Summary
Landowners sought higher acquisition compensation for wet land. The Supreme Court accepted the undisputed comparison with identical wet land acquired in the same proceedings, for which a final award fixed two thousand rupees per cent, and enhanced their rate accordingly while leaving other land categories unchanged.
Issues
- Whether compensation for the appellants’ wet land should match the final rate awarded for comparable land in the same acquisition.
Held
- The State did not dispute that identical wet land in the same acquisition proceedings had been awarded Rs.2,000 per cent and that the award had become final. The land’s nature, surroundings, location and similarity supported that rate as the correct market value at acquisition. (¶¶ 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- Wet-land compensation was enhanced from Rs.500 to Rs.2,000 per cent with consequential statutory compensation. The dry and chira land rates did not warrant interference and were left undisturbed. (¶¶ 19, 20, 21)
Result
Appeals partly allowed; wet-land compensation enhanced to Rs.2,000 per cent with consequential statutory benefits. Dry and chira land rates unchanged.