Quick Summary: A court decision in Bombay has increased the money given to some farmers after their land was taken for a project. The court decided they should receive more money than they were first offered.
The Case: Who's Involved?
Shrimant Bapurao Sonale and Sukhwant Bapurao Sonale are farmers from Latur, Maharashtra. They went to court because they were unhappy with the money they got when their land was taken by the government to build a water tank.
What Happened?
- Land Taken: The government decided to build a percolation tank in Latur. For this, they took land from the Sonales and others back in 2000.
- Low Compensation: The farmers argued that the money they were given was too low. They said the land was worth Rs. 2,00,000 per acre, but they got much less.
The Court Battle
- Farmers Fight Back: The Sonales took the issue to court, saying the government ignored important factors when deciding the amount of money they should get.
- Court's Decision: Judge R. M. Joshi looked at a sale agreement from 2000 and agreed that the farmers should get more money. The court set a new rate of Rs. 6,346.66 per R for the land.
"The market price of irrigated land should be double that of non-irrigated land," said the court.
Trees and Structures
- More Than Just Land: The Sonales also wanted money for trees and buildings on their land. The court agreed they should get more money for these too.
- Expert Opinion Ignored: Earlier, the court didn’t accept the value of trees because they thought the person who evaluated them wasn’t an expert. The higher court disagreed with this.
Final Order
- Pay Up: The court ordered the government to pay the revised amount and also add interest. The Sonales will get 30% extra as a bonus under the law.
Interest Rates
- Extra Money Over Time: The Sonales will receive 9% interest for the first year and 15% for the following years until they get all the money.
This case highlights the importance of standing up for fair compensation when the government takes private land. The Sonales stood their ground and got what they deserved!
