M/S Arti Spinning Mills Etc. Etc. v. State of Haryana
Background
The appellants (Arti Spinning Mills and others) were seeking enhanced compensation for land acquired by the State of Haryana, at the same rate (Rs. 16,08,000 per acre) that had been granted to an adjoining landowner in a separate, earlier case decided in 2009. Their review application before the High Court had been rejected on the ground of a 706-day delay in filing it, and there was a further delay of 1,705 days before reaching the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, in other connected cases involving similarly situated landowners, the Supreme Court had already set aside the High Court's orders and remanded those matters, and on remand the High Court had fixed compensation at the same Rs. 16,08,000 per acre rate.
Decision Breakdown
The Supreme Court allowed the appeals, holding that the appellants were entitled to the same enhanced land value of Rs. 16,08,000 per acre that had already been granted to similarly placed landowners in the connected cases. However, as a condition for overlooking the very long delays in the proceedings (706 days before the High Court and further delay before the Supreme Court, cumulatively 2,411 days), the Court denied the appellants any statutory benefits (such as additional interest or solatium accruing) for that entire delay period.
Lesson Learnt
Courts may grant parity in compensation to similarly situated landowners even where there has been a very long delay in pursuing the claim, but they can and do penalize that delay by withholding statutory benefits for the period of delay, rather than denying the substantive claim altogether.