Holding

The Supreme Court held that correction of the decree under Section 152 CPC was impermissible as the alleged error was not clerical but substantive, thereby setting aside the High Court’s amendment of the tree numbers, while upholding the Division Bench’s enhancement of land compensation.

Summary

The case concerned the acquisition of 19.87 acres of land in Andhra Pradesh and the award of compensation for the land and palmyrah and cashew trees standing thereon. The Sub‑Judge enhanced the land compensation to Rs 55,000 per acre and increased the per‑tree rates, but retained the original count of 1,000 big and 500 small palmyrah trees. The claimants later alleged a typographical error, seeking correction of the decree to reflect 10,000 big and 4,500 small trees under Section 152 CPC, which the Sub‑Judge rejected. The High Court Single Judge treated the alleged error as clerical, amended the decree, and the Division Bench later enhanced land compensation to Rs 1,50,000 per acre based on a sale deed. The Supreme Court held that the correction was not a clerical mistake and set aside the High Court’s amendment of the tree numbers, while affirming the Division Bench’s enhancement of land compensation, and clarified that separate valuation of land and trees must follow the figures ordered by the Sub‑Judge.

Issues considered

Whether a discrepancy in the number of trees in a decree can be corrected under Section 152 CPC as a clerical or arithmetical mistake.
Whether the High Court Single Judge could entertain a revision under Section 115 CPC when the matter was already before a Division Bench.
Whether the enhancement of land compensation based on a sale deed of a small parcel is permissible.
Whether land and trees may be valued separately under the Land Acquisition Act.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 115, s. 152, s. 21, s. 54
Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 21
Land Acquisition Act, 1894s. 17(4), s. 23(1), s. 23(2), s. 4(1), s. 6(1)

Subjects

Land acquisitionCompensationSection 152 CPCTypographical errorTree valuationRevision petitionSeparate valuationLand Acquisition Act

Judgment

....
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION A
v.
MALLA ATCHINAIDU AND ORS.

DECEMBER 12, 2006

[DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN AND TARUN CHATTERJEE, JJ.] B

Code o/Civil Procedure, 1908-Sections 115 and 152; Order VJJJ Rule
5-land Acquisition Act, 1894-Sections 4(1), 6(1) and 17(4)-Award
granting compensation for land and trees-Reference Court enhancing
compensation for land and trees-Application by claimants for amendment C
of decree on ground of typographical mistake in stating less number of trees
in its order than it actually existed-Application dismissed by the Reference
Court-Revision Petition and Appeal of the claimants for corrections of the
mistake and for enhancment of compensation for the land allowed by High
CourJ-Correctness of-Held, on/acts, it is not a case of typographical error D
and hence decree nut amenable under sectio I 52 CPC-High Court was not
right in entertaining the Revision under section I I 5 CPC-High Court was
right in enhacing the compensation for the land.

Land Acquisition Officer gave an Award granting compensation of Rs.
11, 500/- per acre for the land acquired and of Rs. 2,000/- for 176 palm rah E
trees and 7 cashew trees at the rate of Rs. 10/-, Rs. 5/- and Rs. 50/- for big
Palmyrah trees, small palmyrah trees and cashew trees respectively under
the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Reference Court passed an order enhacing
the compensation amount to Rs. 55, 000/- per acre f!)r the land and Rs. 100/
-, Rs. 50/- and Rs. 200/- for 1000 big Palmyrah trees, 500 small palymrah
trees and cashew trees respectively. The respondents filed an application F
before the reference Court under section 152 CPC to amend the order
contending that there was a typographical error in the order in stating the
numbe of trees as there existed 10, 000 big palmyrah trees and 4, 500 small
palmyrah trees on the land acquired. The Court dismissed the application.
G
The respondent filed a Revisioa Petition before High Court against the
dismissal of the application by the reference Court. The respondents also filed
an appeal against the order of the reference court for enhancement of
compensation. A Single Judge of the High Court allowed the Reivsion Petition
and directed the reference Court to amend the order. Appellant filed an appeal
885 II
886 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006) SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A before High Court against the order of the Single Judge. The High Court, by
a common judgment, allowed the appeal of the respondents enhancing the
compensation of the land to Rs. 1, 50,00/- per acre and dismissed the appeal
of the appellant.

In appeal to this Court, the appellant contended that the High Court erred
B in enhancing Compensation amount for the land by relying on a sale deed of
small area of land; that the reference Court has no powr to groat compensation
to the trees separately; that the respondents did not raise any dispute about
the number of trees before the reference Court and in appeal before High
Cour; that no evidence was produced as to the existence of 10, 000/- big
C palmyrah trees and 4,500 small palmyarh trees on the acquired land; that in
the written arguments, submitted to the Court and to the appellant at the time
of hearing, there was no claim of more number of trees than the one noted in
the Award; that the original claim statement and the written arguments were
clandestinely tampered by the respondents subsequent to the disposal of the
reference showing 10,000 big palmyrah trees, and 4,500 small palmyrah trees
D which was confirmed C.B.C.l.D after investigation; that the facts are admitted
by the rule of non-traverse stated in Order 8 Rule 5 CPC; that the High Court
erred in entertaining the Revision petition of the respondent despite bringing
to notice that the Division Bench of the Hgh Court had already seized of the
matter in appeal by the respondents; that the High Court exceeded its
E jurisdiction in ordering consequential amendment of decree to apply enhanc~d
tree value for 10,000 big and 4,500 small trees; and that the extent of the
land acquired could not cover and hold such number of trees.

The respondents raised a preliminary objection contending that the
appellant cannot raise plea for the first time before this Court that trees are
p not to be valued separately. The respondents fruther contended tht the
compensatin amount cannot be lower than that awarded by the Land Acquisition
Officer; that they had mentioned in their claim petition stating that there w~re
10,000 big palymrah trees, 4,500 small playmrah trees and 25 cashew trees
which was not denied by the appellant; and that the tryporgraphical mistake
in the number of trees can be corrected by the Reference Court tinder Section
G 152CPC.

