Bombay High Court
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusSHANKAR MANGLU VADGAONKAR
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The Court held that there was no basis to interfere with the impugned judgment and ordered the State to comply with the award.
Summary
The State of Maharashtra appealed against the award granted to Shankar Manglu Vadgaonkar in a land acquisition matter, contending that the amounts awarded by the acquisition officer (Rs.12,573) and the Joint District Judge (Rs.56,653) were inappropriate. The appeal was listed among other first appeals due to the relatively small sums involved. The learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that, given the meagre amounts and the protracted pendency of the case, the court should not interfere with the lower court's decision. The Court, agreeing with this submission, declined to alter the impugned judgment and directed the State to implement the award within twelve weeks. The order expressly stated that it does not constitute a declaration on the merits and that the appeal, along with any related civil applications, is finally disposed.
Issues considered
- Whether the Court should interfere with the award amount determined in the land acquisition proceedings
Subjects
- land acquisition
- award amount
- civil appeal
- meagre sums
- judicial delay
- implementation of judgment
Judgment
932-FA-1842-2007+.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
FIRST APPEAL NO. 1842 OF 2007
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 6338 OF 2000
IN
FIRST APPEAL NO. 1842 OF 2007
The State Of Maharashtra …Plaintiff
Versus
Shankar Manglu Vadgaonkar …Respondent
Mr. A.R. Patil, AGP for the State.
Digitally
signed by
ASHWINI
ASHWINI JANARDAN
JANARDAN VALLAKATI
VALLAKATI Date:
CORAM : SOMASEKHAR SUNDARESAN, J.
2026.05.19
16:02:56
+0530
DATE : May 8, 2026
ORDER :
1. A bunch of First Appeals have been listed today by reason of the
amounts involved being meagre, as submitted by the Learned Addl. G.P. The
captioned appeals form part of such list of First Appeals.
2. Learned AGP is willing to submit to orders of this Court considering the
meagre size of the amounts involved in this Appeal. First Appeal No.1842 of
2007 relates to Land Acquisition Reference No.227/1996.
3. It is stated that the amount awarded by the land acquisition officer is a
sum of Rs.12,573/- while the amount awarded by Joint District Judge, Nashik,
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Ashwini Vallakati
932-FA-1842-2007+.doc
the jurisdictional reference court by the impugned judgement dated April 6,
1996 is a sum of Rs.56,653/-.
4. Taking on board the submissions by the Learned AGP, and considering
the meagre sums involved and the sheer length of time for which the matter
has remained pending, no interference is made with the impugned judgment.
The State is directed to adhere to the impugned judgement at the earliest in
any event within a period of 12 weeks from today.
5. Nothing contained in this Order would constitute a declaration on the
merits of any legal issues involved in the Appeal to constitute a precedent for
other matters.
6. In these circumstances, the Appeal is finally disposed of. Any Civil
Applications therein are also hereby finally disposed of.
7. Cross objections, if any, are stood over to June 18, 2026.
8. All actions required to be taken pursuant to this order shall be taken
upon receipt of a downloaded copy as available on this Court’s website.
[ SOMASEKHAR SUNDARESAN, J.]
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Ashwini Vallakati
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