Bombay High Court
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusHARI GOPALA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The Court made no interference with the impugned judgment and ordered the State to comply with it within twelve weeks.
Summary
The State of Maharashtra appealed a land acquisition award granted to Hari Gopala, contending that the amounts awarded—Rs.2,524 by the acquisition officer and Rs.11,590 by the Joint District Judge—were incorrect. The appeal was listed among other small‑value matters, and the learned Additional Government Pleader expressed willingness to accept the court’s orders given the modest sums involved. The High Court, noting the long pendency and the trivial amounts, declined to interfere with 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 any substantive legal issue and will not serve as precedent. Consequently, the appeal and the related civil application were finally disposed of.
Subjects
- land acquisition
- award
- appeal
- small‑value suit
- procedural disposal
Judgment
934-FA-1850-2007+.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
FIRST APPEAL NO. 1850 OF 2007
WITH
CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 6332 OF 2000
IN
FIRST APPEAL NO. 1850 OF 2007
The State Of Maharashtra …Plaintiff
Versus
Hari Gopala …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.1850 of
2007 relates to Land Acquisition Reference No.224/1996.
3. It is stated that the amount awarded by the land acquisition officer is a
sum of Rs.2,524/- while the amount awarded by Joint District Judge, Nashik,
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May 8, 2026
Ashwini Vallakati
934-FA-1850-2007+.doc
the jurisdictional reference court by the impugned judgement dated April 6,
1996 is a sum of Rs.11,590/-.
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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May 8, 2026
Ashwini Vallakati
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