Holding

The acquisition for "planned development of Delhi" is a valid public purpose that encompasses airport development, Chapter VII does not apply, petitioners are entitled only to compensation, and the award made after the statutory deadline under Section 11A is barred, causing the acquisition proceeding to lapse.

Summary

The Supreme Court examined land acquisitions made under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the "planned development of Delhi" and later for the development of Palam Airport, which were ultimately transferred to the International Airport Authority of India (IAAI). Petitioners challenged the acquisitions on grounds that the purpose had changed, Chapter VII procedures were not complied with, there was undue delay, no alternative site was provided, and the award was barred by the limitation period in Section 11A. The Court held that the original public purpose was sufficiently wide to include airport development, that Chapter VII did not apply, and that the petitioners’ delays justified dismissal of their writs. It further ruled that owners are entitled only to compensation, not alternative land, and that the limitation period under Section 11A is strict, disallowing the inclusion of time taken to obtain a certified copy of the judgment. Consequently, the award dated 1 March 2003 was beyond the statutory deadline, causing the acquisition proceeding to lapse. The Court dismissed three appeals and allowed one concerning the limitation issue.

Issues considered

The scope of the public purpose under a Section 4 notification – whether "planned development of Delhi" includes airport development.
Whether Chapter VII of the Land Acquisition Act applies to the acquisition in question.
The effect of delay and laches on the writ petitions filed by the petitioners.
The entitlement of landowners to an alternative site versus mere compensation.
The computation of the limitation period under Section 11A and whether time to obtain a certified copy of a judgment can be excluded.

Legislation cited

Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 76, s. 77
Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. 11, s. 11A, s. 28A, s. 4, s. 6, s. 9
Limitation Act, 1963s. 12

Subjects

Land acquisitionPublic purposeSection 4 notificationSection 11A limitationDelay and lachesAlternative siteCompensationIAAIChapter VIIRehabilitation

Judgment

A RAVI KHULLARAND ANR
v.
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

MARCH 30, 2007

B [B.P. SINGH AND ALTAMAS KABIR, JJ.]

Land Acquisition Act, 1894: ~·

Sections 4 and 6-Land acquisition- 'Public purpose' Planned
C development of Delhi-A Notification under Section 4 was issued for
acquisition of lands in a village for a public purpose, namely planned
development of Delhi-Another Notification under Section 4 was made for
,-
acquisition of land in a village for public purpose namely, development of
Pa/am airport-Thereafter, the lands were given to the International Airport
D Authority of India (IAAI) for development of an international airport-Writ
petitions filed challenging the said acquisition of lands-It was contended
that the lands having been acquir_ed for the planned development of Delhi,
could not be given to the IAAI since the development of the Pa/am Airport
was not within the contemplation of.the notification under Section 4-lt was
further contended that the acquisition proceeding was badfor non-compliance
E with the provision of Chapter VII of the Act-The High Court held that the
procedure laid down in Chapter VII of the Act was not attracted since the
acquisition was not for any 'company' within the meaning of Chapter VII of
the Act-The High Court further held that the only difference was that
initially the development work was undertaken by the Delhi Development
F Authority (DDA) and after constitution of /AA!, the said development work
was entrusted to IAAI-Some writ petitions were dismissed on account of
delay and !aches-The High Court also held that there was nothing to show
that the writ petitioners had filed applications to the competent authority for
allotment of alternate sites-Correctness of-Held: The planned development
of Delhi for which purpose the land was acquired under Section 4 of the
G Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is wide enough to include the development and
expansion of an airport within the city of Delhi-Thus it cannot be said that
the land is actually being utilized for any purpose other than that for which
it was acquired-Acquisition of land could net be invalidated only on .ihe
ground that the public purpose was sought to be achieved through another

H 598
RAVIKHULLARv. U.0.1. 599

agency-There was no good reason explaining the delay in moving the High A
Court in exercise of its writ jurisdiction and hence writ petitions rightly
dismissed on account of delay and [aches-Owners of land were entitled to
only compensation and, therefore, the question of allotment of alternative
sites did not arise-Hence, lands in question were validly acquired.

Section 11 A-Land acquisition-Award-Made more than 2 years from B
the date of the publication of the declaration-Validity of -Held: The
acquisition proceeding lapsed for failure to make an award within the
period prescribed by Section 11A of the Act

Limitation Act, 1963:
c
Section 12~ertified copy of judgment-Time requisite to obtain-
Exclusion of-Applicability of acquisition proceedings under the Land
Acquisition Act-Held· In the matter of computing the period of limitation
three situations may be visualized, namely-(a) where the Limitation Act
applies by its own force; (b) where the provisions of the Limitation Act with D
or without modifications are made applicable to a special statute; and (c)
where the special statute itselfprescribes the period of /imitation and provides
~
for extension of time and or condonation of delay-There is no scope for
importing into Section l lA of the Land Acquisition Act the provisions of
Section 12 of the Limitation Act-The provisions of the Limitation Act have
not been made applicable to proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act. E

A Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was
issued for acquisition of lands in a village for a public purpose, namely-
Planned Develot1ment of Delhi. A declaration under Section 6 oftbe Act was
made in respect of the said land. Another Notification under Section 4 of the
Act was made for acquisition of land in a village for public purpose namely- F
--t- Development of Palam Airport. A declaration under Section 6 of the Act was
made in respect of the said land. Thereafter, the lands were given to the
International Airport Authority of India (IAAI) for development of an
international airport.
G
The appellants filed several writ petitions before the High Court. It was
contended that the lands having been acquired for the planned development of
Delhi, could not be given to the IAAI since the development of the Palam
--,;. Airport was not within the contemplation of the notification under Section 4
of the Act. It was further contended that the acquisition proceeding was bad
:.- for non-compliance with the provision of Chapter VII of the Act H
-1--·
'
SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 4 S.C.R.

A The High Court dismissed the writ petitions and held that the planned
development of Delhi was wide enough to include the development and
expansion of an airport within the city of Delhi. The High Court also held
that the procedure laid down in Chapter VII of the Act was not attracted since
the acquisition was not for any 'company' within the meaning of Chapter VII -
B of the Act. The High Court further held that the only difference was that
initially the development work was undertaken by the Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) a·nd after constitution of IAAI, the said development work
was entrusted to IAAI. Certain writ petitions were filed after a lapse of21
years from the date of preliminary notification. The High Court dismissed
these writ petitions on the ground of delay and !aches. Some writ petitions
C were filed to claim allotment of alternative sites in lieu of the land acquired
but the High Court dismissed these writ peti~ions on the ground that there
was nothing to show that the writ petitioners had filed applications to the
competent authority for allotment of alternate sites. Hence the appeals.

On behalf of the appellants, it was contended that the award made by the
D. 'Collector in the instant case was barred by limitation under Section 11-A of
the Act inasmuch as it was not made within a period of2 years from the date
of the publication of the declaration after excluding the period during which
an order of stay granted by the High Court operated.

Disposing of the appeals, the Court
E
HELD: 1. The planned development of Delhi for which purpose the land
was acquired under Section 4 ilf the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is wide enough
to include the development and expansion of an airport within the city of Delhi.
Thus it cannot be said that the land is actually being utilized for any purpose
F other than that for which it was acquired. The only difference is that whereas
initially the development work would have been undertaken by the Delhi
Development Authority or any other agency employed but it, after the
constitution of the International Airport Authority oflndia (IAAI), the said
development work had to be undertaken by the newly constituted authority.
Thus there has been no change of purpose of the acquisition. All that has
G happened is that the development work is undertaken by another agency since
constituted, which is entrusted with the special task of _maintenan~e of
airports. Since the said authority was constituted several years after the .. ·
issuance of the Notification tinder Section 4, the acquisition cannot be .
.......
invalidated only on the ground that the public purpose is sought to be achieved
H through another agency. This was necessitated by the change of

l

J_
RAVI KHULLAR v. U.0.1. 601

circumstances in view of the creation of the authority i.e. IAAI. Moreover, A
· · since there is no change of public purpose for which the acquired land is
being utilized, the acquisition cannot be invalidated on that ground. The
purpose for which the lands are being utilized by a governmental agency is
also a public purpose and would come within the ambit of the public purpose
decla~ed in Section 4 Notification. Therefore, the acquisition cannot be B
challenged on the ground that the acquired lands are not being utilized for
the declared public purpose. Having regard to the facts of the case it cannot
be contended nor has it been contended that the Notification under Section 4
_,;._
of the Act was issued ma/a fide. [Para 23] [612-F-H; 613-A-C]

Gutam Mustafa v. The State of Maharashtra, [1976] 1 SCC 800, Mangat
Oram v. State of Orissa, [1977] 2 SCC 46, Union of India v. Jaswant Rai
c
Kochhar, [1996] 3 SCC 491 and State of Maharashtra v. Mahadeo Deoman
Rai @Kalal, [1991] 3 SCC 579, relied on.

