State of Haryana
& ANR. Vs. Shiv Lal & Ors. [2009] INSC 205 (3 February 2009)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 58 OF 2005 State of Haryana & Anr. ..Appellant(s)
Versus Shiv Lal & Ors. ...Respondent(s) WITH CIVIL APPEALS NO.132, 97, 113,
145, 272, 116, 125, 62-85, 127-131 & 330 OF 2005 CIVIL APPEALS NOS. 631 TO
677 OF 2009 (Arising out of S.L.P.(C) Nos.7723/2008, 6209/2007, 2302/2008,
18605/2008, 18606- 18639/2008 & 7066-7074/2008) ORDER Delay condoned in S.L.P.(C)
Nos.18606-639/2008.
Leave granted in
Special Leave Petitions.
In this batch of
Civil Appeals, the State has filed eleven appeals out of a total of 17 appeals.
The remaining appeals have been filed by the claimants for enhancement of
compensation.
A short question
which arises for determination is - whether belting method is applicable to the
acquired lands falling in municipal area abutting the abadi of Rewari? C.A.No.58/2005
etc...contd...
-2- Facts in Civil
Appeal No.58/2005 in the case of State of Harayana & Anr.
The learned
Additional Judge had evolved and applied the belting system to the lands in
question categorising/dividing the said lands into three separate and distinct
categories. For category 'A', the learned Additional District Judge awarded the
rate of Rs.8,00,000/- per acre; for category 'B', he awarded the rate of
Rs.7,00,000/- per acre and for category 'C', he awarded the rate of
Rs.4,00,000/- per acre. This was challenged by way of First Appeal in which the
learned Single Judge of the High Court reduced the above three categories into
two categories and, consequently, awarded the rate of Rs.7,04,367/- per acre
for category 'A' and Rs.6,00,000/- per acre for category 'B'. Against the
decision of the learned Single Judge of the High Court, the matter was carried
in L.P.A. which stood dismissed, hence, this Civil Appeal by the State.
The main contention
of the State is that the learned Single Judge had erred in reducing the number
of categories from three to two. We do not find any merit in this argument for
the following reasons:
...3/- C.A.No.58/2005
etc...contd...
-3-
(L.P.A.No.387/2001 decided on 15.5.2006), it has been held by the High Court
that belting system is not applicable to municipal areas abutting the abadi. In
the said judgment, the Division Bench has held that the land in question
falling within the municipal area abutting the abadi had great potential. As
stated above, this decision has not been challenged by the State by filing a
special leave petition. It has become final. Consequently, two sets of decrees
would result - in one set of cases, the claimants would get compensation on the
basis of belting system (if the State succeeds in its Civil Appeal) and in the
other set of cases, the claimants would get compensation at higher rate on the
basis that belting is not applicable. The judgment and decree passed by the
High Court in Pawan Kumar's case has now become final as the State has not
challenged the said judgment.
Before us, it was
argued that if this Court upholds the applicability of the belting system as
done by the learned Additional District Judge in the case of State of ..4/-
C.A.No.58/2005 etc...contd...
-4- in Pawan Kumar's
case would need reconsideration. We do not find any merit in this argument for
the simple reason that the judgment and decree passed by the High Court in
Pawan Kumar's case has become final. Lastly, it may be pointed out that under
the notification issued under the Land Acquisition Act, in these cases,
compensation has been unconditionally paid to all the claimants in 2001 and
onwards. In the circumstances, on account of inconsistent decrees coming into
the field, we do not wish to interfere in the Civil Appeal(s) filed by State of
Haryana.
As regards appeal(s)
filed by the claimant(s) for enhancement, we find no reason to interfere as the
High Court has correctly applied the belting system of valuation to the facts
of the case.
Accordingly, all the
Appeals and cross appeals are dismissed, with no order as to costs.
...................J.
(S.H. KAPADIA)
...................J.
(H.L. DATTU)
New
Delhi,
February
03, 2009.
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