Full Judgment Text
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PETITIONER:
S. PRABH SINGH DHILLON ETC. ETC.
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
HOSHIARPUR IMPROVEMENT TRUST & ORS.
DATE OF JUDGMENT23/11/1995
BENCH:
J.S. VERMA, K. VENKATASWAMI
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:
O R D E R
Substitution allowed.
This Court while disposing of the matter by order dated
July 20, 1988 directed that depending upon the decision of
the Constitution Bench in Union of India vs. Raghubir Singh
[(1989) 3 SCR 316], the payment of the interest and solatium
would be determined. Since there the Constitution Bench had
concluded that the claimants would be entitled to the
statutory benefits under Amendments Act 60 of 1984 if the
proceedings are pending before the Land Acquisition Officer
or Civil Court between April 30, 1984, i.e., when the
Amendment Act 68 of 1984 was introduced on the floor of the
Parliament and the date when the Act came into force in
September 24, 1984. Admittedly, the award came to be made on
August 30, 1982 and the supplementary award with regard to
the trees etc., came to be made on December 27, 1982.
Under these circumstances, the petitioners would be
entitled to payment of solatium under Section 23 [2] @ 30%
per annum on enhanced compensation. As regards the payment
of interest under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition At,
1894 and the additional amount under Section 23 [1-A] of
that Act, admittedly, the petitioners remained in possession
of the acquired land. Under Sections 34, 28 and 23 [1-A]
payment of interest and additional amount was intended to
mitigate the hardship caused to the owner by deprivation of
enjoyment of their property, after possession was taken.
Since the possession was admittedly with the petitioners,
they are not entitled to payment of interest under Section
34, 28 or additional amount under Section 23 [1-A] as
amended by Act 68 of 1984.
The Land Acquisition Officer will determine the amount
of solatium payable to the petitioners within a period of
four weeks from the date of the receipt of this order and
within six weeks thereafter the amount so determined would
be paid to the petitioners. Before making the payment, the
petitioners shall hand over the possession to the Land
Acquisition Officer.
The petitions are ordered accordingly. No costs.
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