JUDGMENT

Ravi Shanker Jha, Chief Justice (Oral) - Besides the applicability of Section 24(2) of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred as Act of 2013), the issue posed before us to answer is as to whether Section 24(2) of Act of 2013 provide an arm or tool to question the legality of proceedings undertaken decades back on any ground including of discrimination; in clear ignorance of the delay and laches on the part of the land owner which otherwise disentitle him/ her to seek the relief being prayed for.

2. For the purpose of deciding the controversy involved, we deem it appropriate to notice certain elemental facts of the case in hand as pleaded before us by the respective parties. Vide the instant petition filed in the year 2016, the petitioners have prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of Certiorari for quashing the acquisition notifications issued under section 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred as 'Act of 1894') dated 04.01.2002 and 31.12.2002 respectively; followed by the award dated 29.09.2004, thereby acquiring the land for public purpose namely, for t