# RAMESH DUTT v. STATE OF PUNJAB

- **Citation:** [1996] Supp. 5 S.C.R. 17
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1996-08-21
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal no. 4148 of 1989
- **Bench:** K. Ramaswamy, G.B. Pattanaik
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/ramesh-dutt-v-state-of-punjab-14521
- **Pages:** 3

## Headnote

Land Acquisition Act, 1894: Sections 4(1), 23(1), 23(1-A), 23(2) and
28(As amended by Amendment Act, 68 of 1984.
A
B
Land Acquisiti01~etennination of compensation-Acquisition of C
large extent of land-Claim for loss of business of Poultry f ann-Landowner
remained in illegal possession and carried on the business-Not suffering any
loss in earnings-Held not entitled to compensation on account of loss of
business-Held High Court erred in directing compensation for one year for
dislocation of claimants business-The State having not questioned this
amount in appeal finding of High Court not disturbed-Landowner held not D
entitled to the benefits of provisions under the amended Act.

## Text

)c
j
RAMESH DUTT
v.
STATE OF PUNJAB
AUGUST 21, 1996
[K. RAMASWAMY AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]
Land Acquisition Act, 1894: Sections 4(1), 23(1), 23(1-A), 23(2) and
28(As amended by Amendment Act, 68 of 1984.
A
B
Land Acquisiti01~etennination of compensation-Acquisition of C
large extent of land-Claim for loss of business of Poultry f ann-Landowner
remained in illegal possession and carried on the business-Not suffering any
loss in earnings-Held not entitled to compensation on account of loss of
business-Held High Court erred in directing compensation for one year for
dislocation of claimants business-The State having not questioned this
amount in appeal finding of High Court not disturbed-Landowner held not D
entitled to the benefits of provisions under the amended Act.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal no. 4148 of
1989 Etc.
From the Judgment and Order dated 27.5.88 of the Punjab & E
Haryana High Court in R.F.A. No. 1005 or 1979.
K.K. Mohan for the Appellant.
H.S. Munjra, for Manoj Swarup for the Respondent.
F
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
Notificat.ion under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
(for short, the "Act") was published on October 16, 1970 acquiring a large
extent of land admeasuring 180 acres in revenue estate of Bhatinda. The G
award was made under Section 11 on March 24, 1978. The appellant
claimed compensation for the land and also for loss of business of poultry
farm run in the land. The compensation @ Rs. 10 per sq. yd. was awarded
by the Additional District Judge which was affirmed by the High Court as
enhancement thereof was not pressed. Thus, as far as the quantum of
compensation for the land is concerned, the determination at market value H
17
18
SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 5 S.C.R.
A of Rs. 10 per sq. yd. has become final.
The only question in the appeal of the claimant is : whether the
claimant would be entitled to compensation for loss of business? As per
,,.
clause fourthly of Section 23(1) of the Act, in determining the amount of
B
compensation to be awarded for the land acquired under the Act, the
Court shall also take into col\sideration the damages! if any sustained by
the person interested at the time of the Collector's taking possession of the
land for loss of his earnings. The yardstick, therefore, is the compensation
for the loss of business as on the date of taking possession. It is seen, as
found by the reference Court, that the appellant remained in possession
c upto AprH 26, 1977 and continued his business. It was admitted in the
cross-examination by the appellant that he was disposing of the birds in
poultry farm even at the time of his adducing the evidence. Accordingly,
the District Judge recorded the finding thus :
"In cross-examination he admitted that he started disposing of
D
the birds in the Poultry Farm and that the acquisition of Poultry
Farm could not have made any difference for the disposal of the
\
broilers, which were otherwise to be disposed off. According to
him, he disposed them of in routine business. Besides this, khe
produced on record Exh. PX, copy of the judgment of Shri Saranjit
E
Singh Greal, District Judge. Roop Nagar, dated 26.4.1977, Exh. P
copy of the Judgment dated 22.9.1975 passed by Shri Shamshad
AH Khan District Judge, Ropar. These copies of the judgments
were produced with view to prove that he is entitled to compensation on account of loss of business."
F
Having illegally remained in possession and carried on the business
he did not suffer any loss in earnings. On the other hand, he had reaped
the benefits. So he is not entitled to get further compensation.
The High Court obviously was in error in directing payment of
compensilt:ion for one year for the dislocation of his business at the rate of
....
G Re. 1 for one month per bird for 12,000 birds. However, since the State
~
has not questioned this amount in this appeal and since the connected
appeal is C"onfined only to the additional benefits under the Amendment
Act 68 of 1984, we need not disturb the findings of the learned Single Judge
in awarding compensation at that rate, though we find it illegal. The appeal
H of the claimant, therefore, merits on further consideration. It is accordingly
•
RAMESHDUTI v. STAIB
19
dismissed. No costs.
A
As far as the State appeal is concerned, in view of the fact that the
award of the Collector is of March 24, 1978, the Amendment Act 68 of
1984 gr~nting solatium u/s 23(2), additional amount at 12% per annum
from the date of the notification till date of award or taking possession,
whichever is earlier under Section 23(1-A) and enhanced interest under B
Section 28 proviso clearly has no application. Accordingly, the additional
amounts granted stand set aside. Instead, the award of the l)istrict Judge
granting solatium @ 15% on enhanced compensation and interest at 6%
on the enhanced compensation from the date of taking possession till date
of deposit stands upheld.
C
The appeal of the State is accordingly allowed. No costs.
T.N.A.
Appeal allowed .