The respondents, in appeal, contended that the High Court has failed to
take into consideration certain Exhibits wherein the market rate per acre
was much more than the awarded amount; and that the deduction of35%
H towards developments is notjusitified.
..... DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU 887
Disposing of the appeals, the Court A
HELD: 1.1. The exercise involved is one adjudication, a deductive
function which Court has to do from proved and admitted facts and that it is
not a case of clerical/arithmetical factor. The admissions are explainable
under section 21 of the Evidence Act, 1872, that under the proviso to the very
rule of non-traverse, the Court cannot require the party to lead evidence and B
that the utmost that could be said is that a piece of evidence as to admission
is not considered by the Court. All these are not clerical/arithmetical errors.
The submissions of the respondents insofar as it relates to the total number
of trees are concerned are rejected. The respondents will be entitled for
payment of compensation only with reference to the number of trees as ordered C
by the Reference Court and not as ordered by the High Cour in Reivision
Petition. (897-G; 898-A, B; 905-H; 906-A]

'1.2. The Single Judge of the High Court has erred in law in upholding
the plea of the claimants that their grievance is amenable for corrections uner
section 152 CPC and was not right in entertaining the respondents' Reivision D
under section 115 CPC more so, when the matter was seized by the Division
Bench and thus pre-empting an adjudication by the latter. [901-A, BJ

1.3. No fault can be founded on the conclusion arrived at by the High
Court insofar as awarding the compensation relying on the sale deed is
concerned. This Court is not inclined to interfere with the market vl!.lue fixed E
by the High Court. (904-Al

Koyappathodi M Aysha Umma v. State of Kera/a, 11991 J 4 SCC 8,
Administrator A General of West Bengal v. Collector, Varanasi, (198812 SCR
1025, Ratan Kumar Tandon & Ors. v. State of U.P., (199712 SCC 161, State
of Punjab v. Dashan Singh, [20041 1 SCC 328, Kasturi & Ors. v. State of F
Haryana, (2003) 1 sec 354, State ofBihar & Anr. v. Ni/amani Sahu & Anr.,
(1996] 11 SCC 528, Jaya/akshmi Coeh/o v. Oswal Joseph Coeh/o, 12001) 4
sec 181; Dwarka Das v. State of A.P., 119991 3 SCC 500, Plasto Pack,
Mumbaiv. Ratanakar Bank Ltd, 12001) 6 SCC 683, K. Rajamouliv. A. V.K.N.
Swany, (2001 [ 5 SCC 37, Piyatanta Unnase v. Waknikar Sonutatra Unnasi, G
(54 Calcutta Weekly notes 568 (PC)); State of Haryana v. Gurucharan Singh,
(1995) Suppl. 2 SCC 637, Union oflndia v. Ramphal, (20031 10 SCC 167,
State of Gujarat v. Govind Mamaiya & Ors., (2005) 10 SCC 141, and State of
Haryana v. Gurucharan Singh & Anr., AIR (1996) SC 106, referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 6497-6500 of H
888 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A 1994.
From the Final Judgment and Orders dated 31.12.1993, 18.1.1994 and
l l .3.1994 of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Civil Reveision
Petition No. 363of1992, AS.Nos. 19/1992 and 147/1994.

B WITH

C.A. No. 5276/2006.

S. Sundervardhan, Manoj Saxena, Rajnish Kr. Singh, Rahul Shukla, T.V.
George, D. Bharathi Reddy for the Appellant.
c Anjani Aiyagari and Subhash Sharma for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN, J. Leave granted in SLP (C) No. 16443 of
D 1994.
The appellant in Civil Appeal Nos. 6497-6500 of 1994 is the Deputy
Director Land Acquisition and the respondents are Malla Atchinaidu and Ors.
These appeals were preferred against the orders dated 31.12.1993 and 18.01.1994
in CRP No. 363 of 1992 and judgment and order dated I I .03. I 994 in AS No.
E 147of1994 of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. SLP No. 16443 of 1994 was
filed by the respondents in CA Nos.6497-6500of1994 against the judgment
and order passed in AS No. 19 of 1992 dated I l.03.1994.

The facts herein are that, on 07.03.1982, an extent of Ac. 19.87 cents of
dry land in Sy. Nos. 3/1 to 3/42 of Pisinikada Village, in the outskirts of
F Anakapalli Town, was acquired under section 4 (I) of the Land Acquisition
Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act), for the provision of house sites for
the weaker sections. Urgency clause under section 17 (4) of the Act was
invoked and a draft declaration under section 6 (I) was also published
simultaneously on the same date.

G On 31.07.1982, the Land Acquisition Officer and Social Welfare Officer
(Land Acquisition) issued notice under section 9(1) of the Act directing that
all the matters to be posted on 24.08.1982 for conducting the award enquiry.
On 24.08.1982 and 03.09. I 982, award enquiry was conducted.

The Land Acquisition Officer on 03.02.1983, gave an award granting
H
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J.] 889

compensation ofRs.11,500/- per acre to the respondents. The Land Acquisition A
Officer also valued certain Palmyrah trees at Rs. 2,000/- (Rs. 10/- for big
Palmyrah tree, Rs. 5/- for small Palmyrah tree and Rs. 50/- for cashew trees.)
There were 176 Palmyrah trees and 7 cashew trees. On 24.03.1983, possession
of the said land was taken.

The respondents were, however, not happy with the compensation B
awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer. Hence the matter was referred to
the Civil Court under Section 18 of the Act and it was numbered 0 .P. No. 21 I
87.

On 27.04.1991, the Sub-Judge, Anakapalli passed an order whereby the
compensation amount was enhanced to Rs. 55,000/- per acre. The compensation C
with regard to the palmyrah trees was enhanced to Rs. 100/- for a big tree and
Rs. 50/- for a small tree and Rs. 200/- for a cashew tree. On 29.07.1991,
however, the respondents filed I.A. No. 70/91inO.P.No.21187 contending that
there were 10,000 big palmyrah trees and 4,500 small palmyrah trees and that
the order of the Sub-judge contained a typographical error. D
The Sub-judge in his order dated 28.09. I 99 I, rejected the application of
the respondents.

