IMPORTANT POINT
Appellants are entitled to same compensation as given to similarly situated persons.

JUDGMENT :

Kurian, J.

C.A. @ SLP(C) Nos.28137/2017

1. Application for substitution is allowed subject to all just exceptions after condoning the delay and setting aside abatement in filing the substitution application.

2. Permission to special leave petition is granted.

3. Leave granted.

4. Learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants submits that for the trees covered by the very same Notification dated 27.09.1985 under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, the claimants/similarly situated persons have been awarded compensation @ Rs.4,000/- per lemon tree, as per the very same acquisition of 1985.

5. We permit the appellants to go back to the High Court and seek modification of the impugned judgment.

6. Needless to say that in case similarly situated persons covered by the very same notification have been granted compensation @ Rs.4,000/- per lemon tree, the petitioners herein may not be discriminated on the ground of delay. However, in the event of grant of enhancement, they shall not be entitled for interest for the period of delay.

7. The appeal is, accordingly, disposed of.

Civil Appeal(s) @ SLP(C) Nos. 28139-28144/2018, SLP (C) No. 28146/2018 and SLP© No.28148/2018

1. Leave granted.

2. The issue raised in these appeals pertains to the claim made by the appellants for enhancement of compensation for pomegranate trees, which stood in the land acquired for the purpose of Somashila/Telugu Ganga Project. The notifications in these cases have been issued on different dates between 1990 to 1994. The appellants have been granted compensation at the rate of Rs.2000/- per Pomegranate Tree. We find from Civil Appeal Nos.11404-11405 of 2016 that this Court has fixed compensation at the rate of Rs.3,000/- per pomegranate tree, as against Rs.2000/- fixed by the High Court, in respect of the acquisition for the same project, for which notification was issued in the year 1994. Having regard to the entire facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view that it would be just, reasonable and proper to fix the compensation at the rate of Rs.3000/- per Pomegranate Tree. Therefore, these appeals are disposed of with the following directions :-

(i) The appellants shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of Rs.3000/- (Rupees Three thousand) per Pomegranate Tree along with all statutory benefits.

(ii) However, they shall not be entitled to statutory interest for the period of delay in approaching this Court or the High Court.

(iii) The compensation to the claimants shall be made within three months from today.