1. The above two writ appeals emanate out of the order dated 4.6.2002 passed by the learned single judge in W.P No. 13247 of 2001. The said writ petition was filed by the appellant in W.A No. 2018 of 2002, challenging the notification, issued under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, dated 3.11.1999, declaration under Section 6 dated 18.9.2000 as well as the award dated 30.12.2000 in respect of the lands to an extent of 2.79.5 hectares of lands in Veerapuram Village, Chingleput Taluk, Kancheepuram District. W.A No. 2883 of 2002 is filed by the Central Bank of India, which was not a party to the said writ petition, with the leave of this Court since they were aggrieved by the impugned order of the learned single judge.
2. As regards the writ petition (W.P No. 13247 of 2001) out of which these writ appeals arise, we are of the opinion that this writ petition was liable to be dismissed and was rightly dismissed inter alia on the ground that the petition was filed belatedly and suffers from laches because the writ petition was filed after the award was passed.
3. It has been repeatedly held by the Supreme Court in Tej Kaur v. State of Punjab, 2003 (4) SCC 485, that writ petition challenging the land acquisition proceedings should not be entertained after the award has been passed. In that case, the award was passed on 15.3.1994 whereas the writ petition was filed on 12.4.1994, i.e, after the award was given. Hence the writ petition was dismissed as belated. Similarly in Municipal Council, Ahmednagar v. Shah Hyder Beig, AIR 2000 SC 671, the Supreme Court observed vide paragraph 17:
“In any event, after the award is passed, no writ petition can be filed challenging the acquisition notice or against any proceedings thereunder.”
The Supreme Court also observed in that decision that this has been the consistent view of the Court e.g, in C. Padma and others v. Deputy Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu and others, 1997 (2) SCC 627; Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay v. The Industrial Development Investment Co. Ltd., AIR 1997 SC 482, etc. Hence, without going into the merits of the case, we are of the opinion that the writ petition was rightly dismissed on the ground of laches. The writ appeals are, therefore, dismissed. Connected W.A.M.P Nos. 3414 and 4854 of 2002 are closed.