IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. LAKSHMAN AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL SUIT No.638 of 2007 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10.03.2026 Between:

The Special Deputy Collector, L.A.-cum-Loc Unit, SRSP Pochampad.

Appellant.

AND Doodekula Baji and 199 others.

Respondents.

This Court made the following:

JUDGMENT

(Per Hon’ble Sri Justice K.Lakshman)

Heard Mr.M.Anand Reddy, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Appeals and Mr.Salar Aatif, learned counsel representing Mr.S.Niranjan Reddy, learned counsel for the respondents/claimants.

2. This is an appeal preferred under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, challenging the Order and Decree, dated 22.08.2006 in O.P.No.367 of 2002 passed by the learned District Judge, Nizamabad.

3. Facts in the present appeal, including acquisition, purpose, extent, etc., are not in dispute. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Appeals and Mr.Salar Aatif, learned counsel representing Mr.S.Niranjan Reddy, learned counsel for the respondents/claimants, fairly submit that the dispute is only with regard to the award of interest at the rate of 12% per annum on the accumulated interest in order to offset the loss of interest by way of equitable interest from 17.03.1999 till the payment, as awarded by learned trial Court.

4. Both the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Appeals and learned counsel appearing for the respondents fairly submit that that the said issue is no more res integra and it was settled by this Court vide Judgment, dated 25.04.2025 in L.A.A.S No.637 of 2007. They have filed a copy of the said Judgment.

5. In the said Judgment, the Division Bench of this Court placing reliance on the principle laid down by the Apex Court in Sunder v. Union of India, 2001 (2) LACC 341, held that the order of the reference Court to the extent of granting interest at rate of 12% per annum on the accumulated interest from 17.03.1999 till the date of payment, is liable to be set aside.

6. In the light of the same, the present appeal is allowed in part, setting aside the impugned order and decree dated 22.08.2006 passed in O.P.No.367 of 2002 passed by the learned District Judge, Nizamabad, to the extent of granting interest at the rate of 12% per annum on the accumulated interest from 17.03.1999 till the date of payment and the remaining part of the award is confirmed.

Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

_________________ K. LAKSHMAN, J ___________________________ B.R.MADHUSUDHAN RAO, J

10^th March, 2026.

YNK