IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD TUESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SMT JUSTICE T.MEENA KUMARI & THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT APPEAL NO :480, 488 & 489 of 2002 WRIT APPEAL NO : 480 of 2002 (Writ Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the Order dated 27.3.2000 in WP NO : 26228 OF 1999 on the file of the High Court.) Between: 1 The Principal Secretary to Government of A.P. & CAD Dept., Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Special Collecter, SLBC & SRSP, Huda Complex, Tarnaka, Hyderabad. 3 The Special Deputy Collecter,(L.A.), Nalgonda. 4 The executive Engineer, R & B, Miryalaguda,Nalgonda. ..... APPELLANT(S) AND 1 Shayam Kousalya, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 2 Guntaka Venkat Reddy, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 3 Shaik Iqbal Saheb, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 4 Perumalla Venkaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 5 Kuntigorla Venkatamma, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 6 Shiak Peda Jani, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 7 Shiak Dasthagir, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 8 Kuntigorla Laxmaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 9 Kuntigorla Lingamma, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 10 Kuntigorla Saidaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 11 Palleboina Peda Sambaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 12 Shiak Khasim, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 13 Modala Mallaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 14 Shaik Mahaboob Ali, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 15 Modala Saidulu, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 16 Kuntigorla Lingamma, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 17 Chimuta China Latchmma, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 18 Julekha Begum, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 19 Shaik Chand Bee, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 20 Kathula Potharaju, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 21 Shaik Babu, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 22 P.Anantha Babu, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 23 Sagi Varalaxmi, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 24 Medisetti Krishna Rao, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 25 Seelam Venkamma, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 26 Shaik Jhan, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 27 Kathula Venkateshwarulu, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 28 Kondulu Kantharao, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 29 Kandula Varadaiah, R/o Hazariguda, H/o Perur Village, Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. .....RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Appellant:THE ADVOCATE GENERAL Counsel for the Respondent No.: MR.RAJ KUMAR RUDRA W.A.NO:488 OF 2002: (Writ Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the Order dated 22.3.2000 in WP NO : 26227 OF 1999 on the file of the High Court.) Between: 1 The Principal Secretary to Government of A.P., I & CAD Dept. Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Special Collector, SLBC&SRSP, Huda Complex, Tarnaka, Hyderabad. 3 The Special Deputy Collector, (L.A) Nalgonda District. 4 The Executive Engineer, R & B, Miryalaguda, Nalgonda District, ..... APPELLANT(S) AND 1 Janapati Bixmaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 2 Katraju Somaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 3 Katraju Laxmaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 4 Bandla Somaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 5 Bandla Saidaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 6 Ambati Laxmaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 7 Ambati Kistaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 8 Ambati Bala Narsaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 9 Ambati Krishnaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 10 Ambati Yellaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 11 Ambati Yellaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 12 Mannapally Laxmaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 13 Janapati Chandraiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 14 Janapati Lingaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 15 Ambati Yellaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 16 Janapati China Saidaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 17 Chinthakayala Papaiah, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 18 Chinthakayala Latchamma R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 19 Thota Subbamma R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 20 Bommisetti Chandraiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 21 Bommisetti China Mangaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 22 Bommisetti Kasaiah R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 23 Bommisetti Kameshwaram R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. 24 Nelanti Srihari, R/o Surepally (V), Anumula Mandal, Nalgonda District. .....RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Appellant:ADVOCATE GENERAL Counsel for the Respondent No.: MR.RAJ KUMAR RUDRA & WRIT APPEAL NO : 489 of 2002 (Writ Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the Order dated 22.3.2000 in WP NO : 26221 OF 1999 on the file of the High Court.) Between: 1 The Principal Secretary to Govt. of A.P. I & CAD Dept., Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Special Collector, SLBC&SRSP, Huda Complex, Tarnaka, Hyderabad. 3 The Special Deputy Collector, (L.A.), Nalgonda. 4 The Executive Engineer, R&B, Miryalaguda, Nalgonda District. ..... APPELLANT(S) AND 1 Ravula Venkataiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 2 Sankranti Ramarao R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 3 Petnakota Guravaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 4 Gunda Viswanatham R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 5 Chillencherla Balanarsaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 6 Kummari Ramachandraiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 7 Chegondi Lachaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 8 Bommu Mallaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 9 Bommsetti Narsaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 10 Bommisetti Krishnaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 11 Pittala Ramaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 12 Kesaboina China Mallaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 13 Kesanaboina Mallamma R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 14 Bommisetti Kistaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 15 Bommisetti Venkaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 16 Bairu Narsimha R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. 17 Bairu Lingaiah R/o Kottala (V), Anumula Mandal Nalgonda District. .....RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Appellant:ADVOCATE GENERAL Counsel for the Respondent No.: MR.RAJ KUMAR RUDRA The Court made the following : HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE T. MEENA KUMARI & HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT APPEAL NO : 480, 488 & 489 of 2002 COMMON JUDGMENT: (Per Hon’ble Smt. Justice T.Meena Kumari). The present writ appeals are filed against the order of the learned single Judge passed in W.P.No:26228 of 1999 on 27.3.2000 and W.P.No.26227 of 1999 and W.P.No:26221 of 1999 on 22.3.2000. Since the issue involved in all the appeals is one and the same, they are being disposed of by a common judgment. Following the judgments passed in W.P.No:29522 OF 1998, dated 27.10.1998 and W.P.No:24690 of 1998, the learned single Judge disposed of the writ petitions directing the Special Deputy Collector, Land Acquisition, Nalgonda to pass an award under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, if not already passed within a period of six months from the date of receipt of copy of the order and further directing respondents-1 and 4 to make available the necessary funds to enable the third respondent to pass an award under the Act within the stipulated time. Having aggrieved by the same, the present writ appeals are preferred by the State. Heard and perused the material available on record. It is contended by the learned G.P. for acquisition that advance possession was taken on 24.3.1987 and the possession vests with the Government and therefore, though the award is not passed within two years from the date of taking possession, the land acquisition proceedings will not be lapsed. In support of his contention, he relied on a judgment of the Apex Court reported in SATENDRA PRASAD JAIN & OTHERS V. STATE OF UP & OTHERS ([1]) wherein it is laid down thus: “Once possession taken under section 17(1), Government cannot withdraw from acquisition under section 48-In such case Section 11-A not attracted and therefore acquisition proceedings would not lapse on failure to make award with the period prescribed thereunder-Non compliance with section 17 (3-A) regarding part payment of compensation before taking possession would also not render the possession illegal and entitle the Government to withdraw from acquisition.” In the light of the principles laid down by the Apex Court in the judgment (citation-1 supra) and in view of the proposition that there is no provision in the Act by which the land statutorily vested in the Government can revert to the owner, we are of the opinion that since the land in question already vests with the Government, the provisions of section 11- A of the Act have no application to the facts of the case on hand. In this view of the matter and in view of the pendency of the lis since a long time, we feel it just and proper to grant 6 (six) months time to the appellants to pass an award in accordance with law. Subject to the above observation, all appeals are disposed of. No costs. __________________________ Justice T. MEENA KUMARI _______________________ Justice SANJAY KUMAR Dated 7th July, 2009. Dvs/Gurc HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE T. MEENA KUMARI & HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT APPEAL NO :480, 488 and 489 of 2002 (Judgment of the Division Bench delivered by Hon’ble Smt. Justice T.Meena Kumari) Dated 7th July, 2009. [1] (1993) 4 Supreme court cases 369