Lekh Raj & Ors. Vs State of Hry. & Ors. — Land Acquisition | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

Lekh Raj & Ors. Vs State of Hry. & Ors. — Land Acquisition | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief adjudicated; the appeal was 'Disposed off for want of prosecution' on counsel's report of the appellants' non-interest, with the appellants left at liberty to seek revival by an appropriate application should any cause survive, and pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, standing disposed off. Compensation enhancement was not decided; no quantum stated.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appeal should continue to be prosecuted, given counsel's submission that despite sincere efforts no one had contacted him on behalf of the appellants, who are apparently no longer interested in pursuing the appeal; failing which, disposal for non-prosecution.

Court's answer

Since the appellants were apparently no longer interested in pursuing the appeal, there was no option except to dispose of the appeal for non-prosecution; accordingly, it is 'Disposed off for want of prosecution'.

Key takeaways

It is made clear that in case any cause survives in the present appeal, the appellants would be at liberty to seek its revival by instituting an appropriate application.obiter¶20
Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall stand disposed off.obiter¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

RFA No. 693 of 1998 (O&M), High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, decided 14.11.2025 (oral) — Harkesh Manuja, J.: Lekh Raj and others (appellants-landowners) v State of Haryana and others. Regular First Appeal preferred under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ('1894 Act'), seeking modification of the award dated 22.01.1998 of the Additional District Judge, Kurukshetra ('Reference Court') for enhancement of compensation. Counsel for the appellants submitted that despite sincere efforts no one had contacted him on behalf of the appellants, who were apparently no longer interested in pursuing the appeal; the Court found no option except to dispose of the appeal for non-prosecution — 'Disposed off for want of prosecution'. It was clarified that should any cause survive, the appellants may seek revival by instituting an appropriate application, and pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, stand disposed off. Merits of the enhancement claim not adjudicated; no compensation figure mentioned.

114

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

RFA No. 693 of 1998 (O&M) Date of Decision: 14.11.2025

Lekh Raj a nd others

...Appellants

Versus

State of Haryana and others

...Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARKESH MANUJA

Present: Mr. Deepak Singh Saini, Ad v ocate for the appellants-landowner s .

Mr. Abhinash Jain, DAG, Ha r yana for respondent Nos. 1 & 2.

HARKESH MANUJA, J. (ORAL)

The appellants-landowners, by instituting the present appeal pr e ferred under Section 54 of th e Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short “1894 Act”) , are seeking mo d ification of the award dated 22.01.1998 passed by learned Additional District Judge, Kurukshetra (hereinafter to be referred as “Reference Court”) for enhancement of compe n sation amount.

[2] Learned counsel for the ap p ellants submits that despite having m a de all sincere efforts, no one h as chosen to contact him on behalf of the appellants and thus s u bmits that apparently, the appellant s are no more interested in pursuing the present appeal. [3] In view of the above, there i s no option except to dispose off the ap p eal for non-prosecution.

[4] Disposed off for want of prosecution .

DINESH KUMAR 2025.11.17 19:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

��

-2-

[5] It is made clear that in case any cause survives in the present appeal, the appellants would be at liberty to seek its revival by instituting an appropriate application.

[6] Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall stand(s) disposed off.

November 14, 2025 ( HARKESH MANUJA ) ‘dk kamra’ JUDGE

��	��	��
��	��	��

DINESH KUMAR 2025.11.17 19:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document