The High Court · 2025

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE K.SARATH WRIT PETITION No.1O488 OF 20L7 ORDER: Hcard learned Counsel lor tl-rc petitioner and learned Assistant Govelnment Pleadcr for Assignmcnt appearing for the respondents and pcruscd thc material on rccord

2. Learned Counsel lor the petitioner submits that thc pctitioner r,r,as assigr-red the leLnd adl-rcasuring Ac.2- 1n 20 gunlas S1'.No.951 /2 ot Husnabad Village and Mandal, Siddipet District alld grantcd final patta certificate by the thcn MRO, Husnabad in proceedings No A/ 12628 /67 and the petitioner has been cultivating the said lar-rd from 1967 onwards. The name of the petitioner rt as mutated in the revenue records and he \\'as given pattadar passbook and title deed. Thc petitioner also obtained agricultura-l loan in respect of the said land from the District Cooperative Central Bank, Husnabad for the purpose of doing agriculture and thc T 2 :q ;l .sK,..r ',1 t) l\io.1()188 o.l )OIi was also u';rived by thc loan amor:nt of Rs.37 ,600 l- G()\ ct'ltllle t-.i ti Ir-rclia ullcier the Loalt \\/ir ver Scher-nc. 2O0B 'l-hr:s he narnc ol the pctitionol- \\ zls rec:,rclccl irs pattad.r- .rrri poss.sso. r. Re'e.uc nccrrrrls Tht:rcafter. the rt--s1tor-r:l..ts *-rtl-r :r. ir-itcntio* to cor-r: truct 2 Bcd Room Iiouscs tried lo clispossess thr: ltctiric.ner from iris land irlrl th(,. p.rtitiolrcr rc[Ltsed to hanci ovcr rh.e samc. I r_r vierv of tlte sarne, tl'rt: rcsponcients maci<: allr:glations ar_rd resorted r._.srrmlttion procr:cdings uncle-r. Telalgat-ia Assigncd [-:Lncls (l)rohitrition of ,lransfers) Act, 1!r77 (for brcvitr, " PO'| .\ct. 1977"1 Without p-rrior rl1,imation, a nolice cl,1i:cl 02.03.20 l7 u,as afrixcd on th. rr.us. of thc petitioncr to stop thc cuirir.atior-r u.ithin ser err (7) days of receipl o1'the s;:tid .oti.e . In the said noticr:. il reference tvas maclr' rcqai-ding ttrc inquirr,, report date:cl ).8.O2.2O77 of N4a.d.l R,--'r'r',uc orrst:r-r-.r ,r-rd Villagc Rer,r'nue orricer. Husn:rbad. l-hcrcitftcr, tl-rer petitior-re l. srr.;.mitted an explanatiorr datecl 09.O3.2O12. Without cor-r:;idering thc explanatior-r ,ti -he pctitioner, the respondent No.4 herein issued r ntpugnecl r-csumption 1;t.oceedings 3 SK,J W.P.No. I0 188 of 2017 No.B/317 l2017, dated 18.03.2017 by invol<ing powcrs Lrllder Scction 411)and a(1) (a) oIPOT Act, 1977

3. Learncd Counsel lor thc pctilioner further submits that i1' the responcients \\.ant to acquire the land of the pctitioner, the petitioner is cntitled lor pavment of compensation of market value on par with absolute o\\'n ers Thc respondents cannol acquire the lar-rcl of the pctitioner rvithout initiating l:rr.rd acquisition proc:eedings and u,ithout making pa\rmcllt of compensatron and further submits that the petitioner is entitled for compensation or-r par r,r.ith the private lar-rds alld requested lo ailou, the writ petition

4. The lcarned Counsel lor the petitioner in support of his contentions piaced reliance on the follorving .Iudgmcr-rts: I La.nd Acqui sition OlJic er-Cum-Reuenue Diui sio nal Offic e r u. Mekala Pandul

2. B.Ad.inarayana Murthg u. Collector2 3. Jinka Chendragudu u. Joint Collectots | 2OO4 l2l ALD 4s 1 2 1999 (6) ALT 322 (S.8.) 3 2O11 (s) ALT 119 4

