Govindan Nair, CJ.-This appeal is against the order in W.P. No. 3281 of 1977 dismissing the writ petition in limine. The prayer in the writ petition is “to call for the records of the respondents in their proceedings in Roc. in G.O. Ms. No. 989 (P.W.) General” dated 28th June, 1977 of the 2nd respondent and quash the same as illegal and direct the respondents to conduct proceedings under section 5-A of the Land Acquisition Act (I of 1894) by issue a writ of certiorari filed mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or order as this Honourable Court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice“. 2. The notification referred to is seen at page 7 of the typed set of papers. In the third paragraph it states: ”Whereas it has become necessary to acquire the immediate possession of the land specified in the schedule below, the Government of Tamil Nadu hereby directs that the land be acquired under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 17 of the said Act.“ 3. The notification under section 4 (1) is dated 22nd March, 1977. The declaration which also contains the dispensation of the enquiry which we have just now road, is dated 28th June, 1977. The notification under section 4 (1) and the declaration under section 6 were published in the Gazette on 20th July, 1977. 4. Counsel on behelf of the appellant contended before us that the facts as indicated by the dates of the notification and the declaration and the publication thereof clearly belies any urgency or emergency which would justify the application of section 17 (2) of the Act. Section 17 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, (I of 1894) has been amended by the State Legislature by Madras Act (XXI of 1948). The following sub section (2). has been substituted in the first paragraph of subsection (2). Section 17 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, (I of 1894) has been amended by the State Legislature by Madras Act (XXI of 1948). The following sub section (2). has been substituted in the first paragraph of subsection (2). The amended section reads as follows: ”(2) In the following cases, that is to say......(a) whenever, owing to any sudden change in the channel of any navigable river or other unforeseen emergency, it becomes necessary for any Railway Administration to acquire the immediate possession of any land for the maintenance of their traffic or for the purpose of making thereon a riverside or ghat station, or of providving a convenient connection with or access to any such station, (b) Whenever in the opinion of the Collector it becomes necessary to acquire the immediate possession of any land...... (i) for the purpose of any library or educational institution, or (ii) for the construction, extension or improvement of...... (A) any building or other structure in any village for the common use of the inhabitants of such village, or (B) any godown for any society registered or deemed to be registered under the Madras Co-operative Societies Act, 1932, or (C) any dwelling house for the poor, or (D) any irrigation tank, irrigation or drainage channel or any well, or (E) any road the Collector, may, immediately after the publication of the notice mentioned in sub-section (1) and with the previoussanction of the appropriate Government, enter upon and take possession of such land, which shall thereupon vest absolutely in the Government free from all encumbrances." 5. The question that had often arisen in what circumstances the power under section 17 (4) can be applied legitimately had come up for consideration in a number of decisions. Sub-section (4) states that "in the case of any land to which, in the opinion of the appropriate Government, the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) are applicable, the appropriate Government may direct that the provisions of section 5-A shall not apply, and, if it does so direct, a declaration may be made under section 6 in respect of the land at any time after the publication of the notification under section 4, sub-section (1)." 6. Though the wording of the section gives a power to the appropriate Government to direct that the provisions of section 5-A shall not apply in cases where sub-section (1) of section 17 is attracted it has to be borne in mind that the power can be exercised "only in cases of urgency". The words in quotation are the words with which sub-section (1) of section 17 commences. The power under subsection (4) of section 17 cannot, therefore, be applied when there is no urgency. Secondly, it is necessary to apply the mind to the question whether in a given case the power under section 17 (4) can appropriately be applied and reasonably be applied, for, whenever the power under sub-section (4) of section 17 is applied, the right given under section 5-A of Act 1 of 1894 to the owner of the land to make representation against the proposed acquisition, is taken away. That such a right is a very valuable right has also been laid down in a number of judicial decisions. It is unnecessary to refer to them, for the principle is very well established. The application of the mind, therefore, must be to the various aspects as to whether it is just and proper that such a right should be