Hey there, folks! Today, we're diving into a case straight out of the Bombay High Court that’s all about land, compensation, and a bit of drama. Let's break it down.
In this case, we have the Todkars and other landowners from Babhalgaon, a village in Latur. Their lands were taken by the State of Maharashtra to build a water storage tank. The main issue? How much money they should get for their land.
Ramchandra Rangnath Todkar, along with other landowners, argued that their lands were worth more than what the government offered. They pointed out that their lands were close to important facilities like highways, schools, and police training centers.
"The judge definitely made a mistake by not considering similar land sales in the same village."
They wanted the compensation to be Rs. 250 per square foot, citing nearby land sales and previous court decisions that supported higher rates.
The State of Maharashtra didn't agree. They thought the compensation was already too high and needed to be reduced. They argued that the previous court decisions used for comparison didn't apply in this case.
"The compensation given by the court in these matters is definitely too high."
This decision was made by Judges Nitin B. Suryawanshi and Sandipkumar C. More. They had to decide between the landowners’ demands and the State’s objections.
After reviewing all the evidence, the court decided to set the compensation at Rs. 165 per square foot, which was a middle ground. They also adjusted the interest calculations and ensured that the landowners received additional legal benefits.
"We find it appropriate to give higher compensation to all these landowners for their lands at the rate of Rs.165 per square foot."
The State’s appeals were dismissed, and the landowners got a better deal than initially offered, though not as high as they wanted. This case highlights the complexities of land acquisition and compensation in rapidly developing areas.
