1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.3557 OF 2009 Shri Arvind M. Shah ...Petitioner v/s The Collector, Pune and ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO.3048 OF 2009 Mohanlal J. Lalwani and others ...Petitioners v/s The Collector, Pune and others ...Respondents Mr T.D. Deshmukh with Mr R.V. Kulkarni for Petitioners. Mr V.S. Gokhale, AGP for respondents. CORAM : D.K. DESHMUKH AND K.K. TATED JJ. DATE : 15TH DECEMBER 2009. 2 P.C. :- 1] By these petitions, the petitioners challenge the award dated 31st January 2008 which was made under the Land Acquisition Act 1984. When we pointed out to the learned counsel appearing for petitioners that an award made under the Land Acquisition Act 1984 is merely an offer made to the owners of the land, therefore it cannot be challenged. The learned counsel stated that in fact he is challenging the Notification issued under section 6 of the Act by which lands have been acquired. The Notification under section 6 of the Act was issued admittedly on 20th December 2005 and it was published in the newspapers on 26th December 2005. The challenge to the Notification under section 6 of the Act is that the process of acquisition is not followed and that opportunity to raise objections during the course of enquiry under section 5-A of the Act was not given. If that was the challenge to the acquisition, then petitions should have been filed immediately after section 6 3 Notification was published in the newspapers on 26th December 2005. In the petitions, there is no reason given why the petitioners could not challenge the section 6 Notification immediately after it was published in the newspapers in December 2005. What is further pertinent to be noted is that even the possession of the lands which is subject matte of these petitions, is taken by the Government as per the version of the Government. The petitioners have already filed reference under section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act 1984 for enhancement of compensation offered by the award. In our opinion therefore, due to unexplained latches, the petitions cannot be entertained. They are rejected. Parties to act on the copy of this order duly authenticated by the Sheristedar / Private Secretary of this Court. Certified copy expedited. ( JUSTICE D.K. DESHMUKH ) ( JUSTICE K.K. TATED )