IMPORTANT POINT
The automatic lapse of land reservation under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, if not acquired within three years, is a binding legal principle.

ORDER :

V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN, J.

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Declaration to declare that the property to the extent of 0.65 Acre in Ward-7 Block 16, T.S.No.55/4 (Old S.F.No.385/1C3 pt) in Tiruppur Corporation, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur District (“Property”) forming part of the Dharapuram Local Planning area in MAP No.2 DDP/R(S).No.11/93 for C2-C30 Road & AA 60 Road which was approved by Director of Town and Country Planning, the 1st respondent herein to have lapsed in the light of Section 38 of the Tamilnadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (TN Act 35 of 1972) and the decision of this Court in the case of Kannabiran Vs. The Director of Town and Country Planning in W.P.(MD) No.8515 of 2021 dated 25.06.2021.

This petition is filed to issue a Writ of Declaration to declare that the property to the extent of 0.65 Acre in Ward-7 Block 16, T.S.No.55/4 (Old S.F.No.385/1C3 pt) in Tiruppur Corporation, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur District (“Property”) forming part of the Dharapuram Local Planning area in MAP No.2 DDP/R(S).No.11/93 for C2-C30 Road & AA 60 Road which was approved by Director of Town and Country Planning, the 1st respondent herein to have lapsed in the light of Section 38 of the Tamilnadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 (TN Act 35 of 1972) and the decision of this Court in the case of Kannabiran Vs. The Director of Town and Country Planning in W.P.(MD) No.8515 of 2021 dated 25.06.2021.

2. The facts of the case is as follows:-

(i) The subject property was donated to the petitioner's Trust vide document no.119/2017 registered at Joint Sub Registrar in Dharapuram since then, the petitioner is in possession and enjoyment of the property. Further, when the petitioner intended to develop the property, the respondents intimated that the petitioner's land to an extent of 0.65 acre in Ward-7, Block 16, T.S.No.55/4 (Old S.F.No.385/1C3 pt) in Dharapuram Municipality Taluk, Tiruppur District (Property) forming part of Dharapuram Local Planning area in MAP No.2 DDP/R(S) No.11/93 for C2-C2 30' Road & A-A 60' Road Plan No.11, which was approved by the Director of Town and Country planning, the 1st respondent, has not been acquired till date and remains in the possession and enjoyment of the petitioner.

(ii) Further, as per Section 37 of the Tamilnadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, [in short, hereinafter referred to Act] if the Planning authority reserves any lands at the disposal of any private person to be required for any purpose under the detailed development plan, the same can be acquired by the State Government by invoking the provisions of the Land Acquisition act, 1894 (Central Act 1 of 1894). That apart, this Court in the case of Kannabiran Vs. The Director of Town and Country Planning in W.P.(MD) No.8515 of 2021 on 25.06.2021, by relying on the decision of the Hon'ble Division bench of this Court in the case of the Director of Town and Country Planning Vs. Muthu in W.A.(MD) No.485 of 2019 held that on failure to acquire the land under Section 37 of the Act, within 3 years from the date of publication of the Draft Development Plan, the reservation made under the detailed development plan lapses and the land stands released. Besides the above, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has also held the same view in the case of Raju Jethmalani Vs. State of Maharashtra reported in 2005 II SCC 222, thereby pleaded to show the same indulgence to the petitioner also, hence this petition.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the development plan automatically lapses on the expiry of three years from the date of publication as per Section 38 of the Act. Hence, prays to allow this petition.

4. Per Contra, the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents 1 to 4 submitted that Section 38 of Act, will not be applicable to this case. He further submitted that C2-C2 30' Road and AA 60' Road Plan for public utility and the purpose of the acquisition is o