The Supreme Court of India on March 9, 2026 issued a series of procedural directions in a batch of civil appeals relating to land acquisition disputes. The matters were placed before the Registrar Court, where the court reviewed the status of notices, representation of parties, and procedural compliance in several connected appeals.
Registrar Mashroor Alam Khan passed directions after hearing the counsel and examining the office reports regarding service of notices and appearance of parties.
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Background of the Case
The appeals arise from disputes involving land acquisition proceedings where several landowners have challenged orders involving the District Collector acting as arbitrator. The principal matter in the batch is K. Leela vs. The District Collector and Arbitrator & Another, along with numerous connected civil appeals filed in 2024.
During the hearing before the Registrar Court, the bench primarily reviewed whether notices had been served on respondents and whether the parties had entered appearance. The court also examined procedural applications, including requests to place additional facts and grounds on record and applications seeking exemption from filing certified copies of the impugned judgment.
Court Observations
The Registrar noted that in several appeals, although service of notice had been completed, the respondents had not entered appearance before the court.
In Civil Appeal No. 10354 of 2024, the court observed that the appellant’s counsel had passed away and attempts to notify the appellant for making alternate arrangements had failed because the notice returned with the remark that the “addressee cannot be located.”
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Because of this situation, the court directed that the matter be placed before the Judge-in-Chambers for further directions.
The court also recorded that in multiple connected appeals, despite proper service of notice, respondents had not appeared before the court. In such cases, the matters were directed to be processed for listing before the appropriate bench under the Supreme Court Rules.
Directions on Filing Documents
In some appeals, the court directed the appellants to complete procedural requirements before the next hearing.
For instance, in certain matters the counsel for the appellants was instructed to file requisite spare copies of appeal papers for specific respondents. This step is necessary to issue further notices through the court registry.
The court ordered that these documents must be filed by March 16, 2026. If the documents are submitted in time, fresh notices will be issued and the cases will be listed again before the Registrar Court on April 7, 2026.
The court clarified that if the appellants fail to comply with the direction within the stipulated time, the matters will be placed before the Judge-in-Chambers for further instructions.
Additional Procedural Issues
The court also dealt with special procedural circumstances in certain appeals.
In one of the connected cases, the registry reported that a notice sent to a respondent had returned with the remark that the individual had been “absconding since 2016.” The court directed the appellant’s counsel to take appropriate steps to serve that respondent.
Further, the counsel was asked to take steps regarding respondents who had passed away, so that their legal representatives could be brought on record. The court directed that these procedural steps must be completed by March 23, 2026, after which the matter will be listed again.
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Decision
After reviewing the status of all the connected appeals, the Registrar Court issued procedural directions for compliance. Several matters were ordered to be processed for listing before the appropriate bench of the Supreme Court, while others were adjourned for completion of procedural requirements.
The court directed the parties to file the required documents and take necessary steps regarding service of notices and representation of respondents. The matters have been scheduled to be listed again on April 7, 2026, subject to compliance with the directions issued by the court.
Case Title: K. Leela vs. The District Collector and Arbitrator & Another
Case No.: Civil Appeal No. 10354/2024 with connected appeals
Decision Date: 09 March 2026
