Topic
The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 governs the process by which the Indian government acquires private land for public purposes, including compensation determination and procedural mandates under Sections 6, 16, and 28-A.
The High Court condoned a 3,039-day delay in a Section 54 land acquisition appeal but, following the Supreme Court's New Okhla ruling, denied statutory benefits and interest for the delay period. Landowners receive enhanced compensation only; the acquiring body is not liable for interest or solatium accrued during the delay.
The Supreme Court ruled that for National Highways Act acquisitions, solatium and interest are payable but must be calculated under the 1894 Land Acquisition Act when the Competent Authority's award pre-dates 1 January 2015 - the date the 2013 RFCTLARR Act was extended to highway projects. The 2013 Act's enhanced compensation regime does not apply retrospectively to finalised awards, directly impacting landowners with pre-2015 awards.
The Gujarat High Court ruled that a District Valuation Committee report is valid evidence for compensation when sale deeds are missing, and upheld the 60 % market-value deduction with a 10 % annual escalation. This sets a clear valuation method for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, affecting both landowners and acquiring authorities.
The Gujarat High Court held that interest on excess compensation under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act accrues from the date of the Special Land Acquisition Officer’s award (or permanent possession), not from the date of temporary possession. This limits claimants' interest entitlement and clarifies future compensation calculations in land-acquisition cases.
The Supreme Court declared Lok Adalat awards void where any claimant's signature is missing, overturning the High Court's endorsement. It remitted the compensation dispute for fresh reference to the civil court under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, impacting all parties in similar land-acquisition cases.
Bombay High Court fixes market value at Rs.1,725 per square metre for Bokadvira land acquisition, clarifying valuation principles under Section 28A(3) of the Land Acquisition Act.
Supreme Court accepted a 12-year filing delay and denied interest on the enhanced award. It confirmed that lands acquired under the 1999 notification must receive Rs 6.5 lakh per acre with statutory benefits, matching the Ravindra award. The decision ensures equal compensation for similarly situated landowners despite prolonged procedural delays.
The Punjab & Haryana High Court held that interest payable on land-acquisition compensation must be calculated on a simple-interest basis, not compounded, and that a petition filed after five years cannot raise a new objection. It also ordered correction of the arithmetic error under Section 152 CPC. The ruling affects all landowners receiving compensation under the 1894 Act.
The Supreme Court ruled that compliance with Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 requires more than a ritualistic hearing-landowners must be afforded a genuine and effective opportunity to present objections. The judgment quashes acquisition proceedings where objections were mechanically processed, reinforcing the principles of natural justice in administrative actions affecting property rights.
Bombay High Court ruled that a land acquisition award amended via corrigendum after 31 years is void if due process under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, was bypassed. The Court directed fresh compensation proceedings, reinforcing that procedural compliance is non-negotiable even for decades-old acquisitions, impacting landowners and government agencies alike.
Bombay High Court ruled that evidence justifies a 12% annual escalation in land acquisition compensation, overturning the Reference Court's 6% rate. The judgment sets a precedent for market value appreciation in agricultural land disputes, impacting compensation claims under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.
Bombay High Court ruled that lands in Village Parhar Khurd are comparable to Village Dapkeghar, entitling claimants to 12% annual escalation on compensation under Section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Court enhanced compensation to Rs. 3,13,981 per hectare, emphasizing evidence-based comparability and statutory entitlements for landowners.
Bombay High Court rules that land acquisition proceedings under the Right to Fair Compensation Act 2013 lapse if neither possession is taken nor compensation paid by the cut-off date of 01.01.2014, entitling landowners to compensation under the new Act. This judgment reinforces landowners' rights and sets a critical precedent for pending compensation claims under Section 24.
Bombay High Court rules that compensation under the Land Acquisition Act must account for a 25% deduction for adjacent land influence, alongside a 10% annual hike in market value. The court also clarifies that interest on enhanced compensation accrues from the final award date, not the Section 4 notification, impacting landowners and state authorities in acquisition disputes.
Himachal Pradesh High Court rules that continuous possession and payment of land revenue, as evidenced by revenue records, override vesting entries under the H.P. Village Common Land Act, 1974. This entitles proprietors to compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, reinforcing the primacy of factual possession over statutory vesting in land acquisition disputes.