Created by Fuzzy Cloud

Bombay High Court

GOVIND ALASING PAWAR AND ORSversusTHE STATE OF MAH AND ORS

Disposal
PARTLY ALLOWED AND PARTLY DISMISSED

Holding

The court held that Exh. 59 is a comparable sale, justifying an enhanced compensation rate of Rs 53,000 per hectare and a 20% increase for trees and the well, with interest payable under sections 28 and 34.

Summary

The appellants' land of 2 hectares 85 R, acquired in 1997 for the Palaiguda Brahad Minor Irrigation Project, contained numerous fruit‑bearing trees, teak trees and a well. They claimed compensation of Rs 21,08,746, relying on two sale instances (Exh. 58 and Exh. 59) to argue for a higher per‑hectare rate. The reference court had fixed Rs 48,000 per hectare and granted only a 20% increase for trees and the well. On appeal, the High Court held that the sale instance in Exh. 59, being from the same village and abutting the acquired plot, was a comparable sale and allowed a revised rate of Rs 53,000 per hectare, with the statutory 20% uplift for trees and well and interest under sections 28 and 34 of the Land Acquisition Act. The appeal was partly allowed and the reference court’s award was modified accordingly.

Issues considered

  • Whether the sale instances cited (Exh. 58 and Exh. 59) are comparable for fixing compensation under the Land Acquisition Act.
  • Whether the compensation for trees and a well should be enhanced beyond the amount awarded by the SLAO.
  • Whether interest under sections 28 and 34 of the Land Acquisition Act is payable from the date of the award.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • land acquisition
  • compensation
  • comparable sale
  • trees
  • well
  • interest
  • sections 28 and 34
  • irrigation project

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:44392

                                                                             FA 3641/11
                                                  1

                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                     BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                                27 FIRST APPEAL NO. 3641 OF 2011

                                GOVIND ALASING PAWAR AND ORS
                                               VERSUS
                                    THE STATE OF MAH AND ORS
                                                   ...
                 Advocate for Appellant : Mr. S.S. Kurundkar h/f. Mr. M.D. Narwadkar
                             AGP for Respondent/State : Mr. S.S. Dande
                            Advocate for Respondent 3 : Mr. R.D. Biradar
                                                   ...

                                CORAM         : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.
                                Dated         : September 22, 2026

            PER COURT :-

            1.     As the acquisition proceeding is of the year 1997, heard finally with

            the consent of learned counsel for respective parties.

            2.     By this appeal, the appellants/original claimants assail the judgment

            and award dated 29.7.2011 passed by the learned Civil Judge, Senior

            Division, Nanded in LAR No. 235/2000, whereby the learned reference court

            has enhanced the compensation, but not granted as claimed by the

            appellants.

            3.     The land of the claimants admeasuring 2 H. 85 R. from Survey No. 39

            situated at village Chorad-Junapani, Taluka Mahur, District Nanded was

            acquired for the purpose of Palaiguda Brahad Minor Irrigation Project

            Submergence area at village Chorad-Junapani, Taluka Mahur, District

            Nanded. Notification under section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act came to be

            published on 19.6.1997. It was the contention of the appellants that in the

            acquired land there were 888 orange fruit bearing trees, 118 teak wood

            trees, 4 Moha trees and one well and therefore, the claimants are entitled to

            receive total compensation amount of Rs.21,08,746/- for acquired land and
                                                                FA 3641/11
                                      2

trees, however, the learned reference court, without considering the

evidence on record and only by relying upon the award passed in LAR No.

283/2000, LAR No. 280/2000 and LAR No. 268/2000, arising out of the

same award determined the compensation at the rate of Rs.48,000/- per H.

which was very inadequate and hence, the present appeal is filed.

4.    Mr. S.S. Kurundkar h/f. Mr. M.D. Narwadkar, learned counsel for the

appellants submits that before the reference court the claimants relied upon

the sale instances, Exhs. 58 and 59. By the sale instance, Exh. 58, 40 R.

land from Gat No. 14 situated at village Bhorad (Palaituda), Taluka Kinwat,

District Nanded was sold for Rs.22,000/- which is adjacent village from

where land in the present matter was acquired. As regards sale instance

Exh. 59 is concerned, 47 R. land from Gat No. 31 situated at village Chorad-

Junapani, Taluka Mahur was sold for Rs.50,000/-, which was from the same

village from where the land in the present case was acquired. So, he prays

to grant rate as per the above sale instances and claimed enhancement of

compensation.

5.    Per contra, Mr. S.S. Dande, learned AGP appearing for the State

submits that as regards sale instance Exh. 58 is concerned, that was in

respect of land from different village and from different taluka and as

regards sale instance Exh. 59 is concerned, that was in respect of land from

the same village, but that was in respect of land from Gat No. 31 and the

acquired land is from Gat No. 39. He submits that both the lands are not

adjacent to each other and therefore, both the sale instances cannot be

considered as comparable sale instances. He therefore, submits that the

reference court has rightly determined the compensation and there is no

scope to grant enhancement further.
                                                                  FA 3641/11
                                      3

6.    Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties, with their

able assistance I have gone through the record and proceedings, impugned

judgment and award, the sale instances. The claimants relied upon two sale

instances, Exhs. 58 and 59. As regards sale instance, Exh. 58 is concerned,

that was from different village and even taluka is also different and

therefore, the same cannot be considered as comparable sale instance.

7.    As regards sale instance Exh. 59 is concerned, it was in respect of the

land from the same village from where the present land was acquired, by

which 47 R. land from Gat No. 31 of the same village was sold for Rs.

50,000/-. After going through the record, it revealed that the though from

the same village Gat No. 31 is abutting to the field Gat No. 39 and

therefore, the sale instance Exh. 59 can be considered as comparable sale

instance. The sale instance, Exh. 59, was in respect of the irrigated land and

therefore, after applying deductions of 50%, the claimants are entitled to

receive compensation at the rate of Rs.53,000/- per H.

8.    As regards claim of the claimants in respect of acquired trees and

well is concerned, it is the case of the claimants that 888 orange fruit

bearing trees, 118 teak wood trees, 4 Moha trees and one well was situated

in the acquired land. The reference court has considered the case of the

claimants in respect of fruit bearing trees and well and has granted 20%

increase on the amount determined by the SLAO. The SLAO has granted

total amount of Rs.1,21,220/- for the trees and Rs.7216/- for well. The

learned reference court, in addition to the amount granted by SLAO, by

increasing 20% amount, granted Rs.25,000/- towards trees and Rs.1500/-

towards well. Even the learned counsel for the claimants also fairly submits

that the claimants are not claiming any compensation towards trees and
                                                                  FA 3641/11
                                         4

well.

9.      In view of the discussion made above, I pass the following order :-

                                    ORDER

(i)     The appeal is partly allowed.

(ii)    The claimants are entitled to receive compensation at the rate of

Rs.53,000/- per H. for their acquired land.

(iii)   The claimants are also entitled to all statutory benefits including

interest under section 28 and 34 of the Act in accordance with the law laid

down by the Full Bench of this Court in the case of State of Maharashtra vs.

Kailas Shiva Rangari, 2016 (4) Mh.L.J. 457 i.e from the date of award.

(iv)    The claimants to pay deficit court fees, if any, on enhanced amount.

(v)     The impugned judgment and award of the reference court is modified

accordingly.

(vi)    Rest of the award shall remain unaltered.

(vii)   Pending civil application, if any, stands disposed of.



                                             ( SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J. )

ssc/


Continue reading with your account

Sign in to read the full judgment. It’s free.

Sign in to read

Checking your session…

For a signed copy suitable for filing, refer to the court's website.