The reprimand came in a case where a East Delhi farmer Om Singh, deprived of his land for the larger good of the capital in 1970, was made to run from pillar to post for over eight years for the al lotment of an alternative plot. Singh approached the court.

LONG FIGHT

• An East Delhi farmer, whose land was acquired in 1970, was made to run pillar to post for 8 years for an alternative plot.
  
• Singh approached the court in sheer desperation.
  
• Before he got relief, he died and his son pursued the case.
  
• On Tuesday, the court imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on the Centre.

"The anguish of Om Singh can well be imagined. In any event it is writ large in the numerous letters written by him to the government. In it he explains the ap plicant has three married sons and there is no sufficient accommodation for the expanded family The entire family is living in old small house . of village Babarpur", the judges noted.

The judge reminded the Centre of the High Court's observation in 1987 Shiv Devi Virlley case that "if a person has brought a residential plot and the state chooses to acquire that land at a very meagre price, then surely it is the duty of the state to give an alternative plot at a moderate price to those persons who have been deprived of possible residential houses, which they could have constructed on the land they have acquired".