Premchand S/O Hukumichand Nahar v. The State Of Maharashtra Through District Collector, Buldhana And Another

(1) 20.caf.4152.2019

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CIVIL APPLICATION (CAF) NO.4152 OF 2019 IN FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO.8291 OF 2019 Premchand s/o Hukumichand Nahar Vs.

The State of Maharashtra through District Collector, Buldana and another ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Rohit P. Masurkar, Advocate for appellants. Mr. K. L. Dharmadhikari, AGP for respondent No.1. Mr. Vinay Rathi, Advocate h/f Mr. P. B. Patil, for respondent No.2. CORAM :

URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.

DATED : 23/03/2023 1.

Present application is filed for condonation of delay which is caused to file an appeal for enhancement of the compensation.

2.

As per contention of the applicant his land was acquired by the Government under the compulsory acquisition, however the Land Acquisition Officer has awarded the inadequate compensation, therefore he preferred Land Acquisition Case No.158/2004 which was decided by the Joint Civil Judge Senior Division, Buldana by common Judgment dated 23.07.2013.

3.

After decision of the Reference Court, this appeal is filed on 06.02.2019 along with the delay condonation application. There is delay of 1991 days to

(2) 20.caf.4152.2019 file an appeal. The reason mentioned in the application is that the applicant is the poor agriculturist and also illiterate person residing in remote area. The only source of income was the agriculture land which has been acquired by the respondents without granting them proper compensation. As his land was acquired, he was not having source of income and his financial condition was weak, therefore he could not approach to this Court by filing the appeal. Another reason mentioned is that he does not have any knowledge of legal proceedings, and therefore delay is caused. There is sufficient and reasonable cause for condonation of delay.

4.

Said application is strongly opposed by the learned Advocate Mr. Vinay Rathi holding for learned Advocate Mr. P. B. Patil, for the respondent No.2 on the ground that delay is intentional one and delay is not properly explained. It is further submitted that though application is filed on 06.02.2019 till 17.01.2020 the application was not circulated for issuance of notice and therefore, if this Court condone the delay the interest should not be awarded for the further delayed period as the matter was not circulated till 17.01.2020. 5.

Heard both the sides. Perused the application.

(3) 20.caf.4152.2019 6.

The reasons mentioned in the application is that the applicant/claimant is the agriculturist and was not having any source of income, so also, he was not aware about the legal provisions, and therefore delay is caused. This aspect is already dealt by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Imrat Lal and others Vs. Land Acquisition Collector and others reported in (2014) 14 SCC 133 wherein Hon'ble Apex Court held that: "We can take judicial notice of the fact that the villagers in our country are by and large illiterate and are not conversant with the intricacies of law. They are usually guided by their covillagers, who are familiar with the proceedings in the courts or the advocates with whom they get in touch for redressal of their grievance. Affidavits filed in support of the applications for condonation of delay are usually drafted by the advocates on the basis of half-baked information made available by the affected persons.

Therefore, in the acquisition matters involving claim for award of just compensation, the court should adopt a liberal approach and either grant time to the party to file a better affidavit to explain delay or suo motu take cognizance of the fact that large number of other similarly situated persons who were affected by the determination of compensation by the Land Acquisition Officer or the Reference Court have been granted relief." 7.

In the light of the above observations and considering that the applicant/claimant is from the illiterate background and poor agriculturist, by accepting the reasons mentioned in the application which is

(4) 20.caf.4152.2019 satisfactory one and to do the substantial justice. The delay caused is condoned subject to the waiver of the interest from the date of judgment till 17.01.2020 on the compensation amount as well as the interest on the statutory amounts, if applicant/claimant succeeds in the appeal and get the enhanced amount of compensation. 8.

Civil application is disposed of.

9.

Appeal be registered.

FIRST APPEAL STAMP NO.8291 OF 2019 1.

Heard.

2.

Admit.

3.

Learned AGP Mr. Kadu waives notice for respondent No.1.

4.

Learned Advocate Mr. Patil waives notice for respondent No.2.

5.

Call for record and proceedings.

6.

Appellant to file paper book within ten weeks, after receipt of the record and proceedings.

(5) 20.caf.4152.2019 7.

Appeal be placed for final hearing, after filing of the paper book, its verification, as per its own turn.

(URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.) Sarkate SARKATE 13:10