Full Judgment Text
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PETITIONER:
SUNIL KUMAR JAIN
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
KISHAN & ORS.
DATE OF JUDGMENT27/04/1995
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
BENCH:
RAMASWAMY, K.
HANSARIA B.L. (J)
CITATION:
1995 AIR 1891 1995 SCC (4) 147
1995 SCALE (3)682
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:
THE 27TH DAY OF APRIL,1995
Present :
Hon’ble Mr.Justice K.Ramaswamy
Hon’ble Mr.Justice B.L.Hansaria
Mr. V.J.Francis, Adv. for the Petitioner
O R D E R
The following Order of the Court was delivered:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.9886 OF 1987
SUNIL KUMAR JAIN .....PETITIONER
VERSUS
KISHAN AND OTHERS .....RESPONDENTS
O R D E R
Notification under s.4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act
was published on November 17, 1980 acquiring the lands in
question. The Collector made an award for a sum of
Rs.38,500/-. Since the petitioner laid claim for a higher
amount, a reference under s.18 was made. The civil court
disbelieved the agreement of sale put forth by the
petitioner; therefore, reference was ordered in favour of
the respondents. In appeal, the High Court said that the
said agreement was in violation of s.4 of the Delhi Land
(Restriction & Transfer) Act, 1972 and that, therefore, the
agreement is void. Accordingly, the findings of the
Reference Court was accepted. Thus, this appeal by Special
Leave.
Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner contended
that the under the agreement of sale dated 5th December,
1981 the respondents had received consideration and kept the
petitioner in possession of the land and that, therefore, by
operation of s,53-A of the Transfer of Property Act, the
petitioner is entitled to the compensation. We are unable to
agree with the learned counsel. In a reference, the dispute
is to the title to receive the compensation. It is settled
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law that the agreement of sale does not confer title and,
therefore, the agreement holder, even assuming that the
agreement is valid, does not acquire any title to the
property. It is seen that the agreement is subsequent to the
notification under s.4(1). The Government is not bound by
such an agreement. The inter-se dispute is only with respect
to the title as on the date of notification under s.4(1).
The respondent is the undoubted owner of the property as per
s.4 notification and that, therefore, the compensation was
directed to be paid to the respondent since he is one of the
members. We cannot find any illegality in the order passed
by the Courts. However, if the petitioner has got any claim
under s.30 of the Land Acquisition Act, it is open to him to
take such action as open to him under law.
The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed.