KATHURIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ORS Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

LAND ACQUISITION ACT, 1894

Section 4 - Publication of preliminary notification and power of officers thereupon

Tags Land Acquisition

Supreme Court of India (Full Bench (FB)- Three Judge)

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION, 4-7 of 2015, Judgment Date: Feb 19, 2016

NON-REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NOS.4-7 OF 2015

CIVIL APPEAL NO.9220 OF 2014

KATHURIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS & ORS. …APPELLANTS

VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. ...RESPONDENTS

J U D G M E N T

ANIL R. DAVE, J.

1. These applications have been filed in decided appeal arising
out of order of the High Court of Delhi dated 27th March, 2014 in W.P. (C)
No.2009 of 2014.

2. The issue in the appeal involved validity of acquisition of
land and consequent handing over of possession. Notification under Section
4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (‘the Act’) was issued on 23rd January,
1965 after which the appellant claims to have purchased the land.
Declaration under Section 6 was issued on 26th December, 1968. Award for
compensation was made by the Collector on 30th March, 1981. The appellant
filed a writ petition challenging the acquisition being Writ Petition
(Civil) No.586 of 1981 before the Delhi High Court which was dismissed on
14th December, 1995 which order was affirmed by the Division Bench against
which special leave petition was dismissed by this Court on 1st November,
1996. Thereafter, the appellant made a representation and also filed Writ
Petition (Civil) No.233 of 1997 before the Delhi High Court for direction
to consider the representation for release of the land. The said writ
petition was dismissed on 9th November, 2011. The review petition against
the said order was dismissed on 2nd December, 2011. Special leave petition
filed against the said order was dismissed on 9th December, 2011 but
subject to the filing of an undertaking to deliver vacant and peaceful
possession on or before April 30, 2013, status quo was directed to be
maintained in respect of nature, title and possession of the land.
Accordingly, the appellant filed an undertaking on 6th January, 2012.
However, the appellant did not vacate the land in spite of the said
undertaking which led to filing of a contempt petition before this Court
being Contempt Petition (Civil) Nos.281-282 of 2014 by the Delhi
Development Authority (DDA). On 1st August, 2014, this Court permitted
DDA to take possession of the acquired land except the land on which school
premises was situated and area abutting the school which was required as
play ground. This Court appointed Shri Rakesh K. Khanna, senior advocate
to supervise the functioning of the school. He was to be overall in charge
of the administration. On 17th September, 2014, the contempt petitions
were disposed of by accepting apology of the contemnor, namely, Shri Sunil
Kathuria, for not vacating the premises in spite of the undertaking. This
Court recorded his statement to the effect that possession of the land in
question including the construction thereon, was deemed to have been taken
over on 30th April, 2013 in terms of the undertaking dated 9th December,
2011. It may also be noted that the appellant had filed Writ Petition
(Civil) No.2009 of 2014 before the Delhi High Court for a declaration that
acquisition in respect of 13.3. acres of land situated in village Rangpuri
@ Malikpur Kohi, Tehsil Kapashera, Mehrauli, Delhi had lapsed and for
restraining the authorities from taking over physical possession thereof.
The said writ petition was dismissed against which the above appeal was
filed. The said appeal was disposed of vide order dated 17th September,
2014 by recording that since possession of land has already been taken over
and contempt matter disposed of, the High Court may decide the writ
petition of the appellants afresh.

3. It is in the above background that the present applications
have been filed. I.A. No.4 seeks extension of time for running the school
in spite of possession having been deemed to have been taken over by the
DDA. I.A. Nos.5 and 6 have been filed by the Government of NCT, Delhi
seeking direction to the Administrator appointed by the Court/DDA to hand
over possession of the land and the school building so that the school can
be run as a Government school. I.A. No.7 has been filed by the appellants
with a prayer to take into account exclusion of 9 bighas of land in Khasra
No.1877, while passing orders for handing over possession of the remaining
land to the persons this Court deems fit.

4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties.

5. It is clear from the facts already noticed that the possession
of the entire land stands handed over to the DDA as on 30th April, 2013.
Nothing stands excluded. The school was taken over by the Administrator.
Only further direction required is that the Delhi Government may take over
the school from the Administrator in accordance with law on which the
Administrator appointed by the Court will stand discharged.

6. I.A. Nos.4 to 6 stand disposed of accordingly. There is no
merit in I.A. No.7 which will stand dismissed.

.…………………………….J.

(ANIL R. DAVE)

……………………………..J.

(SHIVA KIRTI SINGH)

……………………………..J.

(ADARSH KUMAR GOEL)

NEW DELHI

FEBRUARY 19, 2016.

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