Khanna
Improvement Trust Vs. Land Acquisition Tribunal & Ors [1995] INSC 69 (18 January 1995)
Ramaswamy,
K. Ramaswamy, K. Venkatachala N. (J)
CITATION:
1995 SCC (2) 557 JT 1995 (2) 57 1995 SCALE (1)417
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
ORDER
1. The
Notification under section 36 of the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 was
published in the Gazette on Sep- tember 14, 1973 and a Notification under s.41
sanction of the scheme was published on December 3, 1975 for acquisition of the land in
question of an extent of 29 Kanals 1-3/4 marls of the land. The Land
Acquisition Collector in his award dated February 24, 1977 awarded the market value @ Rs.1,88,731/-
per acre. On reference, the Tribunal in its award dated March 28, 1985 enhanced the compensation to
Rs.307/- per sq.yd. upto a depth of 43 ft. and beyond 43 ft. at Rs.205/- per sq.yd.
Feeling aggrieved, the claimants filed the writ petition in the High Court. The
learned Single Judge in C.W.P. No.4309 of 1985 & batch while confirming the
award of the Arbitrator changed the belting upto a depth of 50 ft. awarded to
that land upto that extent together with statutory benefits as applicable under
the Land Acquisition Amendment Act 68 of 1984 which was confirmed in L.P.A. No.
663 of 1989 and batch dated June 1, 1989. Thus these appeals by Special Leave.
2. We
find force in the contention of the learned counsel appearing for the
Improvement Trust that the learned Single Judge of the High Court committed
grievous error of law in interfering with the belting made by the Arbitrator and
wrongly increased it to 50 ft. depth. It is seen that the Arbitrator on the
basis of the evidence adduced before the Court in two sale deeds upto a depth
of 43 ft. fixed at Rs.307/-. Therefore, the Arbitrator determined the
compensation @ Rs.307/- per sq.yd. The High Court found that the respondents
did not raise a point in the writ petition of the But held that it was the duty
of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to have it
corrected, as, according to learned Judge, it is a palpable error committed by
the Tribunal. We do not appreciate the view taken by the High Court. The High
Court has not exercised the appellate jurisdiction under section 54 of the Land
Acquisition Act. Admittedly, under the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 no
right of appeal is provided. Therefore, in exercise of the power under Article
226 the High Court has to confine itself to correcting any error of
jurisdiction committed by the authorities namely, the Arbitrator appointed
under the Act and it cannot assume suo motu jurisdiction of the appellate Court
and attempt to correct every mistake assumed to have been committed by the
Tribunal. The High Court had not rested its conclusion on any factual
foundation for increasing the belting upto a depth of 50 R. while the Tribunal
had evidence before it.
Considered
from this perspective, we are of the view that the High Court was not justified
in increasing the belting from 43 ft. to 50 dt. to enhance the compensation @
Rs.307/- per sq.yard.
3.The
High Court also has awarded additional amount at 12% per annum on the enhanced
compensation exercising the power under section 23(1-A) of the Land Acquisition
Amendment Act 68 of 1984. This controversy is now covered by the Judgment of
the Constitution Bench of this Court in k.S. Paripoornan v.State of Kerala
reported in 1994 (5) SCC 593. Therefore, the award of the additional amount at
12% per annum is clearly illegal. It is accordingly set aside.
4. It
is next contended that the High Court would not have granted additional
interest and solatium. We find no in the contention. This Court interpreting
the provisions of Punjab Town Improvement Trust Act, 1922 has held that the
Land reference and not by adoption and therefore, the Amendment Act 68/84
stands applicable to the acquisition made under the Punjab Town Improvement
Trust Act, 1922. In that view we hold that since the award of the Arbitrator
was on March 28, 1985 namely, after the Amendment Act has come into force, the
claimants are en-titiled to the payment of solatium @ 30% and also interest for
one year @ 9% from 24.2.77 to 28.8.78 (date of award to date of taking posession)
on the enhanced compensation. Thereafter they are not entitled to the interest
at 15%. The appeals are accordingly allowed to the above extent.No costs.
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