Bhagat Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh, [1999] 2 SCC 384 and Northern
India Glass Industries v. Jaswant Singh, [2003] SCC 334, referred to. D
,>
2.1. The High Court has rightly noticed that the acquisition was
....
challenged almost 21 years after the issuance of the Notification under Section
4 of the Act Indeed the writ petition was initiated after the award was declared.
[Para 26] [613-F-G[
E.
Aflatoon v. Lt. Governor of Delhi, AIR (1974) SC 2077, Tilockchand
Motichan v. H. B. Munshi, AIR (1970) SC 898, Indrapuri Griha Nirman
Sahakari Samiti Ltd. v. The State of Rajasthan, AIR (1974) SC 2085, Pt.
Girharan Prasad Missir v. State ofBihar, [1980] 2 SCC 83 and H. D. Vora v.
State ofMaharashtra, AIR [1984] SC 866, referred to.
~
F
...,. 2.2. The High Court dismissed the writ petition on the ground of delay
and laches. In the facts and circumstances of the case no exception can be
taken to the order of the High Court dismissing the writ petition. There was
no good reason explaining the delay in moving the High Court in exercise of
its writ jurisdiction. [Para 26] [613-H; 614-A]
G
3.1. It will be seen that in the writ petition the quesfion of rehabilitating
an industrial unit did not come up for consideration. So far as the allotment
__. _,
of residential site is concerned, it was submitted on behalf of the respondents
that if the appellant was eligible for allotment in terms of the scheme
formulated for the purpose, it could as well have asked for allotment of H
r
602 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 4 S.C.R.
_,.. .......
A alternative site, but the appellant was not interested in allotment of alternative
plot for residence. Its demand was that a site should be given to it for
establishing an industry, which was not contemplated under the scheme. There
is substance in the contention of the respondents that so far as the aforesaid
decision goes it only related to allotment of alternative sites for residence of
the displaced persons and not for relocation of an industry. The respondents
B on the other hand relied on at least 3 documents and contended that at no
time any decision was taken to allot alternative sites with a view of relocating
the displaced industrial units. [Para 39) [618-C-E] /..,,
)...

Ramanand v. Union of India, AIR [1994) Del 29 and New Reviera
c Cooperative Housing Society v. Special Land Acquisition Officer, [1966) 1
sec 731, referred to.
3.2. After considering all aspects of the matter, the IAAI was burdened
with the cost of rehabilitation of the displaced persons from the village abadi,
meaning thereby to provide them land for residence over which the villagers
D could construct houses at their own cost. So far as industrial structures are
concerned, it was clearly decided that the owners of industrial structures ~

would not be provided with any assistance beyond what they may be entitled to ......
as compensation under the Act. [Para 41) [619-E]

3.3. The documents relied upon by the respondents do establish that
E though at different stages the question of rehabilitation of the affected persons
as a result of the acquisition was considered, no firm decision was ever taken
to rehabilitate the industries affected thereby. The decision was taken only to
provide alternative sites for residence of the oustees from a certain village.
The proposal to allot lands for setting up the displaced industrial units was
always turned down and it was decided that owners of such industries would .::
F
only be entitled to compensation under the Land Acquisition Act. Having
lt-
regard to the material on record this Court is satisfied that no scheme was
ever framed for rehabilitation of industrial units. The scheme was framed
only for the affected villagers of a certain village and that too for residential
purpose. [Para 44] [620-F-G]
G
4.1. In the matter of computing the period of limitation three situations
may be visualized, namely---(a) where the Limitation Act applied by its own
force; (b) where the provisions of the Limitation Act with or without
modifications are made applicable to a special statute; and (c) where the special
statue itself prescribes the period of limitation and provides for extension of
:._-
- ''

H time and or condonation of delay. The instant case is not one which is governed
RAVIKHULLARv. U.O.I. 603
by the provisions of the Limitation Act. The Land Acquisition Collector in A
making an award does net act as a Court within the meaning of the Limitation
Act. It is also clear from the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act that the
provisions of the Limitation Act have not been made applicable to proceedings
under the Land Acquisition Act in the matter of making an award under
Section llA of the Act. However, Section llA of the Act does provide a period
oflimitation within which the Collector shall make his award. The explanation B
thereto also provides for exclusion of the period during which any action or
proceeding to be taken in pursuance of the declaration is stayed by an order
of a court. Such being the provision, there is no scope for importing into
Section 1 lA of the Land Acquisition Act the provisions of Section 12 of the
Limitation Act. The application of Section 12 of the Limitation Act is also C
confined to matters enumerated therein. The time taken for obtaining a
certified copy of the judgment is excluded because a certified copy is required
to be filed while preferring an appeal/revision/review etc. challenging the
impugned order. Thus a court is not permitted to read into Section llA of the
Act a provision for exclusion of time taken to obtain a certified copy of the
judgment and order. The court has, therefore, no option but to compute the D
period of limitation for making an award in accordance with the provisions of
Section llA of the Act after excluding such period as can be excluded under
the explanation to Section llA of the Act (Para 54] [624-B-F]

4.2. Section 1lA of the Act was inserted by Act 68 of 1984 with effect
from 24.09.1984. Similarly, Section 28A was also inserted by the Amendment E
Act of 1984 with effect from the same date. In Section 28A the Act provides
a period of limitation within which an application should be made to the
Collector for redetermination of the amount of compensation on the basis of
the award of the Court [Para 55] [624-G-H]

4.3. It will thus be seen that the legislature wherever it considered F
necessary incorporated by express words the rule incorporated in Section 12
of the Limitation Act It bas done so expressly in Section 28A of the Act while
it has consciously not incorporated this rule in Section HA even while
providing for exclusion of time under the explanation. The intendment of the

.. legislature is, therefore, unambiguous and does not permit the Court to read
words into Section l lA of the Act so as to enable U to read Section 12 of the
Limitation Act into Section llA of the Land Acquisition Act.
(Para 56) (625-B-C]
G

N. Narasimbhaiah v. State of Karnataka, [1996] 3 SCC 88, General
Manager, Department of Communications v. Jacob, (2003) 9 SCC 662 and H
604 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.

A Shakuntala Devi Jain v. Kuntal Kumari, AIR [1969] SC 575, referred to.

4.4. The acquisition proceeding against the land of th~ appellant lapsed
for failure to make an award within the period prescribed by Section llA of
the Act. [Para 61] (627-C]

B CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1704 of2007.
. . .

From the Final Judgment and Order datd 13 .02.2003 of the High Court
of Delhi at New Delhi in CWP No. 2672 of 1996.
.....
WITH
c C.A. Nos. 1705-1707 of2007.

J.L. Gupta, T.R. Andhyarujina, Rakesh Dwivedi, U.U. Lalit, Hidesh Gupta,
Vinod Shukla, S. Janani, Baljit Choudhary, Lalit Mohini Bhat, Anitha Shenoy
and Naveen R. Nath for the Appellants.

D . Gopal Subramanium and Vikas Singh, ASGs., K.K. Venugopal and T.S.
Doabia;· Rachana Joshi Issar, Indra Sawhney, Vikas Sharma, Anil Katiyar,
Geeta Luthra, Sanjeev Sahai, Pinky Anand, D.H. Goburdhan, V.B. Saharya (for
Mis. Saharya & Co.), Atul Sharma, Munish Sharma, Ravi Verma, Milanka
Chaudhury, Haripriya, Vibuthi Kabra, M.A. Chinnasamy, Pareena Sarup, 0.S.
E Mehra and Vivek K. Sharma for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered ;-y

B.P. SINGH, J. 1. Special leave granted.

F 2. In the appeals arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 6093 0!2003; 6095 of2003
and 6384 of 2003 the appellants have impugned the common judgment and
order·ofthe High Court of Delhi dated February 13, 2003 disposing of Civil
Writ Petition Nos. 2672 ofl996; 1851of1986 and 2003of1986.

3. In the appeal arising out SLP © No. 8574 of 2003, Mis. Punjab
G Potteries has assailed the judgment and order of the High Court of Delhi in
C.W.P. No.2168 of2003 dated 26th March, 2003.

4. The High Court dismissed all the writ petitions preferred by the
appellants herein.

5. A few broad facts may be noticed at the threshold to appreciate the
H
RAVIKHULLARv. U.0.1. [B.?. SINGH,J.] 605
~
contentions urged on behalf of the parties in these appeals. A
6. A Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act (hereinafter
referred to as 'the Act') was issued by the Lieutenant Governor of iJelhi on
January 23, 1965 for acquisition oflands measuring 6241bighas12 biswas in

..
village Mahipalpur which was required for a public purpose, namely - Planned
Development of Delhi. A declaration under Section 6 of the Act relating to B
4759 bighas 1 biswa was made on December 12, 1966 and another declaration .
-~
relating to 1459 bighas 18 biswas ·was made on December 26, 1968. Another
Notification under Section 4 of the Act was published on December 3, 1971
for acquisition of land in Village Nangal Dewat for a public purpose, namely
- Development of Palam Airport. A declaration under Section 6 of the Act was
made with respect to the said lands on July 16, 1972.
c
7. The case of the appellants is that the matter remained pending for a
considerable period and it appears from various documents which have been
brought on record that the lands acquired were really for the benefit of the
'....... International Airport Authority of India (IAAI). Reliance is placed on a D
,J..
Resolution dated September 10, 1981 of the Delhi Development Authority
regarding change of land user from "Green Belt and Agriculture Cultivable
Land" to "Circulation Airport". The Resolution recites that the Delhi
Development Authority had approved the change of land user so that the
land could be utilized for the purpose of development of the Palam Airport.
This was subject to the condition that the IAAI prepared a detailed plan E
which should include the proposal for rehabilitation/resettlement of the villagers
to be affected by the proposed expansion of the Airport, and the plan be
discussed with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Electric
.... Supply Undertaking. It also appears from the record that the notice issued
_, under Section 9(1) of the Act on June 22, 1983 was challenged in several writ F
petitions filed before the High Court in which an interim order was passed
directing maintenance of status quo with regard to possession of the lands
but permitted the acquisition proceeding to continue. Reliance has been
placed on the correspondence exchanged between the various statutory
authorities to indicate that it was really for the purpose of IAAI that the lands
were being utilised. The letter of the Land Acquisition Officer dated July 1, G
1986 indicates that IAAI had supplied details ofkhasra numbers to be acquired
. ..... Ci for the expansion of the Delhi Airport which had been discussed. A statement
enclosed with the aforesaid communication showed that the lands to be
acquired were in villages Mahipalpur, Nangal Dewat and Nangal Dewat Village
abadi measuring 69 bighas 11 biswas, which included some of the khasra H
·-)--.
\

606 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 4 S.C.R.

A numbers belonging to some of the appellants herein .. A communication from ~
the Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation, addressed to the Lieutenant L..-
Governor of Delhi dated September 15, 1986 emphasised the need to acquire
immediately the industrial structures in the Mahipalpur and Nangal Dewat
area in the overa.ll interest of security and development of Delhi Airport. The
IAAI was said to be willing to accept the suggestion for provision of land
B for land, provided alternative land was acquired by the Delhi Administration/
Delhi Development Authority and no further liability was imposed on IAAI
(
for payment of additional compensation for acquired industrial. structures.
>..

c declared
8. On September 19, 1996 an Award under Section 11 of the Act was
by the Land Acquisition Collector.

9. On December 23, 1986 a Notification was issued under Section 4 of
the Act for acquisition of land for a public purpose, namely for rehabilitation
of the persons displaced or affected due to the expansion/development of the
D Palam Airport. The lands mentioned therein are in village Malikpur Kohi
Rangpuri. ,...
,,.._
10. Since the challenge to the acquisition failed and the appellants were
not provided alternative sites under the rehabilitation package, they·approached
the High Court for relief which, as noticed earlier, has been :refused .by the
E High Court. It. will, however, be necessary to deal with each writ petition
separately since the facts of each case are different as also the pleas raised
therein.

-
APPEAL ARISING OUT OF SLP ©NO. 6093 OF'2003

F 11. The appellants before us are the son and daughter of Late Balraj
~
Khullar. The lands in question in village Mahipalpur measuring23.bighas.and
18 biswas (approximately 5 acres) devolved upon the appellants· after the
death of their father. Late Balraj Khullar had constructed a factory over the
lands in question in the year 1955 which went into production later after
obtaining registration on July 27, 1960. He carried on ·the business of
G manufacture of ceramic goods in the name and style of Mis. Pelican Ceramic
Industries. On January 23, 1965 the aforesaid lands of the appellants were
notified for acquisition under Section 4 of the Act for the public purpose of :.~ ~-
planned development of Delhi. According to the appellants, when the factory
was established and became functional, there was no Master Plan of Delhi,
H which came into existence only in the year 1962 in which the lands were
RAVIKHULLAR v. U.0.1. [B.P. SINGH,J.] 607

shown as 'green area'. Late Balraj Khullar objected to the acquisition but A
without considering his objections, a declaration under Section 6 was made
en December 26, 1968. A notice under Section 9(1) of the Act was issued on
June 23, 1983. Upon receipt of the notice late Balraj Khullar challenged the
acquisition by filing a writ petition before the Delhi High Court, being Civil
Writ Petition No. 1550 of 1983 primarily on the ground of inordinate delay in
completing the acquisition proceeding and other illegalities in Section 4 B
Notification. Notice was issued in the said writ petition on July 26, 1983 and
an interim order was passed for maintenance of status quo with regard to
possession. The interim order dated July 26, 1983 was modified on August
30, 1983 directing maintenance of status quo with regard to possession but
the acquisition proceedings were allowed to continue. During the pendency C
of the writ petition, the award was announced on September 19, 1986 which
was followed by notices under Sections 12(2) and 13(1) of the Act. The total
area acquired measured 23 bighas and 18 biswas. Ultimately the writ petition
filed by late Balraj Khullar was dismissed by the High Court by its order dated
December 14, 2005. On coming to know about the dismissal of the said writ
petition, the petitioners (appellants herein) filed a special leave petition before D
this Court being SLP ©No. 7821 of 1996. The same was, however, withdrawn
on a statement being made on behalf of the petitioners that they would file
a review petition before the High Court. It appears from the special leave
petition filed by the petitioners that a contention was raised before this Court
that the lands having been acquired for the planned development of Delhi, E
could not be given to the IAAI since the development of the Palam Airport
was not within the contemplation of the notification under Section 4 of the
Act. Accordingly the petitioners filed the review petition being Review Petition
No.42 of 1996 before the High Court in which several fresh grounds were also
urged but the said review petition was dismissed by the High Court by its
order of May 24, 1996 observing that the new points sought to be raised in F
the review petition had not been pleaded in the original writ petition. The
High Court also rejected the contention of the petitioners that on discovery
of new facts a review petition was maintainable. No appeal was preferred
against the order dismissing the review petition and hence the proceeding
initiated by filing of C.W.P. No. 1550 of 1983 challenging the acquisition G
proceeding got a quietus by dismissal of the review petition by the High
Court. Apparently, therefore, the petitioners cannot be pennitted to challenge
the same acquisition proceeding.

12. However, the petitioners filed another writ petition, being Writ Petition
No. 2672 of 1986 again questioning the acquisition proceeding. The said writ H
r
608 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.

A petition was dismissed by order dated July 4, 1996. It appears from the record
that the point sought to be urged in the aforesaid writ petition was that the
<
'

acquisition proceeding was bad for non compliance with the provision of
Chapter VII of the Act. The submission proceeded on the basis that the
acquisition was for the purposes of a Company within the meaning of that
tenn in the Act, namely-the International Airport Authority of India (IAAI).
B The same submission has been urged before us as well.

13. We are of the view that the High Court was justified in rejecting this
_,._
contention. As noticed by it, the Notification under Section 4 was issued on
January 23, 1965. The public purpose for which the acquisition was made was
c stated to be "planned development of Delhi". Admittedly at the relevant time
when Section 4 Notification was published, die management of the airport
vested with the Department of Civil Aviation. It cannot be denied that the
words used in the Notification, namely "the planned development of Delhi"
are wide enough to include the expansion and development of the airport.
That is also a "public purpose." Since the IAAI came into existence much
D later only on December 8, 1971 and was vested with the power to manage the
airports, there was no question of the acquisition being made for the purpose .A-
.),._
of the IAAI since that body did not exist in the year 1965. The acquisition
was for the planned development of Delhi and, as observed earlier, the
expansion and modification of the airport is a "public purpose". It so happened
that after the constitution of the IAAI, the power of management of airports,
E
was vested in it and, therefore, the development work which otherwise would
have been undertaken by the concerned competent authority in the year 1965,
was to be executed by the IAAI. The submission that the provisions of
Chapter-VII of the Act were not complied with must, therefore, be rejected
because the acquisition purported to be for the planned development of Delhi lo-'-
F and it is no one's case that the Notification had been issued mala fide. The
procedure laid down in Chapter-VII of the Act was not attracted since the ~

acquisition was not for any "Company" within the meaning of Chapter-VII of
the Act.

