S RANGA REDDY Vs. LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The order of the learned Sub-Judge, Mahabubnagar in LA. No.61/97 in O.P.No.30/86, dated 30-6-1997 is challenged by the petitioner, who is the decree holder in O.P.No.30/86. The decree in O.P.No.30/86 arose out of a land acquisition dispute. It was confirmed by this Court in appeal and further on by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the subsequent proceedings. The petitioner presented a cheque petition to withdraw the compensation of Rs.6,00,000/- and it was ordered. Respondent No.l, the Land Acquisition Officer filed the application LA. No.61/97 and objected for payment of the amount by way of interest on solatium and on additional amount awarded and the income tax on total interest to be deducted at 10% under Sec. 194-A of the Income Tax Act. Reliance was placed on Tehri Hydel Development Corporation vs. S.P. Singh and others. The rule laid down therein was that the claimants in land acquisition are not entitled to interest on solatium and the additional sum awarded under Section 23(1-A) of the Income Tax Act (sic. Land Acquisition Act). Therefore, the learned Sub-Judge held that the petitioner is not entitled to the interest on the solatium and, therefore, the additional amount awarded. It was also pointed out and found that no Income-tax was deducted on the total interest awarded in the case which was to be deducted under Section 194-A of the Income Tax Act. Therefore, the learned Sub-Judge calculated the whole amount and fixed Rs.5,70,882/- to be paid to the petitioner deducting interest on solatium and further deducting Rs.31,892/- and fixed the net amount payable to the claimant at Rs.5,38,990/-. Aggrieved by that, the present revision is filed.

(2.) The learned Advocate for the petitioner has contended that when oncethere was a decree in the land acquisition proceedings confirmed upto the Supreme Court, the learned Sub-Judge had no powers to review it or question the correctness of the same, much less the land acquisition officer had no right to question it on such grounds. There is all the force in this contention.

(3.) The learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the Governmentfor Respondent No.1 the Land Acquisition Officer contends that since the law has been settled by the Supreme Court, Respondent No.l was entitled to bring it to the notice of the Court so that the order could have been reviewed as an error apparent on the face of the record. There is no force in this contention.