In Brief
The original owner's 4.30 acres of land was acquired by the State of Kerala under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Land Acquisition Officer determined compensation at Rs. 203 per cent for wet land, which the High Court later fixed at Rs. 500 per cent. The owner challenged this, arguing that identical land acquired in the same proceedings had been awarded Rs. 2,000 per cent for wet land. The Supreme Court held that compensation must reflect true market value and maintain consistency across similar lands in the same acquisition. Accordingly, the owner was entitled to Rs. 2,000 per cent for wet land, the rate established for comparable lands in the same proceedings. The appeal was partly allowed and the order modified accordingly."
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