IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2030 of 2007 Between: 1 Baddala Venkataiah, S/o.Santaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 2 Nalla Chennaiah, S/o.Pedda Chennaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 3 Nalla Pedda Chennaiah, S/o.Chinna Chennaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 4 Nalla Chinna Chennaiah, S/o.Chennaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 5 Sollu Penchalaiah, S/o.Penchalaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 6 Baddala Venkatesh, S/o.Palaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 7 Baddala Rajamma, W/o.Prasad R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 8 Meruva Pullaiah, S/o.Kondaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 9 Meruva Kondaiah died his L.R. Son M.Sivaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 10 Dasari Venkataiah, S/o.Venkata Subbaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 11 Baddala Nadipi Venkataiah died his L.R. wife Kondamma R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 12 Baddala Chinna Venkataiah, S/o.Nadipi Venkataiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 13 Palem Atchamma, W/o.Lakshumaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 14 Baddala Venkatesh, S/o.Pedda Venkataiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 15 Baddala Chinna Venkataiah, S/o. Pedda Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 16 Baddala Pedda Venkataiah Died his L.R. Wife Subbamma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 17 Nalla Usaiah Died his LR Wife Nalla Venkatamma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 18 Nalla Venkatamma, W/o. Late Kesiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 19 Nalla Chendrayudu, S/o. Late Kesaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 20 Davanam Ankamma, W/o. Obulasubbaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 21 Netagani Ramanaiah, S/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 22 Netagani Gangamma, W/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 23 Baddala Narasimhulu, S/o. Chinna Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 24 Baddala Mangamma, W/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 25 Gummala Subbaiah, S/o. Krishnaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 26 Beedam Naghabhushanam, S/o. Yellaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 27 Myla Venkatasubbaiah, S/o. Pullaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 28 Myla Pullaiah Died His L.R. Wife Chinnakka, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 29 Madana Narasimhulu, S/o. Rosaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 30 Nalla Chenna Kesaiah, S/o. Pedda Karraiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 31 Netagani Venkataiah, S/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 32 Nalla Venkata Subbamma, W/o. Balaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 33 Kotapati Narasaiah, S/o. Narasaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 34 Kotapati Penchalaiah, S/o. Narasaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 35 Nalla Pedda Chennaiah, S/o. Chinna Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 36 Baddala Chinna Venkataiah, S/o. Thirumalaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 37 Valluru Ramaniah, S/o. Ramaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 38 Nalla Pedda Chennaiah, S/o. Balaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 39 Nalla Balaiah, S/o. Pedda Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 40 Nalla Gopamma, W/o. Pedda Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 41 Nalla Peddaiah, S/o. Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 42 Indla Subbaiah, S/o. Seshaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 43 Indla Ramaiah, S/o. Seshaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 44 Nalla Kommuchennaiah, S/o. Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 45 Ganganapalli Subbrayudu, S/o. Venkatasubbaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 46 Meruva Munaiah, S/o. Rosaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 47 Nalla Pedda Chennaiah, S/o. Pedda Bungaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 48 Nalla Pedda Chennaiah, S/o. Pedda Mugaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 49 Nalla chennaiah, S/o. Mugaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 50 Nalla Atchamma, W/o. Bungaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 51 Danda Malleswaramma, W/o. Munaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 52 Gummala Nagaiah, Died His L.R. Wife Subbamma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 53 Pallem Krishnaiah, S/o. Gopaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 54 Nethagani Venkatamma, W/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 55 Nakkala Jayamma, W/o. Anjanaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 56 Meruva Gangamma, W/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 57 Meruva Venkatasubbaiah, S/o. Rosaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 58 Meruva Rosaiah died HIs L.R. Wife Venkatamma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 59 Velpula Subbaiah, S/o. Gangaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 60 Nethagani Seshaiah, S/o. Seshaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 61 Nalla Chennaiah, S/o. Chennaiah R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 62 Gummala Lakshumaiah Died His L.R. wife Yellamma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 63 Dona Subbaiah Died His L.R. Wiofe Ayyavaramma, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 64 Palem Obaiah, S/o. Ramaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 65 Baddala Nadipi Venkataiah, S/o. Thirumalaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 66 Ganganapalli Venkataramudu, S/o. Venkatasubbaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 67 Palem Ramanamma, W/o. Obaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 68 Meruva Nagamuni, S/o. Nagaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 69 Baddala Kondamma, W/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 70 Palam Lakshumma, W/o. Anjaneya, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 71 Nethagani Narasimhulu, S/o. Narasaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 72 Baddala Subbamma, W/o. Subbaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 73 Baddala Pedda Venkataiah, S/o. Thirumalaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 74 Baddala Ramanaiah, S/o. Venkataiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 75 Soka Nagaiah, S/o. Chinnaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 76 Palem Obaiah, S/o. Obaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 77 Nalla Chennaiah, S/o. Nadipi Chennaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 78 Baddala Ramakka, W/o. Thirumalaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 79 Ponna Santeaish, S/o. Gangaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 80 Ponna Sriramulu, S/o. Obaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 81 Meruva Mallikarjuna, S/o. Kondaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 82 Bavanasi Obula Subbanna, S/o. Obaiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. 83 Nethagani Chinna Narasimhlu, S/o. Narasiah, R/o.Bandarupalli Village, H/o. Kudumaluru of Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District. ..... PETITIONER(S) AND 1 The Special Deputy Collector (L.A.), Somasila Project, Unit- IV, Rajampet, Kadapa District. 2 The Special Collector (L.A.), Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (G.N.S.S), Sankarapuram, Kadapa District. 3 The District Collector Cum Chairman Empowered Committee Kadapa, Kadapa District. 4 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Secretary, Irrigation and CAD Department, Secretarit, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Aﬃdavit ﬁled herein the High Court will be pleased to to issue any appropriate Writ, Order or direction particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents in not paying the exgratia amount to the 89 ﬁre gutted structures of the Petitioners in-respect of reach NO.II of Bandarupalli, H/o. Kadumuluru Village, Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa District as per P.V. Statement prepared by the respondents dated 30-3-2002 with interest at the rate of 18% per annum together with other beneﬁts as per the Land Acquisition Act, which were paid to the similarly situated persons like that of the Petitionrs, as being illegal arbitrary and vioaltive of Article 14 and 300-A of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to pay the 90 ﬁre gutted structures of the Petitioners in -respect of Reach No.II, in sy.No. 325/1 and Sy.No. 326 of Bandarupalli H/o Kudumulur Village, Vontimitta Mandal, Kadapa Distrtict as per P.V. Statement prepared by respondents dated 30-3-2002 with interest 18% per annum together with other beneﬁtrs as per the and Acquisition Act which were paid to the similarly situated persons like that of the Petitioenrs and pass such other order or orders as this HOn'ble Court may deems ﬁt and proper in the circumstances of the case. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.Y.VENKATASATYAM Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR LAND ACQUISITION The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2030 of 2007 ORDER: The petitioners are the residents of Bandarupalli Village, Vontimitta Mandal, Kapadapa District. They had constructed huts or pendals on the Government land and established their residences. The entire village was acquired for the purpose of Somasila Project. In the notiﬁcation, apart from the land under the occupation of the petitioners, the structures were also mentioned. The petitioners state that the structures were gutted in a ﬁre accident and while paying the ex gratia for the land, the compensation was not paid for the structures. It is also stated that on repeated representations made by them, the value of the gutted structures was estimated and though the actual cost of all the structures was arrived at Rs.40,94,412/-, they were paid only Rs.32,08,359/-. They claim the balance of the amount. The respondents ﬁled a counter aﬃdavit, stating that the authorities of the Roads and Buildings Department have undertaken a scientiﬁc estimation of the structures and the amount arrived at, after giving depreciation, was extended in its entirety to the petitioners. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the respondents. Inasmuch as the lands, on which the petitioners constructed their houses, were held by the Government itself, no compensation was paid to the petitioners and instead, ex gratia was paid to them. It is no doubt true that in the notiﬁcations issued under Sections 4(1) & 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, the structures raised by the petitioners were mentioned. The structures were found to be huts or pendals with grass roof. The petitioners were not paid any compensation for the structures, obviously in view of the fact that nothing existed on the ground, as on the date of verification. The petitioners pleaded that the structures were gutted in a ﬁre accident. Taking this into account, the Special Deputy Collector, Somasila Project, 1st respondent herein, got the matter veriﬁed and estimated. It was found that the cost of the structures belonging to the petitioners is 40,94,412/-. A detailed statement was prepared, giving break up of the estimated value of the structures, the depreciation etc., and ultimately, a sum of Rs.32,08,359/- was paid. The diﬀerence is about Rs.8,00,000/-. In view of the fact that the structures themselves did not exist, it cannot be said that the depreciation of 20% is arbitrary or untenable. The petitioners have already been extended the beneﬁt of ex gratia. Therefore, no relief can be granted to the petitioners. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. It is, however, made clear that in case, the petitioners are otherwise eligible to be granted the house site pattas or ﬁnancial beneﬁt for construction of houses under the existing schemes, their cases shall also be considered, if they ﬁt into the parameters. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 10.09.2008 JSU ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1.2CCs to 2.2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{CTMP} THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 2030 of 2007 Date: 10.09.2008 JSU