High Court Of Delhi
KANWAL SINGH - Appellant
Versus
UNION OF INDIA - Respondent
Civil Miscellaneous (Main) 413 of 1999
Decided On : 12/21/1999
LAND ACQUISITION ACT - SECTION 30 - TRANSITORY PROVISION - MODIFICATION OF AWARD - APPLICABILITY OF AMENDED PROVISIONS TO PENDING CASES - COURT'S JURISDICTION TO GRANT ENHANCED SOLATIUM AND INTEREST UNDER AMENDED ACT.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner's land was acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisition Act, and the Collector passed an award on 10.11.1981. The petitioner filed a reference petition under Section 18 of the Act, which was decided by the reference court on 31.3.1984, enhancing the market value of the land and awarding solatium and interest. The petitioner then filed an application under Section 30 of the amended Act, seeking modification of the judgment/decree to incorporate the benefits of the amended provisions, particularly Sections 23(1)(a), 23, and 28.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the trial court correctly dismissed the petitioner's application under Sections 151 and 152 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as the award and decree of the reference court had become final before the coming into force of the Amendment Act. The court relied on the settled legal position that once a decree is made under Section 26(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, the Civil court's jurisdiction is limited to correcting clerical or arithmetical mistakes or preventing abuse of process.
Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to modification of the judgment/decree to incorporate the benefits of the amended provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, particularly Sections 23(1)(a), 23, and 28.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petitioner's application under Sections 151 and 152 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as the award and decree of the reference court had become final before the coming into force of the Amendment Act. The court relied on the settled legal position that once a decree is made under Section 26(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, the Civil court's jurisdiction is limited to correcting clerical or arithmetical mistakes or preventing abuse of process.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petitioner's petitions, holding that the trial court correctly dismissed the petitioner's application under Sections 151 and 152 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
( 1 ) AS the issues raised in these two petitions are inter-connected, I propose todispose of both the petitions by this common order.
( 2 ) THE land of the petitioner was acquired by the Government under the Landacquisition Act and the award of the Collector was passed on 10. 11. 1981. Thepetitioner preferred a reference petition under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Acton the ground that the amount of compensation awarded to the petitioner was on thelower side. The said reference petition was registered as LAC No. 198/1980.
( 3 ) THE said reference petition was considered and decided by the reference courtnamely the Additional District Judge on 31. 3. 1984. A copy of the judgment of thereference Court is placed on record which would indicate that the reference Courtenhanced the market value of the land and fixed the same at Rs. 3,800. 00per bigha. The reference court held that the petitioner is entitled to enhancement @ Rs. 2,300. 00per bigha and further entitled to solatium for compulsory acquisition @ 15% andfurther entitled to interest under section 4 (3) of the Land Acquisition (A and V) Act onthe enhancement value. It was also held that they would further be entitled to interestunder Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act on the enhanced compensation fromthe date of taking possession till the date of compensation in the court.
( 4 ) THE Land Acquisition Act came to be amended in 1984. By way of the aforesaidamendment Section 30 titled as transitory provision was added in the amended Act. Basing claim on the amended provision of the Act the petitioner filed an applicationunder Section 30 of the amended Act read with Section 151,152 and 153 before theadditional District Judge on 8. 12. 1989 seeking modification in the judgment/decreedated 31. 1. 1984 claiming benefit of the amended Act particularly under the provisionsof Section 23 (1) (a), 23 and 28 of the amended Act. The aforesaid petition wasconsidered by the trial court and by the order dated 11. 9. 1998 the said applicationwas dismissed holding that the petitioner was not entitled to such modification in thelight of various decisions of the Supreme Court which are referred to in the saiddecision. Being aggrieved by the said order the present petition under Article 227 ofthe Constitution of India has been filed by the petitioner.
( 5 ) LEARNED counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted during the course ofarguments that in view of the settled position of law he is not pressing the appeal sofar benefit under Section 23 (1 ) (a) of the Act is concerned. He however, submittedthat he is pressing the appeal so as to receive the benefit as provided for under theamended Act namely Section 23 (2) and Section 28 of the Act. He submitted that thejudgment /decree dated 11. 11. 1983 passed by the reference court did not attainfinality till the benefits of the Amendment Act were incorporated therein. He alsosubmitted that the case of the petitioner was fully covered by the amended provisionof Section 30 (2) of the amanded Act and in support of his contention he relied uponthe decision in the case of K. S. Paripoornan Vs. State of Kerala; reported in JT1994 (6) SC 182.
( 6 ) LEARNED counsel appearing for the respondent however, submitted that the plearaised by the petitioner is no longer res Integra in view of several decisions of thesupreme Court. He relied upon the decisions in Union of India Vs. Rangila Ram; (1995) 5 SCC 585, Bai Shakriben Vs. Special Land Acquisition Officer; (1996)State of Maharashtra Vs. Maharau Srawan Hatkar, reported in (1995) 3 SCC316, Union of India Vs, Swaran Singh, (1996) 5 SCC 501 and State of Punjabvs. Babu Singh; 1995 Supp. (2) SCC 406.
( 7 ) IN Maharau Srawan Hatkar s case (supra) it was held by the Supreme Courtthat once a decree is made under Section 26 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, the Civilcourt is left to correct only either clerical or arithmetical mistakes as envisagedexpressly under Section 13-A of the Act or
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