Summary
The High Court’s reduction of compensation for acquired Jirayat and Bagayat agricultural land was upheld on its assessment of six sale deeds. Exclusive reliance on a much older small-plot sale was unsafe when a larger same-village transaction lay close to the acquisition date. The agricultural character did not justify that selective comparison on these facts. No further reduction could be made because the State had accepted the High Court’s award and had not appealed.
Issues
- Whether the older small-plot exemplar required restoration or enhancement of the land compensation.
- Whether compensation could be further reduced without an appeal by the State.
Held
- The larger same-village sale shortly before acquisition was particularly relevant. The 1989 small-plot exemplar could not safely be used exclusively in preference to the whole body of evidence; the agricultural-land argument did not alter that factual assessment. (¶¶ 21–24, 26–29)
- Although the near-date exemplar might support a lower figure, further reduction was legally unavailable in these landowners’ appeals because the State had not appealed and had accepted the High Court determination. (¶ 24–25)
- The evidence supported Jirayat compensation of Rs.1,26,924 per hectare and Bagayat compensation of Rs.1,58,655 per hectare, as fixed by the High Court. (¶ 29)
Result
Landowners’ appeals dismissed; High Court rates for Jirayat and Bagayat land maintained.