Kotra Linga Reddy v. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary

Court: High Court for State of Telangana

Bench: T.VINOD KUMAR

Judgment date: 2024-12-31

Case summary

High Court for State of Telangana judgment dated 2024-12-31. Kotra Linga Reddy v. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary. Read the judgment...

Judgment text

[ 31661 HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY ,THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FOUR PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR WRIT PETITI ON NO : 28510 OF 2008 Between: 1. Kotra Linga Reddy, s/o. Venkat ReddyAgriculturist Rl/o. Yelukurthy (Haveli) Village, Giesugonda t\ilandal, Warangal District' 2. Kotra Malla Reddy, S/o. Papi Reddy Agriculturist Ri. /o. Yelukurthy (Haveli) Village, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal District' I 3. MaramreddvPeddaShowReddy,s/o. P. R. ReddyAgriculturistFi/o. - Vef ufirrtf'V Village, Geesug5nda Mandal, Warangal District' tHaveli) 4. Baarabooina Yellaiah, s/o. Bal Narasaiah Agriculturist Fl/o. Yelukurthy (ffauetilVittage, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal District' 5. Goou Chilva Reddy, S/o. Ladu Reddy Agriculturist Fl/o. Yelukurthy (Haveli) Villbge, Geesugond-a Mandal, Warangal District' Agriculturist R/o 6. Maramreddy Chinnapu Reddy, S/o- Thomas Reddy .

- VJrirrtf,V Viitage, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal District' ttt"retil (Died as per. LR Petitioner No'32. )' S/o' 7. Maramreddy Mathyas Reddy 'nsrilultiriist .. ' Rl/o. ' Yelukurthv (Haveli) Village' P;;;*-;#u nediv I Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal District' Ag riculturist Fl/o. YelukurthY 8 Paoadala Ramachandram, S/o. Narasaiah D (Ha"veli) Warangal istrict. Village, Geesugonda Mandal, I (Died per LR Petitioner No'33), S/o' Kumuraiah 9. Pagadala Agaiah as " Geesugonda tvlandal' Warangal hgi"Jlirri. i Rlo. v"irxutt'v (u5vetiivittage, 1 District. Yelukurthy (Haveli) lO. Vanaoarthv Bhadraiah, s/o. Mallaiah Agriculturist Rl/o. Villag'e, Geiesugonda IVIandal, Warangal District' (Haveli) 11 Paoadala Ranoaiah, S/o. Ragaiah Agriculturist Rl/o. Yelukurthy Vill"age, Geesug-onda Mandal, Warangal District' l2. BomminenisanjeevaReddy,s/o.. BuchiReddyAgriculturistFl/o. Yelukurthy' - Warangal District' (ft-aveii) vittage,'Geesugond-a Mandal, S/o. Rami ReddyAgriculturist Fl/o. Yelukurthy l3.

Yenreddv' Narasimha Reddy, - Geesugond'a Mandal, Warangal District' iffiretilVittage, Reddy Fl/o' Yelukurthy 14. Kotra Narasimha Reddy, S/o. Buchi . Agriculturist Vittage, Geesugtinda Mandal, Warangal District' iiiiuetil ls. BommineniRamReddy,S/o. Veera. -ReddyAgriculturistFl/o. Yelukurthy - Viilage, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal District' [Haveiil 16. Kotra Buchi Reddv S/o. Narasimha Agriculturist yelukurthy Rt/o. , . . Reddy . (Haveli) Vittage, Ge6! ugonoa [/indit, wjrin-riat'Oistri"t. '17. Damodar Reddv. S/o. Narsi Reddy Aqricurturist R/o. yerukurthy (Haveri) Vittase, Geesusonoa ftaandii wiiin6ai iji;fi;i:'' l S Manchana Ranoaiah S/o. Laxmaiah Agricurturist Rl/o. yerukurthy " (Haveri) V i I I a g e, G e e s u g 6 n d a ir/ a n d a t, W" i, n s I i or, ;'t ri di] 19. Bommineni Sammi Reddy, S/o. Malla Reddy Agriculturist R/o. yelukurthy (Haveti) Viltage, Geesugon'da : lvlandal, WaiJngit bistrict. 20. lyloni Ramulu (Died as per petitiongr LR No. 3a), S/o. Agaiah Agricurturist Rl/o.

