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2023 Supreme(Online)(SC) 8591

MANOJ MISRA, HRISHIKESH ROY, JJ
URBAN IMPROVEMENT TRUST, BIKANER – Appellant
Versus
GORDHAN DASS (D) THROUGH LRs. & OTHERS – Respondent
Civil Appeal No.8411 of 2014



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Sri Aruneshwar Gupta, Sri Rajeev Singh
For the Respondents: Sri Manoj Swaroop

Failure to serve notice to landowners renders land acquisition void, affirming civil court jurisdiction and the principle of strict adherence to procedural safeguards.

Headnote:(A) Rajasthan Urban Improvement Trust Act, 1959 - Section 52 - Land Acquisition - The Court held that the plaintiff's suit was maintainable because the statutory requirements for land acquisition were not followed, particularly the failure to issue necessary notices to the actual landowners, leading to the acquisition being declared void. (Paras 26, 39)

(B) Jurisdiction of Civil Courts - The Court ruled that the jurisdiction of civil courts is not ousted in cases where fundamental principles of judicial procedure are disregarded. (Para 25)

Facts of the case:
The dispute arose over the acquisition of 3 bighas of land purchased by the plaintiff and co-defendants from original owners prior to the acquisition notification. The Trust failed to issue lawful notices to the new owners before the acquisition proceedings commenced.

Findings of Court:
The High Court affirmed the First Appellate Court's ruling that the acquisition proceedings violated statutory requirements and thus declared them void, allowing the plaintiff's appeal.

Issues: The primary legal questions were whether the failure to serve notice constituted a lawful acquisition, and if civil courts had jurisdiction over the matter concerning agricultural land.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court reasoned that strict adherence to statutory procedures in the acquisition process is essential to uphold the property rights of individuals. The lack of notice for the intended acquisition invalidated the process, confirming civil court jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

Result: Appeal dismissed.

Judgement Key Points

Based on the provided legal document, the key legal principles and findings are as follows:

  1. Procedural Safeguards in Land Acquisition: Strict adherence to statutory procedures, including proper service of notices to landowners, is fundamental. Failure to serve notices to the actual landowners renders the land acquisition process void, even if notices were issued to the original khatedars recorded in revenue records (!) (!) .

  2. Jurisdiction of Civil Courts: Civil courts retain jurisdiction to examine the validity of land acquisition proceedings when there are procedural irregularities, such as failure to serve proper notices, especially if the acquisition is challenged on grounds of violation of fundamental principles of judicial procedure (!) (!) .

  3. Validity of Acquisition Notification: A notification issued under the land acquisition law cannot be deemed void solely on the basis of non-service of notice to non-recorded owners, provided that notices were served on the persons recorded as owners in revenue records and the statutory procedures were otherwise followed (!) (!) (!) .

  4. Challenge to Acquisition Proceedings: A suit for injunction without a declaration of invalidity of the acquisition notification is generally not maintainable when the acquisition process has been duly completed and the land has vested in the State, especially if the suit is filed without impleading the State as a necessary party (!) (!) (!) .

  5. Appropriate Forum for Land Disputes: Disputes concerning land acquisition, particularly when it involves the validity of the process or the status of ownership, are primarily within the jurisdiction of specialized tribunals or revenue courts, especially when the land is agricultural, and the dispute pertains to tenancy or land rights governed by specific statutes (!) (!) (!) .

  6. Bar of Civil Court Jurisdiction: The land acquisition law is a comprehensive code that implicitly excludes civil court jurisdiction over matters related to the validity of acquisition proceedings once the statutory procedures are followed, unless fundamental procedural violations occur or the law is not properly applied (!) (!) (!) .

  7. Necessity of Proper Parties: The non-joinder of the State as a party in proceedings challenging the validity of land acquisition proceedings is a significant defect, as the State is the primary authority responsible for compliance with procedural requirements under land acquisition statutes (!) (!) .

  8. Land Ownership and Possession: The possession of land by the landowner, coupled with the absence of a challenge to ownership during acquisition proceedings, supports the conclusion that the acquisition process was valid if statutory procedures were otherwise followed (!) (!) .

  9. Legal Presumptions and Evidence: There is a presumption of regularity in official acts, such as the issuance of notices and publication of notifications, unless proven otherwise. The burden of proof lies on the party challenging the validity of the acquisition (!) (!) .

  10. Land Suitability and Jurisdiction: When land is classified as agricultural and falls under specific land laws, the appropriate forum for disputes related to land rights and injunctions is a revenue court, and civil courts generally do not have jurisdiction over such matters unless procedural violations are evident (!) (!) .

