DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORG. Vs ANJANAPPA
Bench: B.S. CHAUHAN,J. CHELAMESWAR
Case number: C.A. No.-007269-007269 / 2013
Diary number: 21341 / 2010
Advocates: ANIL KATIYAR Vs
RAJESH MAHALE
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REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 7269 OF 2013
Defence Research & Development Organization ….Appellant
VERSUS Anjanappa & Anr. ….Respondents
WITH
SLP (C) NO (s). 1046-1059 of 2009 SLP(C) NO(s). 17875-17881 of 2009 SLP(C) NO(s). 29763-29765 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 31805-31806 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 35767-35778 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 14378-14379 of 2013
SLP(C) NO(s). 767-768 of 2011 SLP(C) NO(s). 23294-23337 of 2012
SLP (C) NO(s). 22532 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 22533-22534 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 22535-22536 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 22538-22539 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 25647-25648 of 2010 SLP(C) NO(s). 25649-25652 of 2010 CIVIL APPEAL NO. 1425 of 2013
O R D E R
1. All these appeals and Special Leave Petitions have been
preferred against various impugned judgments and orders passed by
the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in various appeals including
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M.A. No. 2588 of 2004 by which the High Court has enhanced the
amount of compensation.
2. The facts and circumstances giving rise to these appeals and
special leave petitions mostly disposed of by a common judgment
impugned before us had been that:
A. A huge chunk of land stood notified under Section 4 of the
Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) vide
Notifications dated 4.3.1993, 13.5.1993 and 2.6.1995 for the use of
Defence Research and Development Organisation and the possession
was taken after completing all the requirements under the Act. The
persons interested therein filed their claims under Section 5 of the Act
and led evidence, on the basis of which the Special Land Acquisition
Officer (hereinafter called as the `SLAO’) had assessed the market
value of the land as Rs. 60,000/- per acre.
B. Aggrieved, the respondents approached the Reference Court by
filing applications under Section 18 of the Act and the Reference
Court vide award dated 30.11.2002 assessed the market value at the
rate of Rs. 3,15,000/- per acre and Rs.3,45000/- per acre with respect
to Notifications dated 4.3.1993, 13.5.1993 and 2.6.1995 respectively.
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C. Aggrieved, the Union of India filed appeals under Section 54 of
the Act for reducing the amount of compensation before the High
Court. Respondents preferred cross-objections which have been
allowed and the appeals of the Union of India have been dismissed.
The High Court further enhanced the market value of land at the rate
of Rs. 7,70,000/- in respect of land acquired under Notifications dated
4.3.1993 and 13.5.1993 and enhanced the market value of the land
covered under the Notification dated 2.6.1995 to Rs.8,40,000/-.
Hence, these appeals and special leave petitions.
3. The High Court had adopted the method of 10 per cent increase
every year in the market value of the land and used the exemplar to
conclude that the appellant cannot be permitted to acquire the land of
the respondents at the price lesser than the market value of their land.
The Court placed reliance on the earlier judgments of the Division
Bench of the High Court of Karnataka and held that the land was
comparable to the lands wherein the award dated 13.11.2002 had been
delivered in LAC No. 263 of 1996. The land in question had a
potential value on the date of preliminary Notification as was evident
from the oral evidence adduced before the Reference Court. There
was no dispute that the land which was subject matter of LAC 263 of
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1996 and the lands in question were in contiguous and same
geographical situation. After reaching the conclusion by the court, the
award was given as per the market value as referred to hereinabove.
4. The High Court relied upon the judgment in earlier case in LAC
No. 263 of 1996 and reached the aforesaid conclusion. Considering
the geographical situation of the land, it cannot be held that
compensation awarded is not justified.
We do not see any cogent reason to interfere with the impugned
judgment and order, the appeals and special leave petitions lack merit
and are accordingly dismissed.
….………………………..........J. (Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
……….......................................J. (J. CHELAMESWAR)
NEW DELHI; February 26, 2014.
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