K.G. PADMANABHA PRABHUversusKERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ORS.

                           K.G. PADMANABHA PRABHU                                  A
                                            v.
               KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ORS.

                                     JULY 7, 1997

                   (K. RAMASWAMY AND D.P. WADHWA, JJ.)                             B

             Land Acquisition Act, 1894:

          Compensation-Award of-Quantum--{)istrict Court minutely gone
    into the question-High Court also looked into the matter--:Finding of          C
    fact-No interference called for-Diminution of the extent of the land-Trial


-   Court recorded finding arid High Court confinning it-No contra finding
    recorded by the High Court as regards extent of land-Only diminution of the
    value in issue-Hence no opinion expressed-District Judge to go into the
    question.
                                                                                   D
          Constitution of India-Art. 136-Special Leave jurisdictio1i--Finding cf
    fact-Not interfered with.

          CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 4429-30
    of 1997.
                                                                                   E
         From the Judgment and Order dated 19.4.96 of the Kerala High
    Court in C.R.P. Nos. 832 and 834 of 1993.

             T.L. V. Iyer, and S. Prasad for the Appellant.

             G. Vishwanatha Iyer, T.G.N. Nair, and K.M.K. Nair for the Respon-     F
    dents.

             The following Ordet of the court was delivered :

             Leave granted. We have heard learned counsel on both sides.
                                                                                   G
          These appeals by special leave arise from the judgment and order of
    the learned Single judge of the High Court, made on 19.4.1996 in C.R.P.
    Nos. 832 and 834 of 1993.

          The admitted facts are that the appellant is having the land (with
    trees standing thereon) admeasuring 6 acres and 21 cents in Survey No. H
                                      447
    448                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997] SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A 560/2 and 60-1/2 cents in Survey No. 563/1 and 5 acres and 42 cents in
  Survey No. 634/2 of polluttu village. The respondents invoked by notifica-
  tion dated 21.6.1969, the. provisions of Section 51 of the Indian Electricity
  Act, 1910 and Sections 10 to 18 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 for
  acquiring the land of the appellant for laying electric lines by cutting the
  trees standing thereon. The appellant laid the claim before the District
B Court under Sections 10(2) to 16(3) of the Indian Telegraph Act and
  Section 51 of the Indian Electricity Act, ~910 for compensation. The
  District Judge determined the compensation. Dissatisfied therewith, the
  appellant filed revisions in the High Court. The High Court in the im-
  pugned order confirmed the compensation paid for the trees, but set aside
C the determination of the compensation with regard to the diminution of
  the value of the land on account of laying of the electric lines across the
  land of the appellant. Thus, these appeals by special leave.

           Since we were not familiar with the nature of the procedure followed
D   in this behalf, we directed Mr. G. Vishwanatha Iyer, learned senior counsel
    for the respondent-Electricity Board, to place before us the procedure
    adopted by the Electricity Board in acquiring the trees for erection of the
    electric lines across the land of the appellant. An affidavit by the competent
    officer together with the proceedings has been filed in that behalf. Notifica-
    tion dated June 21, 1969 does indicate as under:
E
             "S.R.O. No, 270/69,- In exercise of the powers conferred by section
             51 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Act 9 of 1910), and in
             supersession of Notification No. ELl-193/60- I/PW dated 6th
             January 1960, published on page 50 of Part I of the Gazette dated
             12.1.1960, the Government of Kerala hereby confer upon the
F
             Engineers of the Kerala State Electricity Board of and above the
             rank of Assistant Engineers to exercise, for the purpose of placing
             of appliances and apparatus, for the survey and construction of
             lines etc. of or the transmission distribution or use of electrical
             energy within their respective jurisdictions, all the powers which
G            the Telegraph Act, 1885 (Act 13 of 1885) with respect to the
             placing of telegraph lines and posts for the purposes of a telegraph
             established or maintained by Government or to be established or
             maintained."

H          In furtherance thereof, sanction has been accorded for acquisition o_f
        K.G. PADMANABHA PRABHU v. KERALA Sl'ATE ELECTRICITY BOARD 449

    the trees as mentioned in the sanction order which reads as under:              A
            "Sanction is hereby acco.rded for an estimate amounting to
            Rs.95,000 (Rupees ninety five thousand only) for constructing 2.2
            kms. of 11 kv. Kodwagallur - parur feeder outgoing feeder from
            Kodungallu sub-station under Electrical Division Irinjalakuda Sub-
            Divn. Iringalakuda Expenditure to the extent of Rs. 95,000 may be       B
            met from the budget provision for 76-77 Electrical Division Irin-
            galakuda under voltage improvement basis."

          The Board has vide Resolution dated July 1, 1972 decided to follow
    the procedure provided in the Land Acquisition Act and the Land Acquisi- C
    tion Manual for determination of the compensation for trees. It postulates
    the notice to the owner and powers of entry, marking of the trees as

-   provided in paragraph 13 and then preparation of the valuation statement
    as provided in paragraph 17 of the Manual and the diminution of the land
    value on account of the instalation of electric lines over private properties
    as provided in paragraph 30 of the Manual. Accordingly, the award is D
    required to be passed under paragraph 33 of the Manual in that behalf.

           Pursuant thereto, notice in this behalf was given to the appellant and
    on the basis thereof, the appellant filed the claim in O.P. Nos. 20/87 and
    202 of 1986 before the District Court for determination of the compensa- E
    tion. Thus, it could be seen that the claim has been made by the appellant
    under Section 51 of the Electricity Act, 1910 and Sections 10 to 16(3),
    Section 16(3) of the Indian Telegraph Act reads as under. :

            "16(3) If any dispute arise concerning the sufficiency of compen-
            sation to be paid under Section 10, clause (d), it shall, on applica-   F
            tion for that purpose by either of the disputing parties to the
            District Judge within whose jurisdiction the property is situate, be
            determined by him."

            It would clearly indicate that if any dispute arises between the parties G
    concerning the sufficiency of compensation, they are entitled to lay the
    claim before the District Court and the District Court is required to
    determine the compensation since the procedure prescribed under the
    Manual of the Land Acquisition was adopted by the Electricity Board. The
    appellant has rightly availed of the procedure as indicated in the petition
    itself. Thus, the appellant has perfectly followed the procedure prescribed H
    450                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1997) SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A   by law and needs no interference.

           The question then is : whether the courts below have committed any
    error in determining the compensation? With regard to the quantum, we
    are of the view that the District Court has minutely gone into the question.
    The High Court has also addressed itself in this behalf. It being a finding
B   of fact, we do not like to interfere with the findings. With regard to the
    diminution of the extent of the land, the trial Court has recorded a finding
    and it was confirmed by the High Court. We feel that since no contra
    finding was recorded by the High Court as regards the extent of the land
    and only diminution of the value is in issue, we do not express any opinion
C   in this behalf. The District Judge should go into the question and decide        •
    it in accordance with law.

           The appeals are accordingly dismissed. No costs.

    G.N.                                                      Appeals dismissed .•