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
- Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — s. 28, 34, 4
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
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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.
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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
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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/
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