2011 Supreme(All) 931
[2011(7) ADJ 490 (DB)]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : R.K. AGRAWAL AND MRS. JAYASHREE TIWARI, JJ.
SUGREEV .....Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF U.P. AND TWO OTHERS .....Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 50580 of 2008, decided on 30th March, 2011)
Counsel :
Rajesh Kumar Pandey and D.S. Chauhan for the Petitioner; S.C. for the Respondents.
Headnote:Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976—Sections 8(3), 8(4), 10(3), 10 (5) and 10 (6)—Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) (Repeal) Act, 1999—Section 4—Surplus land—Passed ex parte under Section 8 (4) in 1984—On ground that despite service of notice under Section 10 (3), petitioner failed to appear and file objection—Thereafter, name of State was mutated and possession was taken—But record shows that no notice was served on petitioner under Section 8(3) and no notice for taking possession was sent under Section 10(5)—Moreover, no document filed by State showing taking over of possession under Section 10 (6) by taking coercive measures—Mere mutation of name of State—Not sufficient without actual possession—In absence of any memo of possession, plea of petitioner that entire proceedings were illegal—Found correct—Proceedings as such would abate by virtue of Section 4 of Repeal Act—Petitioner, cannot be dispossessed from actual physical possession. [Paras 4 to 10 and 12 to 14]
Hon’ble Mrs. Jayashree Tiwari, J.—Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the State.
2. By virtue of present writ petition the petitioner contended that father of the petitioner was bhumidhar of plot No. 126 situated in Village Mirakpur Uparhar, Plot Nos. 157 and 44 situated in Village Maheva Patti Paschchim and Plot Nos. 92/4, 102/14 situated in Village Mirakpur Kachhar, Pargana Arail, Tehsil Karchhana, District Allahabad.
3. It is further contended that the aforesaid land of the petitioner was declared surplus by the competent authority Urban Land Ceiling, Allahabad behind the back of the petitioner’s father. The petitioner contends that uptill now the aforesaid land is in actual physical possession of the petitioner and mustard crop is standing over the land in dispute and none of the competent authority or any person duly authorised by him ever taken possession of the land and as such land never vested in the State Government. The petitioner moved a representation in the matter but no heed was paid to his representation dated 21.7.2008 which is annexure 3 to the writ petition. The petitioner prays that the order dated 30.10.1984 which is annexure 1 to the writ petition be quashed.
4. Learned Standing Counsel for the State by filing counter-affidavit has rebutted the contentions raised by the petitioner in the writ petition. In the counter-affidavit filed by Devendra Singh, Assistant Engineer, Urban Land Ceiling, Allahabad it has been stated while denying the contention of the petitioner that excess land proposed to be declared surplus under Section 8(3) of the Act and notice for hearing was issued which was served on petitioner Sugreev on 19.10.1984. Despite service of notice the petitioner did not appear before the Court on the fixed date nor filed any objection. Consequently, ex parte order was passed under Section 8(4) declaring 6636-31 sq. metre of land as surplus. It is further contended that name of State Government was mutated and proceedings under Section 10(3) by publication dated 14th September, 1991 were made and further proceedings for possession of the land under Section 10(5) were initiated on 31.3.1993 and it is further contended that the petitioner illegally encroached the said land and doing agricultural work. No document in support of the contention that service of notice under Section 8(3) was affected on the petitioner has been filed nor any document under which in pursuance of the notice under Section 10(5) possession was taken by the Government with the consent of the land holder has been filed in support of the contention raised in the counter-affidavit. The counter-affidavit is totally silent as to whether any memorandum or possession was prepared on the spot or further any proceedings under Section 10(6) were taken and possession was taken by way of using necessary coercive measures.
5. Section 10(6) of the Act provides that if any person refuses or fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (5), the competent authority may take possession of the vacant land or cause it to be given to the concerned State Government or to any person duly authorised by such State Government in this behalf and may for that purpose use such force as may be necessary.
6. In the rejoinder affidavit the petitioner has repudiated the submissions made in the counter-affidavit and submitted that the order dated 30.10.84 passed by the competent authority was not within the knowledge of the petitioner. The representation dated 21.7.2008 was preferred by the petitioner before the competent authority. In para 6 of the rejoinder affidavit it is contended that the competent authorities are themselves admitting the actual physical possession of the petitioner over the disputed land and since the authorities are admitting the actual physical possession vesting cannot be said to have taken place and benefit of Repeal Act, 1999 must be extended to the petitioner. That no compensation