14. The High Court has also rejected the submission on the groupd that
G it was barred by the principle of constructive res judicata. It is not n.ecessary
for us to express any opinion on this issue, in view of our earlier fi~ding, but "'
the appellants have themselves drawn the attention of this Court to the fact
f-'~
~
that the land was being acquired for the purpose of the IAAI as was evident
from the Resolution of the Delhi Development Authority dated September I 0,
1981. The appellants, therefore, admit that they had knowledge of the fact that
H
RA VI KHULLAR v. U.0.1. [B. P. SINGH, J.] 609

the land was to be utilized by the IAAI for its own purposes, which according A
to the appellants, was not a part of the planned development of Delhi. Such
being the factual position, the father of the appellants who filed Writ Petition
No.1550 of 1983 ought to have challenged the acquisition on the ground of
non compliance with the provisions of Chapter VII of the Act since all the
relevant facts were within his knowledge. He not having done so, we do not
B
find that the High Court was in error in holding that the writ petition wa'>
barred also by the principle of constructive res judicata.
:.,
~

15. The question which survives consideration is whether in view of the
public purpose declared in the Notification under Section 4 of the Act, the
lands can be utilized for any other public purpose. While considering this c
question it would be useful to remember that the Notification under Section
4 of the Act was issued in January, 1965 and the declaration made in the
following year. The IAAI came into existence in December, 1971, six years
later, whereafter the task of developing and extending the Palam Airport was
entrusted to the said authority. When the said authority was constituted, the
acquisition proceeding had already been initiated . D
.....
~
16. The learned Additional Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the
respondents submitted that having regard to the authorities on the subject
the question is no longer res integra. It is not as if lands acquired for a
particular public purpose cannot be utilized for another public purpose. He
E
contended that as long as the acquisition is not held to be mala fide, the
acquisition cannot be invalidated merely because the lands which at one time
were proposed to be utilized for a particular public purpose, were later either
in whole or in part, utilized for some other purpose, though a public purpose.
He, therefore, submitted that some change of user of the land, as long as it
"
.., has a public purpose, would not invalidate the acquisition proceeding which F
is otherwise valid and legal.

17. In Gu/am Mustafa and Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra and Ors.,
[1976] l SCC 800, this Court noticing the submission of learned counsel for
the petitioner that the excess land out of the lands which were acquired for
a country fair was utilized for carving out plots for the housing colony, held G
that it did not invalidate the acquisition. This Court observed:-

" ...... Apart from the fact that a housing colony is a public necessity,
once the original acquisition is valid and title has vested in the
Municipality, how it uses the excess land is no concern of the original H
r
\

610 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 4 S.C.R.

A owner and cannot be the basis for invalidating the acquisition. There
is no principle of law by which a valid compulsory acquisition stands
voided because long later the requiring authority diverts it to a public
purpose other than the one stated in the Section 6(3) declaration."

18. The same principle has been reiterated in Mangal Oram and Ors.
B v. State of Orissa. [1977] 2 SCC 46.

19. In Union ofIndia and Ors. v. Jaswant Rai Kochharand Ors., [1996]
3 sec 491, lands which had been acquired for public purpose of housing ),._

scheme were sought to be utilized for a commercial purpose, namely for
locating a district center. It was contended before this Court that since the
c acquisition was for a housing scheme, the land cannot be used for commercial
purposes. The submission was rejected in the following words:-

" ..... We find no force in the contention. It is conceded by the learned
Counsel that the construction of the D.istrict Centre for commercial
purpose itself is a public purpose. No doubt it was sought to be
D contended in the High Court that in a housing scheme, providing
,...,
facilities for commercial purpose is also one of the composite purpose
A
and that, therefore, acquisition was valid in law. However, the
contention was rejected by the High Court. We need not go to that
part. Suffice it to state that it is a well-settled law that land sought
E to be acquired for public purpose may be used for another public
purpose. Therefore, when the notification has mentioned that the land
is sought to be acquired for housing scheme but it is sought to be
used for District Centre, the public purpose does not cease to be
public purpose and the nomenclature mentioned in the notification
under Section 4(1) as housing scheme cannot be construed to be a
F colourable one. The notification under Section 4(1) could not have
-Ir
been quashed on the ground that the land is sought to be used for
District Centre, namely, for commercial purpose. It is obvious that the
lands acquired for a public purpose should serve only the public
purpose of providing facilities of commercial purpose, namely, District
G Centre as conceded by the learned Counsel in fairness to be a public
purpose. The notification under Section 4(1) cannot be quashed on
the ground of change of user. The High Court was wholly wrong in
quashing the notification on the ground of change of user."
"'
.
20. Though not directly in point, the observations of this Court in State
H of Maharashtra v. Mahadeo Deoman Rai alias Kalal and Ors., [1990] 3 SCC
1
RAVI KHULLAR v. U.0.1. [B. P. SINGH, J.] 611

579 are significant to detennine the approach of courts in such matters. In that A
case a Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued
for the purpose of establishing a 'tonga' stand. The respondent applied for
permission to raise a construction which was denied on the ground that the
land was reserved for road widening under a Town Planning Scheme which
was being implemented. Since the respondent was prevented from continuing
with the construction work undertaken by him, he initially field a writ petition B
before the High Court which was withdrawn and subsequently filed a suit
claiming damages etc. The Municipal Council took a decision to accord
permission to the respondent as asked for, and the suit was withdrawn. When
the State Government came to know about it, it asked the Municipal Council
to explain the circumstances under which such permission had been granted. C
A High Powered Committee was appointed to examine the entire matter. The
resolution of the Municipal Council granting pennission to the respondent
was rescinded. Another application filed by the respondent was kept in
abeyance which compelled the respondent to file another writ petition which
was allowed by the High Court. The plea of the Municipal Council was that
it had passed a fresh resolution inter alia deciding to re-plan the scheme with D
respect to the area in question in the light of the recommendations made by
the Committee. Consequently the matter was re-opened and the objections
from the affected persons were invited. Even the respondent filed his objections.
This fact was not brought to the notice of the High Court which allowed the
writ petition. This Court, set aside the judgment and order of the High Court E
and observed :-

"Besides, the question as to whether a particular Scheme framed in
exercise of statutory provisions is in the public interest or not has to
be determined according to the need of the time and a final decision
for all times to come cannot be taken. A particular scheme may serve F
the public purpose at a given point of time but due to change of
circumstances it may become essential to modify or substitute it by
another scheme. The requirements of the community do not remain
static; they indeed, go on varying with the evolving process of social
life. Accordingly, there must be creative response from the public G
authority, and the public scheme must be varied to meet the changing
needs of the public. At the best for the respondent, it can be assumed
that in 1967 when the resolution in his favour was passed, the
acquisition of the land was not so urgently essential so as to call for
his dispossession. But for that reason it cannot be held that the plots
became immune from being utilised for any other public purpose for H
-~
\.

612 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 4 S.C.R.
--..i
(A ever. The State or a body like the Municipal Council entrusted with
a public duty to look after the requirements of the community has to
assess the situation from time to time and take necessary decision
periodically. We, therefore, hold that the Resolution dated 13-2-1967
was not binding on the Municipal Council so as to disable it to take
a different decision later."
B
21. In Bhagat Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors., [1999] 2 SCC
384 this court upheld an acquisition even when the public purpose to which
,...
:...
the land was put was contrary to the permitted user under the Master Plan.
This Court held that the acquisition was valid but it was for the beneficiary
c of the acquisition to move the competent authority and obtain the sanction
of the said authority for change of user. That it could do only after it got
possession of the land in question.

22. The learned Additional Solicitor General also relied upon the decision
of this Court in Northern Indian Glass Industries v. Jaswant Singh and Ors.,
D [2003] 1 SCC 335 wherein this Court has held that the High Court was not
right in ordering restoration of land to the respondents on the ground that ....
the land acquired was not used for the purpose for which it was acquired. "
It was held that after passing of the Award and possession taken under
Section 16 of the Act the acquired land vests...__with the Government free from
'

all encumbrances. Even if the land is not used for the purpose for which it
E is acquired, the landowner does not get any right to ask for restoration of
possession.

23. Referring to the facts of the instant case, it cannot be disputed that
the planned development of Delhi for which purpose the land was acquired ,_
under Section 4 Of the Act is wide enough to include the development and
F expansion of an airport within the city of Delhi. Thus it cannot be said that
_,.
the land is actually being utilized for any purpose other than that for which
it was acquired. The only difference is that whereas initially the development
work would have been undertaken by the D.D.A. or any other agency employed
by it, after the constitution of the IAAI, the said development work had to
G be undertaken by the newly constituted authority. Thus there has been no
change of purpose of the acquisition. All that has happened is that the
development work is undertaken by another agency since constituted, which
is entrusted with the special task of maintenance of airports. Since the said
... .
authority was constituted several years after the issuance of the Notification
under Section 4, the acquisition cannot be invalidated only on the ground
H
RAVIKHULLARv. U.O.I. [B. P. SINGH,J.] 613

---- that the public purpose is sought to be achieved through another agency, A .
This, as we have noticed earlier, was necessitated by change of circumstances
in view of the creation of the authority i.e. IAAI. Moreover since there is no
change of public purpose for which the acquired land is being utilized, the.
acquisition cannot be invalidated on that ground. The purpose for which the
lands are being utilized by a governmental agency is also a public purpose B
and as we have noticed earlier, would come within the ambit of the public
purpose declared in Section 4 Notification. Therefore, the acquisition cannot
be challenged on the ground that the acquired lands are not being utilized .
for the declared public purpose. Having regard to the facts of the case it
cannot be contended, nor has it been contended, that the Notification under
Section 4 of the Act was issued mala fide. C
24. We, therefore, find no merit in the appeal arising out of SLP (C) No.
6093 of 2003 and the same is accordingly dismissed.

APPEAL ARISING OUT OF SLP © No. 638412003
D
25. In this appeal the lands belonging to the appellant in village
Mahipalpur were notified for acquisition under Section 4 of the Act on
January 23, 1965 A declaration under Section 6 followed on December 7, 1966.
Ultimately an Award was pronounced under Section 11 of the Act on September
19, 1986. Thereafter the appellant filed Civil Writ Petition No.2003 of 1986 E
before the High Court challenging the acquisition proceeding. The High Court
by the impugned judgment and order dismissed the appeal on the ground of
delay and latches

26. It will be noticed that the appellants filed the writ petition challenging
the acquisition proceeding which was initiated in 1965 as late as on September F
25, 1986, after the Award had been declared under Section 11 of the Act. The
High Court, in our view, has rightly noticed that the acquisition was challenged
almost 21 years after the issuance of the Notification under Section 4 of the
Act. Indeed the writ proceeding was initiated after the A ward was declared.
The High Court has relied upon the decisions of this Court in Aflatoon v. Lt.
Governor of Delhi ; AIR (1974) SC 2077; Tilockchand Motichan v. H.B. G
Munshi, ; AIR (1970) SC 898; Indrapuri Griha Nirman Sahakari Samiti Ltd
v. The State ofRajasthan and Ors., ; AIR (1974) SC 2085; Pt. Girharan Prasad
Missir and Anr. v. State of Bihar and Anr., ; [1980] 2 SCC 83 and H.D. Vora
v. State ofMaharashtra and Ors., ; AIR (1984) SC 866. Following the principles
laid down therein the High Court dismissed the writ petition on the ground H
1--'
,,

614 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.
, ..-
.
A of delay and latches. In the facts and circumstances of the case no exception
can be taken to the order of the High Court dismissing the writ petition. There
was no good reason explaining the delay in moving the High Court in exercise
.of its writ jurisdiction. It is not necessary to refer to the large number of
authorities on the subject since the law is so well settled that there is no need
for a further reiteration.
B
27. We, therefore, find no merit in this appeal and the same is accordingly
dismissed.
Ao

CIVIL APPEAL ARISING OUT OF SLP ©NO. 8574 OF 2001 ·"'
c 28. The appellant in this appeal is Mis. Punjab Potteries whose lands
were notified for acquisition under Section 4 of the Act on December 3, 1971
and the declaration under Section 6 was published on July 10, 1972. The
petitioner had earlier filed a writ petition being C.W.P. No. 432 of 1987. It
appears from the order passed in the said writ petitioQ. dated February 18, 1987
that a prayer was made for leave to withdraw the petition. The order notices
D
the fact that in the aforesaid writ petition there was no prayer for mandamus
directing the respondents to allot any alternative site. It merely questioned
the acquisition and validity of the Notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the "·
.
Act. The High Court recorded a finding that it found nothing wrong with the
acquisition so far as the validity of the Notifications under Sections 4 and 6
E was concerned. It accordingly dismissed the· writ petition as withdrawn but
with liberty to file a fresh petition for claiming any alternative site, if it had
any such right. Whereafter the petitioner filed the instant writ petition on
March 7, 2003. In the instant petition as well the acquisition proceedings were
challenged but the same was dismissed by the High Court on March 26, 2003.
The High Court noticed the order passed by the Court earlier on February 18,
F "'
1987 and also the fact that the writ petition was being filed after a lapse of
16 years. It did not entertain the challenge to the Notifications issued under ~

Sections 4 and 6 of the Act since challenge to the aforesaid Notifications
stood rejected by order of February 18, 1987. It noticed the earlier common
judgment delivered in the writ petitions preferred by other appellants in this
G batch of writ petitions and held that the inordinate delay in filing the writ
petition challenging the validity of the Notifications was not condonable.

29. It then proceeded to c:msider the submission urged on behalf of the
appellant that in any event it was entitled to the allotment of.alternative land 'l'
in lieu of the lands acquired. The High Court after noticing the Full Bench
H decision of the High Court in Ramanandv. Union ofIndia, ; AIR (1994) Delhi
RAVIKHULLARv. U.0.1. [B. P. SINGH,J.] 615

29 and the judgment of this Court in New Reviera Cooperative Housing A
" Society v. Special Land Acquisition Officer & Ors., ; [1996] l SCC 73 l
observed that if there was a scheme promulgated by the State to provide
alternative sites to persons whose lands had been acquired, the Court could
give effect to the Scheme. However, it could not be argued as a matter of
principle that in each and every case of acquisition the land owners must be
given an alternative site because such a principle, if adopted, would result in B
the State being unable to acquire any land for public purpose. In the instant
case the High Court dismissed the writ petition in view of the fact that there
was nothing on record to indicate that any application was made to the
competent authority for allotting an alternative site within a reasonable period.
Reliance placed on the decision of the learned Single Judge of the Delhi High C
Court in Daryao Singh and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors., (Civil Writ
Petition No. 481/1982) dated 2nd August, 2001 was rightly rejected. That case
related to a different award and the land owners concerned in that case gave
up the challenge to the acquisition proceedings in view of the assurance
given that an alternative plot under the Scheme to be formulated shall bf!
given to· them. Those facts do not exist in the instant case. Moreover the
., n·
Government had agreed to allot the plots to the land owners and there Walj
no question of recognizing any right of the land owners to an allotment of
alternative plots. In view of these findings the writ petition preferred by th~
appellant was rejected.

30. The appellants in the other appeals as well have contended that an'
E
alternative site should be allotted to them in view of the lands acquired. We
may at the threshold notice that the Notification under Section 4 of the Act
was issued in the cases of the other appellants on January 23, 1965. The lands
were located in village Mahipalpur which were required for the public purpose
of planned development of Delhi. F
31. So far as the case of Punjab Potteries is concerned the Section 4
Notification was issued on December 3, 1971. It related to lands located in
Nangal Dewat acquired for public purpose, namely the development of Palam
Airport.
G
32. It was submitted by Mr. Andhyarujina, leaned senior counsel
appearing for the appeliant Ravi Khullar in appeal arising out of SLP No. 6093
of2003 that in view of the Notification of December 23, 1986 the appellants
are entitled to the benefit of rehabilitation in view of the acquisition of therr
lands for the expansion/development of the Palam airport. According to him H
616 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.