5. Lt:a rlr:r l Assrstatrt ,, ',,' , ,,,,r, ., i[;'i (iovernment I,lt:arlcr for r\ssignnrt'.t l:irsinq .l thi, (-i)lurtcl- submrts ilrrrt tl-re total extCllt o1- Si.Nr_,.!r.l i ( iovtrr-trrrtcttL pOtl,.nlrOl:C land E srLuat€rd er1 ll.rsr-rajtad is r\c-.5_2S Guntas a: l)cr rcvenue recorrls. ()rrt of thc snid cxtont, an extr3nl ol- Ac.2_2O gltntas of lancl \\ i1s assigrrr:d to the [ (.Lilioner for agricultrtre I-.Llrllose lonl-i llrcl< and his nalte \vas ri:cordcd :rs; l,uttadai. in tltr, Pahani lor- Lhr t,ctrr- 1974_ 1975. .Ac;corrl itg to Lhe il-ovisions ol ssst:1 trrrc.nt and coltditiolts of irssignilcnt. tltc Gor,ci:r-iment ;t r Lci :rssigned should br: lrr rugitt Lrnd<:r c:lLltirration b], ,1,,, rrssignee within (3) ycrrs ll-orn thi: cllrl.c ol asstgnmcnt. i should be enjoyed by r hc assigncc rir l;r' r-ris regal heirs 1r c r,.: critarily and he shorrlcl ltot transti)r or alicnelte in an, r,r-rzr i,rner to others lor trnr' l)ur-ilosc. Dur.rng rhe lielcl r.r rqtriry and verification ol assigncd iarrr.ls by the VilL,r:,.: Revenue Officer, Iius,.l;acl on 28.O2.2O17. it was r.t.,,,ealed that the assigncc,,,ltetitione r has never brouglt. thc lald assigned to ltint into cultir ation, hc transferrc cl/alienated the assignecl iarrcl to (22) pcr-sor-rs relating lo l.ris ),adava , 5 SK,J W.P-No.10488 of 2017 caste. the said (22) persorls havc erected temporary tin sheds in the assigned lar-rd and 11o one is residing in the ternporarv titr shecls. Accorclingly, it was clearl1, cstablisl-red that the assignce / pctitioncr has violated the conditions of assignmcnt by not bringing the land into cultivation and also bv alienating the land to others. Thcrelbr-e. a notice viclc Rcf.No.B/317 l2Ol7, dated O'2.O3.2O17 by the responder-rt No.4 was issued to the assigncc/pt: titioner directing l-rint to show cause as to u'hy the Gor.ernrnenl land assigr-rccl to htm should not be rcsumed to Gor.,err-rn'rent. Thc assignec /petitioner refused to n:ceive the notice and tl'rerelorc, it was pasted on thc doorstep of tl-re residence o1' ttrc assigncc / petitioner. The explanalion made in this regard was not found to be salisfactory. Therefore, orders were passed .by the respondent No.4 vide Rel.No.B/317 /2017, dated 18.03.2017 resuming the assigned land to Government under the provisions of POT Act, 1977 and the Girdawar- L. Husnabad u,as directed to take over the land into Government custod-y undcr cover of panchanarna. 6 .S,(,J \L :, ,'o.1(),138 of 201; Accordingll'. the Girdari,ar- [-i Ll sltLll)ad has 1ti<en o\rer Lhe 1:urd along ri'trlL ihe tetriro1-itl'\' str-ucturcs c.:.r;ting on the lanrl tlrdcr covei' o1' plrr-rci-r:r n ir rrr;t intc r-ictr crnrlent c:r-rstodv o r-r 20.03.211 i 7. .,\l plt.scnt Lhc .iLrrd is ur-rc1cr (lovernmcnt cr-rstodv. TItr: orclcr-s ol resumpt:rrr-i passed by the respondenL No..l :rr-rd taking over 11.c land into (}orrernmcnt r:ustodv is accot'clinq tc) provi.rill-rs of POT ;\c:t. 1977.

