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Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
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Acts
  • Section 47, of U.P Avas Evam Vikas Adhiniyam, 1965
  • SECTION 3 LAND ACQUISITION ACT
  • Sec. 15-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984.
  • LAND ACQUISITION ACT
  • Sec. 48-a of the Land Acquisition Act
  • Sec. 17(1) of the Land Acquisition Act,
  • Sec. 11 of the Land Acquisition Act,
  • Sec. 18 of Land Acquisition Act
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Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Judges
Acts
  • Section 47, of U.P Avas Evam Vikas Adhiniyam, 1965
  • SECTION 3 LAND ACQUISITION ACT
  • Sec. 15-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984.
  • LAND ACQUISITION ACT
  • Sec. 48-a of the Land Acquisition Act
  • Sec. 17(1) of the Land Acquisition Act,
  • Sec. 11 of the Land Acquisition Act,
  • Sec. 18 of Land Acquisition Act
Smart Summary

Judgment Summary — Writ Petition by Ram Avadh Singh (substituted by legal heirs)

Factual and Procedural Background

The petitioner (Ram Avadh Singh, now represented by his legal heirs) challenged two awards dated 30.9.1974 (Annexure IV) and 31.3.1977 (Annexure IX) arising from land acquired under the Talkatora Road Street Scheme in village Zafarpur alias Rukumuddinpur, Pargana and Tahsil Lucknow. The petition sought certiorari to quash those awards and a mandamus directing the Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO), U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad, to make a fresh consolidated award for land measuring 19 bigha, 12 biswa along with trees, nursery, nali and other improvements then standing on the land; alternatively, to direct the SLAO to prepare separate awards for trees and improvements over specified portions (18 bigha, 7 biswa and 1 bigha, 5 biswa) and to pay compensation within specified periods.

Possession for parts of the land was taken on 1.12.1971 (and additional possession on 2.7.1976 for 1 bigha, 3 biswa), with dakhalnamas listing trees and nursery. The petitioner filed objections claiming ownership of trees, nursery and other improvements. The SLAO awarded compensation only for land (valued by the SLAO and later by the Tribunal), but did not award compensation for trees, plants, nursery and other improvements. A reference and subsequent Tribunal proceedings followed; the Tribunal modified the SLAO award for land. The petitioner filed a connected First Appeal No. 21 of 1977 seeking a higher rate of compensation (Rs. 2.00 per sq. ft. plus damages under Sec. 48-A of the Land Acquisition Act and interest).

Administrative and investigative events (including reports from Horticulture/Forest Departments, a tentative award sent to the Board of Revenue for concurrence, a CBI inquiry taking documents into custody, and compromise in separate civil litigation) further complicated finalization of compensation for improvements. The petitioner contended that compensation for trees and other improvements remained unresolved for a long time and that the SLAO improperly issued piecemeal awards or refused to make a consolidated award.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the awards dated 30.9.1974 (Annexure IV) and 31.3.1977 (Annexure IX) should be quashed for failing to award compensation in respect of trees, nursery and other improvements taken in possession.
  2. Whether the Special Land Acquisition Officer is obliged to make one consolidated award in respect of a holding that includes land together with trees, nursery and other fixtures, or whether successive/separate awards for the same holding (land first and improvements later) are permissible.
  3. Whether the SLAO (in making fresh adjudication) must consider and follow the rate of compensation fixed by courts for other land covered by the same notification (i.e., whether the SLAO is bound to consider rates fixed in adjacent/related cases).
  4. Whether, as prayed, the respondent should be directed to award compensation for trees and improvements on specified portions (18 bigha, 7 biswa and 1 bigha, 5 biswa) and to dispose of pending claims within a specified time.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner's Arguments

  • The writ petition sought to quash the two awards and to compel a consolidated award covering the entire holding including trees, nursery and other improvements; if full quashing was refused, petitioner asked for mandamus directing SLAO to award compensation specifically for trees and improvements on certain parcels and to pay within two months.
  • The petitioner argued that successive awards for the same acquisition (one for land and another for improvements) are impermissible where there is a single holding; reliance was placed on the language of Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act (that the Land Acquisition Officer "shall make an award") to contend that there cannot be more than one award absent a prayer for supplementary award.
  • Petitioner referred to precedent (Prag Narain and others) to support the proposition that the Act does not contemplate a series of awards for the same property and that multiple documents may be read together as a single award where appropriate.
  • Petitioner contended the SLAO failed to award compensation for trees and improvements despite dakhalnamas and reports; the petitioner also contended the SLAO did not take into account compensation rates fixed by courts for other lands under the same notification and that compensation should follow the higher rate fixed elsewhere (the petitioner sought Rs. 2.00 per sq. ft. in first appeal).
  • The petitioner asserted the Tribunal-modified award and administrative steps left compensation for improvements pending unreasonably long and that the Board of Revenue and State authorities had delayed final action despite procedural steps having been taken by the petitioner to prove ownership of trees and improvements.

Note: The opinion contains detailed statements of the petitioner's contentions. The opinion does not provide a detailed, separate narrative of the respondents' contesting arguments in the same level of detail.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Prag Narain v. The Collector of Agra (Privy Council) The Act does not contemplate that where more than one person is interested in a parcel of land there should be more than one award relating thereto; two documents dealing with the same parcel may be read together as constituting one award. The court invoked the principle that multiple documents may be read together as constituting a single award for the same parcel where appropriate, supporting the petitioner's position that piecemeal awards over one holding are suspect and should be avoided.
Secretary of the State v. Karim Bux Observation that the Act does not contemplate a series of awards in respect of the same property. Used to reinforce the principle that successive awards for the same holding are ordinarily not contemplated by the statute and to disfavor piecemeal acquisition awarding.
R.C. Sen v. The Trustees of the Improvement of Calcutta Distinction between separate awards for separate holdings (permissible) and piecemeal acquisition of a single holding (not reasonable): one notice, one proceeding and one award for one holding/ownership is the expectation of the Act. The court relied on this distinction to conclude that separate awards for separate holdings are acceptable but a piecemeal award of a single holding (treating land and improvements in separate awards) is problematic; this supported the direction to make one consolidated award for the holding.
Mohammad Sarif Hakumji Chippa v. State of Gujarat In certain facts, one award may be spread over two documents (i.e., two instruments may together constitute a single award). The court recognized that where circumstances justify, two documents can be read together as one award; this informed the court's analysis that formal multiplicity of documents does not necessarily validate successive awards if the documents are read together.
Amarjit Singh v. State of U.P. (Division Bench, same locality/acquisition) Held that the Land Acquisition Officer is bound to consider the rate of compensation fixed by court in respect of other land covered by the same notification. The court expressly agreed with the Division Bench in Amarjit Singh and applied that principle here: the SLAO must consider and follow the rate fixed by court for adjacent/related land covered by the same notification (the opinion cites entitlement to 1.20 per sq. fit fixed in other cases).

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court's analysis proceeded from the factual record (possession dates, dakhalnamas listing trees and nursery, awards made for land but not for trees and improvements, and the petitioner's sustained claim and administrative steps) to legal principle:

  1. Evidence and procedural history: The dakhalnamas and possession records showed that the Parishad took possession of land and specified trees, nursery and other improvements on the dates asserted by the petitioner (1.12.1971 and 2.7.1976 for additional possession). The petitioner lodged objections and produced departmental reports; the Board of Revenue sought ownership documents which the petitioner produced. Despite these steps, compensation for improvements remained unresolved.
  2. Statutory interpretation: The court noted statutory definitions and provisions cited in the opinion: Section 3(a) of the Land Acquisition Act includes things attached to the earth (so trees and fixtures fall within "land"), Section 23 contemplates market value including things permanently attached, and Section 11 provides that the Land Acquisition Officer "shall make an award." From these provisions the court derived that compensation for land ordinarily includes compensation for things permanently attached (trees, garden, cattle house, tube-well, etc.) and that these ought to be assessed along with the land.
  3. Authority concerning piecemeal awards: The court surveyed authorities (Prag Narain, Karim Bux, R.C. Sen, Mohammad Sarif Hakumji Chippa) to articulate the governing principle: separate awards for separate holdings are permissible, but piecemeal award-making for a single holding (i.e., awarding land first but refusing or deferring award for improvements) is generally inconsistent with the scheme of the Act. The decisions also permit reading multiple documents together as one award where appropriate.
  4. Specific error in the SLAO's awards: The SLAO awarded compensation for land but did not award compensation for trees and improvements which were shown to have been taken in possession; in some instances tentative awards or departmental reports were prepared but the SLAO referred the matter upwards (Board of Revenue / State Government) instead of passing an award; administrative delays and investigative seizures further stalled finalization. The Court found that the SLAO's approach was not in conformity with law when he failed to consider improvements together with the land.
  5. Rate of compensation: The court noted that the SLAO's rate of compensation for land (25 paise per sq. ft., later enhanced to 50 paise per sq. ft. by the Tribunal) did not conform with the rate fixed by other courts for neighbouring/adjacent land covered by the same notification. Relying on the Division Bench decision in Amarjit Singh, the court held that the SLAO is bound to consider the judicially fixed rate in related cases and found that the petitioner was entitled to compensation at the rate of 1.20 per sq. fit fixed in other cases of adjacent land-owners.
  6. Relief and remedial direction: Because compensation for improvements had not been awarded and the SLAO had not adjudicated the claim in conformity with statute and precedent (including consideration of the judicial rate for adjacent lands), the court concluded that the awards under challenge were defective. The court therefore quashed the awards dated 30.9.1974 and 31.3.1977 and remitted the matter to the SLAO to make a consolidated award for land and the identified improvements, to apply the rate identified in related judicial decisions, and to dispose of the matter within a limited time frame (three months).

Holding and Implications

Core Ruling: The writ petition is allowed; the awards dated 30.9.1974 (Annexure IV) and 31.3.1977 (Annexure IX) are quashed, and the matter is remanded to the Special Land Acquisition Officer to make a consolidated award for the land and improvements (trees, nursery, cattle house, tube-well, constructions, etc.) in accordance with law.

Direct consequences and directions ordered by the court:

  • The Special Land Acquisition Officer is directed to adjudicate the petitioner's claim afresh and to make one consolidated award covering the land and all improvements that stood on the land (as reflected in the compromise and possession records).
  • The SLAO must take into consideration the rate of compensation fixed by courts for other land covered by the same notification — the opinion identifies entitlement to the rate of 1.20 per sq. fit fixed in other adjacent cases — and apply the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act as amended and in accordance with law.
  • The SLAO was directed to conclude the matter within three months because of the long pendency of the dispute. Costs were awarded to the petitioner.
  • The connected First Appeal No. 21 of 1977 was also allowed to the extent indicated and the award under appeal was quashed; the matter was remitted for fresh adjudication in light of the court's observations.

Broader implication: The opinion enforces the principle that compensation for things attached to the earth (trees and other improvements) should be adjudicated in conformity with the Land Acquisition Act and that the Land Acquisition Officer must consider judicially-fixed rates in related acquisitions under the same notification. The judgment does not purport to announce a new legal doctrine beyond applying existing authorities to the facts; its immediate effect is to require a fresh, consolidated award and payment of legally-applicable compensation to the petitioner.

Disposition: Petition allowed; awards quashed; matter remanded to the Special Land Acquisition Officer for fresh adjudication and award within three months. Costs awarded.

    Ram Avadh Singh (Deceased) And Others v. State Of U.P And Others Opp. Parties.

    U.C Srivastava, J.:— By means of this writ petition, the petitioner Ram Avadh Singh, now substituted by his legal heirs and representative has prayed for issue of certiorari, for quashing two awards, dated 30.9.1974, Annexure IV, dated 31.3.1977, Annexure IX and for a direction to be Special Land Acquisition Officer, U.P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad, for making a fresh consolidated award in respect of the whole land of area 19 bigha, 12 biswa alongw ith the trees and nursery, Nali and other improvements standing over that area at the time of taking possession and in case award, dated 30.9.1974 is not quashed, then issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent No. 3 to prepare an award in respect of trees of the petitioner on the land of area 18 bigha, 7 biswa which had been taken possession of alongwith the land on the basis of the petitioners' claim pending before him and pay compensation therefore, within a period of two months and further prayed for, in case the award, dated 31.3.1977 in respect of 1 bigha, 5 biswa land of the petitioners' is not quashed then the respondent No. 3 may be directed to prepare the award within a specified period in respect of the aforesaid land and in respect of proportionate number of trees which Stood on the said land as per petitioner's claim and to pay the same to the petitioners. A writ of mandamus directing the respondent No. 3 has also been prayed by the petitioners, to make a reference to the court relating to the objection filed by the petitioners about the award, dated 31.3.1977 The further prayer] has been made for a writ of mandamus : directing the respondent, Nos. 1 to 3 pay immediately the compensation awarded to the petitioners under the award, dated 31.3.1977

    2. This writ petition has been connected with First Appeal No. 21 of 1977, filed by the petitioner against the judgments and orders, dated 8.12.1976 and 16.12.1976, passed by the Presiding Officer, U.P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Tribunal, Lucknow, praying that the order passed by the Tribunal may be modified and the respondent may be directed to pay compensation at the rate of Rs. 2.00 per sq. ft. alongwith damages to which the appellant is found entitled under Sec. 48-a of the Land Acquisition Act with 18% interest since 6.10.1962 with costs.

    3. The Tribunal to which the reference was made modified the award passed by the Special Land Acquisition Officer and directed the compensation to be awarded at the rate of Re. 0.30 per sq. fit with 1585 salatium and 6% interest as awarded by the Special Land Acquisition Officer.

    4. On behalf of the petitioners, it has been contended that in case the writ petition is allowed, it will not be necessary to give any detailed judgment in the first appeal (No. 21 of 1977) and the writ petition will cover the field.

    5. The land in which the present dispute situates in village Zafarpuf alias Rukumuddinpur, Pargana and Tahsil Lucknow, now acquired under the Talkatora Road Street Scheme. It appears a notification under Sec. 337 of U.P Nagar Mahapalika Adhiniyam, 1959 was published in the U.P Gazette on 20.10.1962 and the State Government sanctioned this Scheme under Section 363(1) of the aforesaid Act on 10.4.1967 The last notification under Section 363 of that Act was published in U.P Gazette, dated 27.5.1967 Thus, the said Scheme came into force and was subsequently; trans ferred under Section 47, of U.P Avas Evam Vikas Adhiniyam, 1965 to U.P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (hereinafter referred to as Parishad). Thereafter a notification under Sec. 17(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, dated 30.4.1971 was published empowering the Collector to proceed to take possession although no award has been made on 1.12.1971 the possession was taken. Thereafter the possession of the land in question was delivered by the Special Land Acquisition Officer to the Avas Evam Vikas Parishad on 1.12.1971 not only over the land but also over the trees plants and nursery, Tube-well and its pucca nailes etc., existing over the land measuring 18. bighas 7 biswa of land which according, to the petitioners wrongly shown as 16 bigha, 4 biswa instead 18 bighas, 7 biswa, leaving behind 1 bigha, 1 biswa Abadi land of the petitioner and some land (1 bigha 5 biswa) adjoining the high tension eclectic wires. The Dakhalanama, dated 1.12.1971 also mentions a list of trees and plants in the nursery. The petitioner filed objections relating to land, trees, plants in the garden and nursery. But the Land Acquisition Officer gave an award only in respect of the land measuring 18 bigha, 7 biswa, which was found to be correct area of the land covered by the notification and no compensation was awarded in respect of trees, plants which stood on petitioner's holding. The petitioner asserts that he was told that the compensation was assessed in respect of trees and nursery and the reports of the Horticulture Department and, Forest Department were also obtained. On receipt of these reports it appears that a tentative award was prepared but since the award exceeded the financial, limit for which the Special Land Acquisition Officer could himself pass the award, the tentative award was sent to the Board of Revenue, for concurrence. The petitioner made representations in respect of payment of compensation of trees and Nursery and a notice was received by him from the Board of Revenue on 6.8.1984, requiring him to produce all the documents and other evidence relating to the ownership of the trees. On the date fixed that is on 8.8.1984, petitioner appeared with the evidence. The Presiding Officer of U.P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Tribunal, Lucknow held that the petitioner is the sole owner of his holding consisting of Khasra plot Nos. 301 to 304 on which the trees and nursery was situated and on the next date fixed namely 24.8.1984, the petitioner was informed by the Board of Revenue that no further clarifications were required and the file was forwarded to the Special Land Acquisition Officer, for disposal. The petitioner is aggrieved as his claim is pending since long and the same has not yet been finalised.

    6. Thereafter petitioner moved an application under Sec. 18 of Land Acquisition Act on 30.9.1974 The Special Land Acquisition Officer made a reference to the U.P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Tribunal on 10.1.1975 and the Tribunal pronounced an award, dated 8.10.1976 against which the petitioner filed an appeal as referred above.

    7. So far as the area, 1 bigha, 5 biswa of the holding of the petitioner is concerned, the possession of the same was handed over on 2.7.1976 In the Dakshalnama a list of trees was prepared. The Special Land Acquisition Officer pronounced his award in respect of this 1 bigha, 5 biswa of land on 31.3.1977, mentioning therein that the trees and other improvements would be given later on. An application in respect of this award for reference to the Tribunal was filed by the petitioner but the same could not be decided because there were various reports of declaration in the office, in respect of which the enquiry was started by C.B.I.D, U.P and all the documents were taken into possession by the police. The petitioner alleges that the award has not been pronounced on the pretext that possession over trees have not been taken over by the Parishad. Subsequently the Parishad took possession over the cattle house, room and the tube-well of the petitioner, including 1 bigha, 1 biswa of Abadi and Temple land left with the petitioner. The petitioner thereupon filed a Regular Suit, numbered as 373 of 1981, for injunction. The learned Addl. Munsif VII, Lucknow, on 24.10.1983 decreed the suit, against which an appeal was filed by the respondent No. 2 which was compromised before the Addl. District Judge VII, Lucknow, in which the cattle house, the room and tube-well were deemed to have been taken into possession by the respondent No. 2 on 1.12.1971 and instead some other land alongwith 6 bighas more land for the temple was exempted from the acquisition. The petitioner was to be paid compensation by the Special Land. Acquisition Officerfor the constructions and the Tube-weii within a period of 15 days of the passing of the decree, in respect of which the compromise was arrived at. The request of the petitioner was rejected vide order, dated 7.9.1988, passed by the Special Land Acquisition Officer, in relation to the said property, under Sec. 15-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984. But the petitioner's representation against the same was allowed on 27.1.1989 and the Special Land Acquisition Officerwas directed to pay compensation referred to above. The Special Land Acquisition Officer, thereafter again referred the matter to the State Government for its opinion and according to the petitioner the State Government for its opinion and according to the petitioner the State Government referred it to the Legal Remembrance, where the matter is still lingering on and in view of the pendency of the instant writ petition, the State Government has not proceeded in the matter. On behalf of the petitioner it was contended there could be no successive awards in respect of the same person and in respect of one acquisition first in relation to land only without the improvements and the other in relation to improvement that is trees, garden, constructions Tube-well etc. But in the instant case according to the petitioner an award was given in respect of the land and the other in respect of the trees, garden, etc. Sec. 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, provides that the Land Acquisition Officer shall make an award. On behalf of the petitioner it was contended that use of the words. Itself indicate that there cannot be more than one award, in case there is no prayer of supplementary award. By the learned counsel for the petitioner reference has been to the case of Prag Narain v. The Collector of Agra (1). In the above case the Privy Council had observed that the Act does not appear to contemplate that where more than one person is interested in a parcel of land there should be more than one relating thereto. This does not mean that the whole of the land at any one time to be acquired under the Act must necessarily be dealt with in one award; but only that any one peace of land (forming part of the whole) in which more than one person has an interest for which he can claim compensation, ought to be made the subject of more than one award. In that case the fact was that the officer has dealt, with the land by two documents but the Privy Council, however, held that the two documents (the later of which specifically refers to the earlier) must be read together as constituting one award in relation to that parcel of land by which the officer awarded the compensation to be allowed for the land. In Secretary of the State v. Karim Bux (2), it was observed that the Act does not contemplate a series of awards in respect of the same property. In the case of R.C Sen v. The Trustees of the Improvement of Calcutta (3), it was observed that we must distinguish between two cases of what has been called piecemeal acquisition. A declaration may be issued far a quantity of a land consisting of several holding belonging to different owners. It is thus often necessary to make separate awards for different portions of the land covered by a single declaration. There is no objection to separate proceedings being taken in respect of separate holdings. It is, however, different matter where there is one holding. In such a case it does not seem reasonable to hold that there can be a piecemeal acquisition, as the Act refers only to one notice, one proceedings and one award to be given taken, and made regarding one holding and one ownership. In the case of Moham madsarif Hakumji Chippa v. State of Gujarat (4), it was held that in the particular facts of the case there could be one award spread over 2 documents. Thus, it is clear that normally only one award is to be given in case but in case under the circumstances of the case there are two awards they cannot be read as two different awards in the instant case in respect of the land, award has been given but in respect of trees, constructions, tube-well and other improvement of the claim of the petitioner was dismissed. Special Land Acquisition Officer also dismissed the application of opposite party No. 2. and the claim put-forward by the petitioner even though the State Government has set aside its previous order yet the Special Land Acquisition Officer instead of passing an order has again referred the matter to the State Government. As has ‘been noticed, the Special Land Acquisition Officer did not award compensation in respect of improvement, regarding trees, Tube-wells, etc., which also had been taken by the opposite party No. 2, which is against the record, inasmuch as the Dakhalnama, which is Annexure 2 to the writ petition indicates that on 2.7.1976 further possession of an area of 1 bigha, 3 biswa of the petitioner's land was taken which also included the trees. Tube-well etc. standing thereon, but in respect of Shiv temple though the possession of the same was also taken but in, the bottom it has been mentioned that it was left with the petitioner. But for construction over the open land possession has been taken over from the landlord and has been handed over to Avas Vikas Rarishad. This construction would be Abadi and Shiv Mandir. The order of the Special Land Acquisition Officer, dated 4.8.1972 itself indicates that the question of compensation regarding trees and plants as per their timber fruit and ornamental value was left for determination to be taken into account at the lime of the award. So far the trees, standing thereon are concerned the possession of the same were taken over on 2.7.1976 but the compensation is yet to be awarded as is mentioned in the award, dated 31.3.1977 In respect of Cattle House, Tube-well etc. the Special Land Acquisition Officer has stated that there was no evidence but now there being a compromise, the State is bound by ft. Under the compromise the land was found to have been taken over on 1.12.1971 instead of some other land alongwith (sic) has more land for the Temple was exempted from the acquisition. Thus the petitioner had now 1 bigha, 7 biswa land left with him. Now under the com promise the petitioner would be paid compensation by the Special Land Acquisition Officer for the construction of the Tube-well. The Special Land Acquisition Officer has again referred the matter to the Government seeking its opinion and law and provision under which Special Land Acquisition Officer could make second award or pay compensation by making a second award. The State Government in its turn has referred the matter to the legal remembrance, in any case the compensation has not been awarded to the petitioner for improvement like trees, garden, nursery, cattle house, room Tube-well etc. So far compensation of land is concerned it is to be given in accordance with law. Under Section 3(a) of the Land Acquisition Act “Land” includes things' attached to the earth or furmenty fastened to anything attached to the earth. Thus the trees, cattle house, room Tube-well are all covered by the word “Land”. Under Section 23 clause “firstly” the market value of the land has to be calculated, which term includes things permanently attached to the earth that is trees, garden, cattle house, room, Tube well etc. The compensation for all the aforementioned improvements has to be asserted alongwith land as they are part and parcels of the land, and cannot be done separately. Under clause “secondly” the damage sustained by persons by reasons of trees etc. having been taken at the time when the Collector took possession thereof has also to be calculated. In the present case only land was valued by the Special Land Acquisition Officer at 25 paise per Sq. ft. enhanced to 50 paise per Sq. fit by the Tribunal by its judgment, dated 8.12.76, against which connected Appeal No. 21 of 1977 is also pending. Now suffice it to say that the award of the Land Acquisition Officer is not in conformity with law as the Special Land Acquisition Officer has not considered the rate of compensation fixed by court in respect of other land covered by the same notification. A Division Bench of this Court in respect of the land in this very locality and subject-matter of this very acquisition in the case of Amarjit Singh v. State of U.P (5) on 17.12.86 has held that Land Acquisition Officer is bound to consider the rate of compensation fixed by court in respect other land covered by the same notification. We are in agreement with the said judgment and obviously the petitioner is also entitled for compensation at the rate of 1.20 per Sq. fit fixed in other cases of adjacent and neighbouring land-owners.

    8. In the view, of what has been stated above, the writ petition deserves to be allowed and the Special Land Acquisition Officer is directed to award compensation for land including trees, cattle house, and other improvements which were standing thereon in accordance with the compromise arrived at between the parties. in view of the above, the first appeal also deserved to be allowed and award under appeal is quashed and the matter is sent back to the Special Land Acquisition Officer to adjudicate the same again in the light of the observations made above, taking into consideration the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act as they stand amended and in accordance with law.

    9. In view of the above, the writ petition is allowed and the awards, dated 30.9.74 and 31.3.77, contained in Annexures IV and IX are quashed and the Special Land Acquisition Officer is directed to dispose of the claim of the petitioner in respect of the land by one award taking into consideration the rate of compensation fixed by court in respect of other land covered by the same notification that is 1.20 per Sq.mts As the matter is very old, the Special Land Acquisition Officer is directed to dispose of the case within three months. Costs easay.

    10. Petition Allowed.

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    Comments

    Ram Avadh Singh (Deceased) And Others v. State Of U.P And Others Opp. Parties.
    (Dec 16, 1989)