Special Land Acquisition Officer and Ors. v. Mallanagouda Rayanagouda Patil and Ors.

H Leave granted. 494 ~ - -4 SPL. LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER v. M.R. PATIL 495 The High Court of Karnataka in the impugned order reversed the A award and decree of the Reference Court and modified the same to the extent that the claimants will be entitled to compensation @Rs. 9,160 per acre for the irrigated land and Rs. 8,680 per acre for dry land, as against the Reference Court's award of sum of Rs. 16,950 and Rs. 9,975 respec­ tively, when the matter had come up for admission, since a batch of the matters was then pending, notice wa:s ordered in these matters also and the same was directed to be tagged with them. Since the batch has been disposed of by order dated January 27, 1995 in C.A. arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 11963-70/96, this Court while affirming the compensation awarded by the High Court modified the judgment and decree to the extent of award­ ing benefits of enhanced solatium and interest under the Amendm~nt Act 68 of 1984. The Court instead granted solatium at 15 per cent and interest at 6 per cent on the enhanced compensation from the date of taking possession till dated of payment or deposit, whichever is earlier. In these cases, since the award of the Reference Court itself is of October 23, 1982, i.e., after the Amendment Act was introduced, the respondents are entitled D to the benefits of the enhanced solatium and interest as granted by the High Court. The appeals are accordingly dismissed. No costs. G.N. Appeals dismissed.