IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No. 570 of 2007. Date of decision: 14.5.2009 Hari Nand …. Petitioner Versus State of H.P & Ors. ….. Respondents Coram: The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, J. The Hon’ble Mr.Justice V.K.Ahuja, J. Whether approved for reporting ? For the petitioner: Mr.Romesh Verma, Advocate For the respondents: S/Shri R.K.Bawa, Advocate General and R.M.Bisht, Dy.Advocate General _____________________________________________________ Deepak Gupta, J.(Oral) By means of this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed that the directions be issued to the respondents to initiate acquisition proceedings in accordance with law in respect of the land of the petitioner utilized by the State for construction of the Rohroo-Parsa-Chupari Road during the year 1996. The respondents do not deny that this road has been constructed. It is also not denied that some land of the petitioner has been utilized for the construction of the road. The defence taken by the State is that the road was constructed after obtaining the oral 2 consent of the land owners. This plea of the respondents cannot be accepted. No material has been placed on record to show that such oral consent was given. Even otherwise this Court has repeatedly held that no person can be deprived of his property except in accordance with law as provided in Article 300-A of the Constitution of India. Government do not work on oral assurances and property cannot be transferred from one person to the other except by written instrument in terms of the Transfer of Property Act as well as under the Registration Act. In view of above discussion, we dispose of this Writ petition with a direction to the respondents to initiate proceedings to acquire the land of the petitioner utilized for the construction of the road within a period of four months from today. The proceedings shall be completed within the statutory period of two years thereafter. Parties shall be at liberty to raise all contentions before the concerned authorities. ( Deepak Gupta ) Judge May 14, 2009 (V.K.Ahuja) (m) Judge