PROJECT MANAGER Vs. SHAKRABHAI SHANKARBHAI RAVAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BOTH these appeals involve common questions on law and facts and therefore, they are disposed of by this common judgment. These appeals have been filed against the judgment and award passed by the learned Assistant Judge, Mehsana in Land Acquisition Reference Nos.881/1997 & 882/1997 dated 20.07.2002, whereby, the references were partly allowed and the appellant-ONGC was held liable to pay Rs.4.50 per sq. metre as annual rent to the original claimants along with interest @ 9% p.a. for the first year and thereafter, @ 15% p.a. till the entire amount is received.

(2.) THE facts in brief of the case are that the Land Acquisition Officer made a proposal for temporary acquisition of the lands belonging to the respondents, original claimants. After following due procedure, the lands came to be acquired on 01.10.1996. THEreafter, awards came to be passed by the competent authority fixing the amount of compensation.

(3.) HEARD learned counsel for the respective parties and perused the documents on record. Similar issues arose for consideration of this Court in a group of appeals being First Appeal No.792/2003 & allied matters. The said group of appeals came to be disposed of by this Court, vide judgment and order dated 21.03.2006, relevant portions of which are reproduced hereunder for ready reference;