Executive Engineer, Lower Wardha Project Division, Wardha v. Sahebrao Bhujangrao Deshmukh And 6 Others

1 caf598.18

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR C.A.F. NO.598/2018 IN FIRST APPEAL NO.1414/2013 Executive Engineer (V.I.D.C.), Lower Wardha Project Division, Wardha ..Vs..

Sahebrao Bhujangrao Deshmukh and others - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shri U.A. Gosavi, Advocate for the appellant. Shri R.M. Vaidya, Advocate h/f Shri Anand Parchure, Advocate for respondent Nos.1 to 5.

Ms. Mrunal Barabde, A.G.P. for respondent Nos.6 and 7. CORAM : Z.A. HAQ, J.

DATE : 7.3.2018.

This application is filed by the claimants praying that the amount lying in deposit with the Registry of this Court be given to them.

This Court has passed an interim order, staying the execution of impugned award, however, on condition that the appellant deposits 75% of the amount as per impugned award. The appellant has deposited 75% of the amount. The respondents / claimants are permitted to withdraw 50% of the amount. Now the claimants are seeking permission to withdraw the balance amount.

The facts on record show that three different lands owned by the respondents / claimants, admeasuring 4.03 hector were acquired. The Land

2 caf598.18 Acquisition Officer had granted compensation at the rate of Rs.36,000/- per hector, Rs.46,000/- per hector and Rs.56,500/- per hector for the acquired land. The reference Court has enhanced the amount of compensation to Rs.1,75,000/- per hector.

The learned Advocates for the respective parties have pointed out the Government Resolutions dated 3rd November, 2016 and 23rd February, 2017 incorporating the policy of the State Government regarding filing of appeals to challenge the award passed under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. These government resolutions lay down that appeal should not be filed to challenge the award passed under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 if the amount of compensation granted by the Reference Court does not exceed four times the valuation of the land in question as per ready reckoner on the date of issuance of notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The learned Advocates for the respective parties have submitted that the amount of compensation granted by the Land Acquisition Officer was based on the valuation shown in the ready reckoner at the relevant time and the amount of compensation granted by the Reference Court, in respect of the three lands taken together will not exceed four times the valuation of the land in question as per the ready reckoner, at the relevant time.

Considering the above policy of the State

3 caf598.18 Government and as the appellant has deposited only 75% of the amount of award, the respondents / claimants can be permitted to withdraw the balance amount lying in deposit with the Registry of this Court. Hence, the following order:

The amount lying in deposit with the Registry of this Court, alongwith interest on it, if any, be given to the respondents / claimants on their furnishing an undertaking to the satisfaction of Registrar (J.) of this Court that in case at the time of hearing of the appeal, it is found that the respondents / claimants are not entitled for the amount withdrawn by them, they will re-deposit it alongwith interest on it as may be determined by this Court.

The civil application is allowed accordingly. No costs.

JUDGE Tambaskar.