6. Lcarncc Assrstar-r I (lor.crnmer-rt Pleader lor Assignrncnl further subnrits t1-rat tl-ie re,<3Lcst. oi thc pr:titioner 1or pavment of l:rnd <-'ontpensatiot I in tcrms of tl-ic- Right to F'air Crtr-r.tltcrrsalion ancl Trarrs,pat-encv tn Land Acquisitiot-r, Iiehabiliratior-r & ReseL l:ment r\ct, 2013 (for br,:r'ity "RITCTI-,\R[i Act.20i3 cannot be considcred as th<: Ianc,l u'as not rcsrlmcil lor public pr,rrpose lrom the pe titror-rcrlassigr-ir:c b), th,: respondent No.4 under the provisions ol thc RFCTI-ARi Act,2013 Further', he was not in posscssion of the 1artr1 as on the date of initiation of procccdings lor reslr r ption. The 7 SK,J W.P.No.10488 of 2017 compensation sl-rall be paid when the land is resumed for public purpose under the provisions of RFCTLARR Act, 2013 and u,hen thc assrqrrcc is in cnjoyment of the lald. In the instan[ c]ase. the land lr.as not in the custody of the petitioner and it \\'as not resumed for public purpose lrom the petitioner. As such, the question of payment ol compensation undcr the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 does not arise, hence, requested to dismiss the writ petition. 7, After hearing both sides and perusing the material on record, this Court is ol the considered view that there is no dispute u,ith regard to the assignment of land to the petitioner by the respondent authorities. 'lhe impugned proceedings vide Ref.No.Bl3l7 l2Ol7, dated 18.03.2077 issued by the respondent No.4 for resumption of the subject land from the petitioner on the ground that the petitioncr lailed to bring the land into cultivation within three years lrom the datc ol assignment and the requirement of the land for the pubiic purpose as the Government resorts to resume the same without paying \ a sxJ t ,.'. :, ,\.o.1Ot8ii o.i.2O17 any comperrsation. In the impugner.l rrders, the r.sponden.[ No.4 speci[ic.t11]- stalcd that as jrer Section 3 (1) of the POT Act, 1977 and aftcr r,:rrusing the documcntarl' ancl oral evidence and alter i -rnmining the :jite it r..rs lotrnd that thc (]or.r:rnment lanrl -_s recluired for public purl)osie ald resumed the same.

8. The responder-Lts in the ir counter irr,r i.,t conter-rclec1 Lhat tl-rc land u.as not taken lrorn the pctil irr t,tr for public llurpose as the petitioner is not ir-r possrssion of Lhe property. In violation of conditions of assiq-r.nent bv the petitioner, thcv resumcd the 1and. There:rlt:r.. thev u,ant to Llse the 1anc1 lor public purposc. The con r ntir:rn of the respondents in the counter is contrarl, to llLc findings of the respondeilt No.4 in thc irnpugncd prc:,:edings. It cle arly shows that the respondents har.r: _a ken contra stand in tl-re impugned orders ald the coLlnter. The respondent authorities want to use the land of the petitioner for public purpose to construct 2 Bed Room Houses as per the impugned order. Ther r.espondents .,,.. 9 SK,J W.l'. No. )0488 of 2A I7 \l,an t to acquire the lilncl fl-orn the pctitioner without paying any land acquisiLion compensation

