Vinod and Ors v. Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd. and Ors

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToATo CHANDIGARHo o JudgmentoReservedoon:o23.01.2023o JudgmentoPronouncedoon:o24.02.2023o o o101o(nineocases)o o o o o o CWP-21878-2017o(O&M)o o VINODoANDoORSoo …oPetitionerso VERSUSo KALPATARUoPOWERoTRANSMISSIONoLTD.oANDoORS.o …oRespondentso o o CWP-26406-2017o(O&M)o HVPNLoPANIPAToo …oPetitionero VERSUSo TARAoCHANDoTHRoLRSoANDoORSo …oRespondentso o o CR-3502-2017o(O&M)o KALPATARUoPOWERoTRANSMISSIONoLTD.oo …oPetitionero V/Soo VINODoANDoORS.o …oRespondentso o CR-3503-2017o(O&M)o o KALPATARUoPOWERoTRANSMISSIONoLTD.oo …oPetitionero VERSUSo PARMODo&oORSo …oRespondentso o o CR-1280-2020o(O&M)o JHAJJARoK.ToTRANSKOoPVToLTDoo …oPetitionero VERSUSo oRATIoRAMoANDoORSo …oRespondentso o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-2-CR-2873-2021o(O&M)o RATIoRAMoo …oPetitionero VERSUSo JHAJJARoK.ToTRANSKOoPVToLTDoANDoORSo …oRespondentso o CWP-9495-2017o(O&M)o PARMODoETC.o …oPetitionerso VERSUSo MINISTRYoOFoPOWER,oSHRAMoSHAKTIoBHAWAN,oo NEWoDELHIoTHRoITSoSECRETARYoETC.o …oRespondentso o CR-3830-2017o(O&M)o o KALPATARUoPOWERoTRANSMISSIONoLIMITEDoo …oPetitionero VERSUSo TARAoCHANDoDECEASEDoTHRoHISoLRSoANDoORSo …oRespondentso o CWP-28570-2017o(O&M)o HVPNLoPANIPAToo …oPetitionero VERSUSo PARMODoANDoORSo …oRespondentso o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.o ****o Present:o Mr.oNareshoJain,oAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAmitoKumar,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCR-3502-2017;oo o o CR-1280-2020,oCR-3503-2017oandoo o o CR-3830-2017oandofororespondentoNo.1oo o o CWP-21878-2017,oCR-2873-2021,o o o fororespondentoNo.5oinoCWP-26406-2017,o o o fororespondentoNo.16oinoCWP-28570-2017oando o o fororespondentoNo.4oinoCWP-9495-2017.o o o o Mr.oGovindoGoel,oAdvocateo&oo o o Mr.oAmitoKashyap,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-21878-2017.o o o o Mr.oRaghavoGoel,oAdvocateo&o o o Mr.oSatpaloBhasin,oAdvocateoo forotheopetitionerooinoCR-2873-2021.o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-3-o o Mr.oDeepakoBalyan,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-26406-2017o&oo o o CWP-28570-2017.o o o o Mr.oAniloDutt,oAdvocateowitho o o Mr.oS.P.oKhatri,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-9495-2017o&oo o o fororespondentoNo.1oinoCWP-28570-2017o&oo o o fororespondentsoNo.1otoo13oinoCR-3503-2017.o o o o Mr.oPankajoMulwani,oDAG,oHaryana.o o o o Mr.oR.D.oBawa,oAdvocateowitho o o Mr.oSamueloGill,oAdvocateo&oo o o Mr.oRandhiroBawa,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentoNo.2-HVPNLoo o o inoCWP-21878-2017.o o o o Mr.oR.S.oLongia,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.2o&o3oo o o inoCWP-9495-2017.k ****o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o o Aobatchoofo09opetitionsoisobeingodecidedobyoaocommonojudgmento asotheocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoagreeothatotheoissueoinvolvedoinotheo presentobatchoofopetitionsorelatesotoocompensationoforotheosameotransmissiono lineo ando cano beo decidedo together.o Theo challengeo iso too theo Awardo datedo

28.02.2017opassedobyotheoAdditionaloDistrictoJudge,oSonepat.oTheolandoownerso haveo assailedo theo judgmento ando decreeo ono theo groundo thato theo sameo iso inadequateowhileotheoTransmissionoLicenseeohasoassailedotheoawardedoamounto toobeohigh.o o o Forotheofacilityooforeference,otheofactsoareobeingoextractedofromo CWP-21878o ofo 2017o titledo aso 'Vinodo ando otherso Vs.o Kalpataruo Powero TransmissionoLtd.oandoothers'.o o o Brieflyo summarized,o theo factso ofo theo presento caseo areo thato theo petitionersoNo.1oando2oareoownersoinopossessionoofo3/5oshareooutoofototalolando measuringo55K-7MocomprisingoinoKhewatoNo.6,owhereasopetitionersoNo.3otoo6o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-4-areo theo legalo representativeso ofo deceasedo Tarao Chando ando areo ownerso ino possessiono ofo agriculturalo lando measuringo 98K-4Mo comprisingo ino Khewato No.69/60oandokhataoNo.101osituatedoinotheorevenueoestateoofovillageoRai,oTehsilo andoDistrictoSonepat.oTheodetailsoofotheoaboveomentionedolandoisodulyogivenoino paragrapho No.3o ofo theo petition.o Botho aboveo mentionedo chunkso ofo lando areo situatedoinotheovicinityoofotheoborderoofoNationaloCapitaloandofallowithinotheo NationaloCapitaloRegion.oItoisothusoallegedothatotheolandoinoquestionohasoaogreato marketovalueoowingotooitsopotentialoandothatotheosaidovaluationohasodiminishedo considerablyoonoaccountoofoinstallationoofoelectricopolesoandotheo400oKVoHigho TensionoWires.oTheopetitionersoclaimotoohaveoreceivedonoticesoinotheoyearo2011o regardingoinstallationoofoelectricopolesoandoerectingo400oKVoJharli-Kabulpur-DeepalpuroHighoTensionowireoinotheolandoofotheopetitioners.oItoisoaverredothato layingo ofo sucho transmissiono lineo haso affectedo theo lando measuringo 8000o Sq.o YardsobelongingotootheopetitionersoNo.1oando2,owhereasolandomeasuringo6747o Sq.oYardsopertainingotoopetitionersoNo.3otoo6owasoalsooaffected.oItohasobeeno averredothatoowingotootheoimmenseopotentialoofotheosaidolandoandotheosameo beingo situatedo nearo theo Nationalo Capital,o theo marketo valueo ofo theo lando iso approximatelyoRs.5ocroresoperoacre.oTheorespondents,ohowever,oawardedoaoveryo meagerocompensationoofoRs.82,573/-otoopetitionersoNo.1oando2;oandoaosumoofo Rs.98,776/-otoopetitionersoNo.3otoo6oasocompensationotowardsotheocropodamage.o Aolegalonoticeowasoservedobyotheopetitionersouponotheorespondent-Authoritieso andothereafteroaopetitionounderoSectiono16(3)oofoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o 1885owasopreferredobeforeotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatoandocompensationo tootuneoofoRs.10,000/-operosquareoyardowasoclaimedobyotheopetitionersoquaotheiro CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-5-o o Pursuanto too theo noticeo issuedo byo theo Addl.o Districto Judge,o respondento No.1o appearedo ando filedo writteno statemento therebyo raisingo preliminaryoobjectionsoregardingomaintainability,olocusostandi,ocauseoofoaction,o suppressiono ofo materialo factso etc.o Ono merits,o ito haso beeno assertedo thato theo answeringorespondentohadoinstalledotowersoonlyoasoperotheosanctionedorouteo map,owhichowasoprovidedobyotheogovernment.oTheoansweringorespondentohado noto acquiredo anyo land,o rathero theo lando ino questiono iso fullyo useableo foro agricultureo eveno aftero installationo ofo theo saido towerso ino theo fieldso ofo theo petitioners.o Ito waso furthero assertedo thato aso pero theo provisionso ofo Indiano TelegraphoAct,o1885otheopetitionersoareoonlyoentitledoforocompensationoforotheo cropsoonly.oItohasobeenosubmittedothatonoticesowereoissuedotootheopetitionerso regardingoinstallationoofotheotowersoofotheoelectricityolineoandoforothatopurpose,o theo answeringo respondento distributedo theo compensationo foro damageso too theo cropsoandoanoamountoofoRs.98,776/-ohasoalsoobeenoacceptedobyotheopetitioners.o Itowasodeniedothatotheoansweringorespondentodidonotoadoptoproperoprocedureo ando alsoo deniedo thato theo marketo valueo ofo theo lando iso Rs.5o croreso pero acre.o Denyingoallootheromaterialoaverments,odismissaloofotheosuitohasobeenoprayedofor.o o o Respondento No.2o filedo hiso separateo writteno statemento therebyo raisingo preliminaryo objectionso quao maintainability,o causeo ofo action,o locuso standi,o estoppel,o affixationo ofo propero courto feeo etc.o Ono merits,o ito haso beeno assertedo thato theo lineo erectedo byo theo respondentso iso veryo higho ando duringo installationo noo cropo waso affectedo ino theo fieldso ofo theo petitionerso rathero theo answeringorespondentohasopaidotheocompensationoforodamagesotootheocropsoato theotimeoofoinstallationoofotheosaidotowers.oItoisofurtheroassertedothatolandoofotheo petitionersowasonotoacquiredoandotheowiresoofolineopassoatoaohighodistanceofromo theogroundo ando theosameo beingo ano agriculturalo land,o theiro cropso willo ino nooooo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-6-caseobeodamaged.oThatothereocanobeonooobstructionoinoharvestingoofotheocropo merelyobyoerectingotheoelectricopolesoandotransmissionolines.oDenyingoalloothero materialoaverments,odismissaloofotheosuitohadoalsoobeenoprayedofor.o o o TheorespondentoNo.3oadoptedotheowrittenostatementoalreadyofiledo onobehalfooforespondentsoNoo1oando2.o o o o Afteroconsideringotheorespectiveocontentionsoraisedobyotheopartieso andotheoobjectionsofiled,otheofollowingoissuesowereoframedobyotheoAddl.oDistricto Judge,oSonepat:o "1.o Whethero theo petitionero iso entitledo too compensationo undero Sectiono16(3)oofoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885?oOPPo

2.o IfoissueoNo.1oisodecidedoinofavouroofotheopetitioner,oasotoo whatoamountoofocompensation?oOPPo

3.o Whetherotheoreferenceopetitionoisonotomaintainableoinotheo presentoform?oOPDo

4.o Whetherotheopetitionerohasonoocauseoofoactionoandolocuso standiotoofileotheopresentopetition?oOPDo

5.o Whethero theo petitionero iso estoppedo byo hiso owno acto ando conductotoofileotheopresentopetition?oOPDo

6.o Whethero theo presento petitiono iso undervaluedo aso theo petitionerohasonotoaffixedotheoproperoCourtofee?oOPDo

7.o Relief."o o o o Ino ordero too proveo hiso case,o theo petitionero examinedo Jaio Ram,o PatwarioasoPW-1,oKuldeep,oClerkoasoPW-2,oPawanoKumaroasoPW-3,oHawao Singh,oNaiboSadaroKanungooasoPW-4,oDeepakoTyagi,oPatwarioasoPW-5oaparto fromorelyingouponosomeodocumentaryoevidence.oo o o Onotheootherohand,otheorespondentsohaveoexaminedoVikasoMalik,o S.E.oasoRW-1,obesidesorelyingouponosomeodocumentaryoevidence.o o o Uponoconsiderationoofotheoevidenceoadducedobyorespectiveoparties,o theoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatorecordedotheofollowingofindingsoinorespectotoo IssuesoNo.1oando2:o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-7- "23.oItoisonotoinodisputeothatotheorespondentsohadoinstalledotowerso andohighotensionowiresoonotheolandoofotheopetitionersoandothatotheyo haveonotopaidoanyosingleopaisaotowardsolandocoveredounderotheo poleso ofo theo towerso oro theo diminutiono ofo valueo ofo sucho lands,o exceptopayingosomeocompensationotootheocropsoetc.oatotheotimeoofo erectingotowersoandohighotensionowires.oItoisoanounfortunateocase,o whereotheolandsoofotheofarmersowereoutilizedobyotheorespondentsotoo erectotowersoandohighotensionowiresoandotheoreasonableoandofairo compensationohasonotobeenopaidotootheopoorofarmers.oHighotensiono wiresowereofixedoonotheolandoofotheopetitioners,oforeverotheovalueoofo theolandsoofotheopetitionersowouldobeodiminished,otherebyotheorighto toolife,owhichoisoguaranteedobyoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofo India,oincludesorightotoolivelihood,owouldobeoaffected,osince,otheyo wouldobeodeprivedoofotheirolivelihoodoinoviewoofotheoerectionoofo towersoandohigho-otensionowiresooverotheolandsoofotheopetitionerso andowithoutopayingoanyocompensationoforotheolandocoveredoundero theopolesoofotowersoorodiminishingovalueoofotheolands.oTheosweepo ofotheorightotoolifeoconferredobyoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofo Indiaotootheopetitionersoisowideoandofar-reaching.oItodoesonotomeano merelyothat,olifeocannotobeoextinguishedoorotakenoawayoandoano equallyo importanto faceto ofo thato righto too lifeo includeso righto too livelihood,o becauseo noo persono cano liveo withouto theo meanso ofo livelihood.oIfotheorightotoolivelihoodoisonototreatedoasoaopartoofo constitutionalorightotoolife,otheoeasiestowayoofodeprivingoaopersonoofo hisorightotoolifeowouldobeodeprivingohimoofohisomeansoofolivelihoodo too theo pointo ofo abrogation.o Sucho deprivationo wouldo noto onlyo denudeotheolifeoofoitsoeffectiveocontentoandomeaningfulnessobut,oito wouldo makeo lifeo impossibleo too live.o Ando yet,o sucho deprivationo wouldo noto haveo too beo ino accordanceo witho theo procedureo establishedobyolaw,oifotheorightotoolivelihoodoisonotoregardedoasoao partoofotheorightotoolife.oArticleo39AoofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,o whichoisoaoDirectiveoPrincipleoofoStateoPolicy,oprovidesothatotheo Stateoshall,oinoparticular,odirectoitsopolicyotowardsosecuringothato theo citizens,o meno ando womeno equally,o haveo theo righto too ano adequateomeansoofolivelihood.oArticleo41oofotheoConstitutionoofo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-8-India,owhichoisoanotheroDirectiveoPrinciple,oprovides,ointeroalia,o thatotheoStateoshall,owithinotheolimitsoofotheoeconomicocapacityoando development,omakeoanoeffectiveoprovisionoforosecuringotheorightotoo worko ino caseso ofo unemployment.o Theo principleso containedo ino Articleo39AoandoArticleo41oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaomustobeo regardedo aso equallyo fundamentalo ino theo understandingo ando interpretationo ofo theo meaningo ando contento ofo theo fundamentalo rights.oIfothereoisoanoobligationouponotheoStateotoosecureotoocitizenso anoadequateomeansoofolivelihoodoandotheorightotoowork,oitowouldobeo sheeropedantryotooexcludeotheorightotoolivelihoodofromotheocontentso ofotheorightotoolife.oTheoStateomayonot,obyoaffirmativeoaction,obeo compellableotooprovideoadequateomeansoofolivelihood,ooroworkotoo citizens.o But,o anyo person,o whoo iso deprivedo ofo hiso righto too livelihood,o excepto accordingo too theo justo ando fairo procedureo establishedobyolaw,ocanochallengeotheodeprivationsoasooffendingo theorightotoolifeoconferredounderoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofo India.oo

