SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER Vs. G. A. CHOUDHARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned Additional Government Advocate. There is no representation on behalf of the respondents - claimants even though court notice was served upon them.

(2.) The present appeals are filed by the State under Section 54 (1) of the Land Acquisition Act assailing the common judgment and award dated 26.02.2015 in LAC No.476/2011 and LAC No.473/2011 passed by the Senior Civil Judge, Chittapur (for short, 'Reference Court') .

(3.) The appellants initiated acquisition proceedings by issuing 4(1) Notification on 18.10.2007 for the purpose of Sannati Lift Irrigation Project at Kollur village. The Special Land Acquisition Officer had passed award on 05.02.2009 in respect of the lands acquired for the above said purpose in Kollur village, fixing the market value at Rs.26,088/- per acre as compensation with statutory benefits. Being aggrieved by the said order of the SLAO, several land-losers including the respondents approached the reference court in LAC Nos.476/2011, 473-475/2011, 477/2011 and 479/2011. The reference court by its judgment and award dated 26.02.2015 enhanced and declared that the land-losers would be entitled for Rs.5,51,250/- per acre with other statutory benefits. The appellants filed these appeals under Section 54(1) of the Act in respect of LAC Nos.476/2011 and 473/2011. The order in respect of other land acquisition cases were not the subject matter of the appeals before this court. But, they were the subject matter of appeal before the learned IV Addl. District Judge, Kalaburagi Iternary Court Sitting at Chittapur since the value of the appeal was less than Rs.10 lakh. The said appeals before the learned District Judge were disposed of by judgment dated 15.12.2018.