Knowledge of the award is crucial for invoking the statutory provisions for reference under the Land Acquisition Act, and failure to demonstrate lack of knowledge results in dismissal of the application.

JUDGMENT

B. Bhattacharjee, J. - By this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has raised his grievance against the inaction on the part of the respondents, particularly the respondent No.2, to consider his written application seeking reference of the matter pertaining to the acquisition of his land under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) to the Reference Court.

1. The brief fact of the case is that a portion of the petitioner's land situated at Mendipathar, East Garo Hills District (now North Garo Hills District), was acquired by the Government for construction of a new railway line from Dudhnoi to Mendipathar. The acquisition proceeding was initiated by issuance of notification dated 24-11-2009 and public notice dated 30-11-2009 under Section 4 of the Act. In view of the emergency of the project, the provision of Section 17 (4) of the Act was invoked and the petitioner was paid the initial compensation of 80 % on 30-08-2011 and the remaining 20 % on 1710-2012. The petitioner received the aforesaid compensation under protest and subsequently by a written application made a request to the respondent No.2 for referring the matter to the Reference Court as the amount of compensation paid was not adequate. Since no action was taken by the respondent No.2, the petitioner having no other option approached this Court for a direction to the respondent to refer the matter to the Reference Court for determination of adequate land compensation.

2. Against the claim made in the writ petition, the respondent No.2 and the respondent No.4 filed two separate affidavit-in-opposition. The respondent No.2, the Collector, in his affidavit-in-opposition, apart from refuting the claim of the writ petitioner for enhancement of the amount of compensation, has taken a stand that the application of the petitioner for reference of the matter was not considered as the same was filed on 07-12-2012 beyond the statutory period of 6 (six) weeks from the date of final award on 17-10-2012. Subsequently, by an additional affidavit filed on 28-04-2023, the respondent No.2 stated that the petitioner has received an amount of Rs. 17,70,820/- as land compensation which is reflected in the Award Statement dated 14-112011.

3. Mr. T. T. Diengdoh, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that though the petitioner has received the final amount of compensation on 17-10-2012, he was not made aware of the date of the award and the contents thereof by the respondents. He submits that the petitioner was not present or represented when the award was made by the Collector and no notice was served on him under Section 12 (2) of the Act. He further submits that even the reason for non-consideration of the request of the petitioner for reference of the matter was made known to him only after filing of the affidavit-in-opposition by the respondent No.2. The learned Senior counsel submits that as per the affidavit-in opposition of the respondent No.2, the date of final award is 17-10-2012 whereas the additional affidavit dated 28-04-2023 filed by the respondent No.2, in clear contradiction of the affidavit-in-opposition, indicates that the Award Statement was prepared on 14-11-2011. He contends that the date of award cannot be determined solely by reference to the time when the award is signed by the Collector or delivered by him in his office, it must involve the consideration of the question as to when it was known to the petitioner. The knowledge of the party affected by the award being an essential requirement of fair play and natural justice, the word 'date of award' used in the proviso to Section 18(2) of the Act, must mean the date when the award is either communicated to the petitioner or is known by him. He submits that in absence of any such proof showing that the petitioner had the knowledge of the date of award, the non-consideration of the application of the petitione