Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak & Anr Vs. The Municipal Corpn. of Greater Bombay & Anr [1996] INSC 263 (15 February 1996)

Ramaswamy, K.Ramaswamy, K.G.B. Pattanaik (J)

CITATION: 1996 AIR 1350 JT 1996 (3) 377 1996 SCALE (2)906

ACT:

HEAD NOTE:

O R D E R

Leave granted.

We have heard the counsel on both sides.

Notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 was published in 1981 and the award under Section 11 was made on May 9, 1984 awarding compensation at the rate of Rs.110/- per sq. yd. On reference under Section 18 the learned single Judge enhanced the compensation to Rs.300/ per sq. yd. by award and decree dated February 19, 1992 but disallowed interest in view of the agreement between the parties. Dissatisfied therewith, the appellant has come forward with this appeal by special leave against the order of the High Court dated July 14, 1994 in Appeal No.114/92.

The only question is whether the appellants are entitled to the interest as amended under the Amendment Act 68 of 1984. Admittedly, the appellants had entered into an agreement and the relevant part thereof reads as under:

"That the Corporation shall pay an amount of Rs.98,480/- (Rupees Ninety Eight Thousand Four Hundred Eighty only) being 2/3rd of compensation to be calculated at the interim rates of Rs.40/- for the said property more particularly described in the First Schedule hereunder written on the execution of this agreement and the balance amount of the compensation as may be awarded under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 shall be paid to the owners with interest thereon at the rate of 4% per annum from the date of possession." A reading thereof clearly indicates that they were agreeable for payment of a sum of Rs.98,480/- only being 2/3rd of the compensation to be calculated at the rate of Rs.40/- per sq. yd. more particularly described in the First Schedule on execution of the agreement. For the balance amount they requested the authorities to award compensation under the Act, But they contracted for payment of interest at the rate of 4% per annum from the date of possession.

Sub-section (2) of Section 11 of the Act rends as under:

"(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if at any stage of the proceedings, the Collector is satisfied that all the persons interested in the land who appeared before him have agreed in writing on the matters to be included in the award of the Collector in the form prescribed by rules made by the appropriate Government, he may, without making further enquiry, make an award according to the terms of such agreement." Therefore, notwithstanding anything contained in sub- section (1), the Land Acquisition Officer is entitled to award interest as per the contract entered into by the authorities. Though the Amendment Act has come into force giving benefit of enhanced rate of interest, the appellants are not entitled to the enhanced interest by virtue of their contract.

The appeal is accordingly dismissed. No costs.

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