A the lands which were subject matter of Notification under Section 4 dated .....
January 23, 1965 for the planned development of Delhi were owned by the
appellants over which they had been carrying on business of ceramic industries
for over 15 years. It is his contention that a Notification under Section 4 of
the Act was issued on December 23, 1986 for acquisition of lands in viliage
B Malikpur Kohi Rangpuri measuring 713 bigha and 0 .2 biswa for the rehabilitation
of those displaced or affected due to the expansion/development of Palam
airpcrt. He, therefore, submitted that regardless of the fact that their lands
were acquired under a different Notification than the lands of Ravi Khullar,
in view of the issuance of the Notification dated December 23, 1986, it made
no difference since all of them were displaced or affected due to the expansion/
C development of the Palam airport. The generality of the aforesaid notification
could not be limited by amninistrative decision to only certain beneficiaries
as a matter of policy. •
•
33. Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand contended
that though the matter relating to rehabilitation package was considered, no
D decision was taken nor any scheme formulated for the rehabilitation of
industries. Only those displaced from village Nangal Dewat, pursuant to the
Notification under Section 4 dated December 3, 1971 for acquisition of land
for development of the Palam airport, were to be allotted lands in village
Rangpuri and that too for residential purposes. Succinctly stated the State
E contended that the acquisition of land in village Rangpuri was meant for
rehabilitation of persons from village Nangal Dewat and that too for residential
purpose, and thatthe other land owners, whose lands were acquired for the
planned deve1opment of Delhi could. not claim such benefit. The State has
relied upon three decisions taken in this regard.

p 34. We shalI, therefore, consider the mate"rial placed on record by the
parties on the question of rehabilitation.

35. The first documen( to be considered is a letter dated December 5,
1986 written by the Joint Director of Industries to the Deputy Commissioner,
Delhi, informing him that the position regarding acquisition of land occupied
G by the industrial units in Mahipalpur-Nangal Dewat area and providing of
alternate plots to the land owners was to be reviewed by the Chief Secretary
shortly. An enquiry was made as to whether awards had been announced in
respect of affected industrial units in that area. The Deputy Commissioner
was also requested to intimate regarding the steps taken to provide alternative
H lands to the affected units so that the whole position was brought to the
RAVIKHULLARv. U.O.I. [B.P. SINGH,J.] 617
notice of the Chief Secretary. This letter does not refer to any decision taken A
by the Government to provide alternate site. At best the matter was to be
reviewed by the Chief Secretary.

36. It appears that earlier a Joint Survey Report had been submitted
sometime in August, 1983 with a view to assess the needs of the different
ceramic industries located on the Mehrauli-Mahipalpur Road which had to be B
shifted in view of the expansion of Palam airport. On the basis of the survey
conducted by the· Committee the industries were classified in three groups.
The appellants fell in the first category, namely-those who had a turnover
of Rs. 15 lakhs and above with an area of 5 acres in their possession on
ownership basis. The Committee recommended that they be allowed 25000 sq.
yards each. The Committee also made its recommendations with regard to
c
other two categories of industries and assessed that the total requirement of
land would be about 20.86 acres if such allotments were to be made. It also
noticed the fact that the aforesaid factories were located over an area of25.70
acres.
D
37. No document has been produced to show that the recommendations
:j contained in the said survey report were at any time accepted by the
,I
Government. The appellants also relied upon the letter written by the Secretary,
Civil Aviation, to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on September 15, 1986
wherein a view was finnly expressed that in the over all interest of security
and development-of Delhi Airport, the industrial structures in Mahipalpur and E
Nangal Dewat area need to be acquired immediately. The letter also stated that
the IAAI will be willing to accept the suggestion for provision of land for
land, provided alternative land is acquired by the Delhi Administration/D.D.A.
and no further liability is imposed on them for payment of additional
..., compensation for the acquired industrial structures. Though this letter records F
the willingness of the IAAI to provide land for land subject to the condition
..,,,
that it shall incur no additional liability for payment of compensation for the
acquired industrial structures, it does not refer to any firm decision taken in
this regard.

38. Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, learned senior counsel appearing for the G
appellant in Punjab Potteries also placed reliance on a decision of the High
Court of Delhi dated August 2, 2001 in CWP No. 481 /1982: Daryao Singh

- '
(supra) and submitted that the aforesaid judgment supports the case of the
appellants that the lands acquired in village Rangpuri were meant for
rehabilitation of the persons displaced from village Nangal Dewat, such as the
H
618 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.

A appellants. As noticed earlier, the High Court has considered this decision
and distinguished the same on the ground that it related to another award.
Moreover a mere perusal of the judgment discloses that the plea of the
petitioners before the High Court was that they were not interested in
challenging the acquisition but they were only interested in allotment of an
B alternative piece of land for the purpose of their residence. In reply counsel
appearing for the respondents stated that for allotment of land to the persons
whose lands had been acquired a scheme was being fonnulated. Such persons
whose names appear in the Award shall be allotted land in tenns of the
Scheme within 6 months. In this view of the matter the writ petition was
dismissed.
c 39. It will be seen that in the aforesaid writ petition the question of
rehabilitating an industrial unit did not come up for consideration. So far as
the allotment of residential site is concerned, counsel appearing for the
respondents submitted before us that if the appellant was eligible for allotment
in tenns of the scheme formulated for the purpose, it could as weli have asked
D for allotment of alternative site, but the appellant was not interested in
allotment of alternative plot for residence. Its demand was that a site should
be given to it for establishing an industry, which was not contemplated under ~t
;>.. -,

the scheme. There is substance in the contention of the respondents that so
far as the aforl!said decision goes it only related to allotment of alternative
E sites for residence of the displaced persons and not for relocation of an
industry. The respondents on the other hand relied on atleast 3 doc~ments
'•' and contended that at no time any decision was taken to allot alternative sites
with a view to relocate the displaced industrial units.

40. The first document is the Minutes of the Meeting held by the
F Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on June 16, 1982 to consider issues connected
...
with acquisition of lands in village Nangal Dewat etc. for the International \

Airport Authority of India (IAAI). At the meeting were present the Lieutenant
Governor of Delhi and officers of the concerned department; the Vice Chairman
of the Delhi Development Authority and its officers as also the representatives
of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi; Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
G and IAAI. The relevant part of the Minutes reads as under :-

"After further discussions, Lt. Governor directed that in the special
circumstances obtaining in Delhi, there was no alternative to IAAI
undertaking the responsibility for the rehabilitation of the village
abadi. The cost of rehabilitation would have to be borne by IAAI over
H
RAVIKHULLARv. U.0.1. [B.P. SINGH,J.] 619

and above the compensation to be paid by them for the land and A
structures. International Airport Authority of India would also. bear
the cost of acquiring, if necessary, the alternative area where the abadi
would be shifted. The cost of rehabilitation would include provision
of developed and serviced plots to the residents and also provision
for community facilities such as schools, tube wells, electricity, B
community hall and dispensaries etc. However, the cost of construction
of houses would be borne by the villagers themselves. Lt. Governor
felt that early selection of the alternative plots where the village abadi
would be shifted and announcement of the facilities to be offered,
would be helpful in inducing people to shift to the new site. This
would be the responsibility of Delhi Administration. C
It was pointed out that there were other villages in the
neighbourhood where there were certain other industrial structures.
The owners of these industrial structures would not be provided any
assistance beyond what they may be entitled to by way of the usqal
compensation under the Land Acquisition Act." D
41. It would thus appear that after considering all aspects of the matter,
the IAAI was burdened with the cost of rehabilitation of the displaced
persons from the village abadi, meaning thereby to provide them land for
residence over which the villagers could construct houses at their own cost.
So far as industrial structures are concerned, it was clearly decided that the E
owners of industrial structures would not be provided any assistance beyond
what they may be entitled to as compensation under the Act.

42. The second document is the letter of April 16, 1986 written to the
Chief Secretary, Delhi Administration which refers to a meeting held on April
4, 1986 wherein it was decided that a site may be selected for shifting the F
residents of village Nangal Dewat. The letter discloses that the site had been
selected in village Rangpuri and the same may be acquired on priority basis
so that the village abadi may be shifted to this alternative site. This letters
also refers to the rehabilitation of villagers displaced from village Nangal
Dewat and for the purpose of providing them an alternative plot for residence. G
43. The last document on which reliance has been placed by the
respondents is of August 21, 1991 which is the Minutes of the Meeting held
in the room of the Chief Secretary, Delhi Administration on July 30, 1991
regarding acquisition of land for IAAI. The Minutes disclose that the
representatives of the various departments put forwards their points of view H
620 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.

