Holding

Simultaneous local publication of the substance of a Section 4(1) notification is not mandatory, the Validation Act’s 40‑day limit is inconsistent with the Central Amendment and thus ineffective, and once possession is taken the land vests in the State and cannot be divested, rendering the High Court’s order erroneous.

Summary

The Sanjeevanar Medical and Health Employees Co‑operative Housing Society appealed against a High Court order that quashed a land acquisition notification and declaration made under Sections 4(1) and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The acquisition was for providing house sites to the society’s members, and the notification was published in the State Gazette on 11‑Jan‑1979, while the substance was published locally on 17‑Mar‑1979; possession was later taken and plots allotted. The respondents argued that the delay in local publication violated the Andhra Pradesh Validation Act, 1983, rendering the notification invalid. The Supreme Court held that simultaneous local publication is not a statutory requirement, that the 40‑day limit in the Validation Act is inconsistent with the later Central Amendment Act 68 of 1984 and therefore ineffective, and that once possession is taken the land vests in the State and cannot be divested except under Section 48(1). Consequently, the High Court’s quashing of the acquisition was erroneous. The appeal was allowed, restoring the acquisition order.

Issues considered

The validity of a Section 4(1) notification when the substance is not published simultaneously with the Gazette notification.
Whether the Andhra Pradesh Validation Act, 1983’s 40‑day requirement for local publication defeats the acquisition.
The effect of the Central Amendment Act 68 of 1984 on the Validation Act and the procedural requirements.
Whether possession and vesting of land in the State makes the title indefeasible despite procedural lapses.
Whether the High Court was correct in quashing the notification and declaration under the Land Acquisition Act.

Legislation cited

Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. 11, s. 11A, s. 16, s. 17(4), s. 4(1), s. 48(1), s. 5A, s. 6, s. SA
Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984
Land Acquisition (Andhra Pradesh Amendment and Validation) Act, 1983

Subjects

land acquisitionpublic purposenotificationSection 4(1)Section 6validation actsimultaneous publicationvestingpossessionprocedural complianceamendment actconcurrent legislationurgency powerlapse of acquisition

Judgment

1
A SANJEEVANAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH EMPLOYEES
CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY
v.
MOHD. ABDUL WAHAB AND ORS.

FEBRUARY 8, 1996
B
[K. RAMASWAMY, S. SAGHIR AHMAD AND
G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]

Land Acquisition Act, 1894: Sections 4(1) and 6.
c
·Public Notice-Substance of notification-Time limit of 40 days-
Fixation of-By State amendment-Held : inconsistent with Central Amend~
ment, hence void-Publication of substance of notification after 40 days
would not render it invalid-Even otherwise since possession had already
been taken, the land stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances.
D
A notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
acquiring the land belonging to the respondents to provide house sites for
the employees of the appellant-society, was published in the State Gazette.
Subsequently, the substance of the notification was published in the
E locality and a declaration under Section 6 of the Act was also published.
After taking possession of the land from the respondents it was hande,d
over to the appellant. Later on plots were allotted to the members of tlie
appellant-society some of whom started construction of their houses.

The respondents had filed a writ petition in the High Court challeng-
F ing the acquisition of their land. The High Court quashed the notification
and the declaration holding that the notifications under Section 4(1) of
the Act were not simultaneously published in the Gazette and in the
locality. In the meanwhile the State Legislature amended the Act by Land
Acquisition (Andhra Pradesh Amendment and Validation) Act, 1983
G retrospectively prescribing publication of the substance of Section 4(1)
notification within 40 days from the date of its publication in the State
Gazette. Aggrieved by the High Court's judgment the appellant preferred
the present appeal.

