In Brief
Landowners applied under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for enhancement of compensation after a court awarded higher compensation to other claimants in the same acquisition. The Collector decided their application in 2000, granting enhancement, while appeals against the underlying awards were still pending before the High Court. The High Court subsequently enhanced compensation further in 2009. The landowners' second application for re-determination based on the High Court judgment was dismissed as the second application was not permissible under Section 28A. The Supreme Court held that while only one Section 28A application is normally allowed, the Collector should have kept the first application pending until appeals concluded, then decided it based on final appellate judgment. The Court set aside the 2000 order and remitted the matter for fresh consideration in light of the 2009 judgment."
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