9. In the impugned order. the respondents have stated that the pctitioncl is not cultivating the 1and. In view of the same, t he property of the petitioner resumed for public purpose. In the counter, the respondents stated thal lhe pelilioncr sold the property to 22 persons ard Lhe said 22 persons have erected temporary tin sheds in the assigned land and no one is residing in the temporary tin sheds. The said contention of the respondents is not rrentioned in the impugned order and cannot bc takcn into account as per the Judgment passed by thc Ilor-r'ble Supreme Court in Mohinder Singh Gill u. The Chief Election Commissioner a and the relevar-rt portion of the said Judgement is as follows "'lhe seconcl eclually reievant rnatter is that rvhen a statutory lunctionary makes an order based on certain grounds, its validity must bc judged by the reasons so 1 {19781 r SCC 405 10 SK,J \\' 'o.1L-13Eol 2Ol7 mcntionecl and cannot lte supPk:mcntcd b'y' [i-t:r h rca sons in the shape crf allidaviI or othct-u'isc. O[heru.isc t:r or.:er bacl in thi: bcginning may, ltv tlte l.tntc iL conrcs i(') C,)Liit otl accoLllrt ol :t c1t:rlk:nge, gc1. \rali(1ated b}' acl<l,ti,t :ti Sl;-ounds later br-rtur;ltt orLt. \\/c n]ar hc'rt' clriru' a[['..tlLon to thc obsei'i,aLions of Bose, J. in Gorrlirandas Bhan j : Prtblic rrclcrs, publicly made, in cxcrcisc o[ r ;-,rLut;t1, authoritv car-rnol be construed in thc lilht oi expLanallons subscqllenth qiven 11. thc ofh::: rrirl<,.rq L]-Le orclcr of r.r,hat hc mean[. or of u,hat u: s in his rniLr,l. or lvhat he iutcnded to do. hrblic olrir rs m:r1c irv public aiuthonties arc mcai-rt to havc pul l.r: elfet:l :urd arc rntendccl to lffect tlrc :rctiltlls :rncl c.r't,Lr.rt:t of li-rosc ,o u,hom they arc aclrlressed anat .it.tst lc i:on:;tt-r.rl objectireh. \,Jitlr feiel itnLrc ro Lh. i, lqllitlla ..: scrl in the order itself." 1O. The Judgment reiied by the learned Ccunsel for.the perlitioncr in La-nd Acquisition OfJicer-(.u rn-Revenue Diuisional Officer o. Mekala Pandu (Suprz.l) squarcly apply to the instant case and the relevant 1 ortion of the said Judgmenl is as follours " 111. In Lhe' aru.tmstattces, we hold that lhe c,ssiqrrees ctf' the qouenlnen.t lands are entitled to poq'nent of compensatiott equiualent to the full market ualt,c: o.f' tlrc lartd und other benef.ts on par utith. fulL otuners ,tf the l.and euen in cc:.ses tuh.ere the assigned. lands ,tre taken possessjon. of bg the State in accordance uith tl e. tenns of { t I I i i t I I ? i I I I i I I I I ! I I i 11 SK,J w P. No.1a48 B of 2Al7 grotll or puLto, tltouqh sLtch resLttnL)t;on is for a public pttrpose. V'te Junher hokl. lhat euen. in cases where the Strzte does not inuoi\'.e the- couenent oJ' tlt.t: grant or patt(t to resLlrLe the lantl lor suclt ltttblic purpose dnd resotls to ocqu.isitiorr oJ tlrc, lctm1 uttder l.lte 1)roul.sions of tLLe Land Acquisitiort Act. 1894, the crssiTrrr:r:s sltull be erttiLled to atrrtpertsaliort a.s ot.{/neis oJ' tlte irtnd cttttl l'or aLl oth.er cortsequential bertefits uncler the prouisions of the Land t\cquisition Act, 1U94. ,Yo corttlition irtcorporated in patta/ cleed of u.ssigtLrnett sltalL operrLte cts cL cktg putting artg restri.ction on thc: nght oJ' the assignee to claim full corn.pettsatiort es oLL)rLer o.[ the l.and."

