Karnataka High Court
The Executive Engineer vs The Spl Land Acquisition Officer on 19 November, 2024
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NC: 2024:KHC-D:16846
MFA No. 104618 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
DHARWAD BENCH
DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 104618 OF 2023 (LAC)
BETWEEN:
THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER,
KNNL, MBC, DIVISION NO.1,
GADDANAKERI CAMP,
BAGALKOT - 587 101.
...APPELLANT
(BY SRI S. M. KALWAD, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER,
MALAPRABHA PROJECT - III,
BAGALKOT, PIN CODE - 587 101.
2. SMT. MALLAWWA W/O. YAMANAPPA AKKIMARADI,
AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
Digitally signed
by SAROJA R/O: UTTUR, TQ: MUDHOL,
HANGARAKI
Location: High
DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 313.
Court of
Karnataka
3. SMT. KAREWWA W/O. DEVENDRAPPA GADADI,
AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
R/O: UTTUR, TQ: MUDHOL,
DIST: BAGALKOT - 587 313.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1)
THIS MFA IS FILED U/SEC.74 (1) OF RIGHT TO FAIR
COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION,
REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT ACT, 2013, AGAINST THE
JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 19.10.2022 PASSED IN LAC.NO.
297/2018 ON THE FILE OF THE I ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND
SESSIONS JUDGE, BAGALKOT TO SIT AT JAMKHANDI AND THE LAND
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NC: 2024:KHC-D:16846
MFA No. 104618 of 2023
ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT AUTHORITY,
JAMAKHANDI, AND ETC.,
THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, THE
COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA)
Learned HCGP takes notice for respondent No.1.
Notice is not issued to respondent Nos.2 and 3 since the
appeal is disposed of on a question of law.
2. This appeal is filed under Section 74(1) of the
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land
Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 20131
laying a challenge to the Judgment & Award dated
19.10.2022 passed by the Reference Court in LAC
No.297/2018, whereunder enhancement of compensation
has been accorded. The above appeal is filed beyond the
prescribed period of 60 + 60 = 120 days and there is a
Hereinafter referred as "the 2013 Act"
NC: 2024:KHC-D:16846
delay of 269 days in filing the appeal. An application is
filed seeking condonation of delay.
3. Section 74(1) along with the Proviso thereto
(sub-section (2) not being relevant) of the 2013 Act is
noticed for ready reference:
"74. Appeal to High Court.
(1) The Requiring Body or any person aggrieved by the
Award passed by an Authority under section 69 may file an
appeal to the High Court within sixty days from the date of
Award:
Provided that the High Court may, if it is satisfied that
the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the
appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a further
period not exceeding sixty days."
4. The language of Sub-section (1) of Section 74
and the proviso thereof of the 2013 Act is clear. Further, a
Division Bench of this Court in the case of THE DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER AND SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION
OFFICER, BENGALURU VS. M/S. S.V. GLOBAL MILL
LIMITED, CHENNAI2, has examined the matter in great
detail and held that Section 74 of the 2013 Act is
ILR 2020 KAR 1897
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mandatory in nature and an application for condonation of
delay beyond the statutorily permissible time limit is not
liable to be favourably considered. Further, a Division
Bench of this Court in the case of THE EXECUTIVE
ENGINEER VS. SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION
OFFICER3 has declined the request for referring the
matter for reconsideration to a larger Bench.
5. In view of the aforementioned, the application
seeking condonation of delay is dismissed. Consequently, the
appeal is also dismissed.
6. It is made clear that this Court has not
examined the matter on merits with regard to the
sustainability of re-determination of market value and
consequent enhancement of compensation awarded by the
reference Court. The dismissal of this appeal is subject to
the decision in SLP Nos.215 -2016 of 2023 (M/s S.V
Global Mill Limited) pending before the Hon'ble Apex
Court.
Order dated 23.09.2024 passed in MFA No.102543/2022
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7. In view of dismissal of this appeal, the Registry
to transmit the amount in deposit, if any, to the Reference
Court immediately for being released in favour of
claimants in accordance with law.
SD/-
(C.M. POONACHA)
JUDGE
SH/CT-ASC
