THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION No.13567 OF 2003 Date:10.02.2011 Between: Pappala Dali Naidu and others .. Petitioners And Land Acquisition Officer-cum- Revenue Divisional Officer, Srikakulam, Srikakulam District .. Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION No.13567 OF 2003 ORDER: The land admeasuring Ac.0.25 cents in Survey No.81/34-B and Ac.0.26 cents in Survey No.81/35-A belonging to the first petitioner, Ac.0.43 cents in Survey No.81/26-B and Ac.0.03 cents in survey No.81/36-A belonging to the second petitioner and Ac.0.17 cents in Survey No.78/21-A belonging to the third petitioner was acquired for formation of approach road to new Nagavalli bridge. The award was passed on 31.05.1999. The petitioners allege that the father of the first petitioner Appa Rao participated in the award enquiry. The notice of award was issued on 14.06.1999 and the compensation was paid on 22.06.1999. They further allege that immediately after receiving notices, they filed applications seeking reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (the Act, for brevity). However, the compensation was paid on 22.06.1999, and the petitioners received the same under protest. As reference was not made, they filed the instant writ petition. The Government Pleader for Revenue (Land Acquisition) has placed before this Court the applications filed by the petitioners separately seeking reference under Section 18 of the Act. The third petitioner made such application on 16.06.1999 and petitioners 1 and 2 made applications on 27.07.1999. All these are within the period of two months from the date of service of notice under Section 22 of the Act. Therefore, the inaction on the part of the respondent is certainly a reason for interference in the writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed directing the respondent to make a reference to the civil Court, if not already made, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ (V.V.S. RAO, J) 10.02.2011 KH