Aggrieved by the order of the Sub-judge, the respondents approached
the High Court of Andhra Pradesh by way of Civil Revision Petition No. 363/ E
92 and filed an appeal in the High Court which was numbered A.S. No. 19/
1992.

On 31.12.1993, the Single Judge allowed the revision and directed that
the order of the Sub-judge be amended. On the request of the Govt. Pleader
on 18.01.1994, the matter was heard again. However, the Single Judge F
confirmed the order passed on 31.12.1993. An appeal was preferred by the
appellants in the High Court against this order of the Single Judge which was
numbered A.S. No. 147/1994.

On l l.03.1994, the Division Bench of the High Court allowed the appeal
of the respondents numbered 19/ 1992 and dismissed the appeal of the G
appellants and enhanced the compensation to Rs. 1,50,000/- per acre relying
on Ex.A- I I, a registered sale deed.

It is against this decision of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh dated
11.03.1994 the appellants are before this court by way of Civil Appeal Nos. H
890 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006) SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A 6497-6500/1994 and the respondents have also approached this court by way
ofSLP (C) No.16443/1994.

We heard learned senior counsel Mr. Sundaravardan assisted by Mr.
Manoj Saxena, learned counsel appearing for the appellants and Mrs. Anjani
Aiyagari and Mr. Subhash Sharma, learned counsel appearing for the
B respondents.

Learned senior counsel Mr. Sundaravardan submitted on facts that after
the publication of 4(1) notification on 07.03.1982 in respect of 19 acres-31
cents of land in the concerned village with some trees thereon, the Land
Acquisition officer passed an award on 03.02.198.3, granting compensation at
C Rs.11,500/- per acre and for palmyrah trees at Rs.2000 (Rs. 10/- for big palmyrah
trees, Rs.5/- for small palymyrah trees and Rs.50/- for cashewnut trees). It may
be noted that before the compensation officer no contention was ever raised
that the trees were more in number than what the officer had found

D The respondents took the matter under section 18 of the Land Acquisition
Act before the learned subordinate Judge Anakapalli. By order dated 27.04.1991
the learned sub-judge enhanced the compensation to Rs. 55,000/- per acre and
enhanced the compensation for the value of trees at Rs. I 00 per big palmyrah
tree and at Rs.200 per cashew nut tree. There was no enhancement of the
number of trees at all, nor was any such point argued as to the number of
E trees.

Both the State and the respondents took· the matter on appeal before
the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. Just on the eve of these appeals before
the High Court, a certain development occurred before the sub-court of
Anakapalli (the reference court). The respondents filed l.A.70/91 in O.P.87
F before the transferee subordinate Judge contending that there were I 0,000 big
palmyrah trees, 4500 small palmyrah trees and the statement and findings in
the decree has to be so corrected· instead of the original figures of 1000 and
500. The learned subordinate Judge held that it is not a matter for correction
under section 152 C.P.C. but one for appeal and adjudication.
G It was stated that the predecessor subordinate judge in his judgment
under section 18 of the Act, on appreciation of evidence on record found:
"there were I 000 big palmyrah trees, 500 small palmyrah trees and 25 cashewnut
trees in the entire land under present acquisition".

The I st respondent himself has stated there were 25 big palmyrah trees
H
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J.) 891
and three cashewnut trees in his land. A
PWI claimant no.14 deposed that in his acquired land of I acre and 0.8

- cents, there were only 4 palmyrah trees and 8 small ones of the same nature.

It was submitted that on the evidence and finding there could be no
basis for an exaggerated claim as to the number of trees as now claimed by B
the respondent, which claim if allowed would make a phenomenal addition of
compensation to nearby 15 lakhs of rupees.

Notwithstanding the dismissal of the I.A for correction of the decree
and judgment, the claimants filed C.R.P 363/92 under section 115 C.P.C before
the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. It may be mentioned that when the C.R.P C
was taken for final hearing the matter was already seized by a Division Bench
of the High Court. Inspite of this aspect of the matter being brought to the
notice of the learned Single Judge, the learned Single Judge by order dated
31.12.1993 allowed the CRP and held that it was only a clerical mistake. The
result is a jump from a thousand trees to ten thousand big trees and from five D
hundred to five thousand small trees resulting in additional compensation of
about Rs. 15 lakhs.

It was also submitted that by no stretch of imagination the entire area
of 19 acre 37 cents could ever cover and hold ten thousand big palmyrah trees
and 4500 small palmyrah trees, nor was this matter ever raised either before E
the Land Acquiring officer. Indeed section l3A of the Act enables such
objection to be raised.

The appeals by the state and also by the respondents before the High
court came to be disposed off on 11.03 .1994 thereby enhancing the land value
to 1,50,000 per acre. By this order there was no addition to the number of F
trees as over and above a thousand, but the enhanced value per tree was
maintained It is of interest to note that no grievance as to the number of
trees was made by the claimants in their grounds of appeal in the High
Court;

Learned counsel Mrs. Anjani Aiyagari appearing for the respondents/ G
claimants submitted that, in the instant case an extent of Ac. 19.87 cents of
agricultural land was acquired by making the Notification under Section 4(1)
of the Land Acquisition Act in the year 1982. Possession was taken in the
year \ 983 and Award was also passed granting compensation @ Rs. I I,5001
- per acre. There were Palmyrah and cashewnut trees on the land, for which H
892 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A an additional compensation was awarded.
The respondents stated that the appellants herein have raised the
objection for the first time before this Court that trees are not to be valued
separately and compensation should be awarded both for land as well as for
...
trees. On this point the respondents sought a preliminary objection saying
B that that, such a plea cannot be taken up for the first time before this Court.
Also, the compensation awarded cannot be lower than that awarded by· the
learned Land Acquisition Officer. Further, the respondents emphasized that,
the compensation awarded for the trees is however justified, as the value of
the trees was awarded at the fuel rate and the use the trunks of the big
C palmyrah trees can be put to for construction purposes.

The respondents drew our attention to the decisions of this court in the
case of Koyappathodi M Aysha Umma v. State of Kera/a, [1991] 4 SCC 8,
this Court held that compensation cannot be awarded to land separately and
the trees again valued by the capitalization method by taking the annual yield.
D However, this Court has held that the trees are to be valued separately as fuel,
timber etc; as follows : "It is thus settled law that in evaluating the market
value of the acquired property, namely, land and the building or the lands with
fruit bearing trees standing thereon, value of both would not constitute one
unit; but separate units; it would be open to the Land Acquisition Officer
or the court either to assess the lands with all its advantages as potential
E value and fix the market value thereof or where there is reliable and acceptable
evidence available, on record of the annual income of the fruit bearing trees
the annual net income multiplied by appropriate capitalization of 15 years
would be the proper and fair method to determine the market value but not
both. In the former case, the trees are to be separately valued as timber and
F to deduct salvage expenses to cut and remove the trees from the land".
Similarly, this Court in Administrator General of West Bengal v. Collector,
Varanasi [1988] 2 SCR 1025 held that where the land is valued with reference
to its potentiality for building purposes, the tree growth on the land cannot
be valued independently on the basis of its horticultural value or with reference
to the value of the yield. But this principle does not come in the way of
G awarding the timber-value after deducting costs for cutting and removing
them from the lands as salvage value. The compensation awarded for-the
building and tree growth was enhanced from Rs.57,660/- to Rs.2,00,000 and
from Rs.355.85 to Rs.7500/- respectively.

In Ratan Kumar Tandon and Ors. v. State of U.P., (1997] 2 SCC 161, this
H
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU (LAKSHMANAN, J.) 893

Court upheld the award of Rs.23,000/- given by the LAO for the trees. A
The respondents later contended that, in this case respondents had
mentioned the numbers of the trees as 10,000 big palmyrah trees, 4,500 small
palmyrah trees and 25 cashewnut trees in their claim petition, which was not
denied by the appellant. Due to a typographical mistake, the Judgment of the
reference Court put the number of trees at l 000 big palmyrah trees, 450 small B
palmyrah trees and 25 cashewnut trees. Such a mistake can be corrected
under Section 152 CPC.

The respondents referred to the decision of this court in the case of
State of Punjab v. Darshan Singh, [2004] l SCC 328 where it was held that,
"Section 152 provides for correction of clerical or arithmetical mistakes in C
judgments decrees or orders or errors arising therein from any accidental slip
or omission."

It was submitted that, the High Court had awarded compensation to the
respondents by relying upon Ex.A- I I, which is a registered sale deed dated D
20.0I.1982 and fixed the market value at Rs. 31/- per sq.yd. and deducted 35%
out of that for amenities.

It was also submitted that the reliance on small plots of land for
determining the market value of large tracts of land is permissible if no other
evidence is available by making necessary deductions. E
Also it was argued by the respondents that, the deduction of 35%
towards development is not justified following the verdict ofthis court in the
case of Kasturi & Ors. v. State of Haryana, [2003] I SCC 354, where it was
held that, the land being acquired in an already developed area; having
potential of construction of residential and commercial buildings, not more F
than 20% ought to have been deducted towards development.

Learned counsel further submitted that, the High Court has failed to
take into consideration Ex. A-5, A-6 and A-17, which are agreements of sale
wherein the rate per acre was between 2 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs per acre.
G
Concluding her submissions, learned counsel submitted that, the market
value is much less than the value the land was worth and the deduction was
much more than what should have been applied to a developed land.

We heard both parties in detail and perused through all the records
H
894 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A placed before us.
We have carefully considered the rival submissions made by learned
counsel appearing for the respective parties and also with reference to the
pleadings, annexures and the decisions cited.

B On the facts and circumstances of the case, the following substantial
questions of law arise for consideration by this Court:-

(1) Whether the learned Single Judge of the High Court was right
in law in upholding the plea of the claimants that their grievance
(which is not sustainable even on evidence) is amenable for
C correction under Section 152 of the C.P.C?

(2) Whether the learned Single Judge was right in entertaining the
respondents' Revision under Section 115 C.P.C., more so, when
the matter was seized by a Division Bench and thus pre-empting
an adjudication by the latter?
D (3) Was the Division Bench of the High Court right in law in
enhancing the compensation to Rs. One lakh and fifty thousand,
per acre, principally relying on Ex.A 7 covering a small area of .08
cents only?

(4) In any case, is it permissible to make separate valuations of land
E and tree?

Question Nos. 1 and 2:

Mr. Sundaravardan, learned senior counsel, in support of his contention
relied on the judgment reported in [1996] 11 SCC 528 State of Bihar & Anr
F v. Nilainani Sahu & Anr., Which, according to him, is on all fours with the
contention of the appellant-State of Andhra Pradesh. This Court in para 6
at page 529 held thus:

"We find force in the finding of the Division Bench that an appeal
would not lie against the amendment of the decree and it is only
G revisable; since the learned Single Judge had amended the decree in
appeal, a revision to the Division Bench would not lie. The view
taken by the Division Bench cannot be faulted. However, the question
is whether the learned Single Judge, was right in correcting the decree
and directing payment of the aforesaid amount of Rs. 76,21,630.30 by
way of order under sections 151 and 152 of CPC, we find that the view
H
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHJNAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J.} 895

taken by the learned Single Judge, Justi'ce R.K. Dev, with due respect, A
if we can say so, is not atrocious. It is an admitted position that the
valuation of the trees and the quantification was done by the Land
Acquisition Officer at Rs.2466. On reference, after adduction of
evidence, the reference court confirmed the same. When regular
appeal was filed under Section 54 of the Act, the High Court had gone B
into the question and did not accept the number of trees and value
thereof; it accordingly confirmed the award of the reference court. In
other words, the decree of a sum of Rs.2466 granted by the reference
court stood upheld and became final. The question is an amendment
of the decree, could the High Court go behind the order which had
become final and correct the valuation, as stated earlier, to the tune C
of a sum of Rs.25,39,919.50? The High Court obviously was in gross
error in reconsidering the matter and came to a fresh conclusion as
to the number of the trees and value thereof under the guise of
arithmetical mistake. The learned Single Judge, therefore, was wholly
wrong in his conclusion as to the amount above referred to for
correction of the decree." D
This case is approved and followed in Jayalakshmi Coehlo v. Oswal
Joseph Coeh/o, (2001) 4 SCC 181.

In the petition for divorce moved on consent, parties jointly incorporated
an agreement under which the wife had to relinquish her rights in the flat on E
receipt of a certain sum from husband. In their prayer they sought only the
relief of divorce. Later, an amendment under Section 152 was sought by
husband seeking a relief among others, the transfer of the flat which was
agreed to be transferred in the body of the petition. The family court as well
as the High Court granted the prayer and amended the decree. F
This Court however set aside the order of both the Courts below
holding that the exercise is impermissible under Section 152 CPC.

At page 189 para 13, Placitum E, it was observed thus . "In a case
reported in Dwarka Das v. State ofA.P., [1999] 3 SCC 500, this court has held G
that the correction should be of a mistake or an omission which is accidental
and not intentional, without going into the merits of the case. It is further
observed that the prc>Visions cannot be invoked to modify, alter, add to the
terms of the original decree so as to pass an effective Judicial arder after the
Judgment in the case - Liberal use of the provisions of Section 152 has been
H
896 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. JO S.C.R.

A deprecated. While taking the above view, this court had approved the
Judgment of the Madras High Court in AIR 1940 Madras 29. Similar view is
found to have been taken by this court in a case reported in State of Bihar
v. Nilamani Sahu (supra) where the Court under the guise of arithmetical
mistake, on a reconsideration of the matter came to a fresh conclusion as to
the number of trees and the valuation thereof in a matter which had been
B decided finally."

Similarly in anvther case enhanced interest on solatium under Section
23 A(l) Section 28 omitted to be awarded originally, could not be awarded
later by resort to Section 152 CPC ( 1996) 4 SCC 533).
c Again in para 14 (page 190) it is stated thus:

"on second though the Court may find that it may have committed a
mistake in passing an order in certain terms but every such mistake
does not permit its rectification under Section 152 CPC."

D In [2001] 6 SCC 683 Plasto Pack, Mumbai v. Ratnakar Bank Ltd, it was
held at page 687 para 12 :

" ... Such of the prayers as were not granted by decree dated 3-3-1995
would be deemed to have been refused and to that extent the suit
shall be deemed to have been dismissed ..... the Court cannot
E substitute a new decree."

In [2001] 5 SCC 37 K. Rajamou/i v. A. V.K.N. Swany

At para 6, page 41 - Placitum G it is held;

F "S 152 provides that a clerical or arithmetical mistake ......... .

The question therefore arises is whether omission of pendente lite
interest to the decree by the trial court was an accidental or clerical
error. In the case of Dwaraka Das v. State of MP, [1999] 3 SCC 500
it was held that the omission in not granting pendente lite interest
G could not be held to be an accidental omission or mistake and therefore
neither the trial court nor the appellate court has the power to award
pendente lite interest under Section 152 CPC."

The Privy Council in Piytatna Unnase v. Waknikar Sonutara Unnasi 54
Calcutta Weekly notes page 568 with Section 189 of Ceylon code dealing with
H
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCH!NAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J) 897

Section 189 of cyclone code corresponding to Section I 52 CPC has laid down A
similar principle. The contention of the party in the appeal before the Privy
Council was that while Judgment on which the decree was based had conceded
the right to an additional area of land edged green in the plain called "Spenser's
plan, the decree does not follow suit and hence it has to corrected by resort
Section 189 of Ceylon code corresponding to Section 152 CPC. The Privy
Council negatived the plea and held at 571-para 2-Right hand side column B
as ;

"The highest that case can be put on behalf of the Appellants is that
there are passages in the Judgment which suggest that if the Judge
had been minded to decide the question, he would have decided it in C
favour of the Appellants. The Judge may have had good reasons for
not deciding the question. He may have thought it inappropriate to
...... decide on the title to a piece of open land when he was dealing only
i
with issues relating to the cost of improvements in buildings, or he
may have thought that any such decision might be embarrassing to
parties not before the Court who had interest in land ...... D
The general rule is clear that once an order is passed and entered or
otherwise perfected in accordance with the practice of the Court, the Court
which passed the order is functus officio and cannot set aside or alter the
order however wrong it may appear to be. That can only be done on appeal,
Section 189 of Civil Procedure Code of Ceylon, which embodies the provisions E
of Or 28 R. 11 of the English Rules of the Supreme Court to ensure that its
order carries into effect the decision at which it arrived, provides an exception
to the general rule, but it is an exception within a narrow compass. The
Section does not take away any right of appeal which the parties may possess'
it merely provides a simple and expeditious means of rectifying an ~bvious F
error. In the present case there was no clerical error or accidental omission
in the decree and the case of the Appellants is based on an alleged variance
between the Judgment of the Court and the decree based upon it. In such
a case the variation should appear on a perusal of the Judgment and decree.
No such variation is apparent in the present case.
G
Mr. Sundarvardhan submitted that from all these dicta quoted above, it
is clear that the learned Single Judge's order in CRP is wholly without
jurisdiction. As rightly pointed out by learned senior counsel the exercise
involved is one of adjudication, a deductive function which Court has to do
from proved and admitted facts and that it is not a case of clerical/arithmetical
H
898 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A factor.
Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that these facts are
admitted by the rule of non-traverse stated in Order 8 Rule 5 CPC. In our
opinion, the said argument of the learned counsel for the respondent overlo.oks
that admissions are explainable under Section 21 of the Evidence Act, that
B under the proviso to the very rule of non-traverse the Court can require the
party to lead evidence and that the utmost that could be said is that a piece
of evidence as to admission is not considernd by the Court. All these are
not clerical/arithmetical errors.

C Learned Single Judge who heard the civil revision petition could have
directed the CRP to be posted with the Appeals that were pending before the
Division Bench on 31.12.1993 when the CRP was finally heard and on 18.01;1984
when it was again heard by learned Single Judge on being mentioned, the
appeals were seized before the Division Bench which rendered its judgment. /
D During the pendency of these appeals in this Court, an additional
affidavit was filed on behalf of the appellant raising additional grounds in the
above appeals. It is stated that the High Court has erred in disposing of
the CRP without calling for the original records and thereby failed to notice
that in the petition filed on behalf of the claimants seeking reference to Civil
Court under Section 18 of the Act, they did not dispute about the number
E of trees (176 trees) as noted by the Land Acquisition Officer in his award and
also failed to notice that even in the evidence, P.Ws. l to 3 did not speak
about the existence of more number of trees than noted by the Land Acquisition
Officer in the award and further in the written argument submitted by the
counsel for the claimants, whose copy was furnished to .the Assistant
F Government Pleader, there was no claim of more number of trees than the one
noted in the award by the Land Acquisition Officer and there was no point
framed by the sub-Court and no discussion was made regarding the number
of trees existed in the land and the Court discussed only about the value of
each tree noted by the Land Acquisition Officer and enhanced tree value from
Rs.. 51- to Rs .. 50/-andfrom Rs ..10/-to Rs.100/-. Inthis regard, it is submitted
G that the 1st page of the written arguments was mischievously substituted
subsequent to the disposal of the O.P. by the Sub Court forgetting the fact
that the copy of the written arguments was supplied to the Asstt. Govt.
Pleader and in that substituted page one line was added mentioning that there
were 10,000 big palmyrah and 4,500 small palmyrah trees and the said tampering
H of the record was confirmed by the C.B.C.I.D. in its investigation.
- DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITJON v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, l.J 899

It is further submitted that the High Court failed to notice that the A
learned Sub-Judge nowhere gave direction in the Judgment that the above
enhancement of the value of the trees (from Rs.5/- to Rs.50/- and from Rs. I 0/
- to Rs.100/-) was applicable to more number of trees mentioned in the claim
statement filed on behalf of the claimants and on the other hand, the learned
Sub-Judge in the operative portion of the Judgment ordered that the enhanced B
tree value to be paid after deducting the value already paid, which clearly
indicates that the enhanced tree value was made applicable only to those
trees for which Rs.5/- and Rs. IO/- was granted by the L.A.0.

He also submitted that the High Comt further failed to note that the
High Court while exercising only revisional powers has no jurisdiction to give C
a finding that the enhanced trees value shall be applied to the trees mentioned

-
in the claim statement in the absence of the direction by the trial Court to that
effect, and thus the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction in ordering
consequential amendment of the decree to apply the enhanced tree value for
'I 0000' big and '4500' small Palmyrah trees.
\
D
He further submitted that the High Court failed to note that these '10000'
big and '4500' small Palmyrah trees were fraudulently introduced in the claim
statement by way of substitution of some pages in the claim statement and
the High Court disposed of the revision even without sending for the original
claim statement. In this regard it is submitted that the original claim statement
was tampered with after the claim statement was filed into Court and the same E
was confirmed in the investigation conducted by the C.B.C.l.D. and that the
High _Court failed to notice that it is impossible for the existence of l 0000 big
and 4500 small Palmyrah trees besides 25 Cashew nut trees in a cultivable land
.. of Ac; 19.87 cents as according to the evidence of the claimants, the land was
levelled and the crops were being raised in the lands by the date of notification. p

That the High Court also failed to note that the .Court has no power to
value the trees separately and award both the value of the land and also the
value for trees as per the decision of this Court in State of Haryana v.
Gurucharan Singh, [1995] suppl. 2 SCC 637 wherein it was held that the
compensation for the lands as .well as for the trees cannot be determined G
separately.

It is also seen from the special leave petiti'Ons filed by. the State the
fo\\owing grounds have been raised:
(l) By his order dated 27.4.1991, the learned subordinate Judge, H
900 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A Anakapalli enhanced the compensation to Rs.55,000/- per acre in
respect of the land. He also enhanced the compensation in
respect of the trees to Rs. I 00/- per big palmyrah tree, Rs.50/- per
small palmyrah tree and Rs.200/- per cashewnut tree. The
compensation was for 1,000 big palmyrah trees and 500 small
palmyrah trees. The learned Subordinate Judge also awarded
B 12% interest from the date of the 4(1) Notification to the date of
taking possession and also granted interest @ 9% per annum for
one year from the date of taking possession and thereafter at
15% till the date of deposit of the compensation amount in the
Court.
c (2) On 29-7-1991, the respondents filed I.A. No. 70/91 in OP No. 21/
87 contending that, in fact, there were 10,000 big Palmyrah trees
and 4,500 small palmyrah trees on the acquired land and that the
order of the Subordinate Judge contains a typographical error
since the order had erroneously recorded that there are only
D 1,000 big palmyrah trees and 500 small palmyrah trees.
(3) On 26-9-1991, the learned Sub-Judge Anakapalli rejected the
application. Aggrieved by the order of the learned Subordinate
Judge, the respondents filed Civil Revision Petition No. 363/92 :\
in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. Further, aggrieved by the
E order of the learned Sub-Judge in O.P. No. 21/87 dated 27-4-1991,
the respondents also filed an appeal in the High Court of Andhra
Pradesh and the same was numbered as A.S. No. 19 of 1992.
(4) By his order dated 31-12-1993, a learned Single Judge allowed
the revision and directed that the order of the learned sub-Judge
be amended.
F
Again in the grounds while questioning the correctness of the learned
Single Judge in allowing the revision, the following grounds have been
specifically raised:

(I) The learned Single Judge ought to have noticed that there was
G no evidence either before the Sub-Judge, Anakapalli or before
the High Court to the effect that there existed 10,000 big palmyrah
trees and 4,500 small palmyrah trees on the acquired land.

(2) The High Court ought to have noticed that the judgment and
decree of the learned Sub-Judge was passed after an elaborate
H enquiry and after considering all the evidence on record and yet
DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J.] 901

the learned Sub-Judge found no reason to record a finding that A
there existed such large number of trees on the acquired land.

We are, therefore, of the opinion that the learned Single Judge of the
High Court has erred in law in upholding the plea of the claimants that their
grievance is amenable for correction under Section I 52 of the CPC and that
the learned Single Judge was not right in entertaining the respondents' revision B
under Section I 15 CPC more so, when the matter was seized by the Division
Bench and thus preempting an adjudication by the latter.

We, therefore, have no hesitation to set aside the order passed by the
learned Single Judge of the High Court in CRP No. 363of1992 dated 31.12.1993
and allow the appeal filed by the State of Andhra Pradesh insofar as the C
quantum of compensation awarded for the trees pursuant to the order passed
by the High Court to amend the number of trees in para No.6 of the order
in O.P. No. 21 of 1987 as 10,000 big palmyrah trees and 4,500 small palmyrah
trees and restore the order passed by the sub-Judge enhancing the
compensation in respect of the trees to Rs. 100/- per big palmyrah trees and D
RS.50/- per small palmyrah trees and Rs. 200/- for cashew nut trees and allow
the civil appeal filed by the State only with reference to the palmyrah trees
in question.

Question No.3:
E
Mr. Sundarvardhan submitted that the High Court has rightly held that
since Exh. A-1 I relates to a small extent of 0.0.5 cents just before the publication
of notification ought to have held that no reliance can be placed on the said
sale. However, the High Court fixed the market rate at Rs. 31/- per sq. yard
and deducted 35% from out of that towards amenities.
F
Mr. Sundaravardhan further cited (2003] I 0 SCC 167 Union of India v.
Ramphal and submitted that reliance on a sale deed comprising a small area
is not a guide to determine the compensation of larger area. In this case, it
has been held that the sale price in respect of small piece of land would not
be a determining factor for deciding the market value of vast stretch of land. G

Per contra, Mrs. Anjani Aiyagari submitted that where the land is
valued with reference to the potentiality for building purposes the trees on
the land cannot be valued independently on the basis of its horticultural
value or with reference to the value of the yield but this principle does not
come in the way of awarding the timber value after deducting costs for cutting H
902 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2006) SUPP. IO S.C.R.

A and removing them from the lands as salvage value. In support of the above
submission, she relied on Admn. General of West Bengal v. Collector, Varanasi.
(supra). She also further relied on State of Gujarat v. Govind Mamaiya &
Ors., [2005] 10 SCC 141 which held that the compensation of Rs. 120 per
eucalyptus trees ought not to be interfered with. She also relied on Ratan
B Kumar Tandon v. State of U.P. (supra) wherein this Court upheld the award
of Rs.23,000/- given by the Land Acquisition Officer for the trees.

She submitted that the appellants herein have raised the objection for
the first time before this Court that trees are not to be valued separately and
compensation awarded both for land as well as for trees. She also submitted
C that the compensation awarded cannot be low.er than that awarded by the
Land Acquisition Officer and that the compensation awarded for the trees is
however justified as the value of the trees was awarded at the fuel rate and
the used trunks of the big palmyrah trees can be put to for construction
purposes. In this context, she invited our attention to page 70, para 37 of
the Order dated 27.04.1991 of the reference Court in O.P. No. 21 of 1987 which
D is filed as annexure-A of Volume-2 by the appellant. Insofar as number of
trees are concerned, she submitted that due to a typographical mistake the
judgment of the reference Court put the number of trees at 1000 big palmyrah
trees and 450 small palmyrah trees and 25 cashew nut trees and, therefore,
such a mistake can be corrected under Section 152 CPC. We have already
E considered the rival submissions on this issue and the order passed by the
High Court by the learned Single Judge of the High Court in CRP is
unsustainable in law for the reasons stated (supra) in this order.

We, therefore, reject the submission made by the learned counsel for
the respondent-claimant insofar as it relates to the total number of trees are
F concerned.

With reference to the argument of Mr. Sundaravaradan that reliance on
sales of small area is not a guide to determine compensation of large area the
learned coun.sel for the respondent submitted that the High Court has awarded
compensation by relying upon Exh. A-11, a registered sale deed dated
G 20.01.1982 and fixed the market value at Rs. 31/- per sq. yard and deducted
3~% out of that for amenities.

Learned counsel submitted that the reliance on small plots of land for
determining the market value of large tracts of land is permissible if no other
evidence is available by making necessary deductions. The land in the
H
- DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, l.]

. present case is on the Southern side of the National High way facing the road A
and in close proximity from the well-developed area ofKothuru. The acquired
903

land is situated in the Anakapalli Municipal area and Anakapalli town and
surrounded by poultry farms. The reference Court has held on page 62 that
'there is nothing to disbelieve the version of P. Ws. 1 to 3 about the existence
of various colonies and warehousing corporation godowns and residential B
houses nearby to the land in question and the Government has also acquired
land covered by Ex.A-4 for the purpose of housing colonies under Award No.
5182 prior to the Section 4(1) notification in this case.' 'There is no dispute
about the existence of A.M.A. High School, A.M.A.L. College, warehousing
godowns, other Government offices as referred in the claim statement of the
claimants and even though the acquired land was registered as an agricultural C
dry land, the way it was acquired for the purpose of house sites go to
establish that it has got potentiality for using the same as house sites even
by the time of 4(1) notification and the neighbouring lands were being utilized
for construction of colonies both by the Government and private individuals.'
The lands covered by Exs. A-7 to A-11 are in very close proximity to the land
acquired, as held by the reference court. D
The land acquired being in an already developed area, having potential
of construction of residential and commercial buildings, not more than 20%
ought to have been deducted towards development, as held by this Court in
Kasturi & Ors. v. State of Haryana (supra). Therefore, the deduction of 35% E
towards development is not justified.

