JUDGMENT

Harkesh Manuja, J.

By way of present writ petitions, challenge has been laid to order(s) dated 16.04.2021 passed by Land Acquisition Collector, Urban Estate Deptt., Hisar, Haryana, rejecting the application(s) made by the petitioner(s) under section 18 of LAND ACQUISITION ACT , 1894 (hereinafter referred as "the Act"). Since the factual matrix as well as the point of law involved in all these cases is identical, the same are being taken together. For convenience, the facts are being taken from CWP 6346 of 2022.

2. Briefly stated, facts of the case are that land of the petitioner was acquired for the purpose of development of commercial and residential Sectors 3, 5, 1 & 4 in the revenue estate of Hisar. Notification under Section 4 of the Act was issued on 19.05.2003, while declaration under Section 6 thereof was issued on 14.05.2004. Award No.13 pertaining to the acquisition was passed by respondent No 3 on 12.05.2006. It is pertinent to mention here that reference related to this acquisition was decided by Addl. District Judge, Hisar vide LAC Case No.181-LA on 05.08.2015 and this Award was upheld with modification by this Court vide judgment dated 04.03.2016 passed in RFA No.71 of 2016. It is claimed by the petitioner that she came to know about the acquisition of land on 04.08.2020 and immediately filed an application under Section 18 of the Act on 07.12.2020 before Land Acquisition Collector i.e. respondent No.3, but the same was rejected on 16.04.2021, simply on the ground of delay.

3. By way of present writ petition, challenge has been laid to order dated 16.04.2021 for quashing the same.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Award dated 12.05.2006 was passed without any notice as well as in the absence of petitioner and no notice was received by her as contemplated under Section 12 (2) of the Act. Learned counsel further submits that despite categoric of the fact mention in the application filed under Section 18 of the Act that petitioner got the knowledge about the acquisition of land only on 04.08.2020, the same was rejected without even affording her an opportunity of hearing and adhering to the principles of natural justice. He also submits that the Land Acquisition Collector rejected the application of petitioner on the ground of delay only, the import of Section 18 of the Act was completely nullified, therefore, order dated 16.04.2021 is liable to be set aside. In support of his contentions, he places reliance upon:

i. "Bhagwan Dass and others v. State of UP and others" in Civil Appeal No. 2069-2070 of 2010 before Hon'ble Supreme Court, reported as (2010) 3 SCC 545.

ii. "Attar Singh and others v. Government of NCT of Delhi" in W.P.(C) 1450 of 2015, decided on 19.01.2018, before Hon'ble Delhi High Court.

iii. "Shanti Devi & ors. v. Union of India" in W.P. (C) No. 10039 of 2016, decided on 30.11.2017 before Hon'ble Delhi High Court

5. On the other hand, prayer made herein has been opposed by learned State Counsel as well as the counsel representing respondent No. 3 while submitting that the reference related to this acquisition was decided vide LAC Case No.181-LA on 05.08.2015 and the said Award was affirmed by this Court vide judgment dated 04.03.2016 in RFA No.71 of 2016 and therefore, the application filed under Section 18 of the Act on 06.11.2020, being after considerable delay, was rightly rejected.

6. I have heard learned counsel for parties and gone through the paper-bo