SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1995 Supreme(Kar) 162

Karnataka High Court
JADE BASAPPA - Appellant
Versus
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AND LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER, SEDAM, GULBARGA DISTRICT - Respondent
Decided On : 03-20-95
M.F.A. : 82 of 1995

Advocates:
A.S.MAHESH, F.V.PATIL

The need for a generous compensation for the landowner and the potential financial yield and capital appreciation of the land influenced the court's decision to vary the compensation amount.

Headnote:

Compensation - Land Acquisition - The court varied the compensation payable for dry land to Rs. 7,500/- per acre instead of Rs. 6,500/- as awarded by the trial judge, emphasizing the need for a generous compensation for the landowner and the potential financial yield and capital appreciation of the land.

Fact of the Case:

The appellants sought an enhancement in the compensation for dry land acquired by the government.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the compensation payable for the dry land should be increased to Rs. 7,500/- per acre instead of Rs. 6,500/- as awarded by the trial judge.

Issues: Dispute over the compensation amount for the acquired dry land.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for a generous compensation for the landowner and the potential financial yield and capital appreciation of the land, leading to the variation of the compensation amount.

Final Decision: The appellants were entitled to a higher compensation of Rs. 7,500/- per acre, to be deposited by the land acquisition officer within eight weeks.

M. F. SALDANHA, J.

( 1 ) HEARD the learned Advocate on both sides. This being an old case where in the appellants are only asking for an enhancement in the compensation. I had directed notice to the learned government advocate. The learned government Advocate points out that the lower court records are not yet received and that there are certain records on which he desires to rely on. For instance, he points out that the copies which have been furnished to him and which have been scrutinized pertain to the previous years and not to the year during which the acquisition took place. He further submits that for purposes of following the capitalization method it will be very necessary that the court scrutinizes, on the basis of the figures in the impugned Order, as to whether any interference is called for. It is his submission that the court is required to average the yield and thereafter multiply the same and that the learned trial judge has been not only cautious but absolutely correct while following this procedure.

( 2 ) LEARNED Advocate for appellants submits that there is nodispute with regard to the lower court records and that there is no need to defer the disposal of the appeal on this ground. He points out that the documents produced before the court as far as the dry land is concerned indicate that on an average 3. 5 quintals of cotton was yielded. The learned trial judge after averaging the price of cotton at Rs. 350/- per quintal has multiplied it by 2. 5 and it is precisely this error that the appellants' learned Advocate points out. He demonstrates to the court that if the figure of 3,5' were to be used, that the ultimate working would indicate that the compensation payable would come to Rs. 7,600/- per acre instead of Rs. 6,500/- as awarded by the learned trial judge. He also submits that even if the averaging method were to be used, this is the barest minimum that should be awarded.

( 3 ) THIS formula is opposed by the learned government Advocate who submits that there is no justification to vary the figures. Apart from the actuals not being demonstrated for that year, it is his contention that the figure of 2. 5' which is the least average has been correctly computed and that merely because on some occasions the record indicated-the yield as being a little more that it would not be permissible to apply the figure of 3. 5'. I am not in agreement with this argument for the simple reason that the approach of the courts while dealing with the case of an agriculturist, who has harvested his crop, is to average and round off the figure, the acceptance always being on a little higher side rather than on the lower side. The object has not been to end up with the state paying more money, but to take note of the fact that whatever amount that the land owner seeks is a one time compensation, the computation of which must never be grudgingly done because even a generous compensation is more than offset by the real land value in the hands of the acquirer, and that consequently the lands have always a tremendous potential both for actual financial yield and capital appreciation.

( 4 ) UNDER these circumstances, to my mind the order passed bythe learned trial judge is liable to be varied to the extent that the compensation payable in respect of the dry land shall be computed at Rs. 7,500/- per acre instead of rs, 6,500/- as has been done in the impugned order. As a result of this the appellants shall be entitled to a higher compensation which shall be computed by the land acquisition officer and the amount in question shall be deposited in the trial court within eight weeks from today.

( 5 ) THE office of this court shall forthwith draw up a decree inkeeping with the modification indicated in this order. The appeal succeeds accordingly. No costs.

--- *** ---

.

Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top