IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE 15th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2010 PRESENT: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.2960 of 2010 BETWEEN: Smt Rahanath Unnisa Begum & others … PETITIONER(S) AND The District Collector, Mahabubnagar, Mahabubnagar District and others …RESPONDENT(S) HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.2960 of 2010 ORDER: Heard the learned counsel for petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for Land Acquisition for respondents. In this writ petition, the petitioners seek to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not passing the award either under Section 11(1) or 11(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short – ‘the Act’), and not paying the compensation to the petitioners, as regards the land admeasuring an extent of Ac.2-26 guntas in S.No.915 situated at Veeranna peta of Mahabubnagar town, as illegal and arbitrary, and consequently direct the respondents to pass an award and pay compensation to the petitioners forthwith. Admittedly, the petitioners were owners of land admeasuring an extent of Acs.2-26 guntas in S.No.915 situated at Veeranna peta of Mahabubnagar town and they have earlier approached this Court seeking to direct the respondents therein to initiate and finalize the land acquisition proceedings in respect of the said land in W.P.No.30741 of 1998 wherein, by order dated 06.12.2007, a learned Single Judge of this Court, directed the respondents therein to initiate land acquisition proceedings and determine the compensation. In the aforesaid order, this Court also granted liberty to the respondents therein to negotiate with the petitioners for passing a consent award in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh Land Acquisition (Negotiations Committee) Rules, 1992. Pursuant to such directions, though respondents have notified the land of the petitioners and issued necessary notification as contemplated under Section 4(1) of the Act dated 18.09.2008, they have not passed any award. On instructions, it is submitted by the learned Government Pleader for Land Acquisition appearing for the respondents that the enquiry for passing the award was completed on 13.04.2009 and steps are being taken for passing of the award. Having notified the land of the petitioners for public purpose, there is no reason for not passing of an award in favour of the petitioners. Since it is stated that the notification under Section 4(1) of the Act was published on 18.09.2008 and the declaration under Section 6 of the Act was published on 22.09.2008 and the petitioners have appeared on 13.04.2009 pursuant to the notice issued by the 2nd respondent under Sections 9(3) and 10 of the Act and the enquiry was completed as early as on 13.04.2009 wherein it is said that the petitioners have consented with regard to the rate payable to them in respect of the land notified, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the 3rd respondent to pass an award as expeditiously as possible at any rate within a period of four months from today and communicate the same to the petitioners. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 15th February 2010 CVRK