Moreover, the High Court has failed to take into consideration Ex.A-5,
A-6 and A-17, which are agreements of sale wherein the rate per acre was
between 2 lakhs to 2 I /2 lakhs per acre. The reference court, held that 'recitals
in Ex.A-I, A-5 to A-7 and A-15, A-16 and A-18 go to establish that there were p
willing purchasers for the lands of the claimants at rupees more than 2 lakh
and the recitals in Ex.A-13 further go to show that even a wet land which is
not fit for using it as house sites was agreed tobe purchased atRs.1000/- per
cent.'

It was submitted that the market value is much less than the value that G
the acquired land was worth, and the deduction was much more than what
should have been applied to a developed land.

We see much force and merit in the above submission. The Division
Bench of the High Court on a consideration of the entire materials placed
H
904 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006) SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A before it has awarded compensation by relying upon Exh. A-1 I a registered
sale deed dated 20.0 l. I 982 and fixed the market value at Rs. 31/- per sq. yard
and deducted 35% out of that for amenities. No fault can be founded on the
conclusion arrived at by the High Court insofar as awarding the compensation
relying upon Exh A-I I is concerned. We, therefore, are not inclined to
B interfere with the market value fixed by the High Court at Rs. 31/- per sq. yard.

Question No.4:

Mr. Sundarvardan submitted that valuation of land and trees separately
is not pennissible in view of judgment of this Court in State of Haryana v.
C Gurcharan Singh and Anr. etc., AIR (I 996) SC I 06. This Court in para 3 held
thus:

"Ms. Suruchi Agarwal, learned counsel for the State, contended that
the High Court has committed grave error of law in upholding the
detennination of the compensation both to the land as well as fruit
bearing trees and has also further committed error in enhancing the
D
market value to the fruit bearing trees in addition to the confinnation
of the compensation separately awarded for the land and the· fruit
bearing trees. It is against the settled principle of law as laid down by
this court in catena of decisions. We find force in the contention. Sri
Bagga, learned counsel for the respondents, contended that in the
E year 1966 the price index was at 144 points whereas in I 970 the index
was found to be at 2 I 3 points. The High Court, therefore, was right
in increasing the compensation to the fruit bearing trees by 60%. We
find no force in the contention. It is settled law that the Collector or
the court who detennines the compensation for the land as well as
fruit bearing trees cannot detennine them separately. The compensation
F is to the value of the acquired land ..... "

Again in Niranjan Singh and Anr. v. State of U.P. and Ors., this Court in para
6 held thus:

"It is unnecessary in view of this factual position to consider the legal
G · submission of the appellants' counsel that the land and the trees
should have been valued separately by reason of the provisions of
the Land acquisition Act cited by him. Were it necessary to consider
this contention we would have preferred to hold that since the land
was acquired as a forest, it would have to be valued as a forest and
H that value would depend upon the kind of trees and the number of
- DEPUTY DIRECTOR LAND ACQUISITION v. MALLA ATCHINAIDU [LAKSHMANAN, J)

trees standing in the forest on the date of acquisition. If the value of
905
A
trees is taken .into consideration while valuing the forest, the trees
cannot be valued once again for arriving at the total compensation
payable to the owners of the forest."

Mr. Sundarvardan, therefore, prayed that the appeals on behalf of the _
State of Andhra Pradesh by the Director may be allowed and that of the B
respondents be dismissed.

In view of our discussion in the foregoing paragraphs in regard to the
trees, we allow the appeal of the State only to the extent as indicated in
paragraphs (supra) and set aside the order passed by the High Court in CRP
No. 363 of I 992. Insofar as awarding of compensation for the land basing C
· on A-11 is concerned, we affirm the judgment and decree passed by the High
Court.

In the result, the order passed by the High Court in CRP No. 363 of I 992
stands set aside and the judgment passed by the Division Bench. Insofar D
as awarding compensation for the land is concerned basing on Exh. A- I I
stands affirmed.

We also ratify the judgment and decree passed by the High Court
ordering the additional amount calculated @ 12% p.a. on such market value
for the period commencing on and from the date of the publication of the E
notification under Section 4( l) in respect of such land to the date of the award
of the Collector or the date of taking possession of the land wh!chever is
earlier as contemplated under Section 23(la) of the amended Land Acquisition
Act, 1968 of 1984. We also hold that the claimant shall also be entitled to
solatium @ 30% on the market value fixed by the High. Court as stipulated
under Section 23(2) of the Act. The Claimant shall also be entitled to interest F
ordered by the High Court in its judgment and decree.

During the pendency of the appeals before this Court, certain interim
orders were passed by this Court directing payment of I/3rd of the enhanced
amount together with proportionate accrued interest and proportionate solatium G
shall be paid to the claimants. This Court stayed the operation of the rest
of the award subject to the aforesaid condition. The claimants were permitted
to withdraw the same without need to furnish any security. The respondent
· shall adjust the payment, if any, made by them to the claimants and pay the
entire balance amount for the land as per the market value fixed by the High
Court together with solatium, interest, etc. etc. We also make it clear that the H
906 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. IO S.C.R.

A claimants will be entitled for payment of compensation only with reference to
the number of trees as ordered by the Subordinate Judge and not as ordered
by the order in the CRP in regard to the total number of trees and the value.

In the instant case, 4(1) notification was issued under the Land
Acquisition Act on 07.03.1982. Both parties are litigating in the Court for the
B last 25 years. The litigation must reach its finality one day or the other. lihat
stage has come now. We, therefore, direct the respondents to work out the
compensation for the land as ordered by the High Court based on Exh A-11
and also the compensation for the value of trees as ordered by the Sub-Court
and after adjusting the payment which have already been made to pay the
C entire balance together with solatium, interest, etc. to the claimants within 3
months from today.

This direction should be punctually obeyed by the authorities concerned.
The Government has acquired the land in question in the year 1982 by
exercising its power of eminent domain. The Government is bound to pay the
D compensation lawfully due to the claimants.

We, therefore, direct the respondents to pay the balance compensation
and solatium, interest etc. as indicated by us in our earlier part of this
judgment. No costs.

B.S. Appeal disposed of.