On behalf of the appellant it was contended that though the amended
H Act retrospectively prescribed publication of the substance of the Section
308
SANJEEVANAR MEDL & HEALTH EMPL CO-OP. HSG. SOCY. v. ABDUL WAHAB [K RAMASWAMY, J. J 309

4(1) notification within 40 days from the date of its publication in the A
District Gazette, the publication of the substance even after 40 days did not
become invalid; that since possession had already been taken, the land
stood vested in the State and· the beneficiaries free from all encumbrances;
and that the central amendment of the Act provided that within one year
from last of the dates of publication under Section 4(1), declaration under
Section 6 of the Act could be published.
B

On behalf of the respondents it was contended that after the Valida-
tion Act was given retrospective effect, the notification under Section 4(1)
of the Act became invalid, and that consequently the declaration under
....._. Section 6 of the Act was non-est.
c
Allowing the appeal, this Court

HELD : 1.1. The Parliament amended the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
prescribing the procedural steps in publication of the notification under
Section 4 (1) of the Act and declaration under Section 6 of the Act without D
prescribed time limit with consequences of non-compliance thereof and in
Section llA declaring that if the steps respectively prescribed therein are
not taken, the acquisition entails lapse. In other words, the Parliament
evinces that neither simultaneous nor immediate local publication of sub-
stance is insisted upon. But compliance thereof and publication in two
E

-
newspapers are required to be done. The object is to put the owner or
interested person on notice of acquisition of the land for public purpose.
In case of enquiry under Section SA it should also be done and all the steps
should be taken within one year from the last of the dates of the publication
of notification under Section 4(1). Otherwise the acquisition stands lapsed.
[31S-C-EJ F

-- 1.2. Publication of Section 4(1) notification in the Official Gazette, its
substance in the locality and also publication of the notification in two
local newspapers is envisaged but no time limit for their compliance has
been prescribed thereunder. It urgency power under Section 17(4) is not
invoked, notice under Section SA is required to be given to the owner and G
then enquiry is conducted after giving opportunity to the owner or inter-

- ested person. Thereafter, declaration should be published within one year
from last of the dates of the publication under Section 4(1). All the
prescribed procedural steps should be done but without time schedule. The
declaration should be published within one year. Maximum outer limit was
prescribed. [315-F-HJ H
-
•
I

310 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 2 S.C.R.

A Land Acquisition Officer, Hyderabad Urban Development Auth01ity,
Hyderabad, A.P. v. Mohd. Amri Khan & Ors., [1986] 1 SCC 3; C.K.
Narayana Cha1y & Ors. v. Pothepalli Ashanna & Ors., [1986] 1 SCC 9 and
Yadaiah & Ors. v. Govt. of A.P., (1983) 1 DLT.233, held inapplicable.

Deepak Pahwa v. Lt. Govemor, [1985] 1 SCR 588, distinguished.
B
2.1. The rigour of 40 days under the Validation Act got diffused since
it is inconsistent with the Central Amendment of the Act. It would be seen
that the Validation A~t relates to acquisition of the land for providing
house sites to the poor, thereunder the urgency power under Section 17(4)
C was invoked and possession was not taken. The notification under Section
4(1) and declaration under Section 6 were simultaneously published. But
public notice of the substance of the notification was not given simul-
taneously. The law did not insist upon simultaneous action which was an
impossibility and concept of simultaneous action was judicial interpreta-
tion and its effect was diffused by Validation Act. It is to remember that the
D acquisition was to provide housing accommodation to the poor. The State
Government always exercise the power of publishing the ~otification under
.Section 4(1) and the declaration under Section 6 for acquiring the proper-
ties in urban areas. The enquiry under Section SA was not dispensed with.
The declaration under Section 6 was published only after the enquiry under
E Section 5~ had been conducted as in the present case. The need therefore,
to make simultaneous local notice of the substance was not the requirement
of law. [316-C-F]

Gaiui Shankar Gaur & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., [1994) 1SCC92,
-
referred to.
F
2.2. It would be obvious that the question of division of the properties
among its members and allotment of the respective plots to them would
arise only after the Land Acquisition Officer had taken possession of the ''·
acquired land and handed it over to the appellant-society. By operation of
G Section 16 the land stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances.
[317-C]
3. The property under acquisition having been vested in the appel- --
lants, in the absence of any power under the Act to have the title of the
appellants divested except by exercise of the power under Section _48(1),
H valid title cannot be defeated. The exercise of the power to quash the
SANJEEVANAR MEDI..&. HEALTH EMPI.. co.or. HSG. SOCY. v. ABDUL WAHAB [K. RAMASWAMY, J. J 311

notification under Section 4(1) and the declaration under Section 6 would A
lead to incongruity. [317-E-F]

Satendra Prasad Jain & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., [1993] 4 SCC 369,
referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5812 of B
1983.

