UNION OF INDIA Vs. SHANTABAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals by the beneficiary of acquisition namely the Central Railways and the Cross Objections by the land-losers call in question a common judgment & award dated 19.06.2019 and also a solo judgment & award dated 23.01.2020, entered by the Reference Courts whereby the compensation payable for the acquired lands is enhanced by re-determining their value at Rs.39,20,400/- per acre as against Rs.63,363/- awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer; the Railways complained that the award is much on the higher side whereas the land-losers, per contra, grieved that the same is much on the meager side.

(2.) The Central Railways is represented by it's Senior Panel Counsel Mr. Manvendra Reddy and the land-losers are represented by their advocates. Since all these cases arise from the very same acquisition and all the lands are situate at the same village, they are taken up together for the final hearing and disposal with the concurrence of the Bar.

(3.) Facts in brief: All these agricultural lands along with other situate at the village of Mahagaon of Gulbarga Taluka have been acquired for the benefit of Central Railways; the acquisition commenced with the issuance of Preliminary Notification dated 15.07.2010 (published on 28.10.2010) under section 4(1) of the erstwhile Land Acquisition Act, 1894 followed by the Final Notification and later the award dated 19.03.2012; the Land Acquisition Officer had awarded a compensation of Rs.63,363/- per acre; however, this came to be enhanced by the impugned Judgment & Awards in multiples by re-determining the land value at Rs.90/Sft. hence, these appeals by the beneficiary and the Cross Objections by the land-losers.