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Surinder Singh & Ors. v. State of Haryana

Civil Appeal · Neutral citation not assigned (Civil Appeal Nos. 5585-5588 of 2012)Decided 18 Feb 2016
Civil Appeal Nos. 5585-5588 of 2012
Justice Kurian Joseph · Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman

Background

Landowners in Haryana challenged the compensation the State had fixed for their land acquired for a public purpose. The High Court had earlier fixed the value at Rs. 250 per square yard in another landowner's case (Smt. Parkash Rani v. State of Haryana), and the Supreme Court had confirmed that rate in Kanti Parkash Bhall v. State of Haryana. The High Court then applied the same rate to these appellants.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held that the issue was already covered by the High Court's decision in Parkash Rani and by the Supreme Court's confirmation of that rate in Kanti Parkash Bhall. Because the High Court had already granted the same rate of Rs. 250 per square yard to these appellants, there was no reason to interfere. The appeals were dismissed with no order as to costs.

Lesson Learnt

When the courts have already fixed a compensation rate for land in a similar case, landowners in the same position will usually be given the same rate. Individual challenges that rely on a settled rate are unlikely to succeed unless the facts are different.

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

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