44.
(SC) 11-07-2022
A. National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), Section 3G -- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 34 -- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), Sections 26, 27, 28, 31(3) – Acquisition of land under National Highway Act -- Market value and compensation for acquired land -- Determination of -- Ld. Arbitrator in cases for determination of market value and compensation should indicate reasons since the same will have to be arrived at on a comparative analysis for which the reasons should be recorded and Section 26 to 28 of RFCTLARR Act will be relevant -- Neither the land loser nor the exchequer should suffer in the matter of just and fair compensation -- Hence the reasons under Section 31(3) is to be expected in that manner, the absence of which will call for interference u/s 34 of Act, 1996.
(Para 23)
B. National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), Section 3G -- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 34 -- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), Sections 26, 27, 28, 31(3) – Acquisition of land under National Highway Act -- Market value and compensation for acquired land -- Determination of – Award of Arbitrator – Challenge to – Scope of -- While examining the award in the limited scope u/s 34 of Act, 1996, the Court is required to take note as to whether the evidence available on record has been adverted to and has been taken note by the Arbitrator in determining the just compensation failing which it will fall foul of Section 31(3) and amount to patent illegality -- While examining the award within the parameters permissible u/s 34 of Act, 1996 and while examining the determination of compensation as provided u/s 26 and 28 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, the concept of just compensation for the acquired land should be kept in view while taking note of the award considering the sufficiency of the reasons given in the award for the ultimate conclusion.
(Para 24)
C. National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), Section 3G -- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 34, 37 -- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), Sections 26, 27, 28, 31(3) – Acquisition of land under National Highway Act -- Market value and compensation for acquired land -- Award of Arbitrator – Error in award – Scope u/s 34 and 37 of Arbitration Act, 1996 -- It would not be possible for the Court entertaining the petition u/s 34 or for the appellate court u/s 37 of Act 1996 to modify the award and alter the compensation as it was open to the court in the reference proceedings u/s 18 of the old Land Acquisition Act or an appeal u/s 54 of that act, it should certainly be open to the court exercising power u/s 34 of Act, 1996 to set aside the award by indicating reasons and remitting the matter to the Arbitrator to reconsider the same in accordance with law in terms of Section 34(4)
(Para 24, 40)
D. National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), Section 3G -- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 34 -- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), Sections 26, 27, 28, 31(3) – Acquisition of land under National Highway Act -- Market value and compensation for acquired land -- Assessment of -- Where a document which is proximal to the date of acquisition is not available, it would be open to rely on a document which is much prior in point of time and if the time gap is more, determination could be made by providing for reasonable escalation depending on the area wherein the acquired property is situate and nature of property -- Similarly, in a circumstance where no document which is prior to the date of the acquisition notification is available and the exemplars are subsequent to the date of acquisition notification, the value therein could be noted and reasonable de-escalation be considered to determine the appropriate value -- No strait-jacket formula can be applicable to all cases with arithmetical precision in the matter of determination of compensation.
(Para 32)
E. National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), Section 3G -- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996), Section 34, 37 -- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013), Sections 26, 27, 28, 31(3) – Acquisition of land under National Highway Act -- Market value and compensating for acquired land -- Patent illegality in award -- Ld. Arbitrator has committed patent illegality in applying two different notifications in determining the market value -- Only course open is to set aside the award and allow the ld. Arbitrator to reconsider the matter.
(Para 48)