Medikonda Kamalamma v. The Special Deputy Collector

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SURESH KUMAR KAIT AND THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE J.UMA DEVI AS.NO.3919/2003 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.10370/2014, AS.NO.4000/2003 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.6862/2015, AS.NO.496//2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS(SR).NO.855/2015, AS.NO.529/2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.9499/2014, AS.NO.837/2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.1862/2016, AS.NO.838/2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS 6861/2015, AS.NO.1754/2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.6600/2015, AS.NO.1957//2004 AND CROSS-OBJECTIONS (SR).NO.7732/2014 AND A.S.NOS.965/2002, L.A.A.S.NOS.

319/2008, 607/2010, 37/2015, 380/2016, 214, 217, 226, 235, 238, 287, 290, 291, 292, 294, 303, 304, 305 AND 306 OF 2017 COMMON JUDGMENT (ORAL) (Per the Hon'ble Sri Justice Suresh Kumar Kait) Government acquired the subject lands in all these appeals for the purpose of foreshore submersion of Kandalaru reservoir under Telugu Ganga Project. The Land Acquisition Officer, after due enquiry, passed respective awards. Not being satisfied with the compensation awarded, the claimants sought reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. On reference, the court of Principal Senior Civil Judge, Gudur, passed awards enhancing the compensation awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer. Aggrieved by the enhancement, State filed appeals in A.S.Nos.3919 and 4000 and 2003, 496, 529, 837, 838, 1754 and 1957 of 2004.

In the said appeals, the claimants preferred cross-objections seeking enhancement. In respect of other awards, the claimants filed appeals in A.S.No.965/2002 and LAAS.No.319/2008, 607/2010, 37/2015, 380/2016, 214, 217, 226, 235, 238, 287, 290, 291, 292, 294, 303, 304, 305 and 306 of 2017, seeking enhancement of compensation awarded by reference court.

The Assistant Government Pleader for Appeals and the learned counsel for the claimants in all these appeals would jointly submit that the present

appeals are confined only to trees viz., mango, guava, sapota (Sapodilla), pomegranate, palmyra, lime, sweet orange / Chini (Sweet orange), coconut, drumstick, tamarind, soap nut, regu (ber), margosa, thurai (wood), thandra (wood), dirasana (wood), wood apple, black babul, jamberi (rough lemon), red lemon, curry leaf and usirika.

The claimants filed statements showing the appeal numbers, numbers of respondents/claimants, number of trees and the amount awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer and the amount enhanced by reference court. The said statements are extracted as under:

AS 3919/2003 & Cross Objections (SR). No. 10370/2014 Respondent Pomegranate-210 Nil To got Equal shares Pomegranate-246 Nil Pomegranate-570 Nil Palmyrah-2 Pomegranate-69 Nil Pomegranate-639 Nil Pomegranate-405 Nil Palmyrah-53 Nil Palmyrah-7 Nil Pomegranate-180 Nil Pomegranate-294 Nil Pomegranate-20 Nil Pomegranate-75 Nil Pomegranate-309 Nil Palmyrah-28 Nil Palmyrah-8 Nil Pomegranate-246 Nil Nil Pomegranate-192 Nil Nil Pomegranate-294 Nil Nil Pomegranate-585 Nil Nil Pomegranate-393 Nil Palmyrah-2 Nil Pomegranate-87 Nil

Palmyrah-99 Nil Pomegranate-174 Nil AS 4000/2003 and Cross Objections (SR). 6862/2015 Respondent Lime trees 94 Lime trees 20 Palmyrah 10 Lime 48 3,4 &5 Lime 159 3,4 &5 Coconut 1 3,4 &5 Drumstick 4 3,4 &5 Tamarind 1 3,4 &5 Palmyrah 7 3,4 &5 Lime 182 3,4 &5 Lime 15 3,4 &5 Palmyrah 6 Palmyrah 21 Palmyrah 14 8,9, &10 Lime 86 8,9,&10 Lime 120 8,9 &10 Lime 104 8,9 &10 Lime 40 8,9 &10 Coconut 2 8,9 &10 Drumstick 2 8,9 &10 Soap nut 1 AS 496/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 855/2015 Respondent Lime Trees 132 Lime Trees 20

AS 529/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 9499/2014 Respondent Lime -19 Nil Lime -39 Nil Regu-2 Nil Palmyrah-1 Nil Palmyrah-1 Nil Margosa-13 Nil Thurai-1 Nil Tandra-1 Nil Tamarind-3 Nil Dirasana-1 Nil Lime -30 Tamarind -1 Nil Lime-3 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Limetrees-9 Nil Lime -19 Lime -7 Lime -19 Nil Regu-2 Nil Soapnut-1 Nil Woodapple-7 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Palmyrah-53 Nil Palmyrah-2 Nil Date-2 Nil Lime -2 Nil Pomegranates-472 Nil Woodapple-10 Nil Blackbabul-2 Nil Margosa-37 Nil Lime-61 Nil Lime-23 Drumstic-2 Nil Woodapple-3 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Palmyrah-83 Nil Palmyrah-2 Nil

Lime -2 Nil Lime -22 Nil Lime-1 Nil Jamberi-115 Nil Tamarind-6 Nil Palmrah-7 Nil Pomegranates-213 Nil Limetree-20 Palmrah-7 Nil Pomegranates-345 Nil 6.

