THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.10197 of 2006 DATED: 25-05-2006 Between: P.Srinivasa Rao and another . . .Petitioners And The Dist. Collector, Prakasam District, and others . . .Respondents THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.10197 of 2006 O R D E R: The petitioners claim that they are the owners of Ac.8-77 cents of land in Survey No.215 of Anneboyinapalli Revenue Village in Lingasamudram Mandal of Prakasam District. Their grievance is that the respondents are trying to lay a road across their land without paying compensation and without initiating proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj. The Land Acquisition Act empowers the Government to acquire private properties in case they are needed for public purpose. No citizen can be deprived of his property without payment of compensation. In case the respondents need the land of the petitioners in the said survey number or part of it, they are under obligation to initiate proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act and proceed further only after payment of compensation. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, directing that the respondents shall not be entitled to lay a road or undertake any other work across the patta lands of the petitioners, unless the same are acquired by initiating proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act or through negotiated settlements. There shall be no order as to costs. _________________________ (L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J) 25th MAY, 2006. kvni/kdl