IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC NO.10677 OF 2008 SIYA RAM SHARMA VERSUS THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS ********* 3 23/06/2009 A shocking state of affairs is manifest in this case. The land of the petitioner was acquired sometime in the year 1973-74. At that time, the land stood recorded in the name of the petitioner’s mother. Subsequently, the petitioner’s mother died and the petitioner is the only legal heir of the aforesaid land. Ultimately, an award was prepared and the petitioner’s mother was noticed to collect the award amount. An application was made on behalf of the petitioner’s predecessor for referring the matter under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act to the District Judge, Aurangabad. The said application was rejected by the Collector on the ground of limitation. The petitioner moved this Court by filing CWJC No. 348 of 1978. This Court disposed of the writ application on 29th January, 1980 quashing Annexure-1 which was the order rejecting the application for reference and remitted the matter back to the Land Acquisition Officer with a direction to decide the matter afresh on the point of fresh reference under Section 18 of the 2 Act after hearing the parties. At this stage, after 28 years, this Court holds that there is no question that the matter will be heard on the point of reference rather the Land Acquisition Officer is directed to refer the matter to the District Judge, Aurangabad under Section 18 of the Act within two weeks on receipt/production of a copy of this order. Considering that the matter has remained pending since 1974, the District Judge, Aurangabad should take steps to dispose of the reference as expeditiously as he can so that the petitioner may get the benefit of the compensation awarded to him in the year 1974. The parties are also directed to co-operate with the District Judge and appear & produce witnesses and documentary evidence in order to facilitate the early hearing of the reference. This application is allowed with the aforesaid observations and directions. Anand ( Sheema Ali Khan, J. )