COMMUNIDADE OF NAGOA Vs. SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) All the above Appeals are taken up together for final disposal in view of the Order passed by this Court to hear the Appeals together as they pertain to an acquisition of land in the same Notification. The parties shall be referred to as they so appear in the impugned Judgment.

(2.) Both the above appeals take exception to the same judgment and Award dated 24th August, 2005, passed by the learned District and Sessions Judge, South Goa, Margao in Land Acquisition Case No. 121 of 2000.

(3.) By a Notification No. 22/115/95-RD dated 20th December, 1995, issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, (hereinafter referred to as the 'said Act'), published in Official Gazette dated 26th December, 1995, the Government acquired an area of 2,50,275 square metres belonging to the Applicants from the property surveyed under No. 33/0 of Nagoa Village for the expansion of (Phase-III) at Verna Industrial Estate of Goa Industrial Development Corporation. By an Award passed under Section 11 of the said Act, the Land Acquisition Officer fixed the compensation at the rate of Rs. 10/- per square metre. Being dissatisfied with the said amount as offered, the Applicants preferred a reference under Section 18 of the said Act and claimed enhancement of compensation to the tune of Rs. 500/- per square metre. By judgment and Award dated 24th August, 2005, the learned District Judge partly allowed the said reference and enhanced the compensation to Rs. 20/- per square metre for the land acquired besides other statutory benefits.