CITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL vs STATE OF U.P. .

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which were quashed by the High Court due to lack of proper opportunity for affected parties to be heard. The Court reaffirmed that the Collector must provide a reasonable opportunity for hearing, as established in Farid Ahmed v. Ahmedabad Municipal Committee, AIR 1976 SC 2095. The Court upheld the High Court's decision, emphasizing that the lessee had the locus standi to challenge the acquisition despite the landowners' acquiescence, thus maintaining the principle of legality in land acquisition proceedings.