IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH WRIT PETITION NO : 24691 of 2001 Between: 1 Gas Authority of India Limited, Rep. by its General manager, New Jeety bulding, Danavaipet, Rajahmundry, East Godavari District. 2 The Special Dy. Collector (LA) & Competent Authority under ROU Act Gas Authority of India Limited, New Jeety Bulding, Danavaipet, Rajahmunddry, East Godavari District. ..... PETITIONER(S) AND 1 The Jr.Civil Judge, Vizayawada, Krishna District. 2 Brugumalla Lakshmi narayana, S/o. Late Krishna murthy, R/o. sundaraiah Nagar, Paykapuram, Vijayawada Rural, Krishan District. 3 Union of India, Rep. by its under Secretary, Ministry of P & N.G., New Delhi .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to to issue of an appropriate Writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Prohibition, prohibiting the Court of the Jr. Civil Judge, Vijayawada, Krishna District, from proceedings with the adjudication of suit proceedings in O.S.No.1437/2001 filed by the respondent on the file of the said court by declaring that the said court has no jurisdication to entertain the suit in view of the bar imposed under Sec.14 of Petroleum & Minerals Pipe Lines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act 1962 as amended by Act.2 of 1977 on the jurisdiction of Civil Court to entertain such suits and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.KAKARAVENKATA RAO Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR HOME HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V. ESWARAIAH WRIT PETITION NO. 24691 OF 2001 ORAL ORDER: The Gas Authority of India Limited and the Special Deputy Collector (LA), questions the jurisdiction of the Civil Court in entertaining the Civil Suits at the instance of the owners of the land. In view of Section 14 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipe Lines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, the authorities are entitled to acquire the right to use land by paying the appropriate compensation. But the Civil Court jurisdiction was ousted under Section 14 of the Act. It is further stated that in view of the stay granted by this Court, the pipe line was already laid and necessary compensation was already paid and therefore, nothing survives in the Writ Petition. No counter has been filed disputing the said averments. Section 14 of the Act is extracted hereunder: “14. Bar of Jurisdiction of Civil Court:- Save as otherwise Aexpressly provided in this Act, no Civil Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any matter which the competent authority is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or proposed to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act”. As the jurisdiction of the Civil Court has been ousted by virtue of the provisions of Section 14 of the Act, the Civil Court has no power or authority to entertain the said suit. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is allowed as prayed for. No order as to costs. ____________________ V. ESWARAIAH, J Date: 09.04.2008 KA ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1 The Jr.Civil Judge, Vizayawada, Krishna District. 2 Brugumalla Lakshmi narayana, S/o. Late Krishna murthy, R/o. sundaraiah Nagar, Paykapuram, Vijayawada Rural, Krishan District. 3 Union of India, Rep. by its under Secretary, Ministry of P & N.G., New Delhi 4. 2CCs to 5 .2CD copies