In Brief
Landowners challenged a High Court judgment that had reduced their land compensation for property acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The State had accepted an earlier Reference Court assessment valuing the land at Rs. 1,000/- per square yard but did not appeal against it. The High Court subsequently allowed the State's appeals and reduced compensation to Rs. 166-200 per square yard based on the collector's original awards. The Supreme Court held that since the State acquiesced in the Reference Court's assessment by not appealing, it attained finality against the State, and landowners were entitled to that fixed compensation. Sale deeds offered for enhancement were either outdated or too few to justify higher rates. The Court allowed the appeals in part and restored the Rs. 1,000/- per square yard valuation.
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