11. The Judgment relied by thc lcanted Counsel lor thc pctitioner 1n B.Adinaragana Murthg u. Collector (Supra-2) squarely apply lo t[-re instanl case and the relevant portion of the said Judgmer-rt is as lollows " 18. On this ground aLone, I ntust sol1, tlrc pouter of resumption of asstgned lortds cannot be exletrcled begond_ u reasonable 1;eriod, tn anu euetll, rtoL lctter tltan fiue to sr-r tlears. Euen uithirt fiue to .sl-t ryear.s ruh.ert tlte potLter has Lo be exercised, there ttusL bc necessor g inspection bg the authorities on the basis of tuhich a decision to resume the lartds be taken precedinq a not[ce lo the parties concernec]. Secflon +(1)(b) oJ'Lhe Act enuisages tltet e_uen tJ' therc: is uictlotion of certa L terrns artd cottditiorts by tlre assLgree the Land shall be resktred to tlTe assignee or lis Legal heirs as the case rnag be and if there is a uiolatiott of the terms i;. SK.J \t.' ; ';) 1 O 18ll if 2t) i 7 of assttlnne nt -fdr the secorul. ttnte, it wouLcl be t;:--tr t:: ttLt: au.thoi.l.it:s !o resLLnLe tlt.e l.ancls. I hnLte. t.tt( r(:lor('. tl() he-sitolion to sttt/ thctl the respotvlert.ts huue n.o .,1i'.l1ort-[1] ta resurne tlrc ltttt.tls rLfler LorLcl lctpse of nLrtre tlt.rL.t .r'J r/.::or.s on .sorn.j Jli,nsg erounlls Tlrc .first tptestion. l.s ar).sr..,,?re.l rtr:cordit r1h1. " L2. Tl-Lc ,Jttc.gment relied b1, t}-re lezrrncd Counsc;I for- thc petitioner i,:L Jinka Chendragudu u. Joint: Collector (Supra-3) s:c1i-iarely appl.v to lhc instant cr,Lr;c ancl thc rcLcvant porlic n of thc said Judgment is as lc ilou's " 1 1 . Bi: tltut os iL noy, tlrc yte titioner clct.itr s thctt Lltc: Land tn. r/r.re.sllori utcLs cts.signed. to hhn tn th.e L t: t.r 1976, rutd il' rrc'cctrdincl to rr:spctttdent No.3, tlrc lancl, t:; per thc r:onrlilions o.l' D ['ornt p(rl.l.o, l.utts reqt.Lired to ll.i, :] Ilte ictrtti. ttrrcier cultit.tttiort. tutlhin Lhree yectrs frorn tlu: it,te o-[ its is-suorrr:c. rtrLcl i.l- lhr; petiti.oner fail.ed to brinr, 'l'te lctrrr.i tntder crtltit.r.tttotr, tuilltirt three years frotn th: '.ltLlt-t Ltf ils lssuarrcc. l-ttei1 respondent No.3, ou11ht to hllr, l.ss;lerl rtolict: t:c.'llin g LLport lti.rrt. (.ct slntu cal.se rrs i,. LL;ht1 Lh.t: D l;orrn. patio sltotLld ttol be cancelled, inmedi,tlr:lL1 oJl;:r erpirll ol' lL,ree uedrs .fron the date oJ' issucLn:c of tlrc D-Fornt pult.l, ancl i.n.steacl of doing tha| he ha.s t.s,suer:l the .sho u., carr.sr,, nolice ott 17.02.2005 i.e., after laps,: t.f nea.rltl 30 11ertr.s lle fttlther su]:rn.itted thctt shtce resT:ro;rr,errl ,\o.3 issu.ed. the sl-Lo u, couse notice after lapse ctJ 11..1.171q 3A lleors, it tuil.l not be posst.bLe Lo ascertain. o.s to t h :ther tlte 13 SK,J W.P.No.10488 of 2017 lcutd tuas brought Lulder cuLtiuotion wtthin three qettrs .frorn the dcttc: o.1 i551l1l11ce o.f I) Form y:ctttu or not. '|'his Court in Sekhari Arurta Kurnari u. Disl. 12. ColLector, \iisokltttpatnarrt ctttrl l'[ar)ct ntuneni Chirtrtasturtrny (ciied) per [,Rs. u. Joint Coller:tor, ChiLtoor, heLd that poLuer to catrcel tlrc D Fortn paLta or resunrc the luttcl, by Lhe reuenue ctutltotiltes ntusl be exarcised withirt ct reasonable time and that if D-Fonn patt.t uas to be cartcelLed. the grounds ort Luhich it is sought to be atncelLed haue to stctted, to enable Llrc ctssignee to shotu c.ur-se. ht lhe instanl ca-sc, the D-lrornr pelt.l u)es t:tLttt:elLed after lapse of ,3() tlears, and tl,r<: shout cause nollce rssuetl i.n that regarcl. dld ttol specifg tl,-e grourtd csrt whtch lh.e DK'I' tuas to be cancelled, and irt fact, it is uerlt clear frorrt LLrc proceedings as utell os the record produced, the. shotu couse notice, uhich led to pessing of cancel.lation oJ' D-lrorm patLa granted in Jauour oJ'the petitiorter, s at the irLstance oJ respondent Nos. 4 and 5. Merelg because resportderrt Nos. 4 and 5 haue been ln pos.ses-sron r.rrl the land in question since seuerctl yectrs, it is nol open for Lhem to .ser:k c<tncelLation oJ'palLa qranted to some other person oncl seek assLgntnent of the satne in th.eir fouour."

13. In the instant case, the respondents have assigned land Lo the petitioner in the year, 1967. 'll-re respondents have issued the present impugned orders on the ground of violation of assignment conditions after 50 years. The findings of the above Judgments squarely apply to the 14 sK,./ L i' ',o.1'-,.188 of )A17 11--,stant caije AS tl-ris CorLrt categoricall-y h:lc1 tl-rat alter lapsc ol scveritl vcalrs, Lhc rcspor-rdents har-rr no :Luthority to resuntc tlte lands on flirnsy grorrncls. Il Lhe rcspondcnl s ..\-altt to use the land for thc pr rlrLic purpose, they have to initi:rte land acquisition proceeilings zrnd pay the compensatior-r as held by the larger []r:ncl-L of this Court in Land Acquisitior, Officer-Cum-Reuenue Diuisional Officer u. Mekala pandu (Supra. 1).

14. In r,'ir:u,of tlre samc, tl-rc impugned ortk:r passecl by ttre respor-rCcnt.s in Rcl.No.B/3i7 /,),)17, dated 1,3.03.20i7 a.ncl the conscquential palchlrnama rlated

20.03.2017 arc liablr'to bc set asirlc.

15. In \ri(l\\r. of tl-rc abor,c fitrdings, this r,r,.i i pcti[ion ts al1olved tt1' sr,: ttrr-rg asicle thc impugned pr oceecLings in Ref.No.B/3 L7 ,r 21rr 7. clarcd ,18.03.20i7 ancl c onsequential panchanama Catccl '2O.O3.2O17. If the resporLdents u.ant to acquire 1-hcr land ol thc petitioner, they har.e to foliou, thc procedrlrc as conten-ipiatecl under the .?. ght. to Fair Compensation ar-id 'l'ransparency in Land ,\cquisition, ,-4. 15 SK,J w.P.No.10488 of 2017 Rehabilitatioll ar-rd Resettlement Act, 2013 by paying compensation to the petitioner. Thcre shall be no order as to co sts.

16. N'liscellaneous petilions. if an_1,, pencling sh:r1l stand closed. That Rule N *iii"T;.:::f ?s'-'-="ffiii,iFf":,'sr:[4fi#S"ul[ffi TANT RE SD/ . G.JYO "s'":""ll:'' ECTION OFFIC ER R //TRUE COPY// ONE FAIR CO PY TO THE HO N'BLE SRI JUSTI (FoR HIS LORDSHI PS KIND PERUSA K SARATH To, 1

3. 4 5 6 jB%T?,s,?r*?:",$f.?":f#ment'secretariatBuirdinss u?:J*:B? The District Collector' Siddipet' Siddipet Dist' ' - The Revenue Divisional Officer' Husbanad' Siddipet district The Tahasildar, Husnabad ' ' Siddipet District One CC to SRI LOKIREV PREETHAT\X REDDY' Advocate tOPUCl Two CCs to GP FOR ASSIGNIvIENT' High Court for the State of Telangana 7. 11 LR.CoPles The Under Secretary' Union of lndia' Minrstry of Law' .lustice and ComPanY Affairs' B s'Association Library' High Court Buildings' Hyderabad New Delhi

9. The Secreta rY' Advocate '10.Two CD Copies BSK TKS (k HIGH COURT DATED:2310712025 ORDER WP.No.10488 of 2017 I / :) fr: 1HE SIe r4r Fo ( 25lt0v 6 \ 9,, \ * .{+ I F'ATCI ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS cr\.\. \ .f ts.