HIGH COURT OF DELHI
DEEPJOT SINGH ANAND – Appellant
Versus
UNION OF INDIA & ANR – Respondent
LPA-543/2019
2022/DHC/005817
LPA 543/2019
Page 1 of 10
$~16
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
%
+
LPA 543/2019 & CM APPLs. 32791/2019, 32793/2019
DEEPJOT SINGH ANAND
..... Appellant
Through:
Mr. Mahesh K Mehta, Advocate.
versus
UNION OF INDIA & ANR
..... Respondents
Through:
Mr. Sanjay Kumar Pathak, Ms.
K.K.Keran
Pathak,
Mr.
Sunil
Kumar Jha, Mr.M.S.Akhtar,
Mr.Rini V. Tigga, Advocates for R-
1 (UOI).
Mr. Anuj Aggarwal, ASC, GNCTD
along with Ms.Ayushi Bansal and
Mr.Sanyam Suri, Advocates for R-
2 (DOE).
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV
VIBHU BAKHRU, J.
1.
The appellant has filed the present appeal impugning an order
dated 30.05.2019 (hereafter ‘the impugned order’) passed by the
learned Single Judge in L.A. APP.179/2016 captioned Deepjot Singh
v Union of India & Anr. The said appeal was preferred by the
appellant against the order dated 10.05.2016 passed by the learned
Additional District Judge in a reference made at the instance of the
Digitally Signed
By:Dushyant Rawal
Signing Date:23.12.2022
Signature Not Verified
2022/DHC/005817
LPA 543/2019
Page 2 of 10
appellant, under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
(hereafter ‘the Act’) being LAC No.8/10/01 captioned Deepot Singh
v. Union of India.
2.
The Government of NCT of Delhi had acquired the land
admeasuring 156 bigha 15 biswas in Village Tikri Kalan, Delhi. The
notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
(hereafter ‘the Act’) in respect of the said acquisition was issued on
12.08.1997. This was followed by a notification dated 10.09.1997
under Section 6 of the Act. The Land Acquisition Collector passed an
award (Award No.3/DCW/98-99) dated 15.09.1998 under Section 11
of the Act, determining the value of land at ₹8,80,000/- per acre
(₹1,83,333/- per bigha). The appellant’s land admeasuring 25 bigha
and 13 biswas was also included in the land so acquired. The
possession of the petitioner’s land was taken on 13.11.1997.
3.
The Collector assessed the total value of the appellant’s land at
₹72,51,223.77/- and issued a notice calling upon the appellant to
appear before the concerned officer on 03.11.1998. Apparently, the
appellant did not appear before the concerned officer on that date.
However, he appeared before the concerned officer on 09.11.1988 as
well as on 10.11.1998, and sought release of the admitted amount of
compensation. The appellant also claims that he sent several letters to
the
respondents
seeking
payment
of
admitted
amount
of
compensation.
4.
Since the compensation as admittedly due was not released, the
Digitally Signed
By:Dushyant Rawal
Signing Date:23.12.2022
Signature Not Verified
2022/DHC/005817
LPA 543/2019
Page 3 of 10
appellant filed a petition (CWP No.5463/99) before this Court on
25.08.1999, inter alia, praying that the respondents be directed to
release the admitted amount. The respondents filed the counter-
affidavit claiming that the appellant had not appeared before the
concerned officer and had also not filed the necessary documents.
According to the respondents, the appellant was also responsible for
the delay in disbursement of the compensation.
5.
The compensation was finally paid to the appellant on
20.02.2002. According to the appellant, there was an inordinate delay
in disbursing the compensation and he is entitled to interest for the
said delay. The appellant was also aggrieved with the value of the land
as determined.
6.
The appellant filed a reference under Section 18 of the Act
(LAC No.8/10/01). The said reference was disposed of by the learned
Additional District Judge, by an order dated 10.05.2016. In terms of
t