Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : K.MADHAVA REDDY, P.RAMACHANDRA RAJU
Jawajee Naganatham - Appellant
Versus
Revenue Divisional Officer, Abilabad - Respondent
Decided On : 10-29-82
LAND ACQUISITION - COMPENSATION - MARKET VALUE - DEDUCTION FOR AMENITIES - INTEREST - RATE OF INTEREST - SOLATIUM - WRIT PETITION - VESTING OF PROPERTY - EVICTION OF ENCROACHER.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant claimed compensation for the acquired land, building, compound wall, and well. The Land Acquisition Officer awarded compensation for the land but rejected the claim for the structures, holding that they were constructed after the publication of the draft notification. The appellant filed a reference under section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, and the Additional District Judge enhanced the compensation for the land and rejected the claim for the structures. The appellant filed an appeal, and the High Court called for a finding on the value of the structures.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court found that the structures were constructed before the publication of the draft notification and awarded compensation for them. The Court also held that no deduction should be made from the market value of the land for amenities, as the land was situated in a developed area with municipal roads on all four sides. The Court further held that interest should be awarded at 4% per annum, as provided in the Land Acquisition Act as amended by the Andhra Pradesh Amendment Act, 12 of 1953. The Court also dismissed the appellant's writ petition, which sought to set aside the proceedings of the Municipal Council for taking possession of the structures.
Issues: 1. Whether the appellant is entitled to compensation for the structures constructed on the acquired land? 2. Whether any deduction should be made from the market value of the land for amenities? 3. What is the rate of interest payable on the compensation? 4. Whether the appellant is entitled to a writ of mandamus directing the Municipal Council to set aside its proceedings for taking possession of the structures?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The appellant is entitled to compensation for the structures constructed on the acquired land, as they were constructed before the publication of the draft notification. 2. No deduction should be made from the market value of the land for amenities, as the land is situated in a developed area with municipal roads on all four sides. 3. The rate of interest payable on the compensation is 4% per annum, as provided in the Land Acquisition Act as amended by the Andhra Pradesh Amendment Act, 12 of 1953. 4. The appellant is not entitled to a writ of mandamus directing the Municipal Council to set aside its proceedings for taking possession of the structures, as he has no title to continue in possession of the structures after the award is passed and possession of the land has been taken.
Final Decision: The appeal is allowed in part, directing the Land Acquisition Officer to pay to the appellant the additional compensation of Rs. 1,21,713-10 ps. With subsequent interest on Rs. 46,963-10 ps. At 4% per annum from 21-2-1976 and interest at 4% per annum on rupees 74,750/- from the date of taking possession of the building compound wall and well till date of payment. Three months time from this day is granted to the Land Acquisition Officer for making such payment. The appeal as regards the rest is dismissed. The writ petition is dismissed.
( 1 ) AN extent of Ac. O. 18 guntas of land in S. NO. 155/2 of Bhuktapur village, part of abilabad town was acquired by the Government for the construction of a vegetable market by the adilabad Municipality. A draft notification dated 21-3-1975 was published in the gazette dated 17-4-1975. The declaration under section 6 was published in the gazette on 8-5-1975. Possession of the land was taken on 21-2-1976. Before the land acquisition officer the appellant claimed compensation at the rate of Rs. 300. 00 per square yard. He further claimed Rs. 70,000. 00 towards the cost of the building Rs. 9,000. 00 towards the cost of the compound wall and Rs. 3,000. 00 for a well. According to the appellant, the building, compound wall and well are existing by the date of the draft notification and he should be compensated for such building compound wall and well at the rates claimed by him. The land Acquisition officer held that the appellant constructed the building well and compound wall after the publication of the draft notification and the appellant was, therefore not entitled to be compensated for those structures. The land acquisition officer felt that the values reflected by certain sales cannot be considered for the various reasons given by him in his award. He collected some particulars regarding the annual rental values of sites in that locality and adopted the capitalisation method and fixed the market value of the land at Rs. 70,691-33 ps after making various deductions on different accounts he provided interest at 4% from the date of taking possession and ultimately awarded a sum of Rs. 90. 689-03 which besides solatium also included the interest calculated till 12-1-1979. On an application by the appellant, the necessary reference under section 18 was made to the civil Court. The said reference was numbered as O. P. No. 108/79 and was disposed of by the additional district Judge, Adilabad, by his order dated 31-12-1980. The Additional district judge did not approve of the capitalisation method adopted by the land acquisition officer. He evaluated the evidence and held that the market value should be fixed at Rs. 75. 00 per sq. Yard He deducted 25% towards the costs of amenities and enhanced the total additional compensation payable to the appellant by Rs. 60,810-69 p. He held that the house compound wall and well were constructed after the date of publication of the draft notification and he rejected the claim made by the appellant for compensation in that behalf he did not however indicate in that judgment as to the amounts if any awardable to the appellant in case compensation became payable to the appellant on account of the cost of such building compound wall and well. The appeal was argued once before us. By order dated 4-3-1982 we called for a finding regarding the amount of compensation that may be payable to the appellant for the building, compound wall and well. As certain documents which were filed in the appeal were not filed earlier before the Additional district Judge we also directed the Additional District judge to consider the claim of the appellant afresh in the light of those documents and in the light of any further evidence which the parties may adduce and determine afresh the point of time at which the building compound wall and the well have been erected or dug by the appellant. The learned Additional district Judge has recorded the following findings:"there were no constructions on the acquired site except foundations of 50 x 60 by the date of notification under section 4 (1 ). The claimant failed to adduce any positive evidence as regards the actual expenses incurred for the construction of the building compound wall and the well. However, since the revenue divisional officer has estimated the value of the building and the well in the P. V. statement the same can be adopted as the value for the well and the building inclusive of the compound wall". It may be noted that the valu
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