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Judgment
Leach, C.J.—In the year 1936, the Government of Madras proposed to acquire a small strip of land for the purpose of making a foot-path
by the side of a Hindu cremation ground at Kesargod. The total area only measured 18 cents of an acre. On 26th August 1936, a notification was
published u/s 4, Land Acquisition Act, and on 26th January 1937, a notification was published u/s 6 of the Act. The appellant, who was the owner
of the land, objected to the acquisition and after the publication of the notification u/s 6, he persisted in his objection. He succeeded in persuading
the Collector of South Kanara that the acquisition was not necessary. The result was that the Government changed its mind and passed an order
which said:
The Collector of South Kanara is therefore requested to take steps to withdraw from the-acquisition proceedings and submit through the Board of
Revenue the necessary notification to, Government u/s 48(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, for publication.
As a result of representations made by the-District Board, the Government again changed its mind and decided to proceed with the acquisition.
No notification of withdrawal u/s 48(1) had been published. This later order was passed on 10th November 1937. Accordingly, the acquisition
proceedings were continued and the land was duly acquired. On 18th July 1938, the appellant filed a suit in the Court of the District Munsif of
Kesargod for a declaration that the acquisition was unlawful on-the ground that as the Government had decided to withdraw from the acquisition it
could not proceed without fresh notifications-under Sections 4 and 6 of the Act. The District Munsif dismissed the suit and this decision was
concurred in by the District Judge of South Kanara on appeal. The plaintiff then appealed to this Court. The appeal was heard by Chandrasekhara
Aiyar J. who agreed with the Courts below. The present appeal is from the judgment of the learned Judge under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent.
Sub-section (1) of Section 48 says that except in the case provided for in Section 36 (which does not apply here) the Government shall be at
liberty to withdraw from the acquisition-of any land of which possession has not been taken. Rule 5 of the rules framed under that Act states that if
Government decides to give up the acquisition a notification u/s 48(1) withdrawing from it shall be published by it. It is not suggested that this-rule
is ultra vires. In fact, the learned Counsel for the appellant accepts that it is intra vires. The rule makes it compulsory for Government to notify a
withdrawal if it decides on this course. The order to the Collector of South Kanara merely directed him to take steps to withdraw the acquisition
proceedings and submit through the Board of Revenue the necessary notification for publication. As we have shown, before the notification was
published the Government decided to go on with the acquisition. We consider that in the circumstances it was entitled to do so without re-
notification under Sections 4 and 6. It is very regrettable; that so much judicial time should have been taken up on such a trumpery matter. Even if
the law had been on the side of the appellant, it could only have meant re-notification under Sections 4 and 6 with waste of time and unnecessary
expenditure of money. The acquisition could not have been avoided. The mentality of the appellant is indeed difficult to understand. The only
satisfaction is that he can be required to pay for his bovine obstinacy in costs. The appeal is dismissed with costs.