Yetukurthv (Haveri) vira'ge, Geesurionoi rt,|in",i6'i, warafig"r DiiiiiJt]''-""''"" 21. Boina Venkataiah. S/o. {\ilallaiahAgriculturist Rl/o. yelukurthy (Haveli) ' " " Village, Geesugonda lr/andat, warangii oi;iii;t. '-''"' 22. Mota chander Rao. S/o- Rajaiah_Agricurturist yerukurthy '- -' Rl/o. '-- tHaveri) Viilage, Geesugonda Mandal, Wararigai Disiriit. 23' Bembare Peeraiah. S/o. Veeramailu Agricurturist R/o. yerukurthy ' (Haveri) Vittage, Geesugonda Mandat, Wiringai tiidir6il 24. cheerla Narasimha Reddy, s/o. Maila Reddy Agricurturist yerukurthv - R/o. I wv' I e"r^ur Lr rv (Haveti) Viilage, Geesugon-da Mandai, "' waringjr iji. t,. "il. 25. Allipuram Ramulu. S/o.. Kasaiah Agriculturist -- Rl/o. yelukurthy (Haveli) -' -- Village, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangal Di;trict. 26. Lade Raiamouri, S/o. shankar Rao yerukurthy . Agricurturist Rl/o. (Haveri) Village, Geesugonda Mandal, Warangai 6iriri"i"- 27 'Ekamba Hanmantha Rao, sio. Kattaiah Agricurturist yerukurthy Rl/o.

(Haveri) Village, Geesusonda Mandat, waiingii oiiiriii. '-' 28. Bembari Pedda Raiaiah, s/o- Veeramailu Agricurturist yerukurthy Rl/o. (Haveri) vittase, Geesusonda NaAndii, "" wJiJ"glibiiYilt. 29. Nayakoti Babu Rao. S/o. Agriculturist Fl/o. yelukurthy . Ramaiah (Haveli) Viltase, Geesusonda Mandat, W;A;sai Bi;fi;i. ""' 30' Durganala Raiarinoam. s/o. Mailaiah Agricurturist R/o. yerukurthy (Haveri) Vittage, Geesugonda rUandat, wiiingar oliiiici]''" 31 . cheerla Ray_apu Reddy as per LR petitioner . (Died No. 35), -N/jho;[ s/o. Malraiah yetukurthy R/o. (Havetij VirrJsi, G;Jirsonoi w;;;;ili 6,rJi;:llr.. '. , 32. M.. Jasintha Ra. ri, W/o. Mathyas Reddy Aged Major, Occ. Agriculture, Fl/o. Ye l u kurthv ( Ha ver i ) Vi r a ge, Gdesug";G ,J,ioi i, Wr r" n gil oiit&. ' i;. iiii" No. 32 is-brouoht'on re'cord as L"R ;ildil;;€irluo pEtiti#6i'ii":? ;;ii;l "Ji c. o. dt. 14. o2. 2b2q in te qiioii'. No. 33. P. Kumarasamy. S/o. p. Agaiah,Aged Major, Occ. Agriculture, Rt/o.

yelukurthv (Haveti) vinage, Geesuoqn'oa ruanoar, w;;. fi DEiiiit. 'F,iiiti,i. ""r'N;"5I';{ brought on rbcord as L^R^of -pei'-c. b:di me oeceiseo Fiiii-ion"'. No. s'as 14. 02. 2024 in tA No. 3t2O23. 34. L.. Ramesh, S/o. Ramulu, Aged Major, Occ. Agriculture, . Rlio. yelukurthv (HaveJi) Vilage, "ntinoi['W"o"gri Geesuognoa D"i. tr"i. pbtitioii"r,N;"il ;{ brought on record as LR gr tne oecbaieO ptliti6ner r. io. ztj';il#CO;i: 14. 02. 2024 in IA No. 2t2O23 35. Cheerla Kamlakar Reddy, S/o. Cheerla Rayapu Reddy, Aged Major, Occ. Agriculture, R/o. yetukurthy f Hrreiil viiLgdl,fSJ. rgono, l Mandat, Waranoat District. petitioner No orousr,i ;""-';;;i'il . eq b LR ;i't#' ffi;;r.? Petitioner No. 31 as per C. o. di. iqni. zoic'iiil''iG. uzozs. ... PETTTTONER(S) AND 1 The Govemment of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secreta ry, Department of lrrigation and Command Area Development, Secretariat Buildings, Saifabad, Hyderabad. 2.

The Special Collector, Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP), Huda Complex, Tamaka, Secunderabad. 3. The Land Acquisition Officer & Special Deputy Collector, SRSP, Warangal Unit at Subedari, Hanamkonda, Warangal City and District. ... RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an order or direction or writ specially writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents in not referring the Awa rd No. 40/88-89 in File No. D/327l86 dated 4. 2. 1989 on the file of the 2nd respondent to the competent civil court u/s 1B of the Land Acquisition Act in respect of petitioners as illegal, arbitrary, improper violative of Article 14 and 21 of Constitution of lndia and contrary to the provisions of the Section 18 of the said Act l. A. NO: 1 OF 2008 (WPMP.

