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2009 Supreme(All) 771

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
V.K.Shukla
RAMDHANI
Versus
KRISHAN KUMAR KABRA
Decided On : 06 March 2009
Civil Revision No. 54 of 2009

The judgment established that the procedure under Sections 18 and 30 of the Land Acquisition Act is inconsistent with the procedure under Order 1 Rule 10, C. P. C., and that parties claiming interest in acquired land must obtain a declaration in their favor before seeking impleadment in reference proceedings.

Headnote:

Land Acquisition Act - Impleadment - Sections 18, 30, Order 1 Rule 10, C. P. C. - Summary of Acts and Sections

Fact of the Case:

The case involved a dispute over land acquisition for the construction of a National Highway. The revisionists sought to be impleaded as parties in a reference proceeding under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, claiming interest in the acquired property.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the revisionists' application for impleadment under Order 1 Rule 10 (2), C. P. C. was rightly rejected as the procedure under Sections 18 and 30 of the Land Acquisition Act is inconsistent with the procedure under Order 1 Rule 10, C. P. C. The court also noted that the revisionists had not obtained a declaration in their favor in a title suit filed, and thus, were not necessary or proper parties.

Issues: The main issue was whether the revisionists should be impleaded as parties in the land acquisition reference proceeding under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the procedure under Sections 18 and 30 of the Land Acquisition Act is inconsistent with the procedure under Order 1 Rule 10, C. P. C. and that the revisionists were not necessary or proper parties as they had not obtained a declaration in their favor in a title suit filed.

Final Decision: The civil revision was dismissed, upholding the rejection of the revisionists' application for impleadment.

V. K. SHUKLA, J.

Present civil revision has been filed against the judgment and order dated 4. 2. 2009 passed by the Additional District Judge, Court No. 18, Varanasi in Reference No. 330 of 1987, Krishna Kumar v. District Magistrate, Varanasi, rejecting the application moved on behalf of the revisionists under Order 1 Rule 10 (2), C. P. C. for arraying them as party in the aforementioned proceeding.

2. Brief background of the case is that for the purpose of construction of National Highway, land in dispute had been acquired, award was made on 7. 1. 1987 and thereafter reference was made, which was numbered as Reference No. 330 of 1987, Krishna Kumar v. District Magistrate, Varanasi. In the said reference, revisionists after twenty one year of reference moved an application contending therein that they have acquired knowledge of the reference of the property in question, which has been acquired, qua the same they have got Bhumidhari Right with Transferable Right, as such they are necessary parties. Said application was objected to by filing objection on 24. 10. 2008 and thereafter, same has been rejected. At this juncture present Civil Revision has been filed.

3. Sri Alok Kumar Yadav, learned counsel for the revisionists contended with vehemence that in the present case, in proceeding under Section 30 of Land Acquisition Act, revisionists had interest in the

property in question, as such in all eventuality, their application ought to have been allowed, as such there is failure to exercise jurisdiction, and gross miscarriage of justice.

4. After respective arguments have been advanced, undisputed factual position, which is emerging in the present case is that reference in question had been made under U. P. Act No. 1 of 1894 and same had been pending since last twenty one year. It is undisputed position that revisionists have filed suit under Section 229-B of U. P. Z. A. and L. R. Act for declaration of their rights and till date, right of the revisionists has not at all been crystallized and in between application has been moved for impleadment. Concerned Court has considered the application and has clearly mentioned that in reference under Sections 18 and 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, provision of Order 1 Rule 10, C. P. C. are not applicable and for this purpose reliance has been placed on judgment of Honble Apex Court in the case of Smt. Ambey Devi v. state of Bihar and another, AIR 1996 SC 1513. At this juncture, view point of Honble Apex Court is being looked into. Relevant para 4 is being extracted below:

"we accept the finding of the High Court that the appellant had not made any application under Section 18 though the appellant has asserted that she did make an application but no evidence has been placed before the High Court or in this Court. Thus, it is difficult to accept that such an application was in fact made before the Land Acquisition Officer within the limitation prescribed under Section 18 (2) of the Act. Accordingly, we hold that the appellant had not filed any application, as required under Section 18 (1) read with Section 18 (2) of the Act. Section 53 does not apply to the facts of the case. The procedure prescribed under Sections 18 and 30 is inconsistent with the procedure prescribed under Order 1, Rule 10, C. P. C. Order 1, Rule 10, C. P. C. would apply to implead a necessary or proper party to effectuate complete adjudication of all the disputes having arisen between all the necessary of proper parties who may be bound by the decision. That question does not arise since inconsistent procedure has been prescribed under the Act. As held earlier, making an application in writing under sub-section (1) and within the limitation prescribed under sub-section (2) of Section 18 are conditions precedent for the Land Acquisition Officer to make a reference under Section 18; only on its receipt, under Section 20 Civil Court gets jurisdiction to issue notice and thereafter to conduct enquiry as contemplated under th





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