UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.versusJASWANT RAI KOCHHAR AND ORS.

A                         UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
                                         v.
                      JASWANT RAJ KOCHHAR AND ORS.

                                 MARCH 11, 1996

B                (K. RAMASWAMY AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]

            Land Acquisition Act, 1894: Section 4(1)

           Land Acquisition----Change of user contrary to purpose notified-Per-   •
C   missibility of-Land Acquisition for Housing Scheme-iJse of land for com-
    mercial purpose---Construction of District Centre---Challenge-Quashing of
    notification by High Court-Held not correct-Held land sought to be ac-
    quired for public purpose may be used for another public purpose-When
    land was sought to be acquired for Housing Scheme but was used for District
    Centre purpose does not cease to be public purpose-In such a case
D   no111enclature n1entioned in notification cannot be constrned to be a
    colourable one.

          Raising fresh plea at appellate stage-Land acquisition-Entitlement to
    alternative site-Point not raised before High Court-Held it cannot be ex-
    amined by this Court.
E
            CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil appeal No. 4557 of
    1996.

          From the Judgment and Order dated 6.2.84 of the Delhi High Court
    in L.P.A. No. 1 of 1977.                                                      •
F
          V.C. Mahajan and Arnn Mohan, Mrs. Indira Sawhney, B.K. Prasad,
    C.V.S. Rao, AK. Shrivastava, Ms. Sushma Suri, P.H. Parekh, Ms. Bina
    Madhavan and P.N. Gupta for the appearing Parties.

            The following Order of the Court was delivered :
G
            Leave granted.

            We have heard the counsel on both sides.

          Notification under section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
H   (for short the 'Act') was published on November 6, 1958 acquiring the land
                                         206
    I
r
                                U.0.1. v. J.R. KOCHHAR                          207

        for housing scheme. The same came to be challenged on the ground that A
        the appellant had proposed to use the land for the district centre i.e.,
        commercial purpose. The learned single Judge allowed the writ petition
        and quashed the notification holding that the property acquired was for
        housing scheme which cannot be used for commercial prupose, namely,
        District Centre. On appeal, the Division Bench of Delhi High Court in B
        LPA No. 1of1977 by order dated February 6, 1984 confirmed the same.
        Thus this appeal by special leave.

              It is contended for the respondents that since the acquisition is for
        housing scheme, the land cannot be used for commercial purpose, namely,
        District Centre. Therefore, the learned single Judge and the Division C
        Bench have rightly disapproved the change of the user contrary to the
        purpose notified in section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act. We find no
        force in the contention. It is conceded by the learned counsel that the
        construction of the District Centre for commercial purpose itself is a public
        purpose. No doubt it was sought to be contended in the High Court that D
        in a housing scheme, providing facilities for commercial purpose is also one
        of the composite purpose and that, therefore, acquisition was valid in law.
        However, the contention was rejected by the High Court. We need not go
        to that part. Suffice it to state that it is a well-settled law that land sought
        to be acquired for public purpose may be used for another public purpose.
        Therefore, when the notification has mentioned that the land is sought to E
        be acquired for housing scheme but it is sought to be used for District
        Centre, the public purpose does not cease to be public purpose and the
        nomenclature mentioned in the notification under section 4(1) as housing
        scheme cannot be construed to be a colourable one. The notification under
        section 4(1) could not have been quashed on the ground that the land is F
        sought to be used for District Centre, namely, for commercial purpose. It
        is obvious that the lands acquired for a public purpose should serve only
        the public purpose of providing facilities of commercial purpose, namely,
        District Centre as conceded by the learned counsel in fairness to be a
        public purpose. The notification under section 4(1) cannot be quashed on
        the ground of change of user. The High Court was wholly wrong in G
        quashing the notification on the ground of change of user.

              It is next contended that the first respondent is entitled to be
        provided with alternative site. It is stated in the additional affidavit filed in
        this Court, pursuant lo the direction issued earlier, that a private company H
    208                    SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A by name Sunlight Assurance, New Delhi had floated a scheme Sunlight
    Estate, which was not approved by the competent authority, i.e., either
    MCD or DOA. But some persons purchased plots and to purchase peace
    with them a compromise was entered into and they have been allotted
    alternative sites. It is contended that the respondents also similarly are
    entitled to alternative sites. It is stated in the counter-affidavit filed in the
B   High Court that the land of the first respondent was not the subject matter
    of the acquisition and that, therefore, he is not entitled to the alternative
    site. In the additional-affidavit also it was mentioned that since the first
    respondent had constructed a house and has been living therein, he is not
    entitled to alternative site and if the house of the appellant is acquired,
C   action would be taken according to law. It is also stated by the counsel for
    respondent Nos. 2 to 4 that they have also constructed houses and they are
    also entitled to alternative sites. Since that controversy was not raised
    before us, we did not have an occasion to go into the question whether
    they have constructed the house either prior to or after the notification etc.
D   Under these circumstances, we cannot go into that question because the
    question of providing alternative sites was not addressed before the learned
    single Judge or the Division Bench. If they are otherwise entitled according
    lo the practice prevailing, they are at liberty to make a representation to
    the competent authority and have the matter examined according to the
    practice.
E
          The appeal is accordingly allowed. The orders of the High Court are
    set aside. The writ petition stands dismissed. No costs.

    T.N.A.                                                         Appeal allowed.