In Brief
The Executive Engineer of a Maharashtra irrigation project appealed against the High Court's order enhancing land compensation awarded to original claimants. Though the High Court had condoned a 5.5-year delay in appealing and increased compensation to match other similarly-situated landowners, it also awarded interest on the enhanced amount for the delayed period. The Supreme Court held that claimants are not entitled to interest on enhanced compensation for periods of delay caused by their own tardiness. Following its earlier decisions, the Court partially allowed the appeals, modifying the High Court's judgment to deny interest to the claimants on the enhanced compensation for the delayed period, while confirming all other aspects of the award.
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