SAIYED SAMSUDDIN GULAM MAYUDDINversusSPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER
- Disposal
- 46-ANY OTHER MODE @ FH
- Bench
- C DOSHI
Holding
The appeal and cross objection are dismissed as the prior affirmed judgment creates estoppel, leaving no ground to interfere with the additional compensation award.
Summary
The State appealed a common judgment and award dated 31 January 2009, which had granted the original claimants an additional compensation of Rs 100 per square metre over the amount awarded by the Special Land Acquisition Officer under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The claimants' lands in Osara village were acquired for the Narmada Project, and the Reference Court had relied on Land Acquisition Reference Case No. 561/1991 in granting the extra amount. The State argued that the award was excessive, but the High Court observed that the Division Bench in First Appeals Nos. 305‑320 of 2005 had affirmed the judgment in Case No. 561/1991, rendering it final and invoking the principle of estoppel. Consequently, the Court found no ground to interfere with the Reference Court’s award. Both the first appeal and the cross objection were dismissed, and the court directed the disbursement of the compensation to the claimants after verification and deduction of court fees.
Issues considered
- What is the effect of the prior judgment in Land Acquisition Reference Case No. 561/1991, as affirmed by the Division Bench, on the State's ability to challenge the additional compensation award?
- Whether the principle of estoppel bars the State from contesting the award granted by the Reference Court.
Legislation cited
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 96
- Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. 11, s. 18, s. 4, s. 54, s. 6
Subjects
Judgment
C/FA/4901/2010 ORDER DATED: 18/06/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 4901 of 2010
With
R/CROSS OBJECTION NO. 34 of 2011
In
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 4901 of 2010
With
R/CROSS OBJECTION NO. 39 of 2011
In
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 4907 of 2010
==========================================================
SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER & ORS.
Versus
BHIMSANGBHAI JIBHAI DHARMA & ORS.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MS DHARITRI PANCHOLI, AGP for the Appellants
MR NR DESAI, ADVOCATE for MR P P MAJMUDAR(5284) & MR SP
MAJMUDAR(3456) for the Respondent No. 1,2
RULE SERVED for the Respondent No. 3
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J. C. DOSHI
Date : 18/06/2026
ORDER IN FA 4901 OF 2010 & CROSS OBJECTION 34 OF 2011
1. Present appeal is preferred under section 54 of the Land
Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short “the Act”) read with section
96 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (for short “the Code”)
by the State against the common judgment and award dated
31.1.2009 passed by the learned Principal Senior Civil Judge,
Bharuch in Land Acquisition Reference Case No.670 of 1998,
whereby, additional amount of Rs.100/- per sq mtr for the
acquired lands has been awarded with other consequential
benefits to the original claimants.
Page 1 of 4
C/FA/4901/2010 ORDER DATED: 18/06/2026
2. The lands of the claimants situated at village Osara, Tal:
& Dist: Bharuch came to be acquired by the State for the
purpose of Narmada Project by issuing notifications under
sections 4 and 6 of the Act. The Special Land Acquisition
Officer vide his award u/s 11 of the Act, awarded Rs.2.60/- per
sq mtr for non-irrigated land and Rs.3.90/- per sq mtr as
compensation for the acquired lands. The claimants preferred
reference under section 18 of the Act before the Court of
learned Reference Court, Bharuch. Since, there are more
than one claimants, Land Reference Case Nos.667/1998 to
675/1998, 697/1998 and 812/1998 have been registered. The
learned Reference Court, by impugned common judgment and
award, partly allowed the reference of the original claimants
and granted additional amount of compensation of Rs. 100/-
per sq.mtr over and above the compensation awarded by the
Special Land Acquisition Officer. Feeling aggrieved by the
award, the State has preferred the present appeal.
2.1 The original claimants also filed cross objection for
enhancement of the compensation.
3. Heard learned advocates for the respective parties.
4. What could be noticeable that the learned Reference
Court while granting additional compensation of Rs.100/- per
sq mtr, relied upon the judgment of Land Acquisition
Reference Case No.561/1991 at Exh.72.
Page 2 of 4
C/FA/4901/2010 ORDER DATED: 18/06/2026
5. During the course of hearing, learned advocate Mr.NR
Desai placed on record judgment and of the Division Bench of
this Court rendered in First Appeal Nos.305 to 320 of 2005,
which is ordered to be taken on record, whereby, the Division
Bench of this Court confirmed the judgment and award passed
in Land Acquisition Reference Case No.561/1991. Meaning
thereby, the award passed in Land Reference Case No.
561/1991 has become final between the parties and therefore,
no reason remains with the State to ventilate a grievance
against the impugned common judgment and award on the
principle of estoppel.
6. Thus, the issue remains no more res integra and hence,
no ground is made out to interfere with the impugned
common judgment and award of the learned Reference Court.
Under the circumstances, present first appeal as well as cross
objection deserve to be dismissed and are accordingly
dismissed.
7. Registry is directed to return back the R & P, if any, to
the concerned Court forthwith.
8. The learned Reference Court is directed to disburse the
amount of compensation deposited by the State Government
after deducting Court fee to the claimants after due
verification and identification along with interest and after
verifying their right to claim the compensation.
Page 3 of 4
C/FA/4901/2010 ORDER DATED: 18/06/2026
CROSS OBJECTION 39 OF 2011
Perused the office note dated 17.6.2026. Registry is
directed to reconstruct papers of Cross Objection No.39 of
2011.
Perusing the office note, it appears that main First
Appeal No.4907 of 2010 has been disposed of as withdrawn in
Lok Adalat vide order dated 14.3.2015. Under the
circumstances, present cross objection does not survive and
stands disposed of accordingly.
The learned Reference Court is directed to disburse the
amount of compensation deposited by the State Government,
if not disbursed so far, after deducting Court fee to the
claimants after due verification and identification along with
interest and after verifying their right to claim the
compensation.
Registry to maintain copy of this order in each matter.
(J. C. DOSHI,J)
SHEKHAR P. BARVE
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: SHEKHAR PRAFULBHAI BARVE(HC00200), Principal Pvt. Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 18/06/2026 16:00:59
Page 4 of 4
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