( 1 ) fast13557.10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13557 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7952 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Mohan Rangnath Bhong .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13938 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7954 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Balaji Damodhar Patil .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13909 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7956 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Sidram Sadhu Mane .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13932 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7958 OF 2010 ( 2 ) fast13557.10 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Chandrasen Narayan Machave .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13898 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7960 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Hanmant Ramchandra Mane (died) LRs & Anr. .. Respondents WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13903 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7962 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Gundiba Sadashiv Mane .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13736 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7964 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Bali Vithoba Bhong .. Respondents ( 3 ) fast13557.10 WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13943 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7966 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Limbraj Vishwambhar Bhong .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13883 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7968 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Laxman Sambhaji Jagtap & Anr. .. Respondents WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13876 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7970 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Raghunath Rangnath Bhong .. Respondents WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13733 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7972 OF 2010 ( 4 ) fast13557.10 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Pandurang Dasu Jagtap .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13926 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7974 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Bhagwan Keshav Bhong .. Respondent WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13914 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7976 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Bapu Daula Shinde .. Respondents WITH FIRST APPEAL ST. NO. 13920 OF 2010 WITH CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 7978 OF 2010 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. .. Appellants Versus Janardhan Narayan Machave .. Respondent ( 5 ) fast13557.10 Mr. K.S. Patil, A.G.P. for the appellant/State. CORAM : R.M. BORDE, J. DATED : 01.08.2011 P.C. :- 1. These are the appeals presented by the State raising exception to the judgment and award passed by the Adhoc District Judge-3, Latur, in Land Acquisition Reference No. 409 of 2000 and other companion reference applications decided on 05.04.2008. 2. The agricultural lands belonging to the respondents /original claimants were acquired for construction of percolation tank at village Jaiphal, Tal. Ausa, Dist. Latur. The Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was published on 10.02.1995 and after following procedure prescribed under the Act, the aware came to be passed on 14.07.1998. The Land Acquisition Officer offered compensation at the rate of Rs. 290/- per R in respect of the acquired lands. The claimants being dissatisfied with the amount of ( 6 ) fast13557.10 compensation offered by the Land Acquisition Officer, tendered separate application requiring the authority to refer the matter to the Civil Court for determination of market value of the acquired lands. The claimants claimed compensation at the rate of Rs. 1,50,000/- per hectare i.e. Rs. 60,000/- per acre. 3. In order to substantiate their claims, the claimants have placed reliance on the oral as well as documentary evidence in the form of comparable sale instances and the copies of the judgment delivered in reference applications in respect of acquisition of the lands in the near vicinity. Exh.74, 75 and 76 are the copies of sale-deed dated 09.10.1992. 31.03.1993 and 06.07.1995. In the first sale transaction an area to the extent of 99 R out of Gat No. 63 has been sold for consideration of Rs. 1,50,000/- from village Ghugi. The second sale transaction is in respect of land Survey No.130 to the extent of 1 H 10 R, which has been sold for consideration of Rs. 90,000/-. The land is situated at village Borphal. It is observed by the Court that the village Ghugi and Jaiphal are adjoining villages and as such ( 7 ) fast13557.10 the sale transaction pertaining to the lands situated at village Ghugi are relevant for consideration. Considering the evidence in the form of sale instance and considering the fact that the lands covered by the sale instances are similar in quality and fertility, the Reference Court prescribed the value of the property at the rate of Rs. 1000/- per R for non-irrigated land and Rs. 1300/- per R for irrigated land. 4. On perusal of the judgment and award passed by the Reference Court and on consideration of copies of evidence placed for perusal before me by learned A.G.P. for the State while arguing the appeals, I am convinced that the approach of the Reference Court is reasonable and proper. The enhancement of amount of compensation awarded by the Reference Court is quite moderate and the findings in respect of market value are based on evidence produced by the claimants before the Reference Court. 5. Considering the facts and circumstances, no interference is called for in the appeals. The appeals are devoid of substance and hence stand dismissed. ( 8 ) fast13557.10 6. All pending Civil Applications stand dismissed. [R.M. BORDE, J.] snk