Limetree-29 Nil Limetree-13 Palmrah-10 Nil 7.

Limetree-2 Limetree-36 Nil Limetree-6 Limetree-3 Limetree-2 Nil Dramstick-2 Nil Tamarind-1 Nil Soapnut-1 Nil Palmrah-15 Nil Palmrah-5 Nil Diresana-1 Nil AS 837/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 1862/2016 Respondent Lime trees - 43 Lime trees - 4 Lime trees - 4 Coconut - 9 Guava-1 Drumstick-8 Pomegranate-81 Pomegranate-102 Drumstick-1 Lime trees - 46 Lime trees - 10 Lime trees - 7 Coconut - 6 Pomegranate-76 Coconut - 36 Pomegranate-129 30-75 Drumstick-6 Coconut - 4 Guava-3 Mango-74 Coconut - 5 Lime trees - 2

Lime trees - 1 Lime trees - 27 Lime trees - 13 Lime trees - 2 Mango-51 Pomegranate-10 Coconut - 2 Lime trees - 1 Mango-9 Mango-30 Lime trees - 2 Mango-13 Lime trees - 3 Lime trees - 1 Coconut - 3 Cheeni - 93 Lime - 1 Red Lemon-13 Lime trees - 3 Lime trees - 43 Soapnut-1 Ber-1 Drumstick-6 Drumstick-2 Coconut - 13 Guava - 2 Coconut - 17 Drumstick-2 Guava - 4 Cheeni - 3 Coconut - 8 Pomegranate-90 Mango - 42 Lime trees - 73 Drumstick-1 Guava - 1 Lime trees - 23 Cheeni - 18 Lime trees - 5 Lime trees - 3 Mango - 4 Mango - 49 Guava - 2 AS 838/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 6861/2015 Respondent 1,2,13 Lime trees-114 1,2,13 Lime trees-1 1,2,13 Lime trees-8 1,2,13 Mango trees-198 1,2,13 Mango trees-11 1,2,13 Mango trees-13 1,2,13 Mango trees-6 1,2,13 Mango trees-4 Lime trees-229 Lime -4 Drumstic-1 Drumstic-5 Drumstic-2 Pomegranate-146

Palmyrah-16 Palmyrah-1 Pomegranate-3990 Drumstic-41 Lime trees-401 Lime tree-1 Lime trees-5 Cheeni-9 Drumstic-20 Drumstic-5 Drumstic-238 Pomegranate-81 Lime trees-30 Palmyrah-40 Pomegranate-132 Palmyrah-10 AS 1754/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 6600/2015 Respondent Mango-38 Mango-12 Mango-7 Mango-7 Mango-23 Mango-39 Mango-39 Mango-23 Mango-24 Mango-53 Mango-184 Coconut-15 AS 1957/2004 and Cross Objections (SR). 7732/2015 Respondent Pomegranate -128 Nil Pomegranate -192 31.75 Nil Pomegranate -581 Nil Pomegranate -300 Nil Pomegranate -814 Nil Pomegranate -1436 Nil AS 965/2002 Appellant 4 & 5 Lime trees - 176 6 to 10 Lime trees - 800 Sweet orange-67

LAAS 319/2008 Appellant Lime Trees -173 Lime Trees -4 Lime Trees-83 Lime Trees -136 LAAS 607/2010 Appellant 1 & 2 Lime Trees-78 Lime Trees-72 LAAS 37/2015 Appellant Lime Trees-290 Nil Cheeni Trees-34 Nil LAAS 380/2016 Claimant lime trees-218 lime trees-112 lime trees-108 lime trees-123 lime trees-180 lime trees-116 lime trees-100 lime trees-60 lime trees-26 lime trees-120 lime trees-52 lime trees-60 lime trees-26 lime trees-60 lime trees-26 lime trees-60 lime trees-26 lime trees-13 lime trees-56 lime trees-9 lime trees-80 lime trees-76 lime trees-90 lime trees-79

