22/08/2020
Forcible possession of private property by State Govt. is violative of human and constitutional right. Supreme Court awards compensation in writ proceedings since claim for compensation could not be made by illiterate widow. Plea of adverse possession by State Govt deprecated. Supreme Court 8:1: 2020
Vidya Devi vs The State of Himachal Pradesh & Ors
Civil Appeal No. 6061 of 2020
Decided on 8 January 2020
Indu Malhotra-J
Ajay Rastogi-J
B.R.Gavai-J
Judgment Link:https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2018/36919/36919_2018_17_1501_19333_Judgement_08-Jan-2020.pdf
HELD 2. The Respondent–State took over the land of the Appellant in 1967–68 for the construction of a major District Road ….
3. The Appellant, being an illiterate widow, coming from a rural background, was wholly unaware of her rights and entitlement in law, and did not file any proceedings for compensation of the land compulsorily taken over by the State.
6. The Appellant submits that she learnt of these proceedings in 2010, when she along with her two daughters filed C.W.P. No. 1736 of 2010 before the Himachal Pradesh High Court, praying that the State be directed to pay compensation for the land acquired in 1967–68; or, in the alternative, direct the State to initiate acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
7. The High Court vide the impugned Judgment and Order dated 11.09.2013 held that the matter involved disputed questions of law and fact for determination on the starting point of limitation, which could not be adjudicated in Writ proceedings. The Appellant was granted liberty to file a Civil Suit.
10.2. The right to property ceased to be a fundamental right by the Constitution (Forty Fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, however, it continued to be a human right2 in a welfare State, and a Constitutional right under Article 300 A of the Constitution. Article 300 A provides that no person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law. The State cannot dispossess a citizen of his property except in accordance with the procedure established by law. The obligation to pay compensation, though not expressly included in Article 300 A, can be inferred in that Article. To forcibly dispossess a person of his private property, without following due process of law, would be violative of a human right, as also the constitutional right under Article 300 A of the Constitution.
10.5. In a democratic polity governed by the rule of law, the State could not have deprived a citizen of their property without the sanction of law. Reliance is placed on the judgment of this Court in Tukaram Kana Joshi & Ors. v. M.I.D.C. & Ors.8 wherein it was held that the State must comply with the procedure for acquisition, requisition, or any other permissible statutory mode. The State being a welfare State governed by the rule of law cannot arrogate to itself a status beyond what is provided by the Constitution.
10.6. We are surprised by the plea taken by the State before the High Court, that since it has been in continuous possession of the land for over 42 years, it would tantamount to “adverse” possession. The State being a welfare State, cannot be permitted to take the plea of adverse possession, which allows a trespasser i.e. a person guilty of a tort, or even a crime, to gain legal title over such property for over 12 years. The State cannot be permitted to perfect its title over the land by invoking the doctrine of adverse possession to grab the property of its own citizens, as has been done in the present case.
13 In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the present case, the Respondent–State is directed to pay the compensation on the same terms as awarded by the Reference Court vide Order dated 07.07.2015 in Anakh Singh’s case (i.e. Land Reference No.1 of 2011 RBT No.01/13) alongwith all statutory benefits including solatium, interest, etc. within a period of 8 weeks, treating it as a case of deemed acquisition. An Affidavit of compliance is directed to be filed by the State before this Court within 10 weeks.. The Respondent State is directed to pay legal costs and expenses of Rs.1,00,0000/ to the present appellant.
Compiled by
S.Basavaraj
Daksha Legal