24.oo Inotheopresentocase,otheoactionoofotheorespondentsoerectingo towerso ando higho tensiono wireso overo theo lando ofo theopetitionerso withoutopayingocompensationoforotheolandocoveredounderotheopoleso ofotowersoorodiminishedovalueoofotheolands,oamountsotooviolationoofo Articleso21,o39Aoando41oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oo

25.oo Regardingo effecto ofo higho tensiono wires,o ito iso wortho mentioningohereoanoarticleopublishedobyooneoSri.oKunaloMahajano ono 22.06.2013,o witho regardo too "Effectso ofo higho voltageo transmissionolinesoonohumansoandoplants",owhereinoitoisoconcludedo thatoaccordingotooresearchoandopublicationsoputooutobyotheoWorldo HealthoOrganizationo(WHO),oElectroMagneticoFieldosuchoasothoseo fromo powero lines,o cano alsoo causeo short-termo healtho problems,o namely:oo

(i)oo Headaches,oo

(ii)oo Fatigue,oo

(iii)oo Anxiety;oo

(iv)oo Insomnia;oo

(v)oo Pricklingoand/oroburningoskin;oo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-9-

(vi)oo Rashes;oo

(vii)oo Muscleopain.oo Long-termo healtho problemso include,o followingo seriouso healtho problemsodueotooelectromagneticofieldoeffectsoonohumanobody:oo

(i)oo RiskoofodamagingoDNA;oo

(ii)oo Riskoofocancer;oo

(iii)oo RiskoofoLeukemia;oo

(iv)oo RiskoofoNeuro-generativeodisease;oo

(v)oo RiskoofoMiscarriage;oo

(vi)oo EMFoeffectsoonoanimals;oo Theoresultsoofotheoexperimentsoareoshockingoasoanimalso(areokepto belowohighoelectrostaticofield,otheirobodyoacquiresoaochargeoando whenotheyotryotoodrinkowater,oaosparkousuallyojumpsofromotheiro noseotootheogroundedopipe)olikeohensoareounableotoopickoupograino becauseo ofo chatteringo ofo theiro beakso whicho alsoo affectso theiro growth.oo

(vii)o EMFoeffectsoonoplantolife;oo Mosto ofo theo areaso ino agriculturalo ando foresto landso whereo higho powerotransmissionolinesopass,otheovoltageoleveloofohighopowero transmissionolinesoareo400oKV,o230oKV,o110oKV,o66oKVoetc.otheo electromagneticofieldofromohighopowerotransmissionolinesoaffectso theogrowthoofoplants.oo

26.oo Consideringo theo provisionso ofo Sectionso 10o ando 16o ofo theo IndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885oinotheocaseoofoPejavaroChitanandao Raoo ando otherso v.o Karnatakao Electricityo Boardo ando anothero reportedoinoILRo2004oKaro627ohasoheldothatoElectricityoBoardo drewohighotensionopowerolinesooveropetitionersoagriculturalolandso forotheobenefitoofo2ndorespondentocompany.oCompensationoato10%o ofo valueo ofo lando waso awardedo too theo petitionerso foro aerialo encroachmentoisoreasonable.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheo caseo ofo Keralao Stateo Electricityo Boardo v.o Chinammao Antonyo reportedoinoAIRo2008oSCo3265owhileoconsideringotheoprovisionso ofotheoElectricityoActoandotheoTelegraphoAct,oforodeterminationoofo compensationoforolossoofodiminutionoinolandovalueoonoaccountoofo drawaloofoelectricityolinesooveroproperty,ohasoheldothatotheositesoofo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-10-theoland,odistanceobetweenotheohighovoltageoelectricityolinesolaido thereover,otheoextentoofotheolineothereon,oasoalsootheofactoasotoo whetherotheohighovoltageolineopassesooveroaosmallotractoofolandooro throughotheomiddleoofotheolandoandootherosimilarorelevantofactorso areo requiredo too beo considered.o Theo ownero ofo theo land,o furthermore,oinoaogivenosituationomayoloseohisosubstantiveorightotoo useotheopropertyoforotheopurposeoforowhichotheosameowasomeantotoo beoused.oTherefore,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldothatotheo diminishingovalueoofotheolandohasotoobeodetermined.oo

27.oo Noodoubtotheovalueoofotheolandoisoalsooaorelevantofactor.o Thereocannotobeoanyohard-and-fastoruleoinodeterminationoofotheo compensationo payable.o Theo purposeo ando objecto ofo theo Indiano Telegrapho Acto ando theo methodologyo laido downo therein,o foro theo purposeothereon,oshouldobeoaoguidingofactoroinodeterminingotheo compensationopayable.oEachocaseoisorequiredotoobeodeterminedoono itsoownomeritoasotheositesoofotheoland/property,otheoadditionsoetc.,o willohaveotoobeokeptoinoview.oo

28.oo Thereoisonoodoubtothatodueotooerectionoofotowersoandopassingo ofohighotensionowires,othereomightobeoaodiminutionoinotheovalueoofo theo landso ofo theo petitioners.o Admittedly,o thereo waso noo compensationoassessedooropaidobyotheorespondentsotooanyoofotheo petitioners,oeitheroforoerectingotheotoweroorodrawingoofowiresoino theolandsoofotheopetitionersoandoheldothatodueotoodrawingoofohigho tensiono wireso ino theo landso ofo theo petitionerso ando erectingo ofo towers,othereowouldobeodiminutionoofovalueoofotheolands,oasosuch,o theopetitionersoareoentitledoforodamages.oRelianceocanobeoplacedo uponotheodictumsoofotheoKeralaoHighoCourtoinotheocaseoofoAryao Antherajnamov.oKeralaoElectricityoBoard,oTrivendrum,oreportedo atoAIRo1996oKeralao309oandoinotheocaseoofoKeralaoElectricityo Boardov.oCheriyanoVargheseoandoothers,oreportedoinoAIRo1989o Keralao198.oo

29.oo ItoisorelevantotoomentionohereothatoLRsoofopetitioner,onamely,o Pawano Kumaro whoo haso beeno examinedo aso PW-3o categoricallyo statedoonooathoregardingodiminutionoofovalueoofolandsoandoPW-3o hasostatedoonooathoasounder:oo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-11- "?fatheroofotheodeponent,onamely,oTaraoChandowasoownero ino possessiono ofo agriculturalo land...................totalo measuringo98okanalo4omarla.........................Theorespondento No.1ohadoissuedotheonoticeotootheofatheroofotheodeponentovideo ToweroNo.2718odatedo18.11.2011oregardingoinstallationoofo electrico poleso ando erectingo 400o KVo Jharli-Kabulpur-DeepapuroHighotensionowireoinotheolandoofotheodeponento andoforocompensationoofotheodamagesoeffectedotootheofathero ofo theo deponento ando theo dimensionso ofo theo cropso iso alsoo giveno?...............obutotheorespondentsohaveonotogivenotheo completeodetailso ofotheo land,owhicho hasobeeno effectedobyo installingoofotheoelectricopolesoandoerectionoofotheoelectrico wires............................oThatobyoinstallingotheoelectricopoleso andoerectingotheoelectricolinesooverotheolandoofotheofatheroofo theodeponent,olandomeasuringo6747osq.oyardsoisoeffected.o Theolandoofotheofatheroofotheodeponentohasobeenobifurcatedo dueotootheoerectingoofocableowiresoasowelloasoinstallationsoofo poles.......................Thato theo lando ofo theo fathero ofo theo deponentoisopotentialoandohavingotheomarketovalueoofoRs.5.0o croresoperoacre...........................oTheorespondentsohaveonoto paidotheocompensationoforowhichotheofatheroofotheodeponento iso entitledo i.e.o too theo tuneo ofo Rs.10,000/-o pero sq.o yards..............."oo

30.oo PW-1/Jaio Ram,o Patwari,o LAC,o Ambalao haso provedo theo reportoEx.PW-1/BounderoRTIoNo.101odatedo10.10.2011ovideolettero Ex.PW-1/A.oPW-2/Kuldeep,oClerkoHRCoBranchoprovedotheocopyo ofocollectororateoofovillageoRaioforotheoyearo2011-2012oasoEx.PW-2/A.oFurtheroPW-4/HawaoSingh,oLocaloCommissioneroprovedotheo demarcationoreportopreparedobyohimoasoEx.P-16o(containingoeighto pages).o PW-5/Deepako Tyagi,o Patwario provedo theo documentso Ex.PW-5/AotooEx.PW-5/D.oInofact,oaoSenioroEngineeroVikasoMaliko appearedoonobehalfoofotheorespondentsoasoRW-1,ohasocategoricallyo statedothatotheopetitionerohasoalreadyoreceivedotheocompensationo amountoofotheocropsowhenotheotowerowasoerectedoinotheirofields.o Furtherostatedothatotheorespondentsohaveoinstalledoonlyotowersoaso CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-12-pero theo sanctiono routeo mapo providedo byo theo Governmento ando respondentsohaveonotorequiredotooacquireoanyolandoratherotheolando ino questiono iso fullyo useableo eveno aftero installationo ofo theo saido towersoinotheofieldsoofotheopetitioner.oHeofurtherostatedothatotheo petitioneroisonotoentitledotoogetoanyocompensationoofotheolandoforo theo installationo ofo theo towero becauseo aso pero theo provisionso ofo Indiano Telegrapho Acto thereo iso noo needotoo acquireo theolando foro installationoofotheopoles/towers.oItoisoalsooadmittedobyohimoinotheo cross-examinationothatotheomaterialoandomachinesowereotakenotoo theospotothroughotheofieldsoinovehicles.oHeofurtheroadmittedothato theiro vehicleo passeso througho theo fieldso whereo noo passageo waso providedoforoinstallationoofotheopoles.oo

31.oo Theoamountoofocompensationoisorequiredotoobeodeterminedo keepingo ino viewo theo purposeo ando objecto ofo theo statute.o Thereo cannoto beo anyo fixedo formulao thereforo oro theo other.o Although,o undoubtedlyooneoformulaolaidodown,omayoassistotheoBoardoand/oro theoReferenceoCourtotooapplyotheosame,obutothereocannotobeohard-and-fastoruleoinothisobehalf.oAofixedoformulaoforodeterminingotheo amountoofocompensationoalthoughomayomakeotheotaskoofotheoLando Acquisitiono Officero oro theo Referenceo Courto easiero buto ino theo opinionoofotheoeachocaseoisorequiredotoobeotakenoonoitsoownomerit.o Theo Court,o ino giveno factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo caseo ando keepingoinomindotheopotentialityoandoutilityoofotheolandoacquired,o petitionersoareonotodeprivedoofotheiropropertyowithoutograntoofofairo compensation.oo

32.oo Inotheopresentocase,oasoperoreportoofotheolocalocommissionero Ex.P-16oitocannotobeosaidothatotowersoandotransmissionolinesowereo erectedoinotheocenteroofotheolandoofotheopetitioneroandotheyocannoto utilizeotheoremainingolands.oAsoperodepositionoofotheoRW-1,otheo respondentsohaveoinstalledotheotowersoasoperosanctionorouteoplan.o Yeto ito iso clearo thato lando coveredo undero theo poleso mighto causeo inconvenienceoinoploughingotheofieldoandothatoportionoofotheolando mighto becomeo uselesso ando consequently,o thereo mighto beo diminutionoofovalueoofoland.oEvenolayingoofohighotensionowireso mightocauseosomeohealthoproblems.oHowever,otheopetitionerohaso CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-13-failedo too proveo hiso claimo foro damages/compensationo @o Rs.6,74,70,000/-o pero acre.o Moreover,o thereo iso noo evidenceo ono behalfo ofotheo respondentsothato theyo hadopaido theocompensationo regardingo theo lando coveredo undero theo poleso ofo theo towerso oro regardingotheodiminutionovalueoofoland.oMeaningotherebyothatotheo respondentso haveo noto paido anyo compensationo foro theo landso ono whichotheotowersoareoerected.oInoviewoofotheoprovisionsoofoSectionso 10oando16oofotheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885oandoinoviewoofotheo dictumso ofo thiso Courto ando theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o statedo above,otheopetitioneroisoentitledotoogetojustoandofairocompensationo forolandocoveredounderotheopolesoofotheotowersoororegardingotheo diminutionovalueoofoland.oItoisopertinentotoomentionohereothatotheo respondentsohaveonotoacquiredotheolandobutousedotheolandoforotheo purposeo ofo layingo ofo towerso ando higho tensiono wireso ino largero publicointerestoincludingotheopetitioner.oThus,oitoisologicalotooholdo thatotheolandounderneathotheolegsoofotheotowero(permanentlyofixedo tootheoearth)oisopermanentlyolostobyoitsoowners.oEvenothoughothoseo piecesoofolandoareonotorequiredoforoacquisitionoandotheoownershipo remainso witho theo ownerso yeto allo incidentso ofo theo ownership,o enjoymentoandofreeouseoofothoseopiecesoofolandobecomesoseverallyo restricted.oInosuchocasesocompensationooughtotoobeomadeotootheo interestedopersons.oo

33.oo Theo petitionero haso placedo relianceo upono documentso Ex.PW1/AotooEx.PW-1/D.oTheseodocumentsoareoprovedobyoPW-1o JaioRam,oPatwari,oofficeoofotheoSDO(C)-cum-LAC,oAmbala.oAsopero documentoEx.PW-1/Bocompensationoofo10%oofotheoaverageomarketo valueoofotheolandowasopaidotootheolandownersoforoNaturaloGasoPipeo lineoProjectofromoBawanao(UP)otooNagalo(Punjab)obyotheoDeputyo Commissioner,oAmbala.oTheopetitionerohasoalsooplacedorelianceo uponocertifiedocopyoofoCollectororateoofovillageoRaioDistt.oSonepato forotheoyearo2011-12oasoEx.PW-2/A.oAsoadmittedobyotheopetitionero theolandoofotheopetitioneroisoagriculturalolandoandoitoisonotoprovedo onorecordothatotheolandoinoquestionoisoadjoiningotootheoG.T.oRoado ando ofo commercialo nature.o Furthero aso pero Ex.P-15o Lando AcquisitionoAwardoNo.16odatedo15.03.2013opassedobyotheolearnedo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-14-Collector,o theo valueo ofo allo kindo ofo lando situatedo ino villageo Raio alongo witho othero villageso iso assessedo aso Rs.80o lakhso pero acre.o HenceoasoperoEx.PW2/AotheocollectororateoofolandoofovillageoRai,o Distt.o Sonepato iso consideredo aso Rs.85o lakhso pero acreo ofo theo agriculturalo lando foro theo purposeo ofo makingo justo ando fairo compensation.o Video lettero No.3/7/2015-Transo Governmento ofo India,oMinistryoofoPower,oShramoShaktioBhawanoRafioMarg,oNewo Delhio datedo 15.10.2015o theo Governmento ofo Indiao issuedo theo guidelinesoforodeterminationotheocompensationopayableotowardso "damages"oasostipulatedoinoIndianoTelegraphoActowhichowillobeo inoadditionotootheocompensationotowardsonormalocropoandotreeo damagesoisoasounder:oo "Compensationo@o85%oofolandovalueoasodeterminedobyo DistrictoMagistrateooroanyootheroauthorityobasedoonoCircleo rateo/oGuidelineovalueo/oStampoActoratesoforotowerobaseoareao (betweenofourolegs)oimpactedoseverallyodueotooinstallationoofo towero/opylonostructure."o o Thisoamountowillobeopayableoonlyoforotransmissionolinesoofo66oKVo ando above,o ando noto foro sub-transmissiono ando distributiono lineso belowo66okv.oThough,othereoisonooevidenceoonorecordothatotheseo guidelinesohaveobeenoadoptedobyotheoGovernmentoofoHaryana,oyeto aoreasonableoinferenceomayobeodrawnoforomakingotheopaymentoofo justo ando reasonableo compensationo byo applyingo someo standardo uniformonorms.oo

34.oo PerusaloofoEx.R-2oCropoCompensationoDetailsoandoevidenceo ledobyoRW-1oVikasoMalikoSr.oEng.oshowsothatotheopetitionerohaso receivedocompensationoinorespectoofocrops.oRW-1/VikasoMalik,oSr.o Engineero ofo theo Corporation,o ino hiso cross-examinationo haso admittedotootheoeffectothatotheodamagesoofocropsohaveoalreadyobeeno paido byo theiro company.o Hence,o theo claimo ofo petitionerso quao compensationo towardso damageso ofo standingo cropso iso herebyo rejectedoasocross-examinationoofoRW-1oclearlyoindicatesothatotheo damagesoareodulyopaidoregardingolossoofocropsowhichoareojustoando CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-15-

35.oo AsoperoExtractofromoHaryanaoGovernmentoGazette(Extra),o datedo theo 9tho December,o 2010o Ex.R4,o video memoo No.o 9/305/PPP/109/Part-B,o datedo theo 8tho September,2010,o theo Haryanao Government,o Powero Department,o Chandigarho hado grantedoapprovalounderosectiono68oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003o(36o ofo2003)oforotheotransmissionolinesoJhajjarKabulpuro(Rohtak)o400o KVoD/ColineowithoQuadoMooseoConductoro;oKabulpuro(Rohtak)o?o Dipalpuro(Sonepat)o400oKVoD/ColineowithoQuadoMooseoConductoro andoLoop-in-Loop-outo(theo"LILO")oofooneocircuitoofoAbdulapuro ?oBawanao400oKVoD/ColineoatoDipalpuro(Sonepat).oRespondento No.1oisolicenseeoforolayingointraostateotransmissionoofoelectricityo lines.o Thus,o ito iso clearo thato theo Governmento ofo Haryanao haso grantedotheolicenceotoorespondentoNo.1oforotheoinstallationoofotheo transmissionolines.oHence,orespondentoNo.2oando3oareoliableotoo payotheocompensationotootheopetitioner.oo

36.oo Thisocourt,oultimately,ohasocomeotootheoconclusionothatotheo petitioneroisoentitledotoocompensationotowardsoerectionoofotowers,o transmissionoofohighotensionowiresoandodiminutionoofovalueoofotheo landsoatotheorateoofo85%oofotheocollectororateoi.e.o85,00,000/-pero acreo alongo witho 8%o interesto pero annumo foro towero baseo areao (betweenofourolegs)oregardingokhasraoNo.16//11/1/2o(192ogaj)oando 17//15/1/2o (567o gaj)o totalo lando measuringo 759o sq.o yardso (gaj)o belongingo too theo petitionero ino whicho theo poleso wereo installed.o Accordingly,o botho theseo issueso areo decidedo ino favouro ofo theo petitioner."o o o o Further,oonotheobasisoofotheofindingsogivenobyotheoAddl.oDistricto Judge,o Sonepato ono Issueso No.1o ando 2,o theo remainingo issueso wereo decidedo againstotheorespondents.o o o TheoCourtoassessedotheocompensationoatotheorateoofo85%oofotheo CollectoroRateofixedoatoRs.85,00,000/-operoacreoalongwithointerestoatotheorateoofo 8%operoannumoforotheoareaofallingounderotheoToweroBaseoonly.oo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-16-o o Aggrievedothereof,otheopresentopetitionsohaveobeenofiledobyotheo petitioners-landoowners.oAtotheosameotime,oCiviloRevisionoPetitionsohaveoalsoo beeno filedo byo theo Transmissiono Licenseeo ando theo Contractorso assailingo theo compensationo too beo exorbitanto ando furthero prayingo foro reductiono ofo theo compensationoawardedobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepat.oo o o Ito haso beeno averredo ino theo petitiono thato theo assessmento ofo theo compensationo iso inadequateo ando thato theo evidenceo adducedo beforeo theo trialo Courtoespeciallyotheosaleodeedsoofoneighbouringovillageohaveonotobeenotakeno intooconsiderationotooascertainotheomarketovalueoofotheoproperty.oItohasobeeno furtherocontendedothatotheoDistrictoJudgeohasofailedotootakeointooconsiderationo theo guidelineso issuedo byo theo Ministryo ofo Power,o Governmento ofo Indiao foro assessmentoofocompensation.oTheoDistrictoJudgeohasoawardedotheocompensationo forotheoaffectedoareaoatotheorateoofo85%oofotheoassessedoCollectororateoonlyoando evenowhileodoingoso,oheohasoawardedocompensationoonlyoforotheotower-baseo areao ando haso noto takeno intoo considerationo theo adjacento areao thato haso beeno renderedo unfito foro useo ando enjoyment.o Ito iso furthero averredo thato noo compensationotowardsodiminutionoofotheolandovalueoinotheowidthoofoRightoofo Wayo(ROW)oCorridorohasobeenograntedoevenothoughotheosaidoguidelinesodulyo provideoforotheosame.oAofurtheroargumentohasobeenoraisedothatotheotrialoCourto haso noto takeno intoo considerationo theo factumo ofo losso towardso reducedo cropo productiono dueo too theo impacto ofo magnetico fieldo ofo higho tensiono electrico wires/polesoapartofromotheoshortotermoandolongotermsohealthoproblemsothatomayo occurotootheohumanobeings.oo o o Responseso haveo beeno filedo byo theo Distribution/Transmissiono Licenseeoi.e.orespondentoNo.2,owhereinotheofactualoaspectonoticedoaboveohasonoto beenodisputed.oItois,ohowever,oaverredothatotheoworkoinoquestionoalreadyostandso CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-17-executedo ino accordanceo witho Theo Electricityo Act,o 2003o ando Theo Indiano TelegraphoAct,o1885.oReferenceowasomadeotoovariousoprecedentojudgmentsoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinorelationotootheorightoofotransmissionoutilityotooseto upotransmissionolines.oItohasobeenofurtherostatedoinotheoresponseofiledobyotheo Transmissiono Licenseeo thato compensationo haso beeno rightlyo assessedo byo theo Addl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatoandothatotheoownershipoofotheosaidolandostillovestso witho theo lando owners-petitionerso ando thato ito noto beingo ao caseo ofo forcibleo acquisition,otheopetitionersocannotosubmitothatotheolandohasobeenoacquiredobyotheo TransmissionoLicensee.oItoisofurtherodeniedothatolayingoofotheoelectricopolesoando highotensionowiresoreducesotheoproductivityoofotheolandoandoaverredothatothereoiso noo evidenceo too suggesto thato theo productivityo ando fertilityo ofo theo lando iso prejudiciallyoaffectedoonoaccountoofoover-headohighotensionowires.oBesides,otheo highotensionowiresoareoinstalledoatoaoheightowhereotheoagriculturalooperationso undertakenobyotheolandoownersoareoinonoowayohampered.oNoolossoorodamageoiso reportedotoohaveoeverobeenocausedotootheocropoofoanyolandoowneroonoaccountoofo magneticooroelectricofieldoofotransmissionolines.oo o o Ao separateo writteno statemento haso beeno filedo byo theo Deputyo Collector,oSonepat,oinowhichotheostandoadoptedobyotheoTransmissionoLicenseeo hasobeenoreiterated.ooTheosaidoresponse,ohowever,oisosilentowithoregardotootheo Collectoro rateo ofo theo concernedo areao eveno thougho ao specifico pleao hado beeno raisedobyotheopetitionersoaboutotheoapplicableoCollectororateoinotheirorejoinder.o o o TheorespondentoNo.1-oTransmissionoLicenseeohasoalsoofiledoaoCivilo RevisionoPetition.oAoseparateoreplyohas,ohowever,onotobeenofiledoinotheopresento writo petitiono byo it.o Aso such,o stando ofo respondento No.1-o Kalpa-Taruo Powero TransmissionoLtd.oisobeingoadvertedotoofromotheogroundsoraisedobyoitoinoitsoCivilo RevisionoPetition.oItohasobeenoaverredoinotheogroundsotakenoinoCiviloRevisiono CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-18-Petitiono No.CR-3503-2017o thato theoenhancemento ofo compensationo hasobeeno undertakeno withouto applicationo ofo judicialo mindo ando theo sameo iso basedo ono surmisesoandoconjectures.oItohasoalsoobeenoaverredothatotheopetitionersohereino haveonotobeenoableotooproduceoanyoevidenceotoosubstantiateotheiroclaimoquaotheo lossoallegedlyosufferedobyothem.oItohasoalsoobeenoaverredothatotheoguidelineso issuedobyotheoMinistryoofoPower,oGovernmentoofoIndiaoareonotobindingoandotheyo haveocorrectlyonotobeenoconsideredobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatowhileo decidingotheoappealsoofotheopetitioners.oItohasobeenofurtheroaverredothatotheolando beneathotheotowerobaseoisocapableoofobeingoputotooutilizationoforoagriculturalo purposeso ando thato thereo iso nothingo ono recordo too justifyo theo compensationo assessedoandoawardedobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatovideotheoimpugnedo Award.oo o o ItoisosubmittedothatotwooCiviloSuitsobearingoNo.5oofo2016oando6oofo 2016ohaveobeenodecidedobyotwooseparateojudgmentsodatedo28.02.2017oandothato theopetitionersohaveochallengedobothotheosaidojudgmentsobyomeansoofoaocommono writopetition.oItowasoalsooaverredothatotheoguidelinesodatedo15.10.2015ohaveonoto beenoadoptedobyotheoStateoofoHaryanaoandothusocannotobeoheldobinding.oFurthero theofactothatotheocropocompensationohasoalreadyobeenopaidoandotheoorderopassedo byotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oSonepatosuffersofromoerroneousointerpretationoofo TelegraphoActoandofailsotootakeointooconsiderationothatothereoisonooacquisitionoofo land.oo o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso arguedo thato theo Addl.o DistrictoJudge,oSonepatohasofailedotootakeointooconsiderationotheocorrectovalueoofo theoland.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatothreeosaleodeedsopertainingotoonearbyoareao haveobeenoproducedoonorecordoasoExhibitsoP-9,oP-11oandoP-12obeforeotheotrialo Courto(AnnexuresoP-7otooP-9oherein).oTheosaleodeedo(AnnexureoP-9)owasoforoano CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-19-areaomeasuringo3oacreso1okanaloando10omarlaoandowasoexecutedoono09.12.2009o reflectingotheomarketovalueoofotheolandoasoRs.2.28ocroreoperoacreoapproximately.o Sinceotheoinstallationoofohighotensionowiresowasodoneoinotheoyearo2011oandoaso theosaleodeedo(AnnexureoP-9)owasoinocloseoproximityotootheotimeoofotheoaboveo installation.oHence,otheosaidosaleodeedolaysovalidofoundationoforodeterminationo ofotheothenoexistingomarketovalueoofotheolandoinoquestion.oAospecificoavermento hadoalsoobeenomadeothatotheoCollectororateoinotheoyearo2011-12oinotheorevenueo estateoofo villageo Raio waso tootheo tuneo ofo Rs.1.50o croreo ando thatodespiteo theo responseohavingobeenofiled,otheoaforesaidoassertionohasonotobeenodenied.oHeo submitsothatotheoCollectororateohavingobeenoadmitted,othereowasonoovalidobasiso foro theo Addl.o Districto Judge,o Sonepato too reduceo valueo ofo lando too ao sumo ofo Rs.85,00,000/-operoacreobyoreferringotootheosameoasoCollectoroRate.oItoisofurthero arguedothatonoocompensationowasoawardedobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepato foro theo diminutiono ofo valueo ando utilityo ofo theo remainingo lando oro quao theo damageso causedo too theo cropo ono accounto ofo overo heado higho tensiono wireso alongwithoRightoofoWayo(ROW).oItoisoalsooaverredothatosomeolandoadjacentotoo theotowerobaseoisoalsoorenderedotoobeounfitoforoagriculturalopurposesoandothato compensationo oughto too haveo alsoo beeno awardedo foro theo saido pieceo ofo land,o hence,o theo compensationo cannoto remaino confinedo solelyo too theo areao fallingo underotheotowerobase.o o o Theocounseloforotheorespondentsohaveoreiteratedotheosubmissiono noticedoinotheiroresponseoandoinotheiroargumentsoasowelloandohaveocontendedo thatotheoclaimoforoseekingoenhancementoofocompensationoisonotosustainableoando asoaomatteroofofact,otheocompensationoasoenhancedobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,o Sonepatooughtotoobeoreducedobyotakingointooconsiderationotheototalityoofotheo factsoandocircumstances.oHeohasoplacedorelianceouponotheojudgmentopassedobyo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-20-theo Hon'bleo Himachalo Pradesho Higho Courto ino theo mattero ofo 'Powero Grido CorporationoofoIndiaoLtd.oVs.oBasantoSinghoandoothers'obearingoLPAoNo.204o ofo2007odecidedoono21.05.2010otoosubstantiateothatotheopoweroexercisedoundero Sectiono16(3)oofoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885oisonotoakinotootheopowero exercisedobyoaoReferenceoCourtounderotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894.oHeo furtheroarguedothatoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885ocontemplatesodamagesoforo theo losso beingo causedo too theo propertyo ando ito iso noto ao compensationo aso understoodounderotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894owherebyotheoproperty/landoiso itselfoacquiredounderotheosaidoActoandoonceotheosameoisoacquired,otheoproprietoro fromo whomo theo acquisitiono haso beeno made,o seizeso too beo theo ownero ofo theo propertyo ando thato allo proprietaryo rightso ando interesto stando vestedo ino theo acquiringoAuthority.oTheosameoisonototheocaseoinolayingoofotransmissionolines.o RelianceohasoalsoobeenoplacedoonotheoFulloBenchoJudgmentoofoKeralaoHigho Courtorenderedoinotheomatteroofo'KeralaoStateoElectricityoBoardoVs.oT.T.P.o Kayyu'oobearingoC.R.O.o2128oofo1991odecidedoono05.01.1996otoocontendothato theo compensationo towardso diminutiono ofo theo agriculturalo lando cannoto beo awardedosinceotheoCourtocanodrawopresumptionothatoagriculturalooperationsocano beocarriedooutoinotheoaffectedoareaoinoaoreasonableoandoprofitableomanneroando thato theo burdeno too rebuto sucho presumptiono lieso ono theo claimant.o Furthero referenceohasobeenomadeotootheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheo mattero ofo 'Theo Keralao Stateo Electricityo Boardo Vs.o Livisha'o bearingo Civilo Appealo No.289o ofo 2006o decidedo ono o 18.05.2007o (Lawo Findero Doc.o Id.o #o 129452)ootoocontendothatonoofixedoformulaocanobeodeterminedoforocomputingotheo amountoofocompensationotoobeoawardedounderoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885o andothatotheosameoisonotoakinotooAcquisitionoofotheoLandobutomayoonlyocauseo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-21-o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoando haveogoneothroughotheodocuments/recordoavailableoonotheocaseofileoandotheo judgmentsoreliedouponobyobothopartiesoinosupportoofotheirorespectiveocontentionso withotheiroableoassistance.o o o Beforeoproceedingofurtheroinotheomatter,oitowouldobeoappropriateotoo refero too certaino statutoryo provisionso aso areo essentialo foro adjudicatingo theo controversyoinvolvedoinotheopresentobatchoofopetitions:o "THEoELECTRICITYoACT,o2003.o SECTIONo164.o(ExerciseoofopowersoofoTelegraphoAuthorityoino certaino cases):o Theo Appropriateo Governmento may,o byo ordero ino writing,oforotheoplacingoofoelectricolinesooroelectricaloplantoforotheo transmissiono ofo electricityo oro foro theo purposeo ofo telephonico oro telegraphico communicationso necessaryo foro theo propero co-ordinationoofoworks,oconferouponoanyopublicoofficer,olicenseeooro anyootheropersonoengagedoinotheobusinessoofosupplyingoelectricityo underothisoAct,osubjectotoosuchoconditionsoandorestrictions,oifoany,o asotheoAppropriateoGovernmentomayothinkofitotooimposeoandotootheo provisionsoofotheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885,oanyoofotheopowerso whicho theo telegrapho authorityo possesseso undero thato Acto witho respecto too theo placingo ofo telegrapho lineso ando postso foro theo purposeso ofo ao telegrapho establishedo oro maintained,o byo theo Governmentoorotoobeosooestablishedooromaintained.o XXXo o ooXXXoo XXXo o oXXXo THEoINDIANoTELEGRAPHoACT,o1885k POWERoTOoPLACEoTELEGRAPHoLINESoANDoPOSTSo k

10.o Powero foro telegrapho authorityo too placeo ando maintaino telegrapholinesoandoposts.o–ooTheotelegraphoauthorityomay,ofromo timeotootime,oplaceoando maintainoao telegrapholineounder,oover,o alongooroacross,oandopostsoinooroupon,oanyoimmovableoproperty:o Providedothat--o

(a)oo theo telegrapho authorityo shallo noto exorciseo theo powerso conferredo byo thiso sectiono excepto foro theo purposeso ofo ao CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-22-telegrapho establisho oro maintainedo byo theoCentralo Government,oorotoobeosooestablishedooromaintained;o

(b)oo theoCentraloGovernmentoshallonotoacquireoanyorightoothero thanothatoofouseroonlyoinotheopropertyounder,oover,oalong,o across,oinoorouponowhichotheotelegraphoauthorityoplacesoanyo telegrapholineooropost;o

(c)oo exceptoasohereinafteroprovided,otheotelegraphoauthorityoshallo notoexerciseothoseopowersoinorespectoofoanyopropertyovestedo ino oro undero theo controlo oro managemento ofo anyo localo authority,owithoutotheopermissionoofothatoauthority;oando

(d)oo inotheoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredobyothisosection,otheo telegraphoauthorityoshallodooasolittleodamageoasopossible,o and,owhenoitohasoexercisedothoseopowersoinorespectoofoanyo propertyootherothanothatoreferredotooinoclauseo(c),oshallopayo fullocompensationotooallopersonsointerestedoforoanyodamageo sustainedobyothemobyoreasonoofotheoexerciseoofothoseopowers.o XXXo o ooXXXoo XXXo o oXXXo Provisionsoapplicableotoootheroproperty.o

16.o Exerciseoofopowersoconferredobyosectiono10,oandodisputeso asotoocompensation,oinocaseoofopropertyootherothanothatoofoaolocalo authority.oo

(1)oo Ifo theo exerciseo ofo theo powerso mentionedo ino sectiono 10o ino respectoofopropertyoreferredotooinoclauseo(d)oofothatosectionoiso resistedo oro obstructed,o theo Districto Magistrateo may,o inohiso discretion,o ordero thato theo telegrapho authorityo shallo beo permittedotooexerciseothem.o

(2)oo If,oafterotheomakingoofoanoorderounderosub-sectiono(1),oanyo persono resistso theo exerciseo ofo thoseo powers,o or,o havingo controlooverotheoproperty,odoesonotogiveoallofacilitiesoforotheiro beingoexercised,oheoshallobeodeemedotoohaveocommittedoano offenceounderosectiono188oofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo(45oofo 1860).o

(3)oo Ifo anyo disputeo ariseso concerningo theo sufficiencyo ofo theo compensationo too beo paido undero sectiono 10,o clauseo(d),o ito CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-23-shall,o ono applicationo foro thato purposeo byo eithero ofo theo disputingo partieso too theo Districto Judgeo withino whoseo jurisdictionotheopropertyoisosituate,obeodeterminedobyohim.o

(4)oo Ifo anyo disputeo ariseso aso too theo personso entitledo too receiveo compensation,ooroasotootheoproportionsoinowhichotheopersonso interestedoarcoentitledotooshareoinoit,otheotelegraphoauthorityo mayopayointootheoCourtoofotheoDistrictoJudgeosuchoamountoaso heodeemsosufficientoor,owhereoallotheodisputingopartiesohaveoino writingoadmittedotheoamountotenderedotoobeosufficientoorotheo amounto haso beeno determinedo undero sub-sectiono(3),o thato amount;oandotheo DistrictoJudge,o aftero givingonoticeotoo theo partiesoandohearingosuchoofothemoasodesireotoobeoheard,oshallo determineotheopersonsoentitledotooreceiveotheocompensationo or,oasotheocaseomayobe,otheoproportionsoinowhichotheopersonso interestedoareoentitledotooshareoinoit.o

(5)oo EveryodeterminationoofoaodisputeobyoaoDistrictoJudgeoundero sub-sectiono(3)oorosub-sectiono(4)oshallobeofinal:o o Providedothatonothingoinothisosub-sectionoshalloaffectotheorighto ofoanyopersonotoorecoverobyosuitotheowholeooroanyopartoofoanyo compensationo paido byo theo telegrapho authority,o fromo theo personowhoohasoreceivedotheosame."o o o o Ito iso noto ino disputeo thato theo respondento No.1-Transmissiono Licenseeohasoundertakenotheoworksoforotheoinstallationoofotransmissionolinesoino exerciseo ofo powerso conferredo undero Theo Indiano Telegrapho Act,o 1885.o Ito iso evidentothatoSectiono10(d)oofoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885ostipulatesothato whileoexecutingotheoworkounderoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885,otheoAuthorityo shallodooasolittleodamageoasopossibleoandothatoitoshallopayofullocompensationotoo allotheoaffectedopersonsoforoanyodamageosustainedobyothemodueotooexerciseoofo sucho power.o Ito iso alsoo evidento thato theo Districto Magistrateo mayo assesso theo compensationopayableoforotheodamageosustainedobyotheolandoownersoandothatoino theoevent,otheointerest/affectedopersonsoareonotosatisfiedowithotheocompensationo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-24-sooassessed,otheyomayopreferotooinstituteoappropriateoproceedingsounderoSectiono 16(3)oofoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885obeforeotheoDistrictoJudgeoconcernedo ando thato theo computationo ofo compensationo shallo thereaftero beo doneo byo theo DistrictoJudgeoconcernedoafterotakingointooconsiderationotheoevidenceoadducedo byo theo partieso andogivingothemo ano appropriateoando effectiveoopportunityo ofo hearing.o Ito iso alsoo noto ino disputeo thato theo lando ino questiono fallso withino theo revenueoestateoofovillageoRai,oTehsiloandoDistrictoSonepat,owhichoisoadjacentotoo theoNationaloCapitaloandoisoaopartoofotheoNationaloCapitaloRegion.oo o o Theolearnedocounseloofotheopetitionersohasoappendedotheositeoplano toodemonstrateotheositusoofotheoacquiredolandoasoperotheoaks-shajra.oAsoperotheo saidositeoplan,otheolandoinoquestionoabutsoao65ometerowideoroadoinokillaono.12o andoisoatoaodistanceoofo6oacres/killasofromotheoNationaloHighway,owhileotheo remainingokhasraonumbersoareoatoaodistanceoofo16otoo20oacres/killasofromotheo NationaloHighwayoandoisoaopartoofoSectoro37.oTheoRajivoGandhioEducationo InstituteoasowelloasoMotioLaloNehruoSchooloofoSports,oRaioareosituatedoonotheo otherosideoofotheoNationaloHighwayoandothatotheoIndustrialoSectoro38oofotheo HaryanaoStateoIndustrialoandoInfrastructureoCorporationoisoalsooatoaodistanceoofo 12oacres/killasofromotheoland.ooTheolandothusoisoinoaohighopotentialozone.o o o Beforeo examiningo theo issueo anyo further,o theo primaryo questiono whichoarisesoforoconsiderationoisoasotoowhetherotheorespondentsoareoliableotoopayo anyocompensationotootheolandoowners.oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondentsohaveoplacedorelianceouponotheo judgmento passedo byo Bombayo Higho Courto ino theo mattero ofo M/so Hariharo BuildspaceoPvt.oLtd.oVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothersoreportedoaso(2021)o5,oMh.o L.J.o144obearingoWritoPetitionoNo.7489oofo2019,odecidedoono01.10.2020.oTheo relevantoextractoofotheosameoisoreproducedohereinafterobelow:o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-25- "23.oAsoweohaveoalreadyoheldothatotheopetitioneroisonotoentitledotoo anyo compensationo undero Sectiono 10o (d)o ofo theo Telegrapho Act,o 1885,oitoisonotonecessaryotooconsiderotheopleaothatotheopetitioneroiso entitledotoocompensationounderotheoRFCTRRoAct,o2013.Sufficeoiso toosayothatotheoentireoTelegraphoAct,o1885odoesonotocontemplateo anyoacquisitionoofoland.oThisoisoclearofromotheolanguageoofoSectiono 10o (b)o whicho expresslyo mandateso thato theo Centralo Governmento shallo noto acquireo anyo righto othero thano thato ofo usero onlyo ino theo propertyo under,o over,o along,o acrosso ino oro upono whicho theo TelegraphoAuthorityoplacesoanyolineooropost.oThus,onooacquisitiono ofolandoisocontemplatedobyotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885oandotherefore,o theoprovisionsoofoRFCTRRoAct,o2013,owhichoareoapplicableoonlyo tooacquisitionoofoland,owouldoclearlyonotobeoavailable,oforoanyousero asocontemplatedounderotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885."o o o o Further,o ino theo mattero ofo 'Powero Grido Corporationo ofo Indiao LimitedoVs.oBasantoSingho&oAnother'obearingoLPAoNo.204oofo2007odecdiedo ono21.05.2020otheoDivisionoBenchoofoHimachaloPradeshoHighoCourtohasoheldo asounder-o "4.o Havinganalysedo theolegalo positiono aso above,o ando ono goingo throughotheofactualopositionoinotheopresentocase,oweofindothatotheo learnedo Districto Judgeo haso misdirectedo himselfo ino grantingo theo landovalueoitselfobyowayoofocompensationobyocomparingotheovalueo ofotheopropertyoinotheovicinity.oTheomethodoisotoobeoadopted,oonlyo whenotheoCourtoexercisesoitsopowerounderoSectiono18oofotheoLando AcquisitionoAct,o1894oforotheopurposeoofodecidingolandovalueoino caseodulyoreferredotootheoCourtoacquisitionoofotheoproperty.oTheo powero thato iso exercisedo undero Sectiono 16o (3)o ofo theo Indiano TelegraphoActoisonotoakinotootheoPoweroexercisedobyotheoReferenceo CourtounderotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894o

5.oTherefore,ocertainotheoordersocallsoforointerferenceoinoprinciple.o

6.oWeofindothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoapparentlyotakingonoteoofo theoamountobeingoonlyoRs.o24,000/-owasonotoinclinedotoogoointootheo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-26-legalo questiono ando ono factso ito waso apparentlyo heldo thato ito iso sufficientocompensation.o

7.oInoviewoofotheofactualopositionoasoabove,oweodeclineotoointerfereo witho theo amountso alreadyo grantedo too theo partyo towardso compensation.oHowever,otheolawohasotoobeomadeoclearothatotheo DistrictoJudgeoinoexerciseoofotheopowerounderoSectiono16o(3)oofotheo IndianoTelegraphoAct,oshallonotograntedocompensationoakinotootheo landovalueothatoisofixedobyotheoReferenceoCourtounderotheoLando Acquisitiono Act,o 1894o Onlyo too theo extento ofo injuryo sufferedo byo drawingo theo lineo oro placingo ao tower,o theo ownero shallo beo proportionallyocompensatedo

8.oTheolettersoPatentoAppealoisodisposedoof."o o o o FurtherorelianceohasobeenoplacedoinotheojudgmentoofoFulloBenchoofo Keralao Higho Courto renderedo ino theo mattero ofo Kumbao Ammao Vso K.S.E.B.,o reportedoaso(2000)o3oRCRo(Civil),o131,owhereinotheofulloBenchoofoKeralaoHigho Courtohasogivenoguidelinesotooassistotheocompensation.oTheorelevantoparagraphso areobeingoreproducedohereinobelow-o "43.oInotheolightoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oweoholdothatoinflationoiso ao relevanto factoro too beo takeno intoo accounto whileo computingo compensationoforodestructionoofotreesoforotheopurposeoofodrawingo powerolines.oWeoareoalsooofotheoviewothatoifointerestorateoinoaostableo economyoisoapplied,otheoeffectoofoinflationowillobeoautomaticallyo takenocareoofoAfteroconsideringotheorivalocontentions,oraisedoinothiso caseo ando theo authoritieso ono theo subject,o weo haveo comeo too theo conclusionothatoaowrongoprincipleohasobeenoappliedobyotheoFullo Benchoino1981oKLTo646oforoarrivingoatotheorateooforeturnoInsteado ofotakingotheorealorateoofointerest,otheoFulloBenchohasoappliedotheo prevalentorateoofointerest.oToothatoextent,oweooverruleo1981oKLTo

646.o o

44.oNext,oweohaveotooconsiderowhatoshouldobeotheorateooforeturnotoo beoappliedoinothisocase.oAsomentionedoearlier,oregardingotheorateo oforeturn,otheoonlyocontentionoraisedobyotheopetitionersoisothatoito CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-27-shouldobeo5%oasoheldoino1961oKLTo238oandonototheohigherorateoaso orderedoino1981oKLTo646.oEvenothoughorelianceowasoplacedobyotheo petitionersoonoAIRo1988oAndhraoPradesho89oinosupportoofotheiro contentionothatotheoprincipleoappliedoino1981oKLTo646owasonoto correct,oitoisonotocontendedobyotheopetitionersobeforeousothatoino theirocase,otheorateooforeturnoasoassessedobyoJagannadhaoRao,oJ.oino AIRo1988oAndhraoPradesho89oshouldobeoapplied.oTheodisputeoino thisocaseoaroseowhenotreesostandingoinopetitioners'opropertyowereo cutodownoono9.9.1980.oTheorespondentsohaveonotomadeoavailableo beforeousoanyomaterialotooshowothatotheorealorateoofointerestoino 1980o waso somethingo differento fromo 5%.o Theiro onlyo contentiono basedoono1981oKLTo646oisothatowhatoisorelevantoisotheoprevalento rateoofointerestowhichowaso10%.oThisocontentionoweohaveoalreadyo rejected,oaso sucho rateo doesonototakeointoo accounto theofactoroofo inflation.o Undero theseo circumstances,o weo holdo thato theo rateo ofo interestotoobeoappliedoinotheopresentocaseoiso5%.oWeohastenotooaddo thatoweoshouldonotobeounderstoodoasohavingolaidodowno5%oasotheo realorateoofointerestoforosubsequentoperiod.oTheorateoofointeresto applicableoinoIndiaohasobeenoheldoaso4%obyoJagnnadhaoRao,oJ.oino AIRo 1988o Andhrao Pradesho 89.o 11o yearso haveo lapsedo aftero theo aboveojudgment.oWhetheroitoshouldobeotheosameorateooforeturnothato hasotoobeoappliedoforotheoperiodoandoafterotheoaboveojudgmentooro whethero ao highero oro lowero rate,o iso ao mattero too beo decidedo ino appropriateocasesowhereorelevantodataoisoavailable.oTillosuchotime,o theoBoardowilloadopto5%oasorateooforeturn.oBut,oweomakeoitoclearo thatocasesofinallyoconcludedobyodecisionsoofotheoCourtowillonotobeo reopened."o k o o Relianceo haso alsoo beeno placedo ono theo Fullo Bencho Judgmento ofo KearalaoHighoCourtopassedoinotheomatteroofoKeralaoStateoElectricityoBoardoVs.o TTPo Kayyuo bearingo CROo No.2128o ofo 1991o decidedo ono 05.01.1996.o Theo relevantoextractoofotheosameoisoreproducedohereinafterobelow:o "17.oTheopointostressedobyotheoBoardothatoevenoifotreesoareonoto permittedotoobeogrownobelowoorobyotheosideoofotheoelectricolineso CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-28-withinotheoprohibitedodistanceoitoisoopenotootheoowneroofotheolando tooraiseootheroagriculturalocropsoandothusocontinueotooutiliseotheo lando foro agriculturalo purposeso haso ao materialo bearingo ono theo question.o Thiso argumento iso basedo ono theo ruleo ofo mitigationo ofo damage.oThisoruleoisoexplainedoinoMcGregoroonoDamageso(14tho Edition,opageo214)oasofollows:o "Theo extento ofo damageo resultingo fromo ao wrongfulo acto whethero torto oro breacho ofo contract,o cano ofteno beo considerablyolessenedobyowelloadvisedoactionoonotheopartoofo theopersonowronged.oInosuchocircumstancesotheolaworequireso himotootakeoalloreasonableostepsotoomitigateolossoconsequento onotheodefendant'sowrongoandorefusesotooallowohimodamageso inorespectoofoanyopartoofotheolossowhichoisodueotoohisoneglecto tootakeosuchosteps."o Thusoitoisoopenotoocontendothatoifotheolandoonowhichoelectricolineso areodrawnoareofitoforootherocultivationowhichowouldonotoconflicto withotheorequirementoofoopenospaceotoobeoleftofromotheoelectrico linesoandoifosuchocultivationocanobeocarriedoonoinoaoreasonablyo profitableo manner,o theo claimanto iso expectedo too carryo ono sucho cultivation.oIfoheodoesonotodooso,oitoisoaofactorowhichohasotoobeo takeno intoo considerationo ato theo timeo ofo qualificationo ofo theo compensationoforodiminutionoinolandovalue.o

18.o o XXXo o XXXo o XXXoo

19.oo Ino Sortiroso Shippingo Inc.o ando Aecoo Maritimeo S.A.o v.o SameietoSalholtoo(Theo"Solholt"),o(1oLloyd'soRe.op.o605)oitoiso observedoby,oSiroJohnoDonaldsonoM.R.oasofollowso "Aoplaintiffoisounderonoodutyotoomitigateohisoloss,odespiteotheo habitualouseobyotheolawyersoofotheophraseo"dutyotoomitigate".o Heoisocompletelyofreeotooactoasoheojudgesotoobeoinohisobesto interests.oOnotheootherohand,oaodefendantoisonotoliableoforoallo lossosufferedobyotheoplaintiffoisoconsequenceoofohisosooacting.o Aodefendantoisoonlyoliableoforosuchopartoofotheoplaintiff'solosso asoisoproperlyotoobeoregardedoasocausedobyotheodefendants'o breachoofoduty."o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-29-TheoprincipleohasobeenoexplainedobyoViscountoHaldane,oL.C.oino Britisho Westingo houseo Electrico ando Manufacturingo Companyo Ltd.o v.o Undergroundo Electrico Railwayso Companyo ofo Londono Ltd.,o(1912)oA.oC.o673,oasofollows:-o "Theofundamentalobasisoisothusocompensationoforopecuniaryo losso naturallyo flowingo fromo theo breach;o buto thiso firsto principleo iso qualifiedo byo ao second,o whicho imposeso ono ao plaintiffotheodutyoofotakingoalloreasonableostepsotoomitigateo theolossoconsequentoonotheobreach,oandodebarsohimofromo claimingoanyopartoofotheodamageowhichoisodueotoohisoneglecto tootakeosuchosteps."o TheoaboveoprincipleohasobeenoacceptedoinoIndianoCourtsoalso.oIno M/soMurlidharo Chiranjilalo v.o M/s.o Harishchandrao Dwarkadaso andoanother,oAIRo1962oSupremeoCourto366.oWanchoo,oJ.o(asoheo theno was)o haso madeo specifico referenceo too theo aboveo mentionedo decisionoandofurtheroobservedothatotheotwooprinciplesofollowofromo theolawoasolaidodownoinoSectiono73oofotheoIndianoContractoActoreado withoExplanationothereofoalso.oMuchoearlieroPrivyoCouncilohado alsootakenotheosameoviewoinoJamalov.oMoolaoDawoodoSonsoando Company,o43oA.oI.o10.oInoM.oLachiaoSettyoandoSonsoLtd.ov.oTheo CoffeeoBoard,oBangalore,oAIRo1981oSupremeoCourto162,oitowaso clarifiedothatotheoprincipleoofomitigationoofolossodoesonotogiveoanyo righto too theo partyo whooiso ino breacho ofo theo contracto buto ito iso ao conceptothatohasotoobeoborneoinomindowhileoawardingodamages.o

20.oo Inotheolightoofotheoaboveodiscussionoweoareoinclinedotootakeo theoviewothatotheoclaimantsohaveodutyotoomitigateotheodamageobyo resortingotooanyootherocultivationowhichoisosonablyopossibleoinotheo lando coveredo byo theo electrico lineo ando cano beo carriedo ono economically.oOfocourseotheoBoardocannotocompelotheoclaimantso toocarryoonocultivationounderneathotheoelectricolines.oButoifosucho cultivationoisoreasonablyopossibleoandoatotheosameotimeotheyofailedo toocarryoonosuchocultivationoitowillobeoaofactoroforoconsiderationoato theotimeoofoquantificationoofotheodamages.oButotheoclaimantsoareo expectedo too doo sucho cultivationo whicho iso reasonable.o Whileo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-30-consideringotheoquestionowhetherotheofarmingosystemoadoptedobyo theoappellantowasoaoreasonableooneoinoThomasoandoanotherov.o CountrysideoCounciloforoWales,o(1994)o4oAlloEnglandoReportero 853,otheorelevantoconsiderationsoareostatedoasofollows:-o "…..Putoanotheroway,owasotheoappellant'sodecisionotooadopto theofarmingosystemowhichotheyodidoaoreasonableoone?oThato questiono iso noto too beo answeredo solelyo ino termso ofo theo commercialo optimum.o Obviouslyo profitabilityo iso ao factor,o andoanoimportantoone,obutoinoanooccupationosuchoasofarmingo anyo testo ofo reasonablenesso shouldo takeo someo accounto ofo otherocircumstancesoincludingoindividualopersonalofactorso ofo amenity,o eveno ofo aesthetico preferenceo Theo questiono ofo whatoisoreasonableoisoentirelyooneoofofactoforotheoarbitrator."o

21.ooo o XXXo o XXXo o XXXo

22.oo Inothisocase,oitoisotheoclaimantowhooknowsobestoasotoohowohiso landocouldobeocultivatedowithootherocropsowhichowouldonotoviolateo theorestrictionsoregardingoopenospaceotoobeoleftofromotheoelectrico lines,otowersoandoposts.oItoisoquiteoplausibleothatoeveryolandownero wouldobeousingotheolandobeneathotheoelectricolineso(beotheyoofohigho tensiono oro lowo tension)o too raiseo cultivationo oro foro someo othero purposeoexceptoofocourseoforogrowingotallotreesooroconstructingo highostructures.oThus,oregardobeingohadotootheocommonocourseoofo naturaloevents,otheocourtocanodrawoaopresumptionothatoagriculturalo operationoinoaoreasonablyoprofitableomannerocanobeocarriedoonoino theoaffectedolandoexceptogrowingotailotrees.oHenceotheoburdenoisoono theoclaimantotoorebutotheosaidopresumptiono

23.oTheoupshotoofotheoaboveodiscussionoisothatoitoisoopenotootheo ownersoofotheolandotooclaimocompensationoforodiminutionoinolando valueowhenotowersoandopolesoareoerectedoonoandoelectricolineso drawnooverotheirolandsosubjectotootheoconditionsodetailedoinothiso judgmentoTheoquantumoofodamagesoshallobeofixedoonotheobasisoofo theo principleso enunciatedo hereinabove.o Whethero claimantso hado takenoreasonableostepsotoomitigateotheodamageooronotoisoaoquestiono CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-31-toobeoconsideredobyotheoDistrictoJudgeoonotheoevidenceoinoeacho caseoandosubjectotootheopresumptionoandoonusoindicatedoabove."o o o o Furthero referenceo haso beeno madeo too theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtodeliveredoinotheomatteroofoKeralaoStateoElectricityoBoardoVs.o Livisha-oreportedoaso(2007)o6oSCCo792.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosameoiso reproducedohereinafterobelow:o "9.o Bothotelegrapholinesoandoelectricalolinesoareorequiredotoobeo drawno overo theo agriculturalo landso and/oro othero propertieso belongingotoothirdoparties.oInodrawingosucholines,otheoentireolando cannotobeoacquiredobutotheoeffectothereofowouldobeodiminutionoofo valueo ofo theo propertyo overo whicho sucho lineo iso drawn.o Theo TelegraphoAct,o1885oprovidesoforotheomanneroinowhichotheoamounto ofocompensationoisotoobeocomputedotherefor.oSectiono10oofotheoActo empowersotheoauthorityotooplaceoandomaintainoaotelegrapholineo under,oover,oalongooroacross,ooropostsoinoorouponoanyoimmovableo property.oSectiono11oempowersotheoofficersotooenteroonopropertyoino orderotoorepairoororemoveotelegrapholinesooroposts.oSectiono12o empowersotheoauthorityotoograntopermissionoforolayingodownosucho lineso too ao localo authorityo ino termso ofo clauseso (c)o &o (d)o ofo theo provisootooSectiono10oofotheoActosubjectotooreasonableoconditionso asoitomayothinkofit.oSectiono16oofotheosaidoActoreadsoasounder:-o "16,o Exerciseo ofo powerso conferredo byo sectiono 10,o ando disputesoasotoocompensation,oinocaseoofopropertyootherothano thatoofoaolocaloauthority.o(1)oIfotheoexerciseoofotheopowerso mentionedoinosectiono10oinorespectoofopropertyoreferredotooino clauseo (d)o ofo thato sectiono iso resistedo oro obstructed,o theo DistrictoMagistrateomay,oinohisodiscretion,oorderothatotheo telegraphoauthorityoshallobeopermittedotooexerciseothem.o

(2)oIf,oafterotheomakingoofoanoorderounderosectiono(1),oanyo persono resistso theo exerciseo ofo thoseo powers,o or,o havingo controloovero theoproperty,odoesonotogiveo allofacilitiesoforo theirobeingoexercised,oheoshallobeodeemedotoohaveocommittedo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-32-ano offenceo undero Sectiono 188o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o 1860o(45oofo1860).o

(3)oIfoanyodisputeoarisesoconcerningotheosufficiencyoofotheo compensationo too beopaido undero sectiono10,o clauseo (d),oito shall,o ono applicationo foro thato purposeo byo eithero ofo theo disputingo partieso too theo Districto Judgeo withino whoseo jurisdictionotheopropertyoisosituate,obeodeterminedobyohim.o

(4)oIfoanyodisputeoarisesoasotootheopersonsoentitledotooreceiveo compensation,ooroasotootheoproportionsoinowhichotheopersonso interestedoareoentitledotooshareoinoit,otheotelegraphoauthorityo mayopayointootheocourtoofotheoDistrictoJudgeosuchoamountoaso heodeemsosufficientoor,owhereoallotheodisputingopartiesohaveo inowritingoadmittedotheoamountotenderedotoobeosufficientooro theoamountohasobeenodeterminedounderosub-osectiono(3),othato amount;oandotheoDistrictoJudge,oafterogivingonoticeotootheo partiesoandohearingosuchoofo themoaso desireo toobeoheard,o shallo determineo theo personso entitledo too receiveo theo compensationoor,oasotheocaseomayobe,otheoproportionsoino whichotheopersonsointerestedoareoentitledotooshareoinoit.oo

(5)oEveryodeterminationoofoaodisputeobyoaoDistrictoJudgeo underoSub-sectiono(3),oorosub-sectiono(4)oshallobeofinal:oo Providedo thatonothingo inothisosub-sectiono shallo affecto theo rightoofoanyopersonotoorecoverobyosuitotheowholeooroanyoparto ofoanyocompensationopaidobyotheotelegraphoauthority,ofromo theopersonsowhoohasoreceivedotheosame."o

10.oTheositusoofotheoland,otheodistanceobetweenotheohighovoltageo electricityolineolaidothereover,otheoextentoofotheolineothereonoasoalsoo theofactoasotoowhetherotheohighovoltageolineopassesooveroaosmallo trackoofolandoorothroughotheomiddleoofotheolandoandootherosimilaro relevantofactorsoiroouroopinionowouldobeodeterminative.oTheovalueo ofotheolandowouldoalsoobeoaorelevantofactor.oTheoowneroofotheolando furthermore,oinoaogivenosituationomayoloseohisosubstantiveorightotoo useotheopropertyoforotheopurposeoforowhichotheosameowasomeantotoo beoused."o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-33-o o o Pero Contra,o learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso alsoo placedo relianceoonotheojudgmentoofoLivishao(Supra)oandosubmitsothatotheoaforesaido judgmento itselfo recognizeso theo obligationo ofo theo Electricityo Departmento too compensateotheolandoownersoforotheodiminutionoinovalueoofotheolandooverowhicho theo saido transmissiono lineso haveo beeno laid.o Heo furthero submitso thato theo judgmentsoreliedouponobyotheorespondentsodidonotoinoanyomannerorevealothatotheo compensationoisonotopayableotootheolandoowners.oRather,otootheocontrary,otheo aforesaidojudgmentsospecificallyoheldothatotheoTelegraphoAuthorityoisoboundotoo payotheocompensationoforotheodamageocausedotooaoproperty.oTheoonlyodifferenceo isotootheoextentothatotheodiminutionoofopropertyoisonotoatoparowithotheoacquisitiono ofoland/propertyounderotheoLandoAcquisitionoActoandotheoprinciplesoofotheosaido Actocannotobeoappliedowhileograntingocompensationounderotheoprovisionsoofo TelegraphoAct,o1885oreadowithoTheoElectricityoAct,o2003.oHeosubmitsothatotheo FulloBenchoJudgmentoofoKeralaoHighoCourtoinotheomatteroofoKumbaoAmmao (supra)oestablishesotheoentitlementoofolandoownersotootheocompensationoandotheo judgmentoofoNagpuroBenchoofoBombayoHighoCourtoisonotoapplicableotootheo factsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocaseosinceotheolandoownersohadobeeno deniedo theiro rightso ino theo saido petitionso ono accounto ofo inordinateo delayo ino institutionoofotheoclaim.oTheosaidojudgmentsoinonoomannerocanobeoreadotoolayo downoaolightothatotheolandoowneroisonotoentitledotooanyocompensationoatoalloando thusodoesonotoadvanceotheocauseoofotheorespondents.o o o Itothusoemergesoundisputedlyothatoaolandoowneroisoentitledotoobeo compensatedoforotheodiminutionoofovalueoandoutilizationoofolandoonoaccountoofo drawingoofotransmissionolinesoandothatotheoprinciplesoofoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o 1894owouldonotoipsoofactoobeoapplicableoforodeterminingotheofairovalueoofotheo landoforocompensationosinceothereoisonooacquisitionoofolandoinotheocaseoofolayingo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-34-ofotransmissionolinesounderotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885oreadowithoTheoElectricityo Act,o2003.oTheosaidoaspectohasoalsoobeenoconsideredobyotheoAdditionaloDistricto Judge,oSonepatoandotheolandoownersohaveobeenoheldoentitledotoocompensationo forodiminutionoofotheovalueoandoutilizationoofotheiroland.oTheosaidoaspectoisoalsoo supportedobyotheoprovisionoofoSectiono10oofotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885,owhicho providesoforopaymentoofofullocompensationotooallopersonsointerestedoforoanyo damageosustainedobyothemobyoreasonsoofoexerciseoofopoweroandoalsooprovideso foroseekingoenhancementoofotheocompensationosoodeterminedounderoSectiono15o thereof.o Thus,o theo claimo ofo theo compensationo iso ino accordanceo witho theo TelegraphoAct,o1885oandothereoisonooforceoinotheocontentionsoofotheorespondentso thato theo lando ownerso areo noto entitledo too anyo compensationo foro theo damageo causedotootheoland.oo o o Additionally,otheyohaveoalsoonotoraisedoanyoobjectionoagainstotheo findingso recordedo byo theo Addl.o Districto Judge,o Sonepato witho regardo too theo maintainabilityoofotheopetitionsounderoSectiono16(3)oofoTheoIndianoTelegrapho Act,o 1885o ando theo entitlement/authorityo ofo theo saido Courto too determineo theo compensationotoobeoawardedotootheolandoownersoinotheoeventotheocompensationo assessedo byo theo Districto Magistrateo iso foundo too beo insufficient.o Theo soleo questionowhichothusosurvivesoisowithoregardotoodeterminationoandoquantumoofo compensationobyotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatoandoasotoowhetherotheosaido compensationo iso justo ando appropriateo depictingo theo trueo ando correcto marketo valueoofotheolandoandoitsodiminishingoprofits,ovalueoandoutility.oo o o Itoisothusoessentialotoodetermineoatothisojunctureothatotheonatureoofo deprivationosufferedobyotheolandoowners.oTheopositionoinolawoisonoomoreoino disputeoasotheoactivitiesoundertakenounderoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885oareo noto similaro aso compulsoryo acquisitiono ofo lando undero theo erstwhileo Lando CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-35-AcquisitionoAct,o1894.oItoisoalsoonotoinodisputeothatoifotheopoweroconferredo underoTheoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o1885oisoexercised,otheoproprietaryoright,otitleo orointerestooverotheolandoinoquestionoremainovestedowithotheolandoownersoandotheo personsosooaffectedosufferoonlyotheodeprivationoofotheirorightotooenjoymentoofo theolandoinoanyomanneroasotheyomayowantoquaotheolandofallingounderotheotowero baseoand/orotheoROWoofotheotransmissionoofotheolines.oTheostatutoryoprovisionso ando theo precedento judgmentso reliedo upono byo theo petitionerso aso wello aso theo respondentso ino relationo too theo entitlemento ofo theo lando ownerso too theo compensationoacknowledgeotheovestingoofoaorightoinofavouroofotheolandoownerso tooseekocompensationoquaotheodamageosustainedobyothem.o o o Theosameonowoleadsotoosecondoquestionoasotoowhatowouldobeoano appropriateomechanismoforodeterminationoofotheocompensationopayableotootheo landoownersoonoaccountoofotheodamageocausedoand/orosufferedobyothemodueotoo diminutionoofolandovalueoandoutilityoofotheiroland.o o o Learnedo counselo foro theo partieso doo noto disputeo thato theo Stateo Governmentohasonotolaidodownoanyouniformocriteriaooroguidelineoforoassessmento ofocompensationotoobeopaidotootheolandoownersounderotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885.o TheosameothusoleavesothisoaspectotoobeodeterminedobyotheoCourtowhenosucho matteroisoraisedobeforeoitobyotheolandoownersowhooareonotosatisfiedowithotheo determinationoofotheocompensationounderoSectiono10(d)oofotheoTelegraphoAct,o 1885.oo o o Beforeoadoptingoanyoparticularouniformoyardstickoforoassessmento ofocompensation,oitohasobecomeonecessaryoforothisoCourtotooexamineoasotootheo existenceo ofo anyo othero circumstances/parameterso prescribedo byo anyo Governmentoforotheopaymentoofocompensationotowardsotheodamagesoinoregardo tooRightoofoWayoforotransmissionolines.oItoisosignificantotoopointooutothatoduringo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-36-theoPoweroMinisters'oConferenceoheldoonoAprilo09oando10,o2015oatoGuwahati,oito wasodecidedotooconstituteoaoCommitteeounderotheoChairmanshipoofotheoSpecialo Secretary,oMinistryoofoPowerotooanalyzeotheoissuesorelatingotootheoRightoofoWayo foro layingo ofo transmissiono lineso ino theo countryo ando too suggesto ao uniformo methodologyo foro paymento ofo compensationo ono thiso count.o Theo Ministryo ofo Power,o Governmento ofo Indiao thereaftero constitutedo ao committeeo witho theo representativeso ofo variouso Stateo Governments.o Theo reporto alongwitho itso recommendationsowasosubmittedobyotheosaidoCommittee.oSinceoaodecisionowaso takeno ino theo Powero Ministers'o Conferenceo foro formulatingo ao uniformo methodologyoforopaymentoofocompensation,onumerousoStateoGovernmentsosento theirorepresentatives.oTheoviewsowereosubmittedobyoasomanyoaso16oStates.oTheo GovernmentoofoHaryanaohad,ohowever,ochosenonototoosendoitsorepresentativeooro furnisho anyo commentso thereupon.o However,o theo guidelineso foro paymento ofo compensationotowardsodamagesoinoregardotootheoRightoofoWayoforotransmissiono linesowereocirculatedobyotheoMinistryoofoPower,oGovernmentoofoIndiaotooallotheo States/UnionoTerritories.oTheorecommendationsomadeobyotheoCommitteeoando circulatedovideoMemooNo.3/7/2015oTransmissionodatedo15.10.2015,oreadothus:o "2.o Theo Recommendationso madeo byo theo Committeeo areo herebyo formulatedo ino theo formo ofo followingo guidelineso foro determiningo theo compensationotowardso"damages"oasostipulatedoinoSectiono67oando68oofo theoElectricityoAct,2003oreadoSectiono10oando16oofoIndianoTelegraphoAct,o 1885owhichowillobeoinoadditionotootheocompensationotowardsonormalocropo andotreeodamages.oThisoamountowillobeopayableoonlyoforotransmissiono linesosupportedobyoaotowerobaseoofo66oKVoandoabove,oandonotoforosub-transmissionoandodistributionolinesobelowo66oKC:-o

(i)k Compensationo@o85%oandolandovalueoasodeterminedobyoDistricto MagistrateooroanyootheroauthorityobasedoonoCircleorate/Guidelineo value/Stampo Actorateso forotowerobaseo areao (betweenofourolegs)o impactedoseverelyodueotooinstallationoofotower/pylonostructure:o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-37-

(ii)k Compensationotowardsodiminutionoofolandovalueoinotheowidthoofo RightoofoWayo(RoW)oCorridorodueotoolayingoofotransmissionolineo andoimposingocertainorestrictionowouldobeodecidedobyotheoStatesoaso pero categorization/typeo ofo lando ino differento placeso ofo States,o subjectotooaomaximumoofo15%oofolandovalueoasodeterminedobasedo onoCircleorate/oGuidelineovalue/StampoActorates;o

(iii)k Inoareasowhereolandoowner/ownersohaveobeenooffered/oacceptedo alternateo modeo ofo compensationo byo concernedo corporation/o MunicipalityounderoTransferoDevelopmentoRightso(TDR)opolicyoofo State,otheolicensee/Utilityoshallodepositotheocompensationoamounto aso pero (i)o &o (ii)o aboveo witho theo concernedo Corporation/o Municipality/oLocaloBodyoorotheoStateoGovernment.o

(iv)k Forothisopurpose,otheowidthoofoRoWocorridoroshallonotobeomoreo thanothatoprescribedoinotheotableoatoAnnex-2oandoshallonotobeolesso thanotheowidthodirectlyobelowotheoconductors."o o o o Itohasobeenoapprisedobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespondentso thatotheoPoweroGridoCorporationoofoIndiaohasoalreadyoadoptedotheoaforesaido recommendations/guidelinesoandothatotheoaforesaidoguidelinesoareoapplicableo withorespectotootheotransmissionolinesosupportedobyoaoPoweroBaseoofo66oKVoando aboveoandonotoforosub-transmissionolinesobelowo66oKV.oItoisoalsoopertinentotoo pointooutothatotheodetailsoofotheowidthoofoRoWoasoperoguidelinesoissuedobyotheo MinistryoofoEnvironmentoandoForestodatedo05.05.2014ohadoalsoobeenonoticedobyo theoaforesaidoCommitteeoandotheosameoareoextractedoasounder:oo "1.3oo TheomaximumowidthoofoRoWocorridoroisocirculatedoonotheo basisoofotowerodesign,ospan,oandowindospeed,omaximumosagoofo conductoroandoitsoswingoplusootherorequirementsoofoelectricosafety.o Theo requiremento ofo ROWo foro differento voltageo typeso undero standardoconditionsoisoasofollows:o ROWowidthoforodifferentovoltageoline*o TransmissionoVoltageo WidthoofoRightoofoWayo(ino Meters)o CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-38-66okVo 18o 110okV 22o 132okV 27o 220okV 35o 400okVoS/C 46o 400okVoD/C 46o +/-o500okVoHVDC 52o 765okVoS/Co 64o withodeltaoconfigurationoo 765okVoD/C 67o +/-o800okVoHVDC 69o 1200okV 89o *WidthoofoRightoofoWayoisoasoperotheoMoEFoguidelinesodatedoo o 05.05.2014o(Annex-A)."oo o o o EvenothoughotheonewoElectricityoActowasonotifiedoinotheoyearo2003o whileotheoTelegraphoActohasobeenoinoforceosinceo1885.oHowever,otheoStateoofo Haryanaohasochosenonototoolayodownoanyouniformityoinocomputationoofotheo compensationotootheolandoowners.oThereoisonoovalidoexplanationoororeasonogiveno byotheocounseloforotheorespondentsothatoasotoowhyotheosaidoexerciseohasonotobeeno undertakenoespeciallyowhenotheoStatutoryoSchemeohasobeenoinoforceoforonearlyo oneoandoaohalfocentury.oTheoStateocannotorenderoitsocitizensocluelessoaboutotheiro rightsoandoleaveothemotoofendoforothemselvesoorotooclaimocompensationothrougho differentoagenciesowhatooughtotoohaveobeenoreleasedobyotheoStateovoluntarilyoono theiroownoinitiative.oThisoreflectsogrossoinsensitivityoofotheorespondent-Stateoando itsobureaucracyobeingocarelessotootheoneedsoandosufferingsoofotheopeople.oNoo reasonsohaveoalsoobeenogivenobyotheorespondent-Stateoasotoowhyotheyochoseonoto too submito theiro objections,o ifo any,o too theo recommendationso madeo byo theo CommitteeoconstitutedounderotheoPoweroMinisters'oConference.oTheofailureotoo submitoanyoobjectionsoisosubjectotootwinointerpretation,owhileoitomayomeanothato theoStateodidonotoconsentotootheosameoandoonotheootherohand,oitomayoalsoobeo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-39-construedothatotheoStateohadonooobjectionotootheosame.oNeedlessotoomentionothato theoconferenceoofo2015ointendedotoolayodownoaouniformoguidelineorelatingotoo assessmentoofocompensationoandoallotheoStatesowereoatolibertyotoosendotheiro representativeoand/orocommends.oAsomanyoaso16oStatesohadosubmittedotheiro viewsoonotheoassessmentoofocompensation.oTheorecommendationsomadeobyotheo saidoCommitteeowereoalsoocirculatedothereafterovideomemoodatedo15.10.2015.o Theo saido recommendationso cano beo consideredo aso oneo persuasiveo documento whichoisobeingouniformlyofollowedothroughotheolargeonumberoofoStatesobyotheo GovernmentoofoIndia.oTheosaidorecommendationsothusobeingoalreadyofollowedo byo numerouso othero Stateso ando theo Governmento ofo Indiao highlyo layso downo foundationo ono adoptiono ofo ano objectiveo criteriao foro determinationo ofo compensationounderoSectiono10oofotheoTelegraphoActo1885.oThereoisonooreasono aso too whyo theo aforesaido parameterso thato areo alreadyo beingo followedo beo noto adopted.oTheofailureoofotheoStateoinofilingotheoobjectionsotootheosaidoyardsticko itselfosuggestothatothereowasonothingoadverseotootheorecommendationsomadeobyo theoCommitteeoandohasoapprovedotheosame.oAccordingly,otheorecommendationso madeobyotheoCommitteeoandocirculatedovideomemoodatedo15.10.2015ocanosafelyo beoreliedoforodeterminationoofocompensationobyotheoAuthorities/Courts.oTheo AdditionaloDistrictoJudge,oSonepatothusocommittedonooerroroinoplacingorelianceo onotheoaforesaidocircularoforocomputationoofocompensationopayableotootheolando owners.oHe,ohowever,oadoptedotheoaforesaidocircularopiecemealoandoonlyotootheo extentoofodeterminationoofolandovalueoforotheotowerobaseoareaoonly.oNooreasonso haveo beeno giveno byo theo Addl.o Districto Judge,o Sonepato aso too whyo theo recommendationsooughtonotobeoadoptedoasoaowholeoespeciallyowhenoalloaspectso hadobeenotakenointooconsiderationobyotheosaidoCommittee.oTheoAwardopassedo byotheoAddl.oSessionsoJudge,oSonepatoisoaccordinglyomodifiedotootheoaboveo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-40-extent,o wherebyo theo lando ownerso haveo beeno deniedo compensationo towardso diminutionoofolandovalueoinotheowidthoofoRightoofoWayo(RoW)oCorridorodueotoo layingoofotransmissionolinesoandoimpositionsooforestrictionsobyotheoStateoonotheo utilizationoofotheosaidolandosubjectotooaomaximumoofo15%oofotheolandovalueo determinedo basedo ono theo Circleo Rate/Guidelineso Value)/Stampo Acto Rate.o Hence,o witho ao viewo too bringo alongo uniformityo ino theo computationo ando determinationoofotheocompensationopayableoforodrawingoofotransmissionolines,o thereowouldobeonooillegalityoinoapplyingotheorecommendationsomadeobyotheoo Committeeo ando circulatedo video memoo No.3/7/2015o Transmissiono datedo

15.10.2015oalreadyoextractedoabove.oo o o Theoissueowhichoarisesonextorelatesotoocompensationoagainstotheo allegedolossopertainingotootheoreducedocropoproductionoonoaccountoofomagnetic/o electricofieldoofotheotransmissionolinesoandotheopossibleodamageocausedotootheo humansoasowell.oo o o Ioamoofotheoviewothatothereoisonoosuchotangibleoevidenceoorostudyo availableoonorecordoonotheobasisowhereofoanyosuchodamageocanobeopresumed.o Theoclaimantoisorequiredotooestablishotheodamageobeforeoaocompensationocanobeo claimed.oThereocanobeonoosuchoremoteopresumptionoofolossoorodamage.oInotheo absenceo ofo anyo sucho pero seo admissibleo evidenceo oro undisputedo scientifico research,osuchosubmissionoisoheldotoobeodevoidoofomeritoandodeservesotoobeo disregarded.o Allo othero appurtenanto rightso ando damageso sustainedo wouldo invariablyo beo computedo ino theo compensationo thato iso payableo towardso diminutionoofolandovalueoinotheowidthoofoRoWoCorridorotooaomaximumoofo15%o ofotheolandovalue.oTheorecommendationsowouldobeopresumedotoohaveotakenoallo sucho factorso intoo considerationo whileo recommendingo sucho compensation.o Havingoheldoaffirmativelyoinofavouroofotheolandoowners,oquaotheiroentitlementotoo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-41-seekocompensationoforotheolandoonoaccountoofotowerobaseoareaoasoalsooforotheo RoWoCorridor,otheonextoquestionowhichoneedsotoobeoansweredoisotheorateoato whichotheocompensationoisotoobeodetermined.oo o o Aso regardso theo mattero relatedo too rateo ofo compensationo iso concerned,orelianceohasobeenoplacedoonotheosaleoinstanceso(AnnexuresoP-9,oP-11o ando P-12)o relatingo too theo lando situatedo ino theo adjacento villageo ando iso ato ao distanceo ofo nearlyo 10o acreso fromo theo lando ofo theo petitioner.o Theo sameo are,o therefore,o reflectiveo ofo theo prevailingo marketo rateso ino theo area.o Theo saido instancesopertainotoovillageoLivaspurowhileotheolandoofotheopetitionersoisosituatedo atoVillageoRai,owhichoisomoreodevelopedothanotheosaidoLivaspuroandomoreovero theovillageoLivaspuroisoatoaomoreodistanceofromotheoNationaloCapitaloRegiono thanoVillageoRaioandothatotheolandoofotheopetitionersoisocloserotootheoNationalo Capitalo territory.o Theo saleo instanceso thato haveo beeno reliedo upono byo theo petitionersoinotheoreferenceopetitionobeforeotheoAddl.oDistrictoJudge,oSonepatoareo extractedoasounder:oo Exh.o Dateo ofo Areaoofolandoo Totalo saleo Rateoperoacreo saleodeedo considerationo P-11o 21.07.2006o 5oacreo1okanalo Rs.6,15,00,000/-o Rs.1,20,00,000/-o P-12o 10.04.2007o 1oAcreo7K-2mo Rs.2,24,61,250/-o Rs.1,19,00,000/-o P-9o 09.12.2009o 3oAcreo1K-10mo Rs.6,85,31,250/-o Rs.2,15,00,696/-o o o o Theosaleodeedso(Ex.P-11oandoP-12)opertainotoorevenueoestateoofo VillageoRathdhana,oTehsiloandoDistrictoSonepatowhileotheosaleodeedo(Ex.P-9)o pertainsotootheorevenueoestateoofovillageoLivaspur.oBesides,otheoavermentoraisedo byocounseloforotheopetitionersothatotheoCollectororateoofotheolandoinotheorevenueo estateo ofo villageo Raio waso Rs.1.50o croreso pero acreo duringo theo financialo yearo 2011-12ohasonotobeenocontrovertedobyotheorespondentsoinotheoresponse(s)ofiledo CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-42-byo them.o Theo siteo plano ando theo aks-sijrao aso wello aso theo distanceso reflectedo thereinohaveoalsoonotobeenodisputedobyotheorespondents.oo o o o o o Theolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohaveosubmittedothatotheo guidingovalueoforodeterminationoofocompensation/damagesoatotheorateoofo85%oofo theoCircleorate/theoStampoActorateohasoalsoobeenodeterminedobyotheoDistricto Magistrate.o Theo saido Collectoro rateo haso beeno exhibitedo aso Ex.PW-2/A.o Theo Addl.o Districto Judge,o Sonepato has,o however,o takeno intoo considerationo theo AwardoNo.16odatedo15.03.2013o(Ex.P-15)opassedobyotheoCollectoroforoallokindo ofolandsosituatedoatoVillageoRai,oTehsiloandoDistrictoSonepatoalongwithoothero villagesoatoRs.80olacsoperoacreoandoaccordingly,odeterminedotheoCollectororateoofo landoofovillageoRai,oTehsiloandoDistrictoSonepatoatoRs.85olacsoperoacreoquaotheo agriculturaloland.oTheocompensationodeterminedoisothuso85%oofotheoaforesaido Collectororateoforotheotowerobaseoareao(withinofourolegs)oasostipulatedoinotheo guidelinesoforopaymentoofocompensationotowardsodamages.o o o Whileotheocounseloforotheopetitionersocontendsothatotheolandsoino questionoareosituatedoinocloseovicinityoofotheolandoofotheopetitionersoandothatotheo marketo valueo ofo theo aboveo landso aso reflectedo ino theo saleo deedso hado beeno registeredoinocloseoproximityotootheodrawingoofotransmissionolines,ohence,otheyo shouldohaveobeenotakenoasoaoguidingofactoroforodeterminationoofocompensation.o Itoisofurtherocontendedothatotheosaleodeedo(Ex.P9)owasoexecutedoono19.12.2009o foroanoareaoofomoreothano3oacresoatotheorateoofoRs.2,28,00,000/-operoacre,oando thatoinotheoeventoofoescalationoatotheorateoofo10%operoannumoisogivenoforotheotwoo years,o theo priceo ofo lando wouldo worko outo too Rs.2,58,00,834/-o pero acre.o Theo compensationoforotheoToweroBaseoareaoatotheorateoofo85%othusooughtotoobeo computedoonotheoaforesaidolandovalueoasowelloasoROWoCorridor.oOnotheoothero hand,ocounseloforotheorespondentsosubmittedothatotheovalueoofolandoassessedoato CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-43-Rs.85,00,000/-operoacreoisoalreadyoonotheohigherosideoandooughtotoohaveobeeno reducedo further.o Ito waso alsoo submittedo thato theo reporto ofo theo Localo Commissionero(Ex.P-16)ohadoalsoobeenoputoupobeforeotheotrialoCourtowhicho showedothatotheotransmissionolinesohadonotobeenolaidodownoinotheocentreoofotheo landoofotheopetitionersoorothatotheyocouldohaveoutilizedotheoremainingolandoando alsoothatothereoisonooevidenceotoosuggestotheopercentageoofotheodamageocausedo underotheoROWoCorridor.oItoisocontendedothatotheodrawingoofoTransmissiono Lineo iso ino theo largero publico interesto ando anyo suchoescalationo ino costo wouldo enhanceo theo costo ofo theo projecto whicho wouldo eventuallyo beo requiredo too beo recoveredofromotheoultimateoconsumer.oTheyofurtherosubmitothatotheolandoino questionoisotheoagriculturalolandoandothatoasoperotheolandoacquisitionoAwardo No.16odatedo15.03.20213o(Ex.P-15)opassedobyotheoCollector,otheovalueoofoallo kindsoofolandosituatedoatoVillageoRaioalongwithootherovillagersowasoassessedoaso Rs.80,00,000/-operoacre.oHeosubmitsothatoonceotheovalueoofolandohasoalreadyo beenoassessedoatoRs.80,00,000/-operoacreoasoperotheoAwardodatedo15.03.2013,o thereoisonoooccasionoforodeterminationoofoanyohigherovalueoinotheoyearo2011.oo o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoando haveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoandorecordoavailableoonocaseofileowithotheiro ableoassistance.o o o Insofaroasotheosubmissionoofolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveo respondentsotootheoeffectothatotheovalueoofotheolandoisolessothanoRs.80,00,000/-o peroacreobyoplacingorelianceoonotheoAwardodatedo15.03.2013oisoconcerned,oIoamo noto inclinedo too accepto theo aforesaido documento aso theo soleo ando exclusiveo documentoforodeterminationoofovalueoofotheoland.oItoisoworthwhileotoomentiono hereino thato theo aforesaido Awardo waso passedo ono 15.03.2013o ando aso pero theo provisionsoofoerstwhileoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894otheomarketovalueoundero CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-44-Sectiono23(i)(A)oofotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894owasotoobeodeterminedoasoono theodateoofonotificationoissuedounderoSectiono4oofotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o 1894.oHence,oevenothoughotheoAwardomayohaveobeenopassedoono15.03.2013,o however,oitoisoreflectiveoofotheoprice,owhichowasoassessedoasoonotheodateoofo issuanceoofonotificationounderoSectiono4oofotheoLandoAcquisitionoAct,o1894.o Theoburdenowasocastouponotheorespondentsotooleadosuchoevidenceoregardingotheo notificationo issuedo byo theo respondent-Stateo undero Sectiono 4o ofo theo Lando AcquisitionoAct,o1894.oBesides,oitohasoalsoonotobeenopointedooutothatoasotoo whetherotheoaforesaidoAwardoNo.16odatedo15.03.2013owasotheosubjectomatteroofo anyochallengeobeforeotheoReferenceoCourtoandoasotoowhatocompensationowaso thereaftero awardedo byo theo Referenceo Court.o Theo aforesaido document,o thus,o cannotobeoconstruedoasotheosoleocriteriaoforodeterminationoofomarketovalue.oTheo burdeno layso upono theo respondents,o whoo hado placedo relianceo upono theo saido document,otooestablishothatotheoaforesaidovalueohasobecomeofinaloandobindingo ando thato thereo iso noo othero pendingo disputeo quao theo assessmento ofo theo compensation.o o o TheoprovisionsoofoSectiono10(d)oofotheoTelegraphoAct,o1885oreferso too entitlemento ofo ao landownero too theo compensationo ando theo guidelineso foro paymentoofocompensationotowardsodamagesocirculatedoono15.10.2015oprovideo determinationoofolandovalueobyotheoDistrictoMagistrateooroanyootheroauthorityo basedo ono Circleo Rate/Guidelineo Value/Stampo Acto Rate.o Onceo theo aforesaido recommendationso haveo beeno recordedo aso uniformo guidingo criteriao foro determinationoofolandovalue,otheosameoisothusorequiredotoobeoassessedoatotheo circleorateoitself.oSinceotheocircleorateoofovillageoRaioinotheopresentocaseohadobeeno fixedoatoRs.1.50oCroreoperoacreoandotheosaidospecificoavermentohadoalsoonoto beenodisputedobyotheorespondentsowhileofilingotheiroresponse(s),otheoaforesaido CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-45-yardsticko recommendedo foro theo abovesaido guidelineo iso thuso orderedo too beo adoptedoinotheopresentocaseoasowell.oTheoderivedorateoonotheostrengthoofotheosaleo deedo(Ex.P9)othusowouldonotobeoaosafeocriterionotoofollowoespeciallyowhenoao uniformomethodologyoofocircleorateohasobeenorecommendedobyotheoCommitteeo ando specificallyo circulatedo byo theo Governmento ofo India.o Hence,o theo compensationoisorequiredotoobeocomputedoaccordingotootheoabovesaidolandovalueo foroaotowerobaseoareao(withinofourolegs)oatotheorateoofo85%oofotheolandovalue.o TheoAwardopassedobyotheoAdditionaloDistrictoJudgeoisothusomodifiedotootheo aboveoextentoquaotheolandovalueoforotheotowerobaseoareao(withinofourolegs)oando theo valueo ofo theo lando iso increasedo fromo Rs.85,00,000/-o pero acreo too Rs.1,50,00,000/-operoacre.o o o Theonextoquestionowhichothusoarisesorelatesotootheocompensationo towardso diminutiono ofo lando valueo ino theo widtho ofo ROWo Corridor.o Theo recommendationomay,ovideoguidelinesocirculatedoono15.10.2015,oprovideoforoao maximumo compensationo towardso diminutiono ofo lando valueo ino theo widtho ofo ROWoCorridorotootheoextentoofo15%oofotheolandovalueoasodeterminedoaccordingo tootheocircleorate.oo o o Aso pero documento (Ex.P1/P)o reliedo upono byo theo petitionerso ando provedobyotheoPW1-oJaioRam,oPatwari,otheocompensationoofo10%oofotheomarketo valueo waso paido too theo lando ownerso foro Naturalo Gaso Pipelineo Projecto fromo Bawanao (U.P.)o too Nangal,o Punjabo byo theo Deputyo Commissioner,o Ambala.o WhileoAmbalaoisocloserotootheoregionalocapital,otheolandoofopetitionersowouldobeo equi-distantotootheoNationaloCapital.oThereoareoaolotoofodevelopmentsowhichoareo goingo ono ino adjacento areao ando aroundo theo lando ino questiono includingo theo industrialosectorofloatedobyotheoHSIDCoasowelloasotheoadjacentoeducationalocityo andootheroprojects.oBeingocloserotootheoNationaloCapitaloandowithinotheoNCR,oito CWP-21878-2017oando8oconnectedocaseso o-46-iso ao largelyo potentialo zoneo ando ifo 10%o haso beeno awardedo byo theo Lando AcquisitionoCollector,oAmbalaounderotheoNaturaloGasoPipelinesoProject,otheno theodiminutionoofovalue,odamageocausedotootheolandoownersoinosuchoaohighlyo potentialozoneohasotoobeoconstruedoasomuchomore.oAccordingly,o15%oofotheolando value,oasodeterminedoaboveobasedoonotheoundisputedocircleorateocirculatedoforo theoyearo2011-12o(Ex.PW2/A)oprovedobyoPW2onamelyoKuldeep,oClerk,oHRCo Branch,oisoawardedoinofavouroofotheolandoowners.oo o o Accordingly,otheopetitionsofiledobyotheolandoownersoareothusopartlyo allowed.oTheolandoownersoareoheldoentitledotoocompensationoatotheorateoofo85%o ofotheoCollectoroRate/CircleoRateoofoRs.1.5ocroreoperoacreoalongwithointerestoato theorateoofo8%operoannumoforotheotowerobaseoareao(withinofourolegs).oTheolando ownerso shallo alsoo beo entitledo too compensationo ato theo rateo ofo 15%o towardso diminutiono ofo lando valueo ino theo widtho ofo ROWo Corridoro dueo too layingo ofo transmissionolinesoandoimpositionooforestrictionsoonotheoutilizationoofotheolandoato theoaboveosaidorateoi.e.oRs.1.5ocroreoperoacreoalongwithointeresto@o8%opero annum.oTheodiminutionovalueoofoROWoCorridoroshalloalsoobeoundertakenoino termsoofotheorecommendationsomadeobyotheoCommitteeoandocirculatedobyotheo MinistryoofoPower,oGovernmentoofoIndiaodatedo15.10.2015.o o o Ono theo othero hand,o theo petitionso filedo byo theo respondents-TransmissionoLicenseeochallengingotheoaforesaidojudgmentopassedobyotheoAddl.o Districto Judge,o Sonepato foro seekingo reductiono ino theo compensationo stando dismissedoaccordingly.o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o

24.02.2023o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooJUDGEo rajendero o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oYes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :oYes/Noo