High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeAppeals disposed of in part; Collector's decisi...
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases
Case / Petition Number:LA.AA.No.568 of 2015
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- P.B. Suresh Kumar
- Judgment Date
- 2019-07-22
- Court Decision / Holding
- Appeals disposed of in part; the collector’s decision is restored with modifications: claimants are entitled to interest on solatium under Section 23(2) and interest on the additional compensation under Section 23(1A) on the redetermined land value under Section 28A(1); all interlocutory applications are closed.
- Final Disposition
- Appeals disposed of in part; Collector's decision restored with modifications; interlocutory applications closed.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- State of Kerala represented by the District Collector, Kollam
Respondents
- Ramachandran Pillai
- Draupathy Kutty Amma
- Binu M.R.
- Bindu M.R.
- Bijumon M.R.
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • A. Muhammed Raffi
- • Siju Kamalasnanan
Counsels for Respondents
- • Siju Kamalasnanan
- • Reny Anto
Case Synopsis & Summary
These consolidated Land Acquisition Appeals arise from notifications issued under the Land Acquisition Act for the Kallada Irrigation Project in Kollam district. Lands belonging to various landowners were acquired and compensation was initially paid by the Land Acquisition Officer. In respect of other lands within the same notification, the reference court granted enhanced compensation, prompting the claimants to seek re-determination of compensation under Section 28A. The Collector re-determined the compensation, leading to further challenges before the reference court. The State contended that the claimants were not entitled to more than the amounts fixed in the relied-upon judgments, a position supported by a Full Bench in Sarada v. Special Tahsildar. The claimants, however, invoked the Supreme Court’s decision in Sunder v. Union of India to press for interest on solatium under Section 23(2) and interest on the additional compensation under Section 23(1A) on the redetermined land value under Section 28A. After hearing on 22 July 2019, the Court held that while the base compensation should reflect the relied-upon judgments, the claimants are not entitled to disproportionate enhancement, but are entitled to the statutory interests prescribed by law. Accordingly, the Appeals are allowed in part; the Collector’s order is restored with the clarifications that claimants will receive the specified interest on solatium and on additional compensation on redetermined value, with interlocutory applications closed.
Provisions of Law Cited
Section 28A(1) of the Land Acquisition ActSection 28A(3) of the Land Acquisition ActSection 23(2) of the Land Acquisition ActSection 23(1A) of the Land Acquisition Act
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The State contends that compensation should not exceed the amounts fixed in relied-upon judgments under Section 28A(1); it relies on the Full Bench decision in Sarada v. Special Tahsildar to oppose any proportionate enhancement. While supporting adherence to the base awards, it invokes the decision in Sunder v. Union of India to contend that no extra benefits beyond the judgments are due, and that interest on solatium and on additional compensation should be paid only on the redetermined land value as per legal prescriptions.
Contentions of Respondents
The claimants argued for proportionate enhancement of compensation and, by invoking 28A proceedings, sought interest on solatium and on the additional compensation on the redetermined land value. They pressed to align with reference court enhancements; however, the record shows the court ultimately limited enhancement in line with relied-upon judgments while recognizing statutory interest rights under 23(2) and 23(1A) on the redetermined value.
Cited Precedents (2)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarada v. Special Tahsildar | 2016(2) KLT 120 | Positive | Full Bench held that in Section 28A(1) proceedings claimants are not entitled to more compensation than what is granted in the relied upon judgments; the present court follows this principle to deny enhancement. |
| Sunder v. Union of India | (2001) 7 SCC 211 | Positive | Apex Court held that in redetermination of compensation, interest on solatium under Section 23(2) and on additional compensation under Section 23(1A) must be granted on redetermined land value; followed by the court. |
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Extracted Judgment Text
Exact text extracted from official judgment records.
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
## **LA.App..No.568 of 2015**
**AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN LAR 88/2011 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 28-02-2015**
## **APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM.**
**BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANTS IN L.A.R.:**
|**1**|**RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI**||
|---|---|---|
||**S/O NEELAKANDA PILLAI, VELLANGATTU **|**MOOTHOOM,**|
||**KULASEKHARA PURAM VILLAGE, NEELIKULAM CHERRY,**||
||**KARUNAGAPALLY TALUK, KOLLAM-690542.**||
|**2**|**DRAUPATHY KUTTY AMMA**||
||**W/O RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, VELLANGATTU **|**MOOTHOOM,**|
||**KULASEKHARAPURAM**<br>**VILLAGE,**<br>**NEELIKULAM**|**CHERRY,**|
||**KARUNAGAPPALLY TALUK, KOLLAM-690542.(DIED)**||
|**3**|**BINU M.R., S/O. RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, **|**VELLANGATTU**|
||**MOOTHOOM HOUSE, NEELIKULAM, K.S.PURAM, KARUNAGAPALLY.**||
|**4**|**BINDU M.R, D/O.RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, **|**CHETTAKARA**|
||**BANGLOW, VENNAMGARA, CHENGANNUR, ALAPPUZHA**|**DISTRICT.**|
|**5**|**BIJUMON M.R., S/O RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI,**|**VELLANGATTU**|
||**MOOTHOOM**<br>**HOUSE,**<br>**NEELIKULAM,**|**K.S.PURAMA,**|
||**KARUNAGAPALLY.**||
|******|**CAUSE TITTLE OF APPEAL MEMORANDUM AMENDED**|**AS ABOVE BY**|
||**INCORPORATING THE NAMES OF THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES**||
||**OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT AS ADDITIONAL R3**|**TO R5 VIDE**|
||**ORDER DATED 22.07.2019 IN I.A.637/17.**||
**BY ADVS. SRI.A.MUHAMMED RAFFI SRI.SIJU KAMALASANAN**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
2
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..180/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..701/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
3
# **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.584 of 2015**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT & DECREE IN LAR 77/2010 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 30-03-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDETS IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REP. BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANTS IN L.A.R.:**
**1 AYYAPPAN RAMAN CHENATHUNDI VEEDU,PERUMPUZHA THAZHAM,PERUMPUZHA.P.O, KOLLAM-691504.**
**2 ANANDA CHENATHUNDIL VEEDU,PERUMPUZHA THAZHAM,PERUMPUZHA.P.O, KOLLAM-691504.**
**BY ADVS.**
**SIJU KAMALASANAN FOR R2 SMT.RENY ANTO FOR R2**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
4
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.660 of 2015**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 114/2010 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 24-03-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM.**
**BY ADV. SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.T.K.SHAJAHAN.**
**RESPONDENTS/CLAIMANTS IN L.A.R.:**
- **1 MATHAI JOSEPH (STRUCK OFF) MAMBIYATHU KUTTIYIL KIZHAKKATHIL, MYNAGAPPALLY SOUTH, KOLLAM-690519.**
- **2 SMT.MARRY MATHAI (STRUCK OFF) MAMBIYATHU KUTTIYIL KIZHAKKATHIL, MYNAGAPPALLY SOUTH, KOLLAM-690519.**
**THE NAMES OF 1ST AND 2ND RESPONDENTS ARE STRUCK OFF FROM THE PARTY ARRAY VIDE ORDER DATED 24.08.2017 IN I.A.749/2017.**
- **3 JOHN KUTTY MAMBIYATHU KUTTIYIL KIZHAKKATHIL, MYNAGAPPALLY SOUTH, KOLLAM-690519.**
- **4 FR.JAMES PUTHAN PURA PROWRATOR & POWER OF ATTORNEY HOLDER BISHOP HOUSE, THANGASSERY, KOLLAM-691 007.**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
5
**BY ADVS. SMT.RENY ANTO FOR R3 SRI.SIJU KAMALASANAN,R3**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
6
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.701 of 2015**
**AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN LAR 26/2011 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 09-06-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
**RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
**PANKAJAKSHI**
**ARYATHU VEEDU, PATHIRICKAL, SORANADU NORTH, KOLLAM - 690 522.**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
7
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.225 of 2016**
**AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN LAR 5/2011 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 31-03-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
**VIJAYAN PILLAI PURUSHOTHAMA VILASAM, KOONAYIL, NEDUNGOLAM P.O, PARAVOOR-691 301.**
**BY ADVS. SMT.RENY ANTO AND SRI.SIJU KAMALASANAN**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
8
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.226 of 2016**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT & DECREE IN LAR 46/2010 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 15-09-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDNET IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM.**
**BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
## **NARENDRAN PILLAI**
**NARENDRAN BHAVAN, PERUMPUZHA P.O., KUNDARA, KOLLAM691 501.**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
9
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.295 of 2016**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT & DECREE IN LAR 7/2012 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 28-07-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
**JANARDHANAN PILLAI SREECHITHIRA, PERUMPUZHA P.O., KOLLAM-691 504.**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
10
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.4 of 2017**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT & DECREE IN LAR 9/2012 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM**
## **APPELLANT/RESPONDENTS 1 AND 2 IN L.A.R.:**
- **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY DISTRICT COLLECTOR,KOLLAM.**
- **2 THE SPECIAL TAHSILDAR LA NO.II KOLLAM.**
**BY ADVS. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.RANJITH THAMPAN ADDL.ADVOCATE GENERAL**
## **RESPONDENT/PETITIONER IN L.A.R.:**
**S.SUDHAKARAN VETTAVILA VEEDU, KARTHIKA,NEDUMPANA VILLAGE, NEDUMPANA P.O.,KOLLAM. PIN-691 580.**
**BY ADVS. SRI.PRATHEESH.P**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
11
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.132 of 2017**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 92/2011 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 30-09-2015**
## **APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM.**
**BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
|**1**|**GANESAN PILLAI (DIED)**|
|---|---|
||**PUNTHILETHU VEEDU, PATHIRIKKAL, PARAKKADAVU P.O.,**|
||**SOORANADU NORTH, KOLLAM, PIN-690561.**|
|**2**|**THANKAMMA**|
||**W/O. LATE GANESAN PILLAI, PUNTHILETHU VEEDU,**|
||**PATHIRIKKAL, PARAKKADAVU P.O., SOORANADU NORTH,**|
||**KOLLAM, PIN-690561.**|
|**3**|**HARIKUMAR**|
||**S/O.LATE GANESAN PILLAI, NANDANAM, CHERUMMOODU,**|
||**PERINADU, VELLIMON P.O., KOLLAM, PIN-691511.**|
|**4**|**VENUGOPAL**|
||**S/O.LATE GANESAN PILLAI, PUNTHILETHU VEEDU,**|
||**PATHIRIKKAL,PARAKKADAVU P.O., SOORANADU NORTH,**|
||**KOLLAM, PIN-690561.**|
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
12
**5**
**GOPAKUMAR S/O.LATE GANESAN PILLAI, AKSHTAPATHI, HOMIO MEDICAL JUNCTION, KOZHIKODE, PIN-673001.**
**THE CAUSETITLE IS AMENDED BY INSERTING THE WORD (DIED) AGAINST THE ADDRESS OF 1ST RESPONDENT AND RECRODED THAT THE RESPONDENTS 2 TO 5 ARE THE ONLY LEGAL HEIRS OF THE DECEASED FIRST RESPONDENT AS PER ORDER DATED 26.06.2018 IN I.A.402/2018.**
**BY ADV. SRI.SIJU KAMALASANAN, FOR R2 TO R5. SRI.RENY ANTO FOR R2 TO R5.+**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
13
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.235 of 2017**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 3/2012 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 10-12-2015**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
**RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
**THE SECRETARY THEVALAKKARA BOY'S H.S,ARINALLOOR.P.O. THEVALAKKARA KOLLAM- 690 538**
**BY ADVS. SMT.RENY ANTO SRI.SIJU KAMALASANAN.**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
14
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.240 of 2017**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 65/2013 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM DATED 10-12-2015**
## **APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV.GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.T.K.SHAJAHAN SR. G.P.**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANTS IN L.A.R.**
|**1**|**JAINAMMA PETER**|
|---|---|
||**ROSE VILLA, PUTHEN KURISH PO,KARIMUKAL, ERNAKULAM**|
||**DISTRICT, PIN-682308.**|
|**2**|**JOHNSON PETER**|
||**ROSE VILLA, PUTHEN KURISH PO,KARIMUKAL, ERNAKULAM**|
||**DISTRICT, PIN-682308.**|
|**3**|**PRAKASH PETER**|
||**ROSE VILLA, PUTHEN KURISH PO,KARIMUKAL, ERNAKULAM**|
||**DISTRICT, PIN-682308.**|
|**4**|**TITUS PETER**|
||**ROSE VILLA, PUTHEN KURISH PO,KARIMUKAL, ERNAKULAM**|
||**DISTRICT, PIN-682308.**|
|**5**|**WINSON PETER**|
||**ROSE VILLA, PUTHEN KURISH PO,KARIMUKAL, ERNAKULAM**|
||**DISTRICT, PIN-682308.**|
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
15
**22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
16
## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.317 of 2017**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 6/2005 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR,KOLLAM**
**BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENTS/CLAIMANTS IN L.A.R.:**
## **CHELLAMMA SANTHAKUMARIAMMA**
**KAIPPALLERHU THEKKATHIL VEEDU,PALLISSERIKKAL MURI, SASTHAMCOTTA VILLAGE 690 521**
**BY ADV. SRI.ARUN BABU**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..69/2018, LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
17
**IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
## **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
**MONDAY, THE 22ND DAY OF JULY 2019 / 31ST ASHADHA, 1941**
**LA.App..No.69 of 2018**
**AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE IN LAR 99/2011 of PRINCIPAL SUB COURT,KOLLAM**
**APPELLANT/RESPONDENT IN L.A.R.:**
**THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOLLAM. BY ADV. GOVERNMENT PLEADER**
## **RESPONDENT/CLAIMANT IN L.A.R.:**
**THANKAMONY, SADANANDA BHAVAN, CHEKKALA THUNDIL,PERUMPUZHA P.O., KOLLAM-691 504.**
**THIS LAND ACQUISITION APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 22.07.2019, ALONG WITH LA.App..235/2017, LA.App..226/2016, LA.App..225/2016, LA.App..295/2016, LA.App..240/2017, LA.App..317/2017, LA.App..584/2015, LA.App..701/2015, LA.App..660/2015, LA.App..132/2017, LA.App..4/2017, LA.App..568/2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:**
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
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## **mL.A.A.Nos. 568, 584, 660, 701 of 2015,**
**225, 226, 295 of 2016,**
**4, 132, 235, 240, 317 of 2017, and 69 of 2018 ---------------------------------------------------**
## **J U D G M E N T**
As the questions arising for consideration in the appeals are common, they are disposed of by this common judgment.
2. Lands held by the claimants in the proceedings were acquired by the State for the Kallada Irrigation Project and they have accepted the compensation computed and disbursed by the Land Acquisition Officer, without objection. Later, in respect of lands covered by the same notification, reference court granted enhanced compensation. The claimants then preferred applications for re-determination of compensation under Section 28A of the Act. On the said applications, the Collector re-determined the compensation payable to them. Aggrieved by the re-determination made, the claimants sought reference under Section 28A(3) of the Act. Before the reference court, the claimants sought proportionate enhancement of the
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
19
land value and compensation on the basis of the decision of the reference court. The claimants also sought interest on solatium payable in terms of Section 23(2) of the Act and interest on the additional compensation payable in terms of Section 23(1A) of the Act on the redetermined land value, as the said benefits were declined by the Collector while re-determining the compensation. The reference court accepted the case set out by the claimants in the references and modified the awards passed by the Collector. The State is aggrieved by the said decisions of the reference court and hence these appeals.
3. Heard the learned Government Pleader as also the learned counsel for the claimants.
4. It is beyond dispute that the Collector has computed and paid compensation for the lands acquired from the claimants, in tune with the land value fixed by the reference court in the judgements relied upon by the claimants. In **Sarada v. Special Tahsildar** [2016(2) KLT 120], a Full Bench of this court held that in proceedings under Section 28A(1) of the Act, the claimants are not entitled to more compensation than what is granted to them in the relied upon judgments. In the light of the said judgment, the claimants are not entitled to proportionate enhancement sought before the reference court.
L.A.A.No.568 of 2015 and connected cases.
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At the same time, in the light of the decision of the Apex Court in **Sunder v. Union of India** [(2001)7 SCC 211], in the matter of re-determining the compensation, the Collector should have granted to the claimants interest on solatium under Section 23(2) of the Act and interest for the additional compensation payable to them under Section 23(1A) of the Act on the redetermined land value.
In the circumstances, the land acquisition appeals are allowed in part and the decision of the Collector is restored subject to the clarification that the claimants will be entitled to interest on solatium payable under Section 23(2) of the Act and interest on the additional compensation payable under Section 23(1A) of the Act on the re-determined land value under Section 28A(1) of the Act. All the interlocutory applications in the appeals are closed.
Sd/-
## **P.B.SURESH KUMAR**
Dxy
## **JUDGE**