IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
UJJAL BHUYAN, N. TUKARAMJI, JJ.
State of Telangana – Petitioner
Versus
R. Kamalakar Reddy – Respondent
Writ Appeal No.613 Of 2022
Decided On : 31-01-2023
Constitution of India, 1950 – Articles 14, 21, 300-A – Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 – Section 8(4), 10(1), 10(3), 10(5) – Proceedings – Respondent No.1 had filed W.P seeking relief – Held, All subsequent proceedings issued in name of original owner and alleged service of notice and panchanama are against dead person and subsequently all ULC proceedings were continued without bringing his legal heirs on record – Therefore, said proceedings are automatically abated without issuing any notice to his legal heirs – Since 1st respondent/writ petitioner is an interested and affected party and no notice was served on him, hence, proceedings issued under Section 10(6) of ULC Act including alleged panchanama, after death of original owner are void ab initio and non est in eye of law – Writ appeal dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
Ujjal Bhuyan, J.
Heard Mr. K.Naresh, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue representing the appellants and Mr. E.Madan Mohan Rao, learned Senior Counsel appearing for respondent No.1.
2. This appeal is directed against the order dated 28.06.2021 passed by the learned Single Judge allowing W.P.No.20576 of 2008 filed by respondent No.1.
2.1. It may be mentioned that by the aforesaid order two writ petitions were disposed of, W.P.No.20576 of 2008 and W.P.No.23528 of 2012.
3. Respondent No.1 had filed W.P.No.20576 of 2008 seeking the following relief :
a) declaring the D.O.Lr.No.A4/1724/08 dated 29.04.2008 of the third respondent as arbitrary, illegal, violative of Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequently set aside the same;
b) to declare that the proceedings under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, are not applicable to the land of the petitioner admeasuring Acs.13.00 guntas in Sy.No.60 and Ac.3.07 guntas in Sy.No.62 of Chengi Cherla Village, Ghatkesar Mandal, Ranga Reddy District.
4. In W.P.No.23528 of 2012 also filed by respondent No.1, prayer made was to set aside the order dated 07.07.2012 passed by the Joint Collector, Ranga Reddy District.
5. The present appeal arises out of the aforesaid common order dated 28.06.2021 in W.P.No.20576 of 2008.
6. After narrating the relevant facts, learned Single Judge held as follows :
34) Accordingly, both the writ petitions are allowed to the extent indicated above.
7. In the hearing today, learned Assistant Government Pleader submitted that respondent No.2 had filed W.A.Nos.276 and 278 of 2022 against the aforesaid order dated 28.06.2021. Therefore, the present appeal should be tagged with those two appeals.
8. However, learned Senior Counsel representing respondent No.1 has placed before the Court a copy of the common judgment and order dated 28.09.2022 passed by this Court whereby W.A.Nos.276 and 278 of 2022 were dismissed.
9. We have perused the order dated 28.06.2021 as well as the order dated 28.09.2022.
9.1. In the order dated 28.09.2022 this Court posed the question as to whether proceedings under Section 8(4) and consequential orders under Section 10(1), 10(3) and 10(5) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, against a dead person without putting on notice the affected/interested party would be valid? This question was answered by this Court by taking the view that in the absence of the legal heirs, such proceedings would automatically stand abated. It was held as follows:
SupremeToday
Third-party purchasers cannot challenge void transactions under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, as established by the court's interpretation of the Act's provisions.
Orders issued under the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act against deceased individuals are void, and the repeal of the Act removes restrictions on the land in question.
The court held that disputed questions of title and possession cannot be resolved in a writ petition, and the petitioners were entitled to remain in possession of the land despite ULC proceedings.
Section 21 of the Act and save the said land from the rigour and scheme of the 1976 Act of taking over of excess land in the larger public interest and therefore, the learned Single Judge was right i....
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