COLLECTOR OF LAKHIMPUR Vs. BHUBAN CHANDRA DUTTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by certificate from a judgment of the High Court of Assam and Nagaland in which the question involved is one of the quantum of compensation for certain land belonging to the respondent which had been acquired.

(2.) A piece of land measuring 5 Bighas, 4 Kathas and 3 Lechas in Dibrugarh District belonging to the respondent was requisitioned on August 22, 1956 under the Assam Land Requisition and Acquisition Act, 1948, hereinafter called the "Act". By a notification dated September 21, 1962 the said land was compulsorily acquired under the provisions of the Act. The Collector awarded compensation at the rate of Rs. 4583/- per Bigha. The respondent had at first claimed compensation at the rate of Rs.10,000/- per Bigha but after a little over a month he raised his claim to Rs. 15,000/- per Bigha. A reference was sought by the respondent to the District Judge who modified the award of the Collector and held that compensation was payable at the rate of Rs. 5500/- per Bigha. The respondent preferred an appeal to the High Court which enhanced the compensation to Rs. 15,000/- per Bigha.

(3.) The respondent had relied largely on four sale deeds Exhibits 1, 2, 3 and 4. By Exhibit 1 a plot of land measuring 1 katha, 7 lechas in the vicinity of the land which had been acquired was sold on February 10, 1962 for Rs. 3,888/-. By Exhibit 2 an area of 1 katha was sold for Rupees 2,880/- on January 5, 1962. By Exhibit 3 an area of 2 kathas was sold for Rs. 5,472/- on March 21, 1963. By Exhibit 4 an area of 2 kathas and 13.7/36 lechas was sold on July 26, 1962 for Rs. 9,100/-. The High Court was of the view that the market price of the land which had been acquired should be assessed on the basis of these four sale deeds, the average price of which came to about Rupees 15,000/- per Bigha. The District Judge had rejected these sale deeds and had based his decision mainly on a sale deed Exhibit-L by which the respondent had himself sold a piece of the land which originally formed part of the land which was the subject matter of acquisition. This had been sold on April 7, 1962 and its area was 1 Bigha and it was sold for Rs. 5,000/-. The respondent gave evidence that the land covered by the sale deed had been the subject matter of litigation with his brother and it was for that reason that the price got depressed and he sold that piece of land for inadequate consideration. The High Court was inclined to accept the evidence of the respondent relating to the circumstances in which the sale of 1 Bigha for Rs. 5,000/- was effected. The evidence which had been produced on behalf of the Collector related to the early part of the year 1960 and could hardly be regarded as relevant.