From the Judgment and order dated 2.3.83 of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court in W.A. No. 692 of 1982.

C.S. Sitaramaiah and Ms. Vrindra Dhar for the Appellants. c
A. Subba Rao and G. Prabhakar for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

K. RAMASWAMY, J. This appeal by special leave arises from the D
judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court made in Writ Appeal No.
692 of 1982 on March 2, 1983. Notification under Section 4(1) of the Land
Acquisition Act (1 of 1894) (for short, "the Act") acquiring the lands in
question to provide house sites to Class IV employees of the appellant-
society, was published in the State Gazette on January 11, 1979. The E
substance of the notification was published in the locality on March 17,
1979. Enquiry under Section SA of the Act was conducted and the Land
Acquisition Officer (LAO) submitted his report to the Government on
June 19, 1979. Declaration under Section 6 was published on March 29,
1980. The LAO after conducting enquiry made his award under Section 11
on December 13, 1980 and notice thereof was served on the respondents.
F
It is stated that since the respondent did not attend the office of the LAO,
as directed, on January 1, 1981, the compensation was deposited in the
court of the Subordinate Judge. It is stated that after LAO had taken
possession of the land from the respondents, he had handed over the land
to the appellant but actual date was not mentioned. It is also stated by the G
appellants that thereafter plots were laid out and were allotted to its

-- ·members and some members had started construction of their houses. At
that stage, the respondents had filed the writ petition on August 9, 1982
and the Full Bench following its judgment in Yadaiah & Ors. v. Govt. of
A.P., (1983) 1 DLT 233, quashed the notification and the declaration H
312 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] 2 S.C.R.

A holding that the notifications under Section 4(1) were not simultaneously
published in the Gazette and in the locality. Thus this appeal by special
-
leave.

Shri C. Sitaramaiah, learned senior counsel for the appellant con-
tended that in Deepak Pahwa v. Lt. Govemor, [1985] 1 SCR 588 this Court
B had overruled the Full Bench decision in Yadaiah 's case and approved of
the ratio in various Division Bench judgments of that Court referred
therein. The State legislature amended the Act by Land Acquisition
(Andhra Pradesh Amendment and Validation) Act, 1983 (Act 9 of 1983)
(for short, "the Validation Act") giving retrospective effect, viz. w.e.f.
C September 12, 1975, the date on which the Land Acquisition (Andhra
Pradesh Amendment) Act, 1976 had come into force. Though the Valida-
tion Act retrospectively prescribes publication of the substance of the
Section 4 (1) notification within 40 days from the date of its publication in
-
the District Gazette, the publication of the substance even after 40 days
does not become invalid by the ratio in Deepak Pahwa's case and by
D operation of clause (b) of Section 4 of the Validation Act. He also
contended that since possession had already been taken, after the award
was made, the land stood vested in the State and the beneficiaries, free
from all encumbrances. The High Court, therefore, was not right in its
quashing Section 4 (1) notification and Section 6 declaration. It ist·also
contended that the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act (68 of 1984)
E provides procedure for publication of the notification in the Gazette,
newspapers and the local publication· and limitation for publication of tlie
declaration under Section 6 within one year from last of the dates of the
publication under Section 4 (1) whicli would indicate that various publica-
tions under Section 4 (1) could be done at periodical intervals without time
-
p limit within the maximum period of one year. The Validation Act thereaftet
also does not hold the field.

Shri A. Subbarao, learned counsel for the respondents contended ·
that after the Validation Act was given retrospective effect from September
12, 1975 and local publication made after 40 days, the notification under
G Section 4(1) became invalid; consequently, the declaration under Section
6 is non-est. He placed reliance on Land Acquisition Officer, Hyderabad
Urban Development Authority, Hyderabad, A.P. v. Mohd. Amri Khan & Ors.,
[1986] 1 SCC 3 and C.K. Narayana Chary & Ors. v. Pothepalli Ashanna &
Ors., (1986] 1 SCC 9 the ratio wherein it was held that local publication
-
H after 40 days invalidates Section 4(1) notification.
SANJEEVANAR MEDL & HEALTH EMPL CO-OP. HSG. SOCY. v. ABDUL WAHAB [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 313

The respective contentions give rise to the question : whether t.he A
view of the High Court is correct in law? The Land Acquisition (Andhra
Pradesh Amendment) Act, 1976 was enacted with a view to accelerate the
pace of acquisitions to provide house sites to the poor and to empower the
Collectors to issue notification under Section 4 (1) and the declaration
under Section 6 and their publication in the respective district Gazettes
and to make payment of compensation to the lands so acquired if the B
compensation does not exceed Rs. 500 and in other cases in instalments
not exceeding Rs. 500 with interest at 6% on such instalments.

In furtherance thereof, acquisition of the lands of private persons on
massive scale was undertaken in all the districts of the State. Collectors
exercised power under Section 17(4) dispensing with the enquiry under
c
Section SA and notifications under Section 4(1) and declarations under
Section 6 were simultaneously published in the Gazette. But the officers at
the lower level delayed local publication of the substance of the notification
under Section 4(1). Consequentially, spate of litigation had sprung up in
Andhra Pradesh High Court invariably challenging the validity of the D
notifications.

As noticed by this Court in Deepak Pahwa's case (supra), several
Division Benches of the High Court have taken consistent view that simul-
taneous publication of the notification under Section 4(1) in the Gazette
and local publication of its substance was not mandatory. A Single Judge E
and Division Bench had struck a discarded note leading to reference to
the Full Bench which in Yadaiah 's case had held that the publication of
the notification in the Gazette and the local publication of its substance
should be done on the same day. Following that view, the same Full Bench
quashed the impugned notification and declaration covered in that appeal.
The Validation Act expressly referred the said decision and validated with F
retrospective effect all the notifications issued earlier than the date on
which the AP. Amend!Jlent Act, 1976 came into force, removing the base
of the Full Bench judgment. Section 2 of the Validation Act provides that
the Collector shall, within 40 days from the date of the publication of such
notification, cause the substance of the notification published. This led to G
further litigation.

A three-Judge Bench was required to consider whether delay in
giving public notice in the locality makes the notification invalid. Yadaiah's
case was cited in support of the contention. Therein a combined notifica-
tion under Sections 4 and 17(4) and declaration under Section 6 were H
314 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 2 S.C.R.

A published in the gazette on June 18, 1984 and public notice of the substance
of the notification under Section 4 was given in the locality on July 17, 1984
with a delay of 29 days. Post-notification delay of eight years due to \'
inter-departmental correspondence was pressed into service to hold that '
there was no real urgency. Legality of invoking urgency clause and conse-
quential omission to hold enquiry under Section 5A was under challenge.
B
This Court had held that Section 4(1) does not prescribe that public
notice of the substance of the notification should be given in the locality
simultaneously with the publication of the notification in the Official
Gazette or immediately thereafter. They are two steps required to be taken.
C under Section 4 (1) before taking further steps under sub-section (2). The
time factor is not a vital element and there is no warrant to read the words
'simultaneously' or 'immediately thereafter' in Section 4(1). They are not
required to be done simultaneously or immediately thereafter. Contem-
-
poraneity may involve a gap of time and by the very nature of the things,
D the publication in the Official Gazette and the public notice in the locality
must necessarily be separated by a gap of time. This does not mean that
the publication and the public notice may be separated by a long interval
of time. What is necessary is that the continuity of action should not appear
to be broken by a deep gap. If there is publication in t~e Gazette and if
there is public notice in the locality, the requirements cif Section 4(1) inust
E be held to be satisfied unless the two are unlinked from each other by a
gap of time so long as it may lead !Jne to the plima f acie conclusion of lack
of bona fides in the proceedings for acquisition. It was held that when the
Government exercises power. under Section 17 (4), it obviously feels that
urgency is such that it does not brook delay and, therefore, the Government
directs that possession of the land be taken immediately on publication of
F the declaration under Section 6 and followed by notice under Section 9.
Delay of eight years on the part of the tardy officials to take further action
in the matter of acquisition is not sufficient to nullify the urgency which
existed at the time of issuing the notification and to hold that there was
never any urgency. This Court overruled the Full Bench judgment in
G Yadaiah's case (supra) and approved of the Division Bench judgments of
the Andhra Pradesh High Court, apart from other cases.

In}vfohd. Anui Khan's case and CK. Narayana Chaiy's cases, (supra)
this Court considered the effect of the Validation Act and another Bench
H of three Judges held that after the Validation Act had come into force with
- ~\ SANJEEVANAR MEDL. & HEALIB EMPL. CO-OP. HSG. SOCY. v. ABDUL WAHAB [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 3 lS

retrospective effect, despite the law in Deepak Pahwa's case the Validation A
Act is required to be given. Notification and public notice of the substance
thereof has to be given in the locality within 40 days from the date of the
publication of Section 4(1) notification which would apply to every notifica-
tion issued by the appropriate Government after September 12, 197S. In
case the substance of such notification was not given in the locality within
B
40 days from the date of the publication of the notification in the Gazette,
it would introduce a fatal infirmity invaliding such notification. In that case
a delay of more than 40 days in the local publication of the substance of
the notification violated the mandate enacted in sub-section (1) of Section
4 as it stood from and after September 12, 197S. Therefore, it was liable
to be struck down. c
The Parliament enacted Amendment Ac_t 68 of 1984 prescribing the
procedural steps in publication of the notification under Section 4(1) and
declaration under Section 6 without prescribed time limit with consequen-
ces of non-compliance thereof and in Section llA declaring that if the D
steps respectively prescribed therein are not taken, the acquisition entails
lapse. In other words, the Parliament evinces that neither simultaneous nor
immediate local publication of substance is insisted upon. But compliance
thereof and publication in two newspapers are required to be done. The
object is to put the owner or interested person on notice of acquisition of
the land for public purpose. In case of enquiry under section SA it should E
also be done and all the steps should be taken within one year from the
last of the dates of lhe publication of notification under Section 4(1).
Otherwise the-acquisition stands lapsed .. Even thereafter award should be
made within two years from the date of the publication - of Section 6
declaration. Publication of Section 4(1) notification in the Official Gazette,
its substance in the locality and also publication of the notification· in two F
local newspapers is envisaged but no time limit for their compliance has
been prescribed thereunder. If urgency power under Section 17(4) is not
invoked, notice under Section SA is required to be given to the owner and
then enquiry is conducted after giving opportunity to the owner or inter-
ested person. Thereafter, declaration should be published within one year G
from last of the dates of the publication under Section 4(1). In other words,
from September 24, 1984, all the prescribed procedural steps should be
done but without time schedule, the declaration should be published within
one year. Maximum outer limit was prescribed. The Central Act 68 of 1984
and Validation Act were enacted under Entry 42 of List III (Concurrent
List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. By operation of proviso. H
316 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996) 2 S.C.R. -
A to Article 254 of the Constitution, the Amendment Act 68 of 1984 is made
operative and it has occupied the same field w.e.f. September 24, 1984. In
Gauli Shankar Gaur & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., (1994) 1 SCC 92 this
\_.."'"
Court surveyed the effect of the Amendment Act vis-a-vis the U.P. Avas
Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965 and held in paragraphs 39 and 40
that unless both the Acts are inconsistent and cannot operate harmonious-
B ly, the State Act prevails over the Central Act but to the extent of repug-
nancy the State Act becomes void since it is not fully consistent with the
provisions of the Amendment Act. In that case, it was held that they were
intended to act independently since the State law was enacted under
Entries 56 and 66 of List II (State List) while the Amendment Act was
enacted under Entry 42 of the Concurrent List.
c
The rigour of 40 days thereby under the Validation Act got diffused
w.e.f. September 24, 1984 since it is inconsistent with Amendment Act 68
of 1984. It would be seen that the Validation Act relates to acquisition of
D the land for providing house sites to the poor thereunder the urgency
power under Section 17 (4) was invoked and possession was not taken. The
notification under Section 4(1) and declaration under Section 6 were
simultaneously published. But public notice of the substance of the notifica-
tion was not given simultaneously. But for the Full Bench decision, law
did not insist upon simultaneous action which was an impossibility and
E concept of simultaneous action was judicial interpretation and its effect was
diffused by Validation Act. It is to remember that the acquisition was to
provide housing accommodation to the poor. The State Government
always exercise the power of publishing the notification under Section 4(1)
and the declaration under Section 6 for acquiring the properties in urban
areas. The enquiry under Section SA was not. dispensed with. The decla-
F ration under Section 6 was published only after the enquiry under Section
5A had been conducted as in the present case. The need, therefore to make
simultaneous local notice of the substance was to the requirement of law .
and was so declared by this Court in Deepak Pahwa's case {supra) and·
also several decisions of various Division Benches of the High Courts. The
G Full Bench judgment .was primarily in relation to the lands in rural areas
to provide house sites to the poor. The Full Bench also did not notice the
distinction since common question was argued and the main concentration
was only of the acquisitions for providing house sites to the poor. The same
was repeated in Mohd. Am1i_ Khan's case (supra) : C.K Narayana Chmy's
cases (supra) closely followed the heals of Mohd Amri Khan's case.
H Therefore, the Validation Act was not applicable to the acquisition made
SANJEEVANAR MEDL & HEAL1H EMPL CO-OP. HSG. SOCY. v. ABDUL WAHAB [K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 317

pursuant to the notification published by thg State Government in its State A
Gazette .

. That apart, as facts disclose, the award was made on November 24,
1980 and the writ petition was filed on August 9, 1982. It is not in dispute
that compensation was deposited in the court of the Subordinate Judge.
It is asserted by the appellant-Society that possession of the land was B
delivered to it and the land had been divided and allotted to its members
for construction of houses and that construction of some houses had been
commenced by the date the writ petition was filed.tit would be obvious that
the question of division of the properties among its members and allot-
ment of the respective plots to them would arise only after the Land C
Acquisition officer had taken possession of the acquired land and handed
it over to the appellant-Society. By operation of Section 16 the land stood
vested in the State free from all encumbrances. In Satendra Prasad Jain &
Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors., [1993) 4 SCC 369, the question arose: whether
notification under Section 4(1) and the declaration under Section 6 get
lapsed if the award is not made within two years as envisaged under D
Section llA? A Bench of three Judges had held that once possession was
taken and the land vested in the Government, title to the land so vested in
the State is subject only to determination of compensation and to pay the
same to the owner. Divesting the title to the land statutorily vested in the
Government and reverting the same to the owner is not contemplated
under the Act. Only Section 48(1) gives power to withdraw from acquisi- E
tion that too before possession is taken. That question did not arise in this
case. The property under acquisitiC?n having been vested in the appellants,
in the absence of any power under the Act to have the title of the appellants
divested except by exercise of the power under Section 48(1), valid title
cannot be defeated. The exercise of the power to quash the notification
under Section 4(1) and the declaration under Section 6 would lead to F
incongruity. Therefore, the High Court under those circumstances would
not have interfered with the acquisition and quashed the notification and
declaration under Sections 4 and 6 respectively. Considered from either
perspective, we are of the view that the High Court was wrong in allowing
the writ appeal. G
Consequentially, the writ appeal stands dismissed and the order
passed by the learned single Judge in the writ petition stands restored. The
appeal is accordingly allowed, but, in the circumstances, without costs.

v.s.s. Appeal allowed.