The judicial principle of finality favors established land valuations when prior decisions are unchallenged.

Headnote:
Land Acquisition - Compulsory Acquisition - Land Acquisition Act Section 4(1) - The court upheld the fixed land value based on comparable judgments despite the state's failure to appeal previous decisions, emphasizing the principle of finality in judicial decisions.
Fact of the Case:

The state acquired 0.28 Ares of land for road development, with the initial land value set at Rs.9606/- per Are. Following a claimant's reference, the court enhanced the value to Rs.28,010/- per Are based on prior judgments of similar land acquisitions.
Finding of the Court:

The court found that the state's failure to appeal previous enhancement judgments indicated acceptance of those values, resulting in the fixed valuation being final. Thus, admitting the appeal would serve no purpose.
Issues: Whether the enhancement of land value by the lower court was justified given the absence of state appeals against previous comparable judgments.
Ratio Decidendi: The principle that once a judicial determination concerning land value becomes final due to the lack of appeal, it should not be revisited unnecessarily.
Final Decision: The appeal is dismissed.

JUDGMENT

An extent of 0.28 Ares of dry land comprised in Survey No. 147/20 of Haripad village along with other parcels of land was compulsorily acquired by the State for the purpose of widening and strengthening the Haripad – Veeyapuram road. The notification under Section 4 (1) of the Land Acquisition was published on 07.02.1991. The land was taken possession of on 26.09.1992. The award was passed on 01.01.1993. The Land Acquisition Officer fixed the land value at the rate of Rs.9606/- per Are. On a reference at the instance of the claimant, the court below in L.A.R. No. 491 of 1994 fixed the land value at Rs.28,010/- per Are by relying on Ext.A1 judgment dated 04.12.1999 in L.A.R. No. 353 of 1993 of that court whereunder other parcels of comparable lands were acquired for the same purpose. Apart from the fact that there has been no appeal by the State against Ext.A1 judgment in L.A.R. No. 353 of 1993 , in L.A.A. No. 698 of 2007 filed by the State against L.A.R. No. 446 of 1994 which was disposed of by the court below along with the present L.A.R under appeal, this Court as per judgment dated 23.11.2007 dismissed the said appeal confirming the enhancement granted in L.A.R. No. 446 of 1994 . There is also an added fact that State has not preferred any appeal against L.A.R. No. 448 of 1994 which was also disposed of along with the present case. Such being the position, the basis relied on by the court below in fixing the enhanced value having become final, no useful purpose will be served by admitting this appeal and keeping the same pending. This appeal is accordingly dismissed.