Union of India & Ors Vs. Ajaib Singh
& Ors [1995] INSC 516 (20 September 1995)
Suhas
C. Sen Sen, J.
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
Special
leave granted.
This
is a case of acquisition of land under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of
Immovable Property Act, 1952. The short question that falls for determination
is whether the arbitrator had erred in enhancing the amount of compensation to
the flat rate of Rs.300/- per parla and awarding solatium @ 30% per annum and
interest @ 9% per annum for the first year and thereafter 15% per annum for the
subsequent years from the date of possession of the property.
Land
measuring 26.08321 acres in village Daulatpur, Tehsil Pathankot, District Gurdaspur
was acquired under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of I movable Property
Act, 1952 by the Special Land Acquisition Collector by a notification issued on
30th October, 1969. The competent authority awarded compensation for the
acquired land @ Rs.60/- per Marla. After a long lapse of time, the question of
compensation was referred to an arbitrator.
Mr. Goswami,
on behalf of the appellants, has argued that there was no dispute as to the
quantum of compensation between the respondents and the appellants and the
compensation was actually paid to the respondents and the respondents duly
accepted the compensation without any protest. Under Rule 9 of the
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Rules, 1953, the competent
authority can pay compensation only after entering into an agreement in Form-K.
Mr. Goswami has contended that in the instant case, compensation was paid.
There was no dispute as to the quantum of compensation. An agreement in Form-K
was entered into with the respondents before payment of the compensation.
However,
there is no averment in the pleading that an agreement in Form-K was entered
into by and between the competent authority and the respondents. But, there is
no dispute that eight years after compensation was paid, the writ-petitioners
raised the dispute as to the quantum of compensation and made an application
for referring the dispute to the arbitrator. On 30th March, 1987, the Additional District Judge, Gurdaspur, as arbitrator
awarded compensation at flat rate of Rs.500/- per Marla. The arbitrator also
awarded solatium @ 30% and interest @ 9% per annum for the first year from the
date of acquisition. i.e., 31.10.1969 and 15% per annum for the subsequent
years till the amounts were realised.
Aggrieved
by this award, the Government preferred appeals to the High Court of Punjab and
Haryana. The appeals were dismissed by a Single Judge of the High Court on 30th July, 1987. Further appeals were filed before
the Division Bench of the High Court. Those appeals were dismissed on 5th April, 1990.
These
Special Leave Petitions were moved in this Court on 21st December, 1990. The dispute before this Court is not about the
quantum of the compensation fixed by the Additional District Judge as
arbitrator on 30th
March, 1987.
Notice
was issued only on the question of solatium and interest. Mr. Goswami, on behalf
of the appellants, has contended that there is no basis for granting solatium
at 30% and interest at 9% for the first year and 15% for the subsequent years.
He has pointed out that the Government was not at fault in this case for the
delay in appointment of the arbitrator. Since the compensation amount fixed by
the Special Land Acquisition Collector had been accepted without any dispute,
there was no scope for referring any dispute to an arbitrator under Section S
(1) (b) of the Act. Therefore, the Government should not be held responsible
for the delay in the instant case.
The
contention on behalf of the appellant will have to be upheld in the facts of
this case. Unlike the Land Acquisition Act, there is no provision in the
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act for payment of solatium
and interest. Solatium and interest have been awarded in the interest of
justice in certain cases. But in the absence of special circumstances, such
award of interest and solatium cannot be justified under the provisions of the
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act.
On
behalf of the respondents, Mr. R.C. Pathak has drawn our attention to a
judgment of this Court in the case of Union of India v. Hari Krishan Khosla,
(1992 (2) SCALE 621).
This
was also a case under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property
Act, 1952. The ultimate decision in this case goes against the contention of
Mr. Pathak. In S.L.E. (C) No. 1780/1991, the award of 15% solatium and 6%
interest on enhanced compensation was set aside. In C.A. No.4688-94/1989 and
C.A. No. 2674-85/1989, award of solatium and interest was upheld because no
arbitrator was appointed for a period of sixteen years.
In the
instant case, it has not been established on behalf of the respondent that
there was any delay in the appointment of arbitrator on the part of the
appellant.
There
is nothing to show that the respondents had demanded appointment of arbitrator
or had disputed the amount of compensation paid by the special Land Acquisition
Collector.
It is
true that arbitrator was ultimately appointed at the instance of the
respondent. But there is nothing to indicate that the respondents had earlier
disputed the amount of compensation or had demanded appointment of arbitrator.
There
is no dispute that the compensation was accepted. It is for the respondents to
establish that it was accepted under protest. These facts have not been
established by the respondents.
It is
true, in the instant case, there had been no delay on the part of the
Government in referring the matter to an arbitrator. It has not been stated by
the respondents that they had demanded appointment of an arbitrator, when they
found that the compensation amount was inadequate. No letter or any other
document has been annexed to the writ petition or produced before this Court in
support of the case of the respondents.
Therefore,
we are of the view that in the facts of this case, the arbitrator was in error
in allowing solatium and interest without coming to a decision as to the
existence of any dispute and the failure of the Government to refer the matter
to an arbitrator. The appeals, therefore, are partly allowed. The order
relating to payment of solatium and interest is set aside. There will be no
order as to costs.
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