Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 7500c3a3-058c-43e1-8581-5af3b292c90e
Body View case body.
Case Number W.P. No. 736 of 2011
Decision Date Apr 09, 2019
Hearing Date Apr 09, 2019
Decision The Lahore High Court dismissed the constitutional petition seeking the return of acquired land that had not been utilized for its intended public purpose. The court ruled that once the land was acquired, it vested in the Government and could not be returned to the original owners, even if the purpose was abandoned. The court directed the relevant department to make a decision regarding the future use of the acquired land within one year. If no public purpose was determined, the land should be disposed of in accordance with Rule 14 of the Punjab Land Acquisition Rules, 1983.
Summary This case revolves around the interpretation and application of the Punjab Land Acquisition Rules, 1983, specifically Rule 14 concerning the disposal of acquired land. The petitioners sought the return of land acquired by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) for a public purpose that was subsequently abandoned. The court highlighted that the land, once acquired, cannot be returned even if its original purpose is no longer applicable. This decision emphasizes the government's authority over acquired land and the procedures that must be followed for its disposal. The ruling also stresses the importance of adhering to legal protocols in land acquisition cases, reinforcing the principles of public purpose and proper governance. Keywords include land acquisition, public purpose, Punjab Land Acquisition Rules, and legal governance.
Court Lahore High Court
Entities Involved Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)
Judges SHAHID KARIM
Lawyers Syed Muhammad Ali Gillani, Malik Muhammad Tariq Rajwana, Aadil Shabbir
Petitioners Legal Heirs and Others
Respondents Federation of Pakistan and Others
Citations 2019 SLD 2941 = 2019 CLC 1920
Other Citations Not available
Laws Involved Punjab Land Acquisition Rules, 1983
Sections R.14