After the amendment of S. 17 (4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, notification under S. 6 of the Act can be made only after the publication of the notification under S. 4 (1) of the Act.

( 1 ) BOTH these petitions involve common questions of law and fact. We are disposing of both these petitions by a common order at the admission stage with the consent of the counsel for the parties.

( 2 ) THE petitioners are owners of the plots situate in village Sonera, tehsil Kichha district Nainital. Their land is being acquired under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. A notification under S. 4, Land Acquisition Act, 1894, (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was issued on 6-5-1985 declaring that the land in question including the petitioners land was needed for a public purpose, namely, for construction of market yard for the Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti, Kichha. The notification further contained a declaration that since there was urgency for the acquisition, the provisions of Ss. 17 (1-A) and 17 (4) shall apply and the provisions of S. 5-A of the Act shall not apply. On the same date, namely, May 6, 1985, another notification was issued by the State Government under S. 6 of the Act making declaration that the land in dispute was required for a public purpose, namely, for the construction of market yard for the Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti, Kichha. This notification also contained a direction as contemplated by S. 17 (1) and (1-A) of the Act authorising the Collector to take possession of the land even before the declaration of the award under S. 11 of the Act. Both the aforesaid notifications were published on the same day, namely, 22nd May, 1985. Aggrieved, the petitioners filed these two petitions challenging validity of the notifications.

( 3 ) LEARNED counsel for the petitioners urged that in view of the amendments introduced by the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984 (Act No. 68 of 1984), the declaration as contemplated by S. 6 of the Act cannot be made on the same day on which the notification under S. 4 of the Act is published instead now after the amendment the notification under S. 6 of the Act could only be issued after the notification under S. 4 of the Act is published. We find merit in this submission. Prior to the amendment of the Act by the Amending Act No. 68 of 1984 it was permissible for the Government to issue notification under S. 4 and further to make declaration as contemplated by S. 6 of the Act simultaneously and it was further permissible to publish both the notifications simultaneously as was held by the Supreme Court in Smt. Somawanti v. State of Punjab, AIR 1963 SC 151.

( 4 ) NORMALLY after the issue of notification under S. 4 of the Act objections are invited as contemplated by S. 5-A of the Act and after holding enquiry the Collector submits report to the Government and on consideration of the same the Government makes declaration as contemplated by S. 6 of the Act. Possession of the land. is taken after the award is declared. But in case of urgency where the Government considers it necessary to acquire the land immediately and to take its possession even prior to making of the award it has power to dispense with the provisions of S. 5-A of the Act. S. 17 of the Act confers special powers on the Government and the Collector in cases of urgency for immediate taking of the possession after the issue of the notification under S. 6 and without complying with the provisions of S. 5-B of the Act. S. 17 (4) prior to its amendment conferred power on the Government to direct that the provisions of S. 5-A shall not apply, if in its opinion the provisions of Sub-Ss. (1), (1-A) and (2) of S. 17 were applicable. On the issue of such a direction by the Government a declaration could be made as contemplated by S. 6 in respect of the land at any time after the publication of notification under S. 4 of the Act. Thus, prior to the amendment of S. 17 (4) by the Amending Act No. 68 of 1984, a declaration as contemplated by S. 6 of the Act could be made at any time after the publication of the notification under S. 4 of the Act, but after the amendment of S. 17 (4) a declaration