INDRA VIKRAM SINGH Vs. STATE OF M P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants are the legal heirs of one Padmini Kuarba who held the Lambardari lease in regard to certain villages in Panna tehsil. The lease was granted on 7.12.1945 for 30 years on an annual rent of Rs.1242.25 payable to the state government. The said Lambardar continued in possession in pursuance of the said lease from 1.1.1943 to 31.12.1953. The leasehold rights of Padmini Kuarba were taken over by the state government, vide notification dated 22.12.1953 with effect from 1.1.1954 issued under the Vindhya Pradesh Abolition of Jagirs and Land Reforms Act, 1952 (for short '1952 Act'). The resumption was challenged by the Lambardar and ultimately this Court set aside the resumption by judgment dated 21.2.1961, holding that her rights were not jagir rights. In pursuance of the said decision, the leased villages were restored to the Lambardar on 30.4.1961. The Lambardar continued in possession from 30.4.1961 till 30.6.1966 when the Lambardari leases were abolished by notification dated 28.6.1966 issued under Section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Swatwadharik Adhikar Sampati (Vindhya Pradesh) Adhiniyam, 1965 (for short '1965 Act'). As a consequence, possession of the leased lands was taken over from her on 1.7.1966.

(2.) The Collector, District Panna, by order dated 15.5.1968 determined the gross annual income to be Rs.18086.79, the deductions to be made therefrom to be Rs.4028.74 and the net income per annum as Rs.14058.05. By applying the multiplier of 13/6, he arrived at the compensation as Rs.30459.10. He also determined the income from the lands for the period of unauthorized occupation by the Government (1.1.1954 to 30.4.1961) as Rs.11,557/65. After, deducting the certain amounts due to the Government he arrived at the amount payable to the Lambardar as Rs.22,939.30 made up as follows:

(3.) In pursuance of it, the second respondent passed a fresh order dated 30.5.1988 determining compensation. The Collector, by reiterating the earlier determination, arrived at the average annual income to be Rs.18,086.79 and deductions to be made as Rs.4028.74. Thus he arrived at the net income as Rs.14,058.05 per annum. He determined the compensation payable as Rs.140,580/50, by applying a multiplier of 10. The Collector directed that Rs.19,077.45 due from the Lambardar to the Government (that is Rs.2928.20 towards Taccavi with interest upto 15.5.1968 and Rs.16,149.25 towards lease amount for 13 years at the rate of Rs.1242.25 per year) should be deducted and the balance be paid to the legal heirs of the Lambardar. He also reiterated that a sum of Rs.11,557.65 being the income of the Lambardari for the period 1.1.1954 to 30.4.1961 be released to legal heirs of the Lambardar. He awarded interest at the rate of 3= per annum on the compensation amount. He did not however grant any interest on the income determined for the period 1.1.1954 to 30.4.1961 on the ground that the said amounts had been deposited on 6.4.1968 by the Tehsildar, Panna and District Forest Officer, Panna. The said determination was challenged by the legal heirs of the deceased Lambardar. The High Court by the impugned order dated 7.5.2002 upheld the determination of compensation and the determination of income for the period 1.1.1954 to 30.4.1961. The High Court however modified the interest payable. While the Collector had granted interest at 3=% per annum in terms of the provisions of the Act, the High Court held that the said rate of interest would apply only upto 9.3.1987 and the interest payable from 10.3.1987 will be at the rate of 6% per annum, as this Court had directed that the compensation should be determined within six months. The said order is challenged by the legal heirs of the Lambardar in these appeals by special leave.