JOSH A MENEZES Vs. DEPUTY COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this appeal, the appellants (hereinafter referred to as the applicants ) take exception to the judgment and award dated 28/7/2003 passed by the District Judge, North Goa, Panaji in Land Acquisition Case No.41/2001 rejecting the reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 ( The Act for short).

(2.) Vide Notification issued under Section 4 (1) of the Act , the Government of Goa acquired land admeasuring 1980 square metres belonging to the applicants surveyed under survey nos.68 (part), 67/1 (part), 65/2 (part), 67/2 (part), 63/1(part), 63/2 (part), 65/3 (part) and 69/1 (part) for the purpose of construction of B/T road at Mercurim in Village Panchayat, Agassaim. The said notification was issued by the Government on 2/6/1998 and was published in Official Gazette on 28/6/1998. The acquired land consisted of coconut trees and a negligible portion was paddy field.

(3.) Before the Land Acquisition Officer the applicants claimed compensation at the rate of Rs.700/- per square metre. The Land Acquisition Officer awarded compensation at the rate of Rs.100/- per square metre and Rs.20/- per square metre in respect of 10 sq.mtres of paddy field forming part of survey no.65/2.