STATE OF GOA Vs. ROSA FLORINA BERNEE COUTINHO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this First Appeal, the Land Acquisition Officer, South Goa, Sub Division III and the Executive Engineer, W.D. XXV (N.H.), P.W.D., Gogol, Margao, seek to challenge the legality and correctness of the Judgment and Award dated 29th June, 1999 passed by the IInd Addl. District Judge, South Goa, Margao in Land Acquisition Case No.166/1992whereby the said Court awarded compensation @ Rs.100/- per sq.m. for the acquisition of 360 sq. metres of land from the property under SurveyNo.421/2 of village Chinchinim, Taluka Salcete, belonging to the respondents.

(2.) THE State Government issued Notification under S.4 (1) of the Land Acquisition Act dated 23.5.1988 that was published in the Official Gazette on 18.8.1988 for acquisition of the aforesaid land along with other land for widening and improvement of National Highway 17. Upon conclusion of the acquisition proceedings, the Land Acquisition Officer fixed the market value of the acquired land at Rs.13/- per sq.m. and offered compensation accordingly. The respondents claimants dissatisfied with the offer of compensation made by the Land Acquisition Officer sought reference under S.18 of the Land Acquisition Act. The matter was thus referred by the Land Acquisition Officer to the Civil Court.

(3.) IN rebuttal the present appellants examined H.W.Subramaniam (RW.1).