taken away and further whether it is necessary to take away that right in order that the urgency may be satisfied. It is reasonably possible to give a right to the owner of the land to state his case and to consider, the same and then to decide whether the land should be acquired and thereafter the declaration under section 6 made, then in such circumstances there will be no justification whatever in pressing into service the extraordinary powers under sub-section (4) of section .17. As we understand the provisions of section 17 the power is given for rare use in circumstances where, without the use of that power, the purpose of public need cannot be met. The procedure adopted would indicate whether there was any such extreme or dire need for dispensing with the right of the owner of the land and in proceeding with the declaration containing dispensation of the enquiry under section 5-A. 7. The matter has been dealt with elaborately in a judgment of the Kerala High Court in the decision reported in Damodara Menon v. P.A. (L.A.) to Dist. Collector1. The matter has been dealt with elaborately in a judgment of the Kerala High Court in the decision reported in Damodara Menon v. P.A. (L.A.) to Dist. Collector1. After a review of the relevant authorities the principle has been laid down that if the procedure adopted belies the story of an extreme urgency as the foundation for the action for dispensing with the enquiry, then the procedure would not be justified under the statute and the Court sitting under Article 226 of the Constitution can set aside the proceedings by appropriate directions or orders. 8. We have already adverted to the date of the notification under section 4 (1) and the date of publication of that notification. We shall repeat that the notification is dated 22nd March, 1977, whereas it was published only on 20th July, 1977, Sub-section (4) of section 17, which we have referred to in detail, clearly states that the appropriate Government may direct that the provisions of section 5-A shall not apply, and, if it does so direct, a declaration may be made under section 6 in respect of the land at any time after the publication of the notification under section 4, sub-section (1). In this case, the notification under section 4 (1), the direction and the declaration have all been simultaneously published on 20th July, 1977. This is scant respect to the statutory provisions and the rule of law as embodied therein. Apart from this consideration there is another fundamental aspect, section 17 (2) does not contemplate the application of section 17 (4) for purposes of the acquisition as stated in the notification under section 4 (1) in this case. This merely indicates that there has been no application of the mind to section 17, at all, before wielding the heavy weapon given to the authority under section 17 (4). Such an action borders on arbitrariness if not on perversity. In such circumstances, we are constrained to interfere by issue of necessary directions. We consider that interests of justice demand that the notification dated 28th June, 1977, which is at page 7 of the typed set of papers, must be quashed in toto, that is, as far as the declaration portion is concerned and so also the dispensing with the enquiry under section 5-A is concerned. We do so. 9. We consider that interests of justice demand that the notification dated 28th June, 1977, which is at page 7 of the typed set of papers, must be quashed in toto, that is, as far as the declaration portion is concerned and so also the dispensing with the enquiry under section 5-A is concerned. We do so. 9. We are informed by the Counsel on behalf of the State that possession had already been taken pursuant to these proceedings, on 31st August, 1977. In view of the quashing of the declaration, it is necessary that possession must be handed over to the appellant; we direct that this should be done immediately. 10. Before parting with this case, we would like to record that counsel for the appellant stated that he has no objection to 75 cents of land being taken from the portion of the land lying away from the road and that he has no objection to the whole of that 75 cents being taken and he only wants his interest being safeguarded. The portion lying adjacent to the road it is said is necessary for the purpose of opening a Cinema Theatre which he proposes to do. It is not disputed that only 75 cents is required for the purpose for which public acquisition was resorted to. In the light of these statements made by counsel on behalf of the appellant, it seems to us to be possible to have the enquiry concluded without any delay,because the land is available to the Government and only its location need be determined. 11. We direct that notice be given of the enquiry and the appellant given an opportunity to state his case and his claim that the acquisition be confined o the back portion, that is, the portion lying away from the road be considered. The authority conducting the enquiry should apply his mind to this question and pass proper orders before proceeding further with the acquisition proposed. 12. The writ appeal is disposed of on the above terms. We direct the parties to bear their respective costs.