interference.

6. Heard the learned counsel for both sides and perused the materials available on record.

7. The facts of the case are not in dispute. Admittedly, the petitioners' agriculture lands were acquired for public purpose. After following due process of law, the impugned award was passed on 31.10.2021 and the compensation amount has also been released in favour of the petitioners. From the above, it is evident that the acquisition proceedings have been completed and the subject land was taken over by the Government and the disputed lands have been mutated and stands in the name of the 3rd respondent herein. If the petitioners feel aggrieved by the final award, the same can be challenged by the petitioners before the appropriate forum. This Court finds no merit in the petition and also this Court cannot interfere with the impugned order passed by

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