UNION OF INDIA vs GOPALDAS BHAGWAN DAS AND ORS

The Supreme Court held that the acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, were rendered null and void due to non-compliance with the mandatory requirements of Section 4(1), which necessitates both publication in the Official Gazette and public notices in the locality. The Court emphasized that all formalities stipulated under Section 4 must be adhered to, regardless of the knowledge of interested parties about the acquisition. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, affirming the earlier decision that declared the acquisition proceedings invalid.