lime trees-28 LAAS 214/2017 Claimant 1, 4, 14 Lime -66 1, 4, 14 Lime -48 1, 4, 14 Lime -84 1, 4, 14 Lime -128 1, 4, 14 Lime -1 1, 4, 14 Lime -5 1, 4, 14 Lime -7 1, 4, 14 Lime -1 1, 4, 14 Lime -16 1, 4, 14 Lime -47 1, 4, 14 Lime -16 1, 4, 14 Lime -20 1, 4, 14 Lime -3 1, 4, 14 Lime -1 1, 4, 14 Coconut-1 1, 4, 14 Pomegranate-558 1, 4, 14 Palmyrah-2 2, 16 Mango-26 2, 16 Mango-29 2, 16 Mango-67 2, 16 Mango-39 2, 16 Mango-32 2, 16 Mango-2 2, 16 Pomegranate-204 Pomegranate-617 Palmyrah-130 Palmyrah-8 Tamarind-2 Tamarind-1 Mango-52 Mango-80 Mango-94 Mango-36 Mango-27 Palmyrah-7 5 &15 Lime -109 5 &15 Lime -1 5 &15 Lime -1 5 &15 Lime -2 5 &15 Lime -1 5 &15 Lime -40 5 &15 Lime -6 5 &15 Tamarind-1 5 &15 Tamarind-3 5 &15 Soapnut -2 5 &15 Soapnut -2 5 &15 Palmyrah-2 6, 8 & 9 Lime -79 6, 8 & 9 Lime -2 6, 8 & 9 Lime -11 6, 8 & 9 Lime -1 6, 8 & 9 Tamarind-2 6, 8 & 9 Palmragh-96 6, 8 & 9 Palmragh-18 6, 8 & 9 Pomegranate-1 Palmyrah-8

7, 10 Mango-35 7, 10 Mango-2 7, 10 Mango-6 7, 10 Mango-3 7, 10 Mango-1 7, 10 Lime -6 7, 10 Lime -15 7, 10 Lime -15 7, 10 Lime -3 7, 10 Lime -2 7, 10 Lime -4 7, 10 Lime -7 7, 10 Lime -33 7, 10 Lime -8 7, 10 Lime -13 7, 10 Lime -13 7, 10 Guava-1 7, 10 Tamarind-1 7, 10 Palmyrah-1 7, 10 Palmyrah-1 Pomegranate-174 Tamarind-1 Palmyrah-8 Pomegranate-59 Palmyrah-3 Lime -48 Lime -2 Lime -3 Lime -3 Lime -1 Lime -1 Lime -1 Mango-2 Soapnut-1 Drumstic-1 LAAS 217/2017 Claimant Pomegranate-900 Sweet Orange-540 AAS 226/2017 Claimant Lime -100 Lime -8 Lime -67 Lime -5 Lime -60 Lime -4 Pomegranate-20 Pomegranate-10

Lime -60 Lime-4 Lime -97 Lime -11 Lime -162 Lime -13 Lime -161 Lime -13 Lime -163 Lime -13 Lime -42 Lime -8 Mango -1 Lime -50 Lime -4 Lime -27 Lime-2 Lime -58 Lime -5 LAAS 235/2017 Claimant Lime -27 Lime-2 Lime-10 Lime-1 Palmyrah-8 LAAS 238/2017 Claimant Lime trees - 228 Lime trees -72 Palmyrah trees -4 Lime trees -92 Mango trees -2 Lime trees -148 Lime trees -89 Lime trees -100 Palmyrah trees -24 Lime trees -116 Palmyrah trees -20 Lime trees -98

LAAS 287/2017 Claimant Pomegranate-273 Pomegranate-886 Pomegranate-105 5 & 8 Pomegrante-671 LAAS 290/2017 Claimant Pomegranate-15 Pomegranate-18 LAAS 291/2017 Claimant 1 & 2 Pomegranate -900 138.81 208.21 LAAS 292/2017 Claimant Mango -129 460-13 Pomegranate -700 144-46 Nil LAAS 294/2017 Claimant 3 to 7 Mango-69 3 to 7 Mango-26 3 to 7 Mango-21 3 to 7 Mango-19 3 to 7 Mango-190 3 to 7 Mango-10 3 to 7 Mango-3 3 to 7 Mango2 3 to 7 Mango25 3 to 7 Lime-84 3 to 7 Lime-9 3 to 7 Lime-89 3 to 7 Lime-2 3 to 7 Lime-1

