In Brief
Landowners whose property was acquired for a public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 received enhanced compensation from a Reference Court. When the State and NTPC appealed, the landowners filed a cross objection seeking further enhancement. The High Court dismissed the main appeals but rejected the cross objection without any reasoned discussion. The Supreme Court held that the High Court must independently examine and decide cross objections on merits, assigning reasons, even when the main appeals are disposed of. The Court remanded the case for proper consideration of the cross objection in accordance with law.
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