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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
K. RAMASWAMY &B.N. KIRPAL, JJ.
S. Prabh Singh Dhillon etc. etc.
Versus
Hoshiarpur Improvement Trust & Ors.
I.A. NOS.1-5 OF 1995
IN
Civil Appeal Nos.3405-07 Of 1995
Dt. 06-11-1995.
Land Acquisition - Statutory Benefits - Solatium and Interest - Interpretation of Sections 23[2], 28, 23[1-A], and 34 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners sought payment of solatium, interest, and additional amount under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Constitution Bench had concluded that claimants would be entitled to statutory benefits under Amendment Act 68 of 1984 if the proceedings were pending before the Land Acquisition Officer or Civil Court between April 30, 1984, and the date when the Act came into force in September 24, 1984.
Finding of the Court:
The petitioners were entitled to payment of solatium under Section 23[2] but not to payment of interest under Section 28 or additional amount under Section 23[1-A] as possession was with the petitioners, mitigating the hardship caused by deprivation of enjoyment of their property.
Issues: Entitlement to statutory benefits under Amendment Act 68 of 1984, specifically solatium, interest, and additional amount under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted the provisions of Sections 23[2], 28, 23[1-A], and 34 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and concluded that possession being with the petitioners precluded their entitlement to interest and additional amount, while affirming their entitlement to solatium.
Final Decision: The Land Acquisition Officer was directed to determine and pay the amount of solatium to the petitioners within a specified timeframe, with the condition that the petitioners must hand over possession before receiving the payment. The petitions were ordered accordingly with no costs.
ORDER
1. Substitution allowed.
2. This Court while disposing of the matter by order dated July 20, 1988 directed that depending upon the decision of the Constitution Bench in Union of India v. Raghubir Singh [(1989) 3 SCR 316], the payment of the interest and solatium would be determined. Since there the Constitution Bench had concluded that the claimants would be entitled to the statutory benefits under Amendment Act 68 of 1984 if the proceedings are pending before the Land Acquisition Officer or Civil Court between April 30, 1984, i.e., when the Amendment Act 68 of 1984 was introduced on the floor of the Parliament and the date when the Act came into force in September 24, 1984. Admittedly, the award came to be made on August 30, 1982 and the supplementary award with regard to the trees etc., came to be made on December 27, 1982.
3. Under these circumstances, the petitioners would be entitled to payment of solatium under Section 23 [2] @ 30% per annum on enhanced compensation. As regards the payment of interest under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition At, 1894 and the additional amount under Section 23 [1-A] of that Act, admittedly, the petitioners remained in possession of the acquired land. Under Sections 34,28 and 23 [1-A] payment of interest and additional amount was intended to mitigate the hardship caused to the owner by deprivation of enjoyment of their property, after possession was taken. Since the possession was admittedly with the petitioners, they are not entitled to payment of interest under Section 34, 28 or additional amount under Section 23 [1 -A] as amended by Act 68 of 1984.
4. The Land Acquisition Officer will determine the amount of solatium payable to the petitioners within a period of four weeks from the date of the receipt of this order and within six weeks thereafter the amount so determined would be paid to the petitioners. Before making the payment, the petitioners shall hand over the possession to the Land Acquisition Officer.
5. The petitions are ordered accordingly. No costs.
For Citation : 1995 (8) JT 499
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