A and though the Delhi Administration suggested that the agency for which the
land was being acquired should pay not only for the land but also for meeting
cost of rehabilitation of the concerned industrial units, the Ministry of Civil
Aviation, Government of India, was not agreeable to pay any amount over
and above the cost of land and super-structures. Paragraph 3.l of the Minutes
is relevant which reads as follows :-
B
"Reverting to the specific question of acquiring land under the
above said five industrial units the Chief Secretary remarked that
linking obligation of re-location with the acquisition of their land
would not be advisable as neither DDA nor Delhi Administration
could undertake such an obligation especially as units were now
c required to shift out of UT of Delhi. The Delhi Administration could
at best assist in the allotment of the land by the concerned states. The
affected units should therefore be discouraged from expecting any
special concession. At the same time it would be necessary for the
IAAI to pay rehabilitation cost to these units and not merely the cost
D of acquisition of land and super structures. He advised the Land
Acquisition Collector to keep this in view while determining award for
acquisition. The LAC said that award in 4 of the cases had already
been announced. The Chief Secretary advised the LAC that in case
it was not possible to revise the award the LAC should determine the
additional compensation on above lines and intimate t he same to
E IAAI. He also advised the IAAI representatives that in case they
wanted this land urgently they should be prepared to pay the said
additional cost."

44. The documents relied upon by the respondents do establish that
F though at different stages the question of rehabilitation of the affected perscl'ns
as a result of the acquisition was considered, no firm decision was ever taken
to rehabilitate the industries affected thereby. The decision taken was only
to provide alternative sites for residentce of the oustees from village Nangal
Dewat in village Rangpuri. The proposal to allot lands for setting up the
displaced industrial units was always turned down and it was decided that
G owners of such industries would only be entitled to compensation under the
Land Acquisition Act. Having regard to the material on_record we are satisfied
that no scheme was ever framed for rehabilitation of industrial units. The
scheme was framed only for the affected villagers of village Nan.gal Dewa~ and
that too for residential purpose alone.

H 45. Learned counsel for the appellants strenuously urged before us that
-+
RAVIKHULLAR v. U.0.1. [B. P. SINGH, J.] 621

the land in village Rangpuri is still available and even if the three industries A
with which we are concerned in the instant biitch of appeals are allotted land
to the extent of 25,000 sq. yards each, as recommended in the Joint Survey
Report, their purpose will be served. We are afraid we cannot accede to the
request because that is a matter of policy and it is for the government to take
appropriate decision in that regard. In law we ftnd no justification for the claim B
that even in the absence of a scheme for rehabilitation of displaced industries
alternative sites should be allotted to them for relocating the industrial units.
It is no doubt true that the acquisition of land in village Rangpuri by issuance
of Notification under Section 4 of the Act on December 23, 1986 was for the
public purpose, namely for rehabilitation of the persons displaced or affected
due to the· expansion/development of the Palam airport. Learned counsel C
appearing for the State contended that this public purpose has been achieved
and the persons who were displaced from village Nangal Dewat in view of
the acquisition of their lands for the development of Palam airport have been
allotted plots in village Rangpuri for their residence. There is nothing in the
Notification which obliges the State to provide equal alternative site to the
industries for their rehabilitation. D
46. We find substance in the stand of respondents.

47. In this appeal apart from other questions which have been raised in E
this batch of appeals, a question of limitation has been raised. It is submitted
on behalf of the appellant that the award made by the Collector in the instant
case was barred by limitation under Section l lA of the Act inasmuch as it
was not made within a period of 2 years from the date of the publication of
the declaration after excluding the period during which an order of stay F
granted by the High Court operated. The facts are not in dispute and since
this plea became available to the appellant only after the dismissal of the writ
petition by the High Court, we permitted the appellant to raise this plea after
giving an opportunity to the respondents to reply to the same. Since the facts
are not in dispute, we proceed to decide the question of limitation in this
appeal. G
48. It is not in dispute that the Notification under Section 4 of the Act
·-f was issued on January 23, 1965. A declaration under Section 6 of the Act was
published on December 26, 1968. The appellant filed the writ petition before
the High Court on September 12, 1986 in which an order for maintenance of
status quo was made on September 18, 1986. It is the case of the respondents H
622 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.
~
.....
A that in view of the status quo order the award could not be pronounced.
While the awards were pronounced in other cases on September '19, 1986, it
was not pronounced in the case of the appellant in view of the .status quo
order. The High Court by the impugned judgment dismissed the writ petition
filed by the petitioner on February 13, 2003 whereafter .the award ·was
pronounced on March I, 2003.
B
49. We may notice that the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984
came into force w.e.f. September 24, 1984. ....
50. Keeping in view these dates it will be seen that award ought to have
been made within a period of 2 years from the date of the publication of the
c declaration under Section 6 of the Act. However, in a case where the said
declaration was published before the commencement of the Land Acquisition
(Amendment) Act, 1984 the award must be made within a period of two years
from such commencement. This is the mandate of Section 11 A of the Act. In
the instant case the declaration under Section 6 of the Act was published on
D December 26, 1968 i.e. before the commencement.ofthe Amendment Act of
1984. Thus the proviso to sub-section (I) of Section IIA applied and the
>.
....
award was required to be made within a period of two years from such
commencement. So calculated the award ought to have been made on or
before the 23rd September, 1986 when the period of 2 years .from ~the
commencement of the Amendment Act, 1984 expired. It is not ,disputed ,that
E an order of status quo was made on 18th September, 1986 which prevented
the Land Acquisition Officer from pronouncing the award. The aforesaid
order of status quo operated till February 13, 2003 which period, as rightly
submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General, had to be .excluded in
calculating the period of 2 years. Thus after excluding the aforesaid perioo ....
F the award should have been pronounced on or before 'Febtnary ;IS, '.2003.
-'<
However, the award was pronounced on March 1, 2003. :Ex facie, therefore,
the award having not been made within the period prescribed by'Section I IA
of the Act, the entire proceeding for acquisition of the lano '.lapsed on
February 18, 2003, the last date for pronouncement of the award.

G 51. The learned Additional Solicitor General, however, submitted that
the judgment in the writ petition was pronounced on February 13, .2003 and
an application was made for certified copy of the same on February 14, 2003.
~
~
The certified copy was ready on February 27, 2003. It is "his contention that
the period between February 14, 2003 and February 27, 2003 must·be excluded
and if that period is excluded, time to make the award was available upto
H
RAVIKHULLARv. U.O.I.[B.P. SINGH,J.] 623
March 4, 2003 whereas the award was pronounced on March 1, 2003. He A
submitted that the period taken by a public authority to obtain the authentic
copy of the order, which is evidence of the contents thereof, must in all cases
be excluded and the period taken to obtain a certified copy cannot cause any
prejudice in the matter of calculation of the period of limitation. Since the Land
Acquisition Officer, who is a public functionary, had to look into the contents B
of the order passed by the court before taking any action including the
pronouncement of the award, the said period ought to have been excluded.
In effect the learned Additional Solicitor General contended that the rule
incorporated in Section 12 of the Limitation Act must apply in computing the
period of limitation under Section l lA of the Act. He also relied on judgments
of this Court reported in N. Narasimbhaiah and Ors v. State of Karnataka C
and Ors., [1996] 3 SCC 88; General Manager, Department ofCommunications
v. Jacob, [20031 9 SCC 662 ; and Shakuntala Devi Jain v. Kunta/ Kumari and
Ors., AIR (1969) SC 575. He submitted that since the authority had taken
immediate steps in applying for certified copy and since the explanation to
Section 1lA prescribed a principle of limitation, it is necessary that analogous
principles contained in the Limitation'Act must necessarily be applied. Applying D
the principle underlined under sub-section (1) of Section 11 A of the Act read
with Sections 76 and 77 of the Indian Evidence Act and also based on the
principle actus curaie neminem gravabit, the period during which the certified
copy was not obtained has to be excluded.

52. Shri K.K. Venugopal, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of
E
the intervener also reiterated the same submission and contended that the
Land Acquisition Officer could not have proceeded to make the award unless
he had seen the authenticated copy of the order which had the effect of
vacating the order of status quo passed as an interim measure.
F
53. Learned counsel for the appellants on the other hand contended
that Section l lA of the Act does not provide for extension of time to make
an award or condonation of delay in making the award. Though it provides
for exclusion of the period during which any action or proceeding to be taken
in pursuance of the declaration is stayed by an order of the court, it does not
exclude the time taken for obtaining a certified copy of the judgment or order G
vacating or having the effect of vacating the order of stay. He further submitted
that the La.ttd Acquisition Collector was a party in the writ petition and had,
therefore, knowledge of the fact that the writ petition had been dismissed
which resulted in vacation of the interim order of status quo. In the absence
of any provision in the Land Acquisition Act for exclusion of time taken to H
-}-
\.