NO : 37358 OF 2008) Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit fited in support of the petition, the High court may be pleased to direct the respondents to refer Award in respect of petitioners bearing No. 40/88-89 in File No. Di327l86 dated 4. 2. 1989 on the file of the 2nd respondent to the competent civil court u/s 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, to a competent Civil Court, pending W. P. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRl. J VENKATESWARA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent Nos. 'l: GP FOR IRRIGATION & COMM AREA DEV Counsel for the Respondent No's. 2&3: GP FOR LAND ACQUISITION The Court made the following: ORDER THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR WRIT PETITION No. 28510 ()F 2008 ORDER Heard learned Counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader for Irrigation & Command Area Development appearing on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 and. 2, learned Government Pleader for Land Acquisition appearing on behalf of respondent No.

3, and perused the record. 2. Shorn of unnecessary details the case of the petitioner in brief, is that aggrieved by the Award dated O4. O2. 19g9 passed by the respondent authority, the petitioners have approached the respondent authoriLies and submitted application under Section 1 8 of r,he Land Acquisition ,the Act, 1894 (for short ActJ seeking reference to the Court; and that insptie of the petitioners submitting the application under Section 1g of the Act within time, the respondents have failed to make a reference which action of the respondents it is contended is highly illegal, l arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the Act. 3. Counter-affidavit on behalf of respondents is Il1ed. 4. By the counter-affidavit, it rs contended on behalf of the respondents that on the responclent authorities initiating land acquisition proceedings, Award was passed uid_e Award No. 4O/88-89 dated O4. 02. 1989 and compensation was paid by hxing the land value at the rate of Rs.

9,O00/- per acre. 5. By the counter-affidavit, it is further contended that though the petitioners have received the compensation amount fixed under protest, the petitioners did not file any application under Section 18 of the Act raising dispute as to the market vaiue hxation and seeking to refer the Award to the competent Court for determination of proper market value. 6. By the counter-affidavit, it is further stated that since the petitioners did not file any application seeking reference to the Court, the petitioners cannot now approach the Court aftet 20 years and seek for reference of the Award to Court for proper determination of the market value or the respondent authorities failing to make a reference of the Award to the Court as required under Section 18 of the Act. 7. By the counter-affidavit, it is further stated that one Bommineni Rangaiah and others had filed a Writ Petition No. 8626 of 2OO2 before this Court and the said Writ Petition was dismissed on 24. O4.

2OO2 observing as under: "A reference under Section 18 of the Act is not a matter of course. It is subject to provisions of Section 12 of the Act' Any protest or objection alleged after expiry of time stipulated under sub-section (1) of Section 12 of the Act would be illegal' Be it noted that it is axiomatic that Award is a settlement \ \ J betu,een Government (acquiring authority) and citizen. An Award can only be set aside or modified in accordance with the settlement and not otherwise. " 8. Learned Government Pleader on the basis of the above submits that since the petitioners in the present Writ Petition also stand on the same footing as considered by this Court, the Petition is liable to be dismissed. 9. I have taken note of the respective contentions urged. 1 0. While the fact of respondent authorities passing a n Award dated 04. 02.

i989 is not in dispute, it is not shown to this Court of the petitioners approaching the respondent authorities and submilting application seeking reference to the Court within the time line prescribed under Section 18 of the Acr.. Though the petitioners had claimed in the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petitior-r that the petitioners having received the compensation amount under protest, that by itself cannot be considered as the petitioners requesting or seeking refe rence to the Court. Though the said submission is appealing at the first blush, but having regard to the language employed in Section 18, it is to be noted that mere receiving of compcnsation amount under protest by itself would not be suff,icient for the I authorily to make reference, inasmuch as the Act stipulates an ) ( I application to be made to the concerned authority seeking reference of the Award to the Court. 1 1 .

Since, in the facts of the case as it is not shown to this Court of the petitioners submitting any application seeking reference to Court in terms of Section 18 of the Act by hling application within the time prescribed under the Act, the mere act of the petitioners issuing legal notice through an Advocate on 08. 10. 2OO2 cannot be taken as an application made under Section 18 of the Act for the authorit5z to make a reference, more so when the said legal notice has been issued much after expiry of the time limrt prescribed under Section 18 of the Act as applicable in the State ofAndhra Pradesh. 12. In view of the above, this Court is of the view that the petitioners have failed to make out a case for this Court to allow the Writ Petition. 13. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition sha1l stand closed. SD/. A.

SRIN vlse Reooy ASSISTAN T REGISTRAR /TTRUE COPY// ION OFFICER To, REDDY Advocate [OPUCI VENKATESWARA 1. One CC to SRI' J of Court for the State OR LAND ACOUISITION 'High THSf'*i:t3,! ,5 ' \ DEV Advocate & COMM AREA FOR IRRIGATION 3 One CC to SRI' GP loPUCl 4. Two CD CoPies KKS BS J f-P. =P :&Ie:xx:txx-ixtr-:x. HIGH COURT DATED:31 11212024 S:. ,; ({ 1Ht l'i o Y tt ORDER 05 r f,r$ p WP. No. 28510 of 2008 . D5 * ,-r. c-O --iia DISMISSING THE WRIT PETTTION WITHOUT COSTS ls

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