In Brief
In this civil appeal, the Supreme Court considered whether the Belagavi Urban Development Authority (BUDA) should have been impleaded as a respondent in writ petitions challenging urban land ceiling proceedings and land acquisition. The land in dispute was being acquired for BUDA's benefit, yet it was not made a party. The Court held that BUDA was a necessary party whose impleadment was essential for it to present its defence. Absent this necessary party, the writ petition itself was unmaintainable. The appeal was allowed, prior orders were set aside, and the case was remitted for fresh disposal with BUDA properly impleaded and given eight weeks to file its reply.
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