Bombay High Court
DURGAJI BHIVAJI PAWAR AND ANRversusTHE STATE OF MAH
- Disposal
- PARTLY ALLOWED AND PARTLY DISMISSED
Holding
The appeal is partly allowed; the compensation is enhanced to Rs.360 per rood.
Summary
The appellants' land of 6 hectares 45 roods in Survey No. 135, village Kanhobachiwadi, was acquired in 1984 for a percolation tank and they were awarded Rs.62 per rood. They filed a reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act alleging the award was inadequate and sought enhancement, relying on a sale of 1.2 acres in the same village on 30‑8‑1983 for Rs.15,000 (Rs.357.14 per rood). The reference court had instead used an older sale from Survey No. 144, fixing compensation at Rs.95 per rood. The High Court held that, although Kanhobachiwadi was part of Shirur revenue village until 1989, the 1983 sale could be treated as a comparable transaction and the market value should be Rs.360 per rood. Accordingly, the appeal was partly allowed, the compensation enhanced, and interest under Section 34 was directed as per precedent.
Issues considered
- Whether a sale transaction from a different survey number but within the same village (post‑revenue‑village reorganisation) can be treated as a comparable sale for determining market value under the Land Acquisition Act.
- Whether the compensation awarded under the original award is inadequate and should be enhanced.
- Whether interest under Section 34 of the Land Acquisition Act is payable on the enhanced compensation.
Legislation cited
- Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — s. 11, 18, 34, 4
Subjects
- land acquisition
- compensation enhancement
- market value
- comparable sale
- Section 34 interest
- revenue village reorganisation
- percolation tank
Judgment
2026:BHC-AUG:43624
FA 161/11
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
908 FIRST APPEAL NO. 161 OF 2011
DURGAJI BHIVAJI PAWAR AND ANR
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
...
Advocate for Appellant : Mr. Mahesh S. Bhosale
AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. D.R. Korde
...
CORAM : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.
Dated : September 22, 2026
PER COURT :-
1. As the acquisition proceeding is of the year 1984 heard finally with
the consent of learned counsel for the respective parties.
2. By this appeal, the appellants/original claimants assail the judgment
and award dated 31.8.1994 passed by the learned 3 rd Additional District
Judge, Beed in in LAR No. 630/1987, whereby the learned reference court
enhanced the compensation in favour of the appellants/original claimants.
However, according to the claimants, the same is inadequate and therefore,
the present appeal is filed seeking further enhancement of compensation for
their acquired lands.
3. The lands of the claimants admeasuring 6 H. 45 R. from Survey No.
135 situated at village Kanhobachiwadi was acquired for percolation tank of
village Kanhobachiwadi. Notification under section 4 of the Land Acquisition
Act came to be published on 23.2.1984 and the award under section 11 of
the Act came to be declared on 13.4.1987. The SLAO has determined the
compensation at the rate of Rs. 62/- per R. Possession was taken over on
13.4.1982. After receipt of the amount under protest, the claimants filed
FA 161/11
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reference under section 18 of the Act by contending that the SLAO has
awarded very inadequate compensation and claimed for enhancement of
compensation. Before the reference court, the claimants relied upon the
sale instance, dated 30.8.1983 from land Survey No. 169 by which 1.2 acre
land was sold for consideration of Rs.15000/- i.e. Rs.357.14 per R.
However, the learned reference court relying upon the sale instance from
Survey No. 144 dated 5.8.1981 determined the compensation at the rate of
Rs.95/- per R. Therefore, being dissatisfied with the same, the present
appeal is filed.
4. Mr. Mahesh Bhosle, learned counsel for the appellants/original
claimants submits that earlier village Kanhobachiwadi was part of Shirur
revenue village and when the land was acquired, Kanhobachiwadi was not
shown as separate revenue village and that was shown as part of revenue
village of Shirur. He tenders the mutation entry No. 1 of village
Kanhobachiwadi, which is taken on record, and contended that up to the
year 1989 separate revenue village of Kanhobachiwadi was not declared and
the SLAO has also considered the sale instances from village Shirur and
village Kanhobachiwadi, which have no separate survey numbers.
Therefore, all the sale instances reflected that they are from village Shirur.
Before the reference court, the claimants relied upon the sale instance
dated 30.8.1983 which was from village Kanhobachiwadi in respect of land
from Survey No. 169 by which total 1.2 Acre land was sold for Rs.15,000/-.
He therefore, submits that claimants are entitled to receive compensation
as per the sale instance dated 30.8.1983. However, without considering the
same, the reference court has determined the compensation at very meager
rate.
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5. Per contra, Mr. D.R. Korde, learned AGP for State submits that the
sale instance dated 30.8.1983 was in respect of land from Shirur bearing
Survey No. 169 and the land involved in the present matter was acquired
for the above project from Survey No. 135 and the distance between the
Shirur and Kanhobachiwadi is more than 4-5 k.m. and therefore, he submits
that the reference court has relied upon the sale instance from Survey No.
144 dated 5.8.1981 and determined the compensation at the rate of
Rs.95/- per R. and therefore, he prays to dismiss the appeal.
6. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties, with their
assistance I have gone through the record and proceedings. There is no
dispute about the fact that the land is acquired from Gat No. 135 of village
Kanhobachiwadi. It was brought to my notice that up to 1989
Kanhobachiwadi was not declared as separate revenue village and
therefore, prior to 1989 that was part of revenue village Shirur and
therefore, though the sale instance is from survey No. 169 of Shirur and
after 1989 the said survey number was included in revenue village of
Kanhobachiwadi, therefore, the sale instance dated 30.8.1983 can be safely
considered for determination of market value of acquired land in the present
matter which is from Survey No. 169 was from village Kanobachiwadi. Here
in this case as per sale deed dated 30.8.1983 area of land admeasuring 1.2
Acre was sold for Rs.15,000/- and it is from the same village and therefore,
the same can be considered as comparable sale instance. Therefore, I find
that the sale instance dated 30.8.1983 can be considered as comparable
sale instance and as per the sale instance rate comes to Rs. 357.14 per R.
Therefore, by rounding it off, I hold that claimants are entitled to Rs. 360/-
per R. for their acquired lands. In view of the above, following order is
FA 161/11
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passed :-
ORDER
(i) The appeal is partly allowed.
(ii) The claimants/appellants are entitled to receive enhanced
compensation at the rate of Rs.360/- per R. for their acquired land.
(iii) The claimants shall be entitled to all consequential statutory benefits
on the enhanced compensation in accordance with the provisions of the
Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
(iv) The claimant shall be entitled to interest under Section 34 of the
Land Acquisition Act, 1894, strictly in accordance with the principles laid
down by the Full Bench of this Court in State of Maharashtra v. Kailas Shiva
Rangari, 2016 (3) Mh.L.J. 457.
(v) The claimant shall not be entitled to the interest for the period of
delay, if any, condoned by this Court caused in filing the present appeal.
(vi) The claimant shall pay the deficit Court-fees, if any.
(vii) Rest of the judgment and award passed by the learned Reference
Court shall remain unaltered.
(viii) The modified award be drawn accordingly.
(ix) Pending Civil Application, if any, stands disposed of.
( SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J. )
ssc/
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