Opinion ID: 2199678
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Is the question as to the necessity for taking land and the quantity thereof by condemnation a judicial or a legislative question?

Text: The Department seeks to obtain a right-of-way for highway purposes through the exercise of the power of eminent domain. Its right to proceed is predicated upon the authority conferred by 17 Del.C.1953, § 132 (c) (4), the pertinent part of which is as follows: To these ends, the Department may        (4) Acquire by condemnation or otherwise any land, easement, franchise, material or property, which, in the judgment of the Department, shall be necessary therefor, provided, that the Department shall not reconstruct a highway unless there will result a net saving or reconstruction. The Department contends that the authority delegated to it by the Legislature is purely a legislative function and that the question of the necessity for the taking and the quantity of land involved is a matter entirely legislative in character and is not one concerning which the courts will take judicial action. Defendants assert that the amount of land taken by the Department is grossly excessive and is predicated upon the construction of a four-lane highway, as to which there is at present no plan of construction nor one contemplated in the foreseeable future. The exercise of the power of eminent domain for any particular public use is solely within the province of the Legislature. This power may be, and usually is, delegated to a public agency. Generally, the question of the necessity of performing any public improvement is also a purely legislative question. See 2 Lewis' Eminent Domain (3rd Ed.), Secs. 596, 597, p. 1056. In this state power over roads and streets has long been exercised by our Legislature. See State ex rel. Morford v. Emerson, 1 Terry 328, 10 A.2d 515, affirmed 1 Terry 496, 14 A.2d 378. In the absence of fraud, bad faith or abuse of discretion, the determination of the Legislature or of the state agency to whom the power has been delegated will not be disturbed. Clendaniel v. Conrad, 3 Boyce 549, 83 A. 1036; State ex rel. Morford v. Emerson, supra. The objections raised by defendants charge the Department with an abuse of discretion as to the amount of land taken. Defendants also assert that even if all of the property taken is necessary for a public use, there has been no showing that it will be so used at any time in the foreseeable future. These objections involve a consideration of facts relating not only to the interest of the public, but also as well to that of private citizens whose property has been injured. The interest of both must be considered and their rights protected. This cannot be done by recourse to the Legislature. The objections made by defendants are judicial in nature and require the determination of a court in order that the rights of both parties may be adjudicated. City of Richmond v. Carneal, 129 Va. 388, 106 S.E. 403, 14 A.L.R. 1341; Wilton v. St. Johns County, 98 Fla. 26, 123 So. 527, 65 A.L.R. 488; Havner v. Iowa State Highway Commission, 1941, 230 Iowa 1069, 300 N.W. 287; Erwin v. Mississippi State Highway Commission, 213 Miss. 885, 58 So.2d 52. See 2 Lewis' Eminent Domain, (3rd Ed.), Sec. 603, p. 1067. We conclude that the defendants were entitled to present their objections before the Superior Court and that that court had the authority to make a determination thereof.