Advocates:
['RAJALE GULAB B', 'G P', '', 'PATIL LAXMIKANT C']

FA 4484/2016 & ORS.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD

FIRST APPEAL NO.4484 OF 2016

  (L.A.R.No. 211/2001)

The Executive Engineer, 

Minor Irrigation Strengthening

Divn, Omerga, Dist. Osmanabad    =    Appellant

         (Orig.R.NO.2)

VERSUS

1) 

The State of Maharashtra

Through Collector Osmanabad 

2) 

Vishwanath S/o Dattu Hagare,

Age Major, Occu. Agri., 

R/o Kati, Tq. Tuljapur, 

Dist. Osmanabad 

     

     =   RESPONDENTS

  

                   (Orig. R. No. 1 & 

       Orig.Claimant.)

WITH

FIRST APPEAL NO.4485 OF 2016

(L.A.R. No.395/2000)

The Executive Engineer, 

Minor Irrigation Strengthening

Divn, Omerga, Dist. Osmanabad.

=  Appellant

         (Orig.R.NO.2)

Versus

1. 

The State of Maharashtra

Through Collector. Osmanabad.

2.

Vandan W/o Bapurao Bhojane,

Age Major, Occu. Agri., 

R/o Kati, Tq. Tuljapur, 

Dist. Osmanabad.

= RESPONDENTS

  

                   (Orig. R. No. 1 & 

       Orig.Claimant.)

WITH

FA 4484/2016 & ORS.

(2)

FIRST APPEAL NO 4486/2016

(L.A.R. NO. 957/2002)

The Executive Engineer, 

Minor Irrigation Strengthening

Divn, Omerga, Dist. Osmanabad. 

=  Appellant

         (Orig.R.NO.2)

Versus

1.

The State of Maharashtra

Through Collector.Osmanabad.

2.

Ushabai W/o Ambadas Gaikwad,

Age Major, Occu. Agri., 

R/o Kati, Tq. Tuljapur,

Dist. Osmanabad.

= RESPONDENTS

  

                   (Orig. R. No. 1 & 

       Orig.Claimant.)

         

­­­­­

Shri. Rajale Gulab B, Adv. for Appellant;

Shri AM Phule, AGP for Respondent No.1­State;

Shri. Patil Laxmikant C, Adv. for Resp no 2.

­­­­­

                 

CORAM :  P.R.BORA, J.

DATE  :  8^th January, 2019

                                 

ORAL JUDMENT

1.

Since the present appeals are arising out 

of common Judgment and Award  passed by the court 

of Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division Osmanabad in 

LAR Nos.395/2000 with LAR No.957/2002 and 211/2001 

decided on  27^th  February,  2013,  I have heard  the 

common   arguments   in   these   appeals   and   I   deem   it 

appropriate   to   decide   these   appeals   by   a   common 

reasoning.

FA 4484/2016 & ORS.

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2.

The  lands,   which   are   the   subject   matter 

of   the   present   appeals,   were   acquired   for   Kati 

Dahiwadi Minor Irrigation Project at village Kati. 

Notification   under   Section   4   of   the   Land 

Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as 

the   Act)   in   that   regard   was   published   in   the 

Official Gazette on 7.11.1996 whereas Award under 

section   11   of   the   Act   came   to   be   passed   on 

5.11.1999.

3.

The   Reference   Court   has   offered   the 

compensation   ranging   between   Rs.12,000/­   to   Rs. 

14,000/­ per Acre.  Dissatisfied with the amount of 

compensation   so   offered,   the   claimants   preferred 

applications   under   Section   18   of   the   Act,   which 

were   adjudicated   by   the   5^th  Joint   Civil   Judge, 

Senior   Division,   Osmanabad,   who   is   hereinafter 

referred   to   as   the   Reference   Court.   Before   the 

Reference   Court   the   claimants   had   claimed 

compensation   @     Rs.1,50,000/­   per   acre.     The 

learned Reference Court after having assessed the 

oral   and   documentary   evidence   brought   on   record 

before it, enhanced the amount of compensation @ 

Rs. 64,000/­ per acre and also held the claimants 

FA 4484/2016 & ORS.

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entitled for the statutory benefits and interest on 

the enhanced amount of compensation. Aggrieved by, 

the   acquiring   body   has   preferred   the   present 

appeals.

4.

Shri   Rajale,   learned   counsel   appearing 

for   the   acquiring   body   criticized   the   impugned 

Judgment   mainly   on   two   grounds,   I)   that   the 

Reference   Court   has   unreasonably   enhanced   the 

amount of compensation; and ii) that interest under 

Section 28 of the Act has been wrongly awarded by 

the Reference Court from the date of possession.

5.

Learned   AGP   Shri   Phule   has   adopted   the 

arguments advanced on behalf of the acquir