3 to 7 Lime-7 3 to 7 Lime-6 3 to 7 Lime-6 3 to 7 Lime-1 3 to 7 Lime-5 3 to 7 Lime-9 3 to 7 Coconut-11 3 to 7 Curry leaf -1 3 to 7 Tamarind-1 3 to 7 Tamarind-7 16.50 3 to 7 Usirika-1 3 to 7 Guava-2 3 to 7 Guava-3 3 to 7 Guava-2 3 to 7 Sapota-5 3 to 7 Drumstick-5 3 to 7 Jemberi-3 3 to 7 Jemberi-1 3 to 7 Coconut-1 3 to 7 Coconut-2 3 to 7 Pomegranate-2028 3 to 7 Pomegranate-72 3 to 7 Palmyrah -165 Lime-26 Mango-8 Lime-5 Lime-1 Soapnut-1 Drumstick-1 Pomegranate-197 Palmyrah-7 Tamarind-2 Tamarind-2 Tamarind-2 Tamarind-1 Palmyrah-24 Soapnut-1 Pomegranate-333 Mango-2 Mango-16 Mango-3 Mango-5 Drumstick-2 Lime-17 Lime-28 Lime-8 Soapnut-2 Palmyrah-4 Lime-6 Mango-31 Mango-20 Mango-20 Lime-2 Coconut-5 Tamarind-1 Palmyrah-1 LAAS 303/2017 Claimant Mango trees 44 678-50

"

Mango trees 23 Nil Nil Pomegranate trees 637 83-44 116.72 Mango trees 17 678-50 "

Mango trees 2 Nil Nil Mango trees 50 678-50 "

Mango trees 20 Nil Nil LAAS 304/2017 Claimant Lime trees -18 Lime trees -70 Lime trees -67 Lime trees -84 LAAS 305/2017 Claimant Lime-18 Lime-24 Lime-11 Lime-5 Pomegranate-251 Regu-2 Sweet orange-4 Sweet orange-4 Sweet orange-15 Sweet orange-30 R.Lemon-5 Guava-1 Pomegranate-172 Pomegranate-62 Ber-1 Pomegranate-1371 Pomegranate-143

LAAS 306/2017 Claimant of Lime trees 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 3 & 6 4 & 5 4 & 5 4 & 5 7,8 & 14 7,8 & 14 12 & 13 12 & 13 Learned counsel would further submit that the issue in the present appeals is squarely covered by a Division Bench judgment of this court in A.S.No.1749 of 2004 and Cross-objections (SR).No.3962 of 2008 dated 1.3.2013, where under the appeal filed by the Government was dismissed and the cross-objections filed by the claimants were allowed in part awarding lumpsum compensation for each tree. The relevant portion of the order is as under: "For Mango, Acid Lime, Coconut, Guava, Jack-fruit and Sapota (Sapodilla), the claimants-respondents/cross-objectors shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of Rs.3,000/- per each tree. So far as Tamarind and Soap-nut are concerned, they shall be entitled to Rs.6,000/- and Rs.5,000/-

respectively per each tree. For the trees of pomegranate, drumstick and neredu (Black-plum), they shall be entitled to Rs.2,000/- per each tree. For the trees of Dates and Palmyra, they shall be entitled to Rs.300/- per each tree and for the remaining trees they shall be entitled to Rs.400/- per each tree." Both the counsel submit that the fruit bearing trees like sweet orange and red lemon, comes under the category of lime and for the said trees, claimants are entitled to compensation at the rate of Rs.3,000/- per tree as per the judgment of the above Division Bench of this court.

The learned counsel further submits that against the above Division Bench judgment of this court, Government carried the matter to Apex Court in Special Leave to Appeals ( c ) Nos.23576-23577 of 2014 and the same were dismissed by order dated 29.08.2014. Following the above judgment of the Division Bench, another Division Bench in L.A.A.S.No.1104 of 2011 dated 19.11.2014, considering the acquisition therein under Telugu Ganga Project, enhanced the compensation granted by the reference court in respect of pomegranate trees at the rate of Rs.2,000/- per tree.

In view of joint submissions of both the counsel, facts and circumstances and the above Division Bench judgment of this court dated 1.3.2013 and for the reasons mentioned therein, appeals filed by the Government are dismissed. Cross-objections and the appeals filed by the claimants are allowed in part in terms of the enhancement made by the Division Bench of this Court in A.S.No.1749 of 2004 and Cross-objections (SR).No.3962 of 2008 dated 1.3.2013. In respect of sweet orange and red lemon, the claimants are entitled to Rs.3,000/- per each tree. All statutory benefits in terms of the judgment of the

Supreme Court in SUNDER v. UNION OF INDIA1, shall be extended to the claimants. No costs.

The claimants in all these appeals are directed to pay the deficit court on the enhanced amount before the executing court within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Miscellaneous petitions pending if any, shall stand closed. ------------------------------------------------------ SURESH KUMAR KAIT,J ------------------------------------------------- J.UMA DEVI,J DATE:13-10-2017 avs 1 (2001)7 SCC 211