Hon’ble Sabhajeet Yadav, J.—This petition is directed against the judgment and order dated 8.11.2002 passed by Special Judge/Additional District Judge, Shahjahanpur in Reference No. 62 of 1997, Sabbir Hasan v. State of U.P. and others, whereby delay condonation application moved by the petitioner along with substitution application in pending reference has been rejected.

2. The reliefs sought in the writ petition rest on the assertions that the plot No. 76/1, 82/1, 89/1, 90, 74 situated in Village Tilhar Qasba, District Shahjahanpur belonging to Sabbir Hasan were acquired under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for which the award was given by the Collector on 14.1.1997. Feeling aggrieved against the aforesaid award Sabbir Hasan had moved application under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act requiring the Collector to make reference for enhancement of compensation, which was registered as L.A. Reference No. 62 of 1997 and was pending in the Court of 9th Additional District Judge, Shahjahanpur. During the pendency of reference Sabbir Hasan had died on 25.4.2001 as issue-less. The petitioner being his brother and sole heir and legal representative had no knowled