Land acquisition notification in a deceased owner's name is a nullity, and proceedings founded on it cannot survive.

A land acquisition notification issued under Section 4(1) in the name of a deceased recorded owner was treated as invalid because the objection had already disclosed the owner's death and identified the legal heir, yet the defect was not corrected in the later declaration under Section 6. A notification against a dead person is a nullity, and acquisition proceedings founded on such a notification cannot be sustained. The Madras HC therefore quashed the Section 4(1) notification and upheld the challenge.

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Issues: Whether a land acquisition notification issued in the name of a deceased owner was valid and whether the acquisition proceedings could continue on that basis.

Analysis: The lands were notified under Section 4(1) and the declaration under Section 6 in the name of a person who had already died. The objection specifically disclosed the death of the recorded owner and the identity of the legal heir, yet the defect was not corrected in the subsequent proceedings. A notification issued in the name of a dead person is a nullity, and proceedings founded on such a notification cannot be sustained.

Conclusion: The notification under Section 4(1) was quashed and the challenge succeeded.

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