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Kamla Devi and Others vs State of Haryana and Others

Not available · 2024 INSC 1028Decided 20 Dec 2024
Not available

Background

The appellants' land in village Tauru, District Mewat, Haryana, had been acquired by the State under notifications issued in 2011 and 2012. The dispute concerned the correct assessment of compensation for the acquired land. Both parties agreed that the issue was already squarely covered by the Supreme Court's own earlier judgment dated 21.10.2024 in Horrmal (since deceased, through his LRs) vs The State of Haryana, which dealt with compensation for land acquired under the very same acquisition.

Decision Breakdown

Applying its reasoning from the Horrmal judgment, the Court held that the High Court had erred in reducing the land valuation and affirming the lower figures set by the Land Acquisition Collector, since the Reference Court's earlier valuation was nearly accurate and consistent with sale-deed evidence and the land's potential. The Court set aside the High Court's judgment and restored the higher compensation awarded by the Reference Court, directing that any unpaid compensation be paid to the appellants along with all statutory benefits, including interest, within eight weeks.

Lesson Learnt

Landowners affected by the same government acquisition as an earlier successful case can rely on that precedent to get the same relief. Courts will apply an established ruling consistently to all connected land parcels acquired under the same notification.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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