M.T. Padmavathi vs The Special Thahsildar (L.A.) and The Executive Engineer

Pius C. Kuriakose, J.—This appeal by the claimant pertains to acquisition of land in Nadakkuthazha village of Vadakara Taluk for the purpose of construction of Palolipalam Bridge. The acquisition was pursuant to Section 4(1) notification published on 10/4/2005. The property was garden land. The Land Acquisition Officer awarded land value at the rate of Rs. 22,290/- per cent. The Reference Court on evaluating the evidence adduced by the parties refixed the land at Rs. 37,500/- per cent.

In this appeal various grounds are raised urging that the market value refixed by the court below is quite inadequate. Having anxiously considered the submissions of the learned Counsel for the Appellant Smt. Mini Rajan, and the learned Senior Government Pleader Smt. Latha T. Thankappan, we feel that the issue raised in this appeal is covered to a certain extent in favour of the Appellant. In fact, Smt. Latha T. Thankappan drew our attention to our own judgment in L.A.A. No. 646/2009. We notice that as per that judgment for identical land acquired L.A.A. No. 199/2011 2 for the same purpose this Court has refixed the value at Rs. 45,000/- per cent. Following that judgment, we allow this appeal to the extent of refixing the market value of the land under acquisition at Rs. 45,000/- per cent.

The appeal is allowed to the above extent. The Appellant will be entitled for all statutory benefits admissible u/s 23(2), 23(1A) and Section 28 of the Act on the total refixed compensation to which she become eligible by virtue of this judgment. However, while providing for interest u/s 28, the Section will have due regard to the conditions imposed by us in our order in C.M. Appln. No. 409/2011. Decree copy will be issued to the Appellant only after ensuring that the conditions imposed in that order are complied with and the full balance court fee is remitted by the Appellant.

The appeal is allowed. However without any order as to costs.