Gen.Manager, M/S Hutti Gold Mines Co Vs. Shivappa(D) Tr.His Lrs.& Ors [2007] Insc
152 (19 February 2007)
Dr.AR.LAKSHMANAN & ALTAMAS KABIR
(Arising out of SLP(C) NO.2471 OF 2007) Dr.AR.LAKSHMANAN, J.
Heard Mr.Gopal Subramaniam, learned ASG appearing on behalf of the appellant
and Mr.Dhruv Mehta, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondent-claimants.
Leave granted.
This appeal is directed against the order passed by the High Court of
Karnataka in M.F.A.No.3707/2006 and other connected matters. The High Court of
Karnataka by order dt.11.01.2007 while admitting the appeals has passed the
following interim order :- " This Court doth Order that pending admission
of the above appeal the operation and execution of the impugned award in LAC
Nos.
1,2,31.3,4,32,5,6,7,33,34,8,35,37,9,10 of 2001 dated 19.12.2006 and LAC
Nos.22,23,13,24,17,26,18,27,19,14,28,20,29,15m 30 of 2001 dated 03.01.2006 on
the file of the Addl.Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.) Raichur is hereby stayed subject to
the appellant depositing 50% of the enhanced amounts along with the
proportionate amounts towards solatium, additional market value and the
interest thereon within four weeks from today i.e. 11.01.2007 with the
reference Court. On such deposit being made, it is open to the claimants to draw
the same."
Aggrieved against the direction to deposit 50% of the enhanced amount along
with the proportionate amounts towards solatium, additional market value and
the interest thereon, the appellant through its General Manager preferred the
above Civil Appeal arising out of SLP(C) No.2471/2007.
We have perused the grounds of appeal and also heard the arguments advanced
by learned ASG for the appellant and learned counsel for the respondents. Since
the appeal is pending before the High Court, we are not expressing any opinion
on the merits of the rival claims. However, in our opinion, the order of the
High Court ordering deposit of 50% of the enhanced amount with liberty to
withdraw needs modification. We, therefore, direct the appellant herein to
deposit 50% of the enhanced amount along with the proportionate amounts towards
solatium, additional market value and the interest thereon within four weeks
from today with the Reference Court. On such deposit, all the claimants are
entitled to withdraw 25% of the enhanced amount without furnishing any
security.
The Reference Court shall open a separate account in respect of all the
claimants and keep 25% of the remaining amount in fixed deposit in a
nationalised bank and await further orders from the High Court in the pending
appeal. Since the acquisition proceedings started in the year 1995 and the
matter is pending in one forum or the other we request the High Court to
dispose of the appeals filed by the appellant herein and also the appeals filed
by the respondents herein/claimants within six months from today on merits and
in accordance with law. We request the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Karnataka
High Court to place all the matters before a Division Bench of the said court
for disposal of the same within the time stipulated in this Order.
The appeal stands disposed of accordingly.
No costs.
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