Shankar S/O Gangaram Pawar Vs the State of Maharashtra Thr… — Land Acquisition | Bombay HC (2025)

Shankar S/O Gangaram Pawar Vs the State of Maharashtra Thr… — Land Acquisition | Bombay HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Compensation enhanced to Rs. 1,50,000/- per hectare; interest under Sections 28 and 34 of the L.A. Act payable from the date of award (04.01.1998); no interest or statutory benefits for the delayed period of 2851 days; save except the above, the impugned judgment and award remains unaltered; appellant to pay deficit court fees; award to be drawn up and record sent back.

Issue for consideration

Whether the appellant is entitled to enhancement of the compensation rate to Rs. 1,50,000/- per hectare on parity with the rate awarded by the Coordinate Bench in First Appeal No. 1240 of 2017. +1 more

Court's answer

The appellant is entitled to compensation at Rs. 1,50,000/- per hectare and succeeds on the ground of parity with the coordinate-bench decision in First Appeal No. 1240 of 2017.

Ratio / Principle

Award of interest from the date of possession is impermissible in view of the Full Bench decision of this Court in the State of Maharashtra v. Kailas Shiva Rangari, 2016(4) All MR 513.

Key takeaways

Interest under Sections 28 and 34 of the L.A. Act is payable to the appellant from the date of award, i.e., 04.01.1998.ratio¶23
The appellant is not entitled to interest and statutory benefits for the delayed period of 2851 days, given the huge delay in preferring the first appeal.ratio¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Land acquisition compensation — enhancement on parity; interest — date of commencement. By a common judgment and award dated 13.02.2014 in L.A.R. No. 119 of 2003, the Reference Court awarded Rs. 90,000/- per hectare for lands of village Shiradhon, Tq. Kallamb (acquired for percolation tank Shiradhon), with interest from the date of possession. In First Appeal No. 1586 of 2025, the Court, following its earlier decision in First Appeal No. 1240 of 2017 (arising out of the companion reference L.A.R. No. 775 of 2001), held the appellant bound to succeed on parity and enhanced the rate to Rs. 1,50,000/- per hectare. Applying the Full Bench decision in the State of Maharashtra v. Kailas Shiva Rangari, 2016(4) All MR 513, the Court held that interest from the date of possession is impermissible and directed that interest under Sections 28 and 34 of the L.A. Act run from the date of award, i.e., 04.01.1998; further, because of the huge delay of 2851 days in filing the first appeal, the appellant was denied interest and statutory benefits for the delayed period. First appeal partly allowed; appellant to pay deficit court fees; balance of the impugned award unaltered.

2025:BHC-AUG:36070

1 06 fa 1586.25

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

FIRST APPEAL NO. 1586 OF 2025

Shankar Gangaram Pawar .. Appellant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and others .. Respondents

Shri Ramesh V. Naiknavare, Advocate for the Appellant. Shri S. V. Hange, A.G.P. for the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2.

CORAM : SHAILESH P. BRAHME, J. DATE : 17TH DECEMBER, 2025.

FINAL ORDER :

. Heard both sides. Taken up for final disposal with the consent of the parties.

Being aggrieved by the judgment and award dated 13.02.2014 passed in L.A.R. No. 119 of 2003, appellant has preferred this first appeal. He is relying upon judgment dated 18.09.2017 passed in First Appeal No. 1240 of 2017, which was arising out of L.A.R. No. 775 of 2001. By common judgment and award the Reference Court decided present reference as well as other references. The Coordinate Bench has awarded rate of Rs. 1,50,000/- per Hectare, which is sought on the ground of parity.

Learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for the respondents opposes the claim. It is submitted that appellant

2 06 fa 1586.25

has failed to make out independent case seeking enhancement of the rate. The judgment which is relied upon cannot be made applicable to the present case. It is further submitted that reference Court has awarded interest from the date of possession, which is against the settled legal position.

By common judgment and award dated 13.02.2014, the Reference Court decided L.A.R. No. 119 of 2003 of the appellant as well as L.A.R. No. 775 of 2001 that of Sanjay Laxminarayan Pardeshi. There is no dispute that lands from village Shiradhon, Tq. Kallamb, Dist. Osmanabd was acquired for percolation tank Shiradhon. The Reference Court awarded rate of Rs. 90,000/- per Hectare. In identical set of facts, this Court enhanced the rate to Rs. 1,50,000/- per Hectare. I do not see any impediment for following the same course. The appellant is bound to succeed on the ground of parity.

In the impugned judgment and award interest is awarded from the date of possession, which is impermissible in view of the judgment Full Bench of this Court in the matter of the State of Maharashtra Vs. Kailas Shiva Rangari reported in 2016(4) All MR 513 . Learned A. G. P. is justified in contending that there is huge delay caused in preferring first appeal and appellant cannot be held to be entitled for interest and statutory benefits for the delayed period.

I, therefore pass following order.

3 06 fa 1586.25

O R D E R

A. First appeal is partly allowed.

B. Appellant is entitled to rate of Rs. 1,50,000/- per Hectare for the acquired land.

C. The interest U/Sec. 28 and 34 of the L. A. Act shall be payable to the appellant from the date of award i. e. 04.01.1998.

D. The appellant shall not be entitled to receive interest and statutory benefits for the delayed period of 2851 days.

E. Save and except above, impugned judgment and award shall remain unaltered.

F. The appellant shall pay deficit court fees.

G. Award be drawn up accordingly.

H. The record and proceedings shall be sent back.

[ SHAILESH P. BRAHME J. ]

bsb/Dec. 25