In 1991, an acquisition order was published, for two properties in the Municipality of Aradippou that belonged to different owners, to build the Municipality Office of Aradippou.
Yet, 16 years after the acquisition, the above properties were not used for the purpose they were acquisitioned (for the construction of the Municipality Office). On the contrary, in 1998, the Municipality of Aradippou did build a new Municipality Office elsewhere.
The owners of the properties sought legal assistance from Dilinos & Associates LLC. We prepared a letter addressed to the Municipality of Aradippou and demanded them to return the acquisitioned properties to their former owners, as the purpose of the acquisition was not met within the three years period that is required by art. 23.5 of the Constitution.
The Municipality of Aradippou never responded to our letters, and as such, we took the matter to the Supreme Court in 2007.
Judging by the facts and accepting the legal argument put forward and developed by Mr. Dilinos during the trial, the Supreme Court cancelled the decision of the Municipality of Aradippou and ordered the return of the properties to their former owners.
It should be noted that the value of the properties was significantly increased since 1991 since the area was now largely developed.
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