Food Corporation of
India, Kakinada Vs. Yarlagadda Narayana Apparao & Ors. [2008] INSC 1580 (17
September 2008)
Judgment
IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 5725-5726 OF 2008
(Arising out of SLP (C.) Nos.14224-14225 of 2005) Food Corporation of India,
Kakinada Rep. by District Manager ....Appellant Versus Yarlagadda Narayana
Apparao & Others ....Respondents
Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT,
J.
1.
Leave
granted.
2.
Challenge
in these appeals is to the judgment of the learned Single Judge of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court allowing the Civil Revision Petition Nos.5048 and 5088 of
2001, filed by the present respondent no.1 in each case. In the civil revision
petition it was indicated that the proforma respondents in these appeals were
not necessary parties. The basic dispute relates to liability to interest on
the amount envisaged under Section 23(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (in
short the `Act') conveniently called "solatium". The High Court
allowed the civil revision petitions being of the view that the decision of
this Court in Prem Nath Kapur and Anr. v. National Fertilizer Corpn. of India
Ltd. and Ors. (1996 (2) SCC 71) was overruled by the Constitution Bench of this
Court in Sunder v. Union of India (2001 (7) SCC 211).
3.
Mr.
Amrendra Sharan, Additional Solicitor General, submitted that both Prem Nath's
case (supra) and Sunder's case (supra) were considered by a Constitution Bench
of this Court in Gurpreet Singh v. Union of India (2006 (8) SCC 457).
It was submitted that
view in Prem Nath's case (supra) was stated to be correct one in the said case.
Therefore, the view of the High Court cannot be maintained.
4.
In
response, learned counsel for the respondent submitted that the High Court's
judgment does not suffer from any infirmity to warrant interference.
5.
In
Gurpreet Singh's case (supra) this Court observed, inter alia, as follows:
"53. Thus, on
the whole, we are satisfied that the essential ratio in Prem Nath Kapur (1996
(2) SCC 71) on appropriation being at different stages is justified though if
at a particular stage there is a shortfall, the awardee-decree- holder would be
entitled to appropriate the same on the general principle of appropriation,
first towards interest, then towards costs and then towards the principal,
unless, of course, the deposit is indicated to be towards specified heads by
the judgment-debtor while making the deposit intimating the decree-holder of
his intention. We, thus, approve the ratio of Prem Nath Kapur on the aspect of
appropriation.
54. One other
question also was sought to be raised and answered by this Bench though not
referred to it. Considering that the question arises in various cases pending
in courts all over the country, we permitted the counsel to address us on that
question. That question is whether in the light of the decision in Sunder (2001
(7) SCC 211), the awardee/decree-holder would be entitled to claim interest on
solatium in execution though it is not specifically granted by the decree. It
is well settled that an execution court cannot go behind the decree.
If, therefore, the
claim for interest on solatium had been made and the same has been negatived
either expressly or by necessary implication by the judgment or decree of the
Reference Court or of the appellate court, the execution court will have
necessarily to reject the claim for interest on solatium based on 3 Sunder on
the ground that the execution court cannot go behind the decree. But if the
award of the Reference Court or that of the appellate court does not
specifically refer to the question of interest on solatium or in cases where
claim had not been made and rejected either expressly or impliedly by the
Reference Court or the appellate court, and merely interest on compensation is
awarded, then it would be open to the execution court to apply the ratio of
Sunder and say that the compensation awarded includes solatium and in such an
event interest on the amount could be directed to be deposited in execution.
Otherwise, not.
We also clarify that
such interest on solatium can be claimed only in pending executions and not in
closed executions and the execution court will be entitled to permit its
recovery from the date of the judgment in Sunder (19-9- 2001) and not for any
prior period. We also clarify that this will not entail any reappropriation or
fresh appropriation by the decree-holder. This we have indicated by way of
clarification also in exercise of our power under Articles 141 and 142 of the
Constitution of India with a view to avoid multiplicity of litigation on this
question."
6.
In
view of what has been stated above, it would be appropriate for the High Court
to consider the matter afresh in view of the aforesaid quoted observations of
this Court.
Accordingly, the
matter is remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration.
7.
The
appeals are disposed of without any order as to costs.
..........................................J.
(Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT)
..........................................J.
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