  11. Impact of Law and Procedure on Land Acquisition Validity: Violations of mandatory procedural provisions, such as failure to serve notices or pay compensation, can invalidate the acquisition process from the outset. Proper compliance is essential to uphold the legality of land acquisition (!) (!) .

In summary, the legal framework emphasizes the importance of procedural compliance, proper service of notices, and the role of specialized courts or tribunals in land acquisition disputes. Civil courts have jurisdiction to scrutinize procedural violations but are generally barred from interfering with valid acquisition proceedings that follow statutory requirements.


Table of Content
1. concurrence in judgment references and opinion variations. (Para 1)
2. factual background of land acquisition and suit. (Para 3 , 5)
3. trial court's findings regarding ownership and possession. (Para 9 , 10 , 12)
4. issues raised in the appeal process. (Para 13 , 14)
5. arguments regarding notice and jurisdiction questions. (Para 18 , 22)
6. judicial observations on procedural adherence. (Para 23 , 24 , 25)
7. role of civil courts in jurisdiction and procedural compliance. (Para 30 , 31)
8. final conclusion regarding the appeal and judgment. (Para 39 , 74)

JUDGEMENT

MANOJ MISRA, J. 1. I had the benefit of reading the scholarly judgment of my learned Brother, Hrishikesh Roy, J., dismissing this appeal filed against the judgment and order of the High Court1 dated 12.01.2010 passed in S.B. Civil Regular Second Appeal No. 114 of 2004. However, since I’m of the opinion that plaintiff’s suit was not maintainable in respect of the land which was acquired by a notification, the defendant’s appeal is entitled to be allowed. Therefore, I’m recording my opinion separately.

1. High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur Digitally signed by Jayant Kumar Arora Date: 2023.10.19 16:44:06 IST Reason:

    Signature Not Verified Civil Appeal No.8411 of 2014 Page 2 of 50 Appeal 2. This is a defendant’s appeal against the order of the High Court dismissing his second appeal preferred against the judgment and decree of reversal passed by the first appellate Court2 The first appellate Court had not only set aside the decree of the Trial Court3 to the extent it denied complete relief as sought in the suit,4 but decreed the suit of the first respondent in its entirety.

3. To have a clear understanding of the issues that arise for consideration in this appeal, it would be apposite to advert to the pleadings in the suit out of which the appeal arises.

Suit 4. Gordhan Dass5 instituted the suit on 23.4.1997 against Urban Improvement Trust, Bikaner6, Narayan Das (Respondent no.2), Kanhaiya Lal (Respondent no.3) and Ganesh Ram (Respondent no. 4) seeking permanent prohibitory injunction to restrain the Trust from entering or acquiring the land in dispute7 without adopting due process of law.

Plaint Case 2 District Judge, Bikaner 3 Additional Civil Judge (Sr. Division/Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No.1, Bikaner 4 Original Suit No.29 of 1997 5 Predecessor-in-interest of respondent nos.1/1 to 1/3 6 The Trust (Appellant) 7 Khasra Nos. 211/81 and 239/83-New No. 294/83, measuring 3 bighas, adjoining Bikaner Sagar Road Civil Appeal No.8411 of 2014 Page 3 of 50

5. The plaint case was that, -- (a) the land in dispute admeasuring 3 bighas was jointly purchased by the plaintiff and defendant nos.2 to 48 vide two separate sale-deeds dated 02.03.1970 and 16.03.1970; (b) out of the total area of the disputed land, 1 bigha, comprising a portion of plot no.294/83, was converted to non-agricultural use for setting up a Petrol Pump and, for that purpose, the District Collector issued NOC9 on 23.07.1971; (c) the Trust had not acquired the land by any lawful manner, yet, it started showing itself as owner in possession of the disputed land, as a result, when, on 23.4.1997, the Trust threatened to acquire the land, the suit had to be instituted. Additionally, it was pleaded that neither the provisions of the 1894 Act10 nor of the 1959 Act11 were followed to acquire the land as neither opportunity of hearing nor compensation was provided to either the plaintiff or defendant nos. 2 to 4. Appellant’s case in the Written Statement

6. The appellant12 in its written statement rebutted the plaint case and pleaded that, -- the land pertaining to Khasra no.239/83 stood in the name of 8 Respondent Nos.2 to 4 9 No Objection Certificate 10 The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 11 The Rajasthan Urban Improvement Trust Act, 1959 12 Defendant No.1 in the suit Civil Appeal No.8411 of 2014 Page 4 of 50 Bhanwari Devi, which had already been acquired w



































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