Unexplained 28-year delay and laches bar interference with rejection of employment claim post-land acquisition.

Order

This writ petition has been filed for the following relief:

“To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records in Lr.No 2211/ GM / LAND / 2024 on the file of the 2^ndrespondent dated 15.06.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the 2^ndrespondent to reconsider the employment of the petitioner or her daughter namely Anitha on par with the report of the Special Deputy collector (Land Acquisition) Neyveli / 4^threspondent made in Muu. Mu. (Di) 4171 / 98 dated

06.11.1998 based on the representation dated 28.11.2025.

2. The petitioner would submit that she is the daughter of one Vaithiyalingam, who owned agricultural land measuring 1.63.5 hectares in Survey No.403/4, Ammeri Village, Neyveli Taluk, Cuddalore District. The said land was acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, pursuant to a notification issued on 20.07.1979. Compensation was awarded and the land was subsequently handed over to Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited. At the time of acquisition, the petitioner and her siblings were minors. The petitioner’s father had registered his name for employment in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited. However, no appointment order was issued to him.

3. Subsequently, the petitioner had registered her name in the District Employment Office, Cuddalore, on 03.08.1989. Thereafter, upon attaining majority, the petitioner’s father made a representation seeking to incorporate the petitioner’s name in place of his name in the employment register maintained by the Corporation on 03.11.1998. The Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Neyveli, had recommended the petitioner’s name for employment on 06.11.1998. Despite the said recommendation, no employment was given to the petitioner. The petitioner’s father passed away on 16.09.2003. Thereafter, the petitioner made several representations to the respondents seeking employment based on the land acquisition. However, the same were not considered. Ultimately, by proceedings dated 15.06.2024, the 2^nd respondent rejected the petitioner’s request for employment on the ground that employment had already been provided to persons whose lands were acquired up to 30.06.1989. Challenging the said rejection order, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. From a perusal of the records, it is seen that the lands of the petitioner’s father, Vaithiyalingam had been acquired as early as in the year 1979 for which compensation had also been paid. The petitioner’s father had registered his name for employment in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation but he has not been given any appointment order. It appears that the petitioner herself registered her name in the District Employment Office, Cuddalore on 03.08.1989 after completing her 8^th standard. Her father made an application on 03.11.1998 to incorporate her name in his place but however there are no details as to when he had originally registered his name. Be that as it may, the lands were acquired as early in the year 1979. The petitioner, having kept quiet from the year 1998 to date, has approached this Court after a lapse of over 28 years and no explanation has been given for such delay and laches. In these circumstances, this Court finds no reason to interfere with the impugned order passed by the 2^nd respondent. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.