Shri Chandragauda Ramgonda Patil & Anr. Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
EmailAppeal: Special Leave Petition (C) NO.16573 of 1996
WITH
Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19030 of 1996 (CC – 4204/96)
(From the Judgment and Order dated 26.4.96 of the Bombay High Court in W.P. No. 1552 of 1996)
WITH
Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19030 of 1996 (CC – 4204/96)
(From the Judgment and Order dated 26.4.96 of the Bombay High Court in W.P. No. 1552 of 1996)
Petitioner: Shri Chandragauda Ramgonda Patil & Anr.
Respondent: The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Apeal: Special Leave Petition (C) NO.16573 of 1996
WITH
Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19030 of 1996 (CC – 4204/96)
(From the Judgment and Order dated 26.4.96 of the Bombay High Court in W.P. No. 1552 of 1996)
WITH
Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19030 of 1996 (CC – 4204/96)
(From the Judgment and Order dated 26.4.96 of the Bombay High Court in W.P. No. 1552 of 1996)
Judges: K. RAMASWAMY & G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.
Date of Judgment: Sep 02, 1996
Appearances:
Mr. Bimrao N. Naik, Senior Advocate and Mr. A.M. Khanwilkar, Advocates with him for the Petitioners.
Head Note:
LIMITATION
Condonation of delay in filing Writ Petition- No merit in application for condonation of delay.
Condonation of delay in filing Writ Petition- No merit in application for condonation of delay.
LAND ACQUISITION
Restitution of land remaining unutilised- Held that any land not utilised for public purpose is not intended to be restituted to be erstwhile owner to whom adequate compensation was paid according to marked value as on date of notification- Relief not allowable.
JUDGEMENT:
O R D E R
1. These Special Leave Petitions have been filed against the orders passed in W.P. No.5196/89 on March 12, 1990 and W.P. No.1552/96 on April 26, 1996. There is absolutely no merit for condonation of delay in the first writ petition. As regards the second writ petition, the facts are not in dispute. Way back in 1974, notification under Section 126(4) of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (“MRTP Act”, for short) was issued after the approval of the Scheme by the State Government, for acquiring the land for utilization thereof for the stated Scheme. Pursuant thereto, an award came to be passed by the Land Acquisition Officer under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, the “Act”) on November 11, 1977. Pos-session was taken earlier on October 21, 1974. After the utilisation of the land, surplus land was sought to be used for allotment to some of the Councilors and the employees of the Kolhapur Municipality. Consequently, the first writ peti-tion came to be filed which was dismissed on merits on March 12, 1990. Thereafter, the petitioners filed a suit challenging the acquisition and suit came to be dismissed as withdrawn being not maintainable. Writ Petition No. 1552/96 came to be filed. That writ petition was also dismissed on the ground that the earlier order in the writ petition operated as res judicata. Therefore, the second writ petition was held to be not maintainable.
2. Shri Naik, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, contended that in the second writ petition, the petitioner sought restitution of the possession pursuant to the Resolution of the State Government dated October 10, 1973 under which Government directed that the surplus land was to be utilised first for any other public purpose and in the alternative it was to be given back to the erstwhile owners. Since he had sought enforcement of the said Government Resolution, the writ petition could not be dismissed on the ground of constructive res judicata. He also seeks to rely upon certain orders said to have been passed by the High Court in conformity with enforcement of the Government Resolution. We do not think that this Court would be justified in making direction for restitution of the land to the erstwhile owners when the land was taken way back and vested in the Municipality free from all encumbrances. We are not concerned with the validity of the notification in either of the writ petitions. It is axiomatic that the land acquired for a public purpose would be utilised for any another public purpose, though use of it was intended for the original public purpose. It is not intended that any land which remain unutilised, should be restituted to the erstwhile owner to whom adequate compensation was paid according to the market value as on the date of the notification. Under these circumstances, the High Court was well justified in refusing to grant relief in both the writ petitions.
3. The special leave petitions are dismissed.
1. These Special Leave Petitions have been filed against the orders passed in W.P. No.5196/89 on March 12, 1990 and W.P. No.1552/96 on April 26, 1996. There is absolutely no merit for condonation of delay in the first writ petition. As regards the second writ petition, the facts are not in dispute. Way back in 1974, notification under Section 126(4) of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (“MRTP Act”, for short) was issued after the approval of the Scheme by the State Government, for acquiring the land for utilization thereof for the stated Scheme. Pursuant thereto, an award came to be passed by the Land Acquisition Officer under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, the “Act”) on November 11, 1977. Pos-session was taken earlier on October 21, 1974. After the utilisation of the land, surplus land was sought to be used for allotment to some of the Councilors and the employees of the Kolhapur Municipality. Consequently, the first writ peti-tion came to be filed which was dismissed on merits on March 12, 1990. Thereafter, the petitioners filed a suit challenging the acquisition and suit came to be dismissed as withdrawn being not maintainable. Writ Petition No. 1552/96 came to be filed. That writ petition was also dismissed on the ground that the earlier order in the writ petition operated as res judicata. Therefore, the second writ petition was held to be not maintainable.
2. Shri Naik, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, contended that in the second writ petition, the petitioner sought restitution of the possession pursuant to the Resolution of the State Government dated October 10, 1973 under which Government directed that the surplus land was to be utilised first for any other public purpose and in the alternative it was to be given back to the erstwhile owners. Since he had sought enforcement of the said Government Resolution, the writ petition could not be dismissed on the ground of constructive res judicata. He also seeks to rely upon certain orders said to have been passed by the High Court in conformity with enforcement of the Government Resolution. We do not think that this Court would be justified in making direction for restitution of the land to the erstwhile owners when the land was taken way back and vested in the Municipality free from all encumbrances. We are not concerned with the validity of the notification in either of the writ petitions. It is axiomatic that the land acquired for a public purpose would be utilised for any another public purpose, though use of it was intended for the original public purpose. It is not intended that any land which remain unutilised, should be restituted to the erstwhile owner to whom adequate compensation was paid according to the market value as on the date of the notification. Under these circumstances, the High Court was well justified in refusing to grant relief in both the writ petitions.
3. The special leave petitions are dismissed.