624 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 4 S.C.R.

A obtain a certified copy of the judgment of the High Court, the Land Acquisition
Collector, ought to have proceeded to make the award having come to know
that the writ petition filed by the appellant had been rejected by the High
Court.

54. In the matter of computing the period of limitation three situations
·B may be visualized, namely (a) where the Limitation Act applies by its own
force ; (b) where the provisions of the Limitation Act with ·or without
modifications are made applicable to a special statute ; and (c) where the
special statue itself prescribes the period oflimitati~n and provides for extension ""
of time and or condonation of delay. The instant case is not one which is
c governed by the provisions of the Limitation Act. The Land Acquisition
Collector in making an award does not act as a Court within the meaning of
the Limitation Act. It is also clear from the provisions of the Land Acquisition
Act that the provisions of the Limitation Act have not been made applicable
to proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act in the matter of making an
award under Section I IA of the Act. However, Section I IA of the Act ~toes
D provide a period oflimitation within which the Collector shall make his award.
The explanation thereto also provides for exclusion of the period during M

which any action or proceeding to be taken in pursuance of the declaration "
is stayed by an order of a court. Such being the provision, there is no scope
for importing into Section I IA of the Land Acquisition Act the provisions
of Section 12 of the Limitation Act. The application of Section 12 of the
E
Limitation Act is also confined to matters enumerated therein. The time taken
for obtaining a certified copy of the judgment is excluded because a certified
copy is required to be filed while preferring an appeal/revision/review etc.
challenging the impugned order. Thus a court is not permitted to read into
Section I IA of the Act a provision for exclusion of time taken to obtain a
"'
F certified copy of the judgment and order. The court has, therefore, no option
but to compute the period of limitation for making an award in accordance ""
with the provisions of Section 11 A of the Act after excluding such period as
can be excluded under the explanation to Section I IA of the Act.

55. Our conclusion finds support from the scheme of the Land Acquisition
G Act itself. Section I IA of the Act was inserted by Act 68 of 1984 with effe-ct
from 24.09.1984. Similarly, Section 28A was also inserted by the Amendment
Act of 1984 with effect from the same date. In Section 28A the Act provides
-: ~
for a period of limitation within which an application should be made to the
Collector for re-determination of the amount of compensation on the basis of
the award of the Court. The proviso to sub-section I of Section 28A reads
H
-
"' ~

as follows:-
RA VI KHULLAR v. U.O.I. [B. P. SINGH, J.] 625

A
"Provided that in computing the period of three months within which
an application to the Collector shall be made under this sub-section,
the day on which the award was pronounced and the time requisite
for obtaining a copy of the award shall be excluded."
B
56. It will thus be seen that the legislature wherever it considered
necessary incorporated by express words the rule incorporated in Section 12
-~
of the Limitation Act. It has done so expressly in Section 28A of the Act while
it has consciously not incorporated this rule in Section I IA even while
providing for exclusion of time under the explanation. The intendment of the
legislature is therefore unambiguous and does not permit the Court to read c
words into Section I IA of the Act so as to enable it to read Section 12 of
the Limitation Act into Section l lA of the Land Acquisition Act.

57. The judgments cited at the Bar are also of no help to the respondents.
In Shakunta/a Devi Jain (supra) this Court held that an appeal is incompetent
unless the memorandum of appeal is accompanied by a certified copy of the
D
decision. It condoned the delay in that case giving the benefit of Section 5
of the Limitation Act in the facts and circumstances of the case. The
applicability of the Limitation Act was not in dispute in that case.

58. In N. Narasimhaiah and Ors. (supra) the order under Section 17(4) E
of the Land Acquisition Act dispensing with the enquiry under Section 5-A
was quashed by the court with liberty to the State to proceed further in
accordance with law. In such circumstances it was held that running of the
limitation should be counted from the date of the order of the court received
by he Land Acquisition Officer. The limitation prescribed in clause (ii) of the
first proviso to sub-section (I) of Section 6 would apply to publication of F
"'
declaration under Section 6(1) afresh. Ifit was published within one year from
the date of the receipt of the order of the court by Land Acquisition Officer,
the declaration published under Section 6(1) would be valid. The principle laid
down therein does not help the respondents because by an order of the court
the limitation prescribed for publication of a declaration under Section 6(1)
G
stood extended. That is how this Court construed the order of the High Court
giving liberty to the State to proceed further in accordance with law. In the
instant case no such question arises. The situation that arises in the instant
case is fully governed by the provisions of Section l lA of the Act which
" does not give any discretion to the court to exclude any period in computing
limitation other than that provided in the explanation to Section l lA of the H
-t~
\

626

A Act.
SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 4 S.C.R.
)...

·-
59. In General Manager, Department of Telecommunications (supra) a
question arose as to whether the High Court by directing the passing of the
award by certain date, irrespective of the provisions contained in the Act,
could prevent the Collector from passing an award at any time beyond the
B specified date. In that case the facts were that the High Court had directed
the passing of the award by December 3, 1992 irrespective of the provisions
contained in the Land Acquisition Act. This was done with a view to avoid
further delay and ensure expeditious conclusion of the proceedings. This ".'
Court found that there was nothing to indicate .in the order of the High Court
c stipulating or extending the time for passing the award, that beyond the time
so permitted, it cannot be done at all and the authorities are disabled once
and for all even to proceed in the matter in accordance with law, if it is so
-
permissible for the authorities under the law governing the matter in issue.
This Court held that the court cannot be imputed with such an intention to
stifle the authorities from exercising powers vested with them under statute,
D or to have rendered an otherwise enforceable statutory provision, a mere dead
letter. This Court considered the decision in N. Narasimhaiah and Ors. A

(supra) and observed:-

"This decision is of no assistance whatsoever to the respondents
in the present case. Notwithstanding the statutory period fixed, further
E time came to be granted due to intervention of Court proceedings in
which a direction came to be issued to proceed in the matter afresh,
as directed by the Court, apparently applying the well-settled legal
maxim - Actus curiae neminem gravabit: an act of the Court shall
prejudice no man. In substance what was done therein was to
F necessitate afresh calculation of the statutory period from the date of
receipt ofthe copy of the order of the Court. Granting of further time ·'<

than the one stipulated in law in a given case as a sequel to the
decision to carry out the dictates of the Court afresh is not the same
as curtailing the statutory period of time to stultify an action otherwise
permissible or allowed in law. Consequently, no inspiration can be
G drawn by the respondents in ·this case on the analogy of the said
•
decision."

60. In our view the principle laid down in this judgment is of no help
to the respondents and if at all it supports the contention of the appellant
that the period of limitation prescribed cannot be curtailed by order of the
H Court. As a necessary corollary it cannot be extended contrary to the statutory
i

. ~
RAVIKHULLAR v. U.0.1. [B. P. SINGH,J.]

prov1s1ons. We have, therefore, no doubt in holding that so far as the
627
A
acquisition of the lands belonging to Palam Potteries is concerned, the
proceedings lapsed for failure of the Collector to make an award within the
prescribed period of limitation under Section 1 lA of the Act.

61. Before parting with this matter we may notice the fact that in the
award made by the Collector three khasra numbers belonging to the appellant B
were not included. It was, therefore, submitted before us that in any view of
the matter the acquisition proceedings in relation to those 3 khasra numbers
!= must lapse. This was indeed not contested by the respondents. However, in
view of the fact that we have reached the conclusion that the acquisition
proceeding as against the lands of the appellant lapsed for failure to make an
award within the period prescribed by Section 1IA of the Act, this aspect of
c
the matter lose its significance.

62. In the result Civil Appeals arising out of SLP ©Nos. 6093/2003;
6384/2003 and 8574 of2003 are dismissed. Civil Appeal arising out ofSLP ©
No. 6095 of 2003 is allowed and it is declared that the award made by the D
~-
Collector on March I, 2003 was barred by limitation prescribed by Section
l IA of the Act and as such the acquisition proceeding in relation thereto
lapsed on February 18, 2003, which was the last date for making the award.
Parties shall bear their own costs.
v.s.s. Appeals 1704, 1705 and 1706/07 dismissed.
Appeal 1707/07 allowed.
E