MADHUKANTA M. CHINCHANI & ORS. Vs. SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER & ANR.
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Appeal (Civil), 3673 of 2007, Judgment Date: Jan 21, 2016
NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3673 OF 2007
MADHUKANTA M. CHINCHANI & ORS. Appellant(s)
VERSUS
SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER & ANR. Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.
1. The appellants are aggrieved since they are not granted just and fair
land value in respect of the land acquired from them. In the nature of the
order we propose to pass, we do not think it necessary to go in detail to
the factual matrix, which to the extent relevant, is available at paragraph
4 of the impugned Judgment, which reads as under :-
"In the present case the land under acquisition is from the same cluster of
lands which was the subject matter of the same award. The Land Acquisition
Officer in his award referred to the fact that the Appellants' land has
frontage on Mahatma Phule Road and, therefore, valued the land of the
appellants at the rate of Rs. 60 per sq. mt. as against Rs. 40 and Rs. 45
for the lands which are the subject matter of LAR Nos. 44 and 46 of 1978.
Ordinarily the appellants would be entitled to compensation at the same
rate which was awarded by the learned single Judge in LAR Nos. 44 and 46 of
1978. However, it is seen from the record that the land of the appellants
is much larger compared to the properties involved in the LAR Nos. 44 and
46 of 1978. The area of the Appellants' land is 16,631 sq. mts. as against
the area of 7598 sq. mts. in LAR No. 44 of 1978 and 5440 sq. meters in LAR
No. 46 of 1978. Having considered the submissions made by the learned
counsel for parties we feel that deduction of 15% would be appropriate and
the price of Rs. 110 per sq. meter can be safely estimated as market price
of the land under acquisition. The appellants thus would be entitled to
enhanced compensation of Rs. 50 over and above the compensation awarded by
the SLAO along with all the statutory benefits."
2. There is no dispute that the Land Acquisition Officer had fixed only
Rs. 40 and 45 for the lands covered by LAR Nos. 44 and 46 of 1978, for
which the High Court has granted Rs. 130 per sq. meter. There is also no
dispute that those are adjoining lands. It is also an admitted fact that
the land of the appellants has road frontage whereas that lands in LAR
Nos. 44 and 46 of 1978 does not have that advantage. The only reason
stated by the High Court in the impugned order for not granting Rs.130
sq.meters is that the land of the appellants is 16631.95 sq. meters, but it
has to be seen that the land covered by LAR Nos. 44 and 46 of 1978 which
are adjoining to that of the appellants are not very small in size. They
are having an area of 7598 sq. meters and 5440 sq. meters. The advantage
of road frontage has missed the notice of the court.
3. Hence, we are of the view that on the principle of parity, the High
Court should have granted at least Rs. 130/- per sq. meter, though the
appellants claimed Rs. 175/- per sq. meter before the Reference Court and
Rs. 300/- per sq. meter before the High Court based on the report of the
valuer of the appellants.
4. Therefore, this appeal is partly allowed. The appellants shall be
entitled to the land value at the rate of Rs. 130 per sq.meter with all
other statutory benefits. There shall be no order as to costs.
.......................J.
[ KURIAN JOSEPH ]
.......................J.
[ ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN ]
New Delhi;
January 21, 2016.