In Brief
Nelatur Sampoornamma owned 0.15 acres of land with 45 pomegranate trees in Andhra Pradesh, acquired for the Kandelara Reservoir project. The Land Acquisition Officer awarded compensation at Rs.42 per tree using a two-year multiplier, totalling Rs.1,898. The High Court enhanced it to Rs.26,325 (Rs.65 per tree with a nine-year multiplier). The Supreme Court held that the valuation rate of Rs.75/- per tree (from 1989 government guidelines applicable on notification date) should have been used, not the subsequent Rs.65 rate. While affirming the nine-year multiplier as correct, the Court distinguished a prior case awarding Rs.3,000 per tree due to the seven-year time difference between awards. The Court awarded Rs.2,000 per pomegranate tree with statutory benefits, partly allowing the appeal.
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