JUDGMENT :

1. These are two writ petitions, one bearing Writ Petition no.202 (L/ A) of 2014 by the Union of India whereas the other bearing Writ Petition No.24178 (L/A) of 2020 is by the private opposite parties of the earlier writ petition.

2. The Union of India has challenged an order dated 19.05.2014 passed by the Additional District Magistrate (Land Acquisition), Joint Organization, Lucknow. In the connected petition, the private persons have sought compensation for the land which is in possession of the Central Reserve Police Force (petitioner no.2 of W.P. No.202 (L/A of 2014), on the basis of the order dated 19.05.2014, that is, the very order which is impugned by the Union of India.

3. The dispute herein relates to Khasra No.1170 (area 1-3-0), Khasra No.1141 Sa (1-10-0), Khasra No.1141 Sa (area 0-5-0) and Khasra No.1200 (area 1-0-0). All the lands are situated in Village and Pargana-Bijnor, Tehsil & District-Lucknow.

4. For convenience, Writ Petition No. 202 (L/A) of 2014 has been treated as the leading writ petition.

5. The facts of the case, in brief, are that a proposal for acquisition of about 159 acres of land was sent by petitioner No.2 to the State Government for the purposes of establishing and construction of group center of Central Reserve Police Force. This proposal was subsequently modified for acquisition of 135.21 acres of land recorded in the name of tenure holders and 30.90 acres of land of the Gaon Sabha. This proposal was sent in the year 1993.

6. Before any notification was issued for acquisition of the said lands under the LAND ACQUISITION ACT , 1894 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act, 1894), the private opposite parties in this writ petition who are the petitioners in the connected petition initiated proceedings for settlement of the land in question in their favour in terms of Section 122 -B (4-F) of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act, 1950’). Consequently, these lands came to be settled with them vide orders passed on 29.6.1994, as also, orders passed on 24.8.1994 by the Assistant Collector (First Class), copies of which are on record in Writ Petition No.24178 (L/A) of 2020. By the said orders, a finding was recorded that the applicants, who belong to Scheduled Caste, were in possession of the land in question since prior to 30.06.1985 and had acquired the rights of Bhumidhar with non-transferable rights under section 122-B (4-F) of the U.P Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950. The petitioner nos.1, 2 and 3, namely, Keshan, Hari Mohan and Ashok Kumar are sons of Smt. Munni Devi who was the wife of Shyam Bihari. The orders under Section 122 -B (4-F) of the Act, 1950 in respect to them are dated 29.06.1994. As regards opposite party nos.4 and 5, namely, Barsati and Ramu, opposite party no.6 is Smt. Sona Devi, wife of late Baba Deen and opposite party nos.4 and 5 are their sons and the orders under Section 122 -B (4-F) of the Act, 1950 in respect to Baba Deen, their predecessor in interest, is also dated 29.06.1994. As regards opposite party nos.7, 8 and 9, namely, Smt. Ram Rati, Ram Gopal and Shree Kishan, opposite party no.7 is the widow of Rajjan Lal whereas opposite party nos.8 and 9 are sons of Rajjan Lal and the orders under Section 122 -B (4-F) of the Act, 1950 relating to them are not on record but the Khatauni pertaining to Fasli No.1422-1