THE GREATER MOHALI AREA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY vs. ARMINDERJIT KAUR

NON­REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL  APPEAL No. 2383 OF 2019 (Arising out of S.L.P.(C) No.19238 of 2018) The Greater Mohali Area  Development Authority(GMDA) Thr. Its Estate Officer ….Appellant(s) VERSUS Arminderjit Kaur & Anr.          ….Respondent(s) WITH CIVIL  APPEAL No. 2385 OF 2019 (Arising out of S.L.P.(C) No.19237 of 2018) AND CIVIL  APPEAL No.2384 OF 2019 (Arising out of S.L.P.(C) No.16038 of 2018                   J U D G M E N T Abhay Manohar Sapre, J. Signature Not Verified 1. Leave granted. Digitally signed by ANITA MALHOTRA Date: 2019.02.27 17:04:02 IST Reason: 1 1 2. These     appeals  are  filed  against the  interim orders   passed   by   the   High   Court   of   Punjab   and Haryana   at   Chandigarh   on   dated   01.02.2018   in C.M. No.7303­CI of 2017 in R.F.A. No.3096 of 2017, C.M. No.8310­CI of 2017 in R.F.A. No.3536 of 2017 and dated 03.04.2018 in C.M. No.709­CI of 2018 in R.F.A. No.1172 of 2017.   3. These appeals involve a short point as would be clear from a few facts mentioned hereinbelow. 4. The proceedings arise out of land acquisition proceedings.   The   Land   Acquisition   Officer   offered the compensation to the landowners (respondents herein) for their acquired land in question at the rate of Rs.1.36 crore per acre.  5. However, the Civil Court (Reference Court) in reference proceedings  filed at the  instance  of the landowners against the award of Land Acquisition Officer enhanced the rate of compensation payable 2 2 to   the   landowners   at   Rs.3,8686925/­   crores   per acre.  The  figure   of  enhancement,  however,   varies marginally in other connected cases. 6. The   appellant­Authority   as   also   the landowners have filed their respective first appeals in   the   High   Court   of   Punjab   &   Haryana   at Chandigarh   against   the   award   of   the   Civil   Court (Reference Court).  7. The   appellant   in   their   appeal   has   claimed reduction of the amount awarded by the Civil Court whereas the respondents (landowners) have claimed further enhancement in the rate of compensation awarded by the Reference Court.   The appeals are pending for their final disposal. 8. By impugned interim orders, the High Court disposed of the stay applications (CM No. 7303­CI of 2017   and   others)   filed   by   the   appellant   (Greater Mohali   Area   Development   Authority­   GMADA)   in their pending first appeals (RFA No. 3096 of 2017 3 3 and   connected   matters)   filed   against   the   award dated   14.02.2017   passed   by   Additional   District Judge, SAS Nagar, Mohali in LAC No. 00052/2014 and other connected matters. 9. The operative part of the impugned order reads as under : “Keeping in view the above, the appellants shall deposit the sum of Rs.3.50 crores per acre   within   3  months   along   with   statutory benefits and the landowners will be entitled to   withdraw   the   same   in   the   above   terms also. Applications stand disposed of.   However, it is made clear that in case the amount is not deposited, the stay shall automatically stand vacated.” 10. The appellant felt aggrieved by the aforesaid interim order of the High Court and has filed the present appeals by way of special leave in this Court questioning its legality and correctness. 11. Heard Ms. Rachna Joshi Issar, learned counsel for the appellant, Mr. V.Giri,  Mr. V.K. Garg, learned senior   counsel   and   Ms.   Kaveeta   Wadia,   learned counsel for the respondents. 4 4 12. Having   heard   the   learned   counsel   for   the parties and on perusal of the record of the case, we are inclined to dispose of these appeals by passing following order. 13. The appellant shall deposit the entire awarded sum, which is the subject matter of these appeals in the High Court within 3 months.  14. On such deposit being made, the respondents (landowners) will be entitled to withdraw 50% of the awarded sum on furnishing solvent security to the satisfaction of the High Court and remaining 50% amount shall be invested in FDR Scheme in any Nationalized Bank in the name of the Registrar of the High Court.  15. The withdrawal and deposit shall be subject to the result of the appeals. 16. Depending   upon   the   final   outcome   of   the appeals,   the   amount,   which   is   allowed   to   be withdrawn   by   the   respondents   (landowners)   and 5 5 which   is   deposited   in   the   Bank   including   the interest earned thereon, will be adjusted/given, as the   case   may   be,   to   the   parties   concerned   as directed in the final order. 17. In the light of the foregoing discussion and the directions,   the   appeals   are   allowed   in   part.   The impugned   orders   are   modified   to   the   extent indicated   above   and   the   interim   ex   parte   order passed   by   this   Court   on   18.07.2018   also   stands accordingly modified as indicated above. 18. We request the High Court to dispose of the appeals finally preferably within a year.                                              .………...................................J.                                     [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE]                                            …...……..................................J.              [DINESH MAHESHWARI] New Delhi; February 26, 2019 6 6