Hey everyone! Today, we're diving into a pretty interesting case from the Bombay High Court involving land compensation in Latur, Maharashtra. Let's break it down in a way that's easy to understand.
A group of farmers from Babhalgaon, Latur, had their lands taken by the state for building a water storage tank. The official in charge initially offered them compensation at Rs. 1394 and Rs. 2788 per R. But the farmers weren't happy with this amount.
They took the matter to another court, which increased the compensation to Rs. 125 per square foot. However, the farmers believed their land was worth Rs. 250 per square foot because it was in a prime location near important roads and facilities.
"The lands taken were next to Latur-Nilanga State Highway and surrounded by developed infrastructure."
On the other hand, the State of Maharashtra, represented by Nilkanth Laxman Hattarge, thought the compensation was too high and asked for it to be lowered. They argued that the other court's decision was based on wrong comparisons and that the interest calculations were incorrect.
"The compensation given by the other court is definitely too high and needs to be lowered."
After hearing both sides, Judges Nitin B. Suryawanshi and Sandipkumar C. More decided to adjust the compensation rate to Rs. 165 per square foot. They based this on previous decisions and similar land sales in the area.
They also corrected the interest calculation, stating it should start from the award date, not the notification date.
The court ordered the state to pay the increased compensation along with legal benefits and interest. The farmers were directed to pay any remaining court fees.
"The respondents shall pay the increased amount of compensation @ Rs. 165/- per sq.ft."
This case highlights the complexities of land acquisition and compensation. It's a balancing act between fair compensation for landowners and reasonable costs for the state.
