Topic
Himachal Pradesh High Court rules that compensation for uprooted apple trees under the Harbans Singh Formula must reflect inflationary trends, ensuring fair valuation based on authenticated departmental records. The ruling sets a precedent for land acquisition disputes involving fruit-bearing trees, mandating inflation-adjusted compensation.
The Bombay High Court has ruled that once a statutory land acquisition award fixes compensation at zero for trees, no further relief can be granted on grounds of compassion or hardship, even for senior citizens or women. The only recourse lies in invoking Section 64 of the LARR Act 2013 to challenge the award’s quantum - not through writ petitions seeking equitable relief. This reinforces the finality of statutory compensation determinations and curbs judicial overreach into administrative valuation.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that compensation for fruit-bearing trees like mango, guava, and sapota in land acquisition must be calculated at fixed per-tree rates-Rs. 3,000 each-rejecting income-capitalization approaches unless the land’s value is demonstrably derived from its yield. This sets a clear, uniform standard for horticultural compensation, benefiting thousands of small landowners across agricultural states where tree-based income is critical.