D.A. Somawathi vs T. Nihal – CA NO. 1272/98 F -2013

In the case between D.A. Somawathi (Plaintiff-Appellant) and T. Nihal (Defendant-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of ownership and title to a specific parcel of land, as well as the defendant’s asserted prescriptive rights. It was held that the appeal had become moot following acquisition of the land by the State, and thus the relief sought could no longer be granted. It was further reaffirmed that where land is subject to acquisition proceedings, competing claims to title must be evaluated in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act. This determination was emphasized through procedural direction to the acquiring officer, ensuring consideration of all claims during the statutory inquiry.

K.T. Chitrasiri J. — The findings established that repeated notices to the defendant-respon