Llewellyn Furtado & Ors Vs. Government of Goa & Ors [1997] INSC 722 (10 September 1997)

A. S. ANAND, K. VENKATASWAMI

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

O R D E R This Civil Appeal Calls in question an order of the Bombay High Court in Writ Petition No. 427 of 1993 decided on 24th August, 1993. The impugned order reads thus:- "Rejected.

We do not wish to exercise writ jurisdiction in view of return filed by Land Acquisition Officer." Mr. Dhruv Mehta, learned counsel for the appellants, submits that in the writ petition filed in the High Court specific allegations had been made that the acquisition proceedings were vitiated on account of bar of limitation.

That it was averred that the declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act had been made after the expiry of one year from the date of publication of the Notification under section 4 which vitiated the declaration as well as the acquisition. According to the learned counsel, the appellants in the writ petition had also raised a plea that there was an unexplained and unreasonable gap of almost one year between the date of the first publication of that Notification in the official gazette later on and keeping in view the fact that emergency provisions under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act had been invoked, that gap would defeat the very intention of the Amendment made in 1984. It was pointed out that in the counter-affidavit filed by the respondents in the High Court no specific reply was given to these averments in the writ petition but the Division Bench of the High Court did not examine that aspect of the case and therefore judgement of the High Court cannot be sustained.

We find force in the submission of the learned counsel.

The High Court simply dismissed the Writ petition "In view of return filed by land acquisition Officer". We have been unable to appreciate as to what circumstances weighed with the High Court to dismiss the writ petition in limine.

Since, in the return filed by the Land Acquisition Officer, factual averments were not controverted, their effect was required to be considered by the High Court. No reasons have been given and this Court has been deprived from testing the reasons which might have weighed with the High Court while rejecting the writ petition in liminie. Obligation to give reasons introduces clarity and excludes or at any rate minimises the chances of arbitrariness. Since, arguable points had been raised in the writ petition, the Bench should have given some reasons, howsoever brief, in support of its order. To say the least it was an unsatisfactory manner of disposal of the writ petition. We, therefore, find that the impugned order cannot be sustained and accept this appeal. We set aside the impugned order of the High Court dated 24th August, 1993 and remand the case to the High court for its fresh disposal in accordance with law. We, request the Hon'ble the Chief Justice of the High Court to have the petition placed before a Division Bench for an early disposal.

This Court had granted an order of status quo as regards possession only on 14th February, 1994. That interim direction shall continue to remain in operation till the writ petition is disposed of.

We clarify that nothing said hereinabove shall be construed as any expression of opinion on the merits of the controversy.

The appeal is allowed in the terms indicated above. No costs.

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