THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 9790 of 2007 Dated: 23.10.2007 Between: Gajjala Gangaiah & others. … Petitioners AND The Special Deputy Collector and Land Acquisition Officer, Somasila Project, Unit-II, Badvel, Kadapa District, Now merged with Rajampet Unit-IV, Kadapa District. … Respondent Counsel for the petitioners : Shri D. Kodanda Rami Reddy Counsel for the respondent : Government Pleader for Land Acquisition THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 9790 of 2007 ORDER:- This writ petition is filed for a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondent to refer the claims of the petitioners for enhanced compensation under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, ‘the Act’) in terms of the order dated 13.11.1989 in Writ Petition No.4672 of 1988. The petitioners’ lands were acquired for construction of Somasila Project. On the ground that their request for reference under Section 18 of the Act was not accepted, they filed Writ Petition No.4672 of 1988 in this Court. The learned Single Judge by an order dated 13.11.1989 disposed of the said writ petition along with a batch of similar writ petitions with the following direction: “The Land Acquisition Officer i.e., the first respondent herein is directed to refer the matter to the competent Civil Court subject to the condition that the petitioners are not entitled for interest from the date of the award till the date of reference. The writ petitions are accordingly allowed. No costs. Advocate fee Rs.200/- in each.” After having kept quiet for about 17 years, the petitioners filed the present writ petition with a complaint that the order dated 13.11.1989 is not implemented. Ordinarily, the writ petition ought to be dismissed on two grounds; namely, i) that the petitioners have not given any reasons whatsoever in filing this writ petition with a delay of almost 18 years after the disposal of the earlier writ petition on 13.11.1989, and ii) that if the earlier order was not complied with, the only appropriate remedy for the petitioners is to file contempt case seeking enforcement of the order. A writ petition for implementation of an earlier order of this Court seldom lies. However, I am not inclined to review the writ petition in limini for the reason that in pursuance of the notice ordered by this Court, the Special Deputy Collector, Land Acquisition addressed a letter to the Government Pleader for Land Acquisition wherein it is stated that he is making verification (enquiry) into the claims of the petitioners and in view of the long lapse of time, he will take one month time for completing the verification. In view of this letter the writ petition is disposed of with the following directions: i) The Special Deputy Collector, Land Acquisition shall make verification of the claims, which shall be completed within a period of one month from today. ii) If the Land Acquisition Officer is satisfied that the petitioners have made their applications for reference under Section 18 of the Act within the time stipulated under the provisions of the Act, he shall make a reference of the same without further loss of time. Conversely, if he is satisfied that the applications are bared by time, he is at liberty to reject reference. As a sequel to disposal of the writ petition, WPMP.No.12414 of 2007 filed by the petitioners for interim relief is disposed of as infructuous. _____________________________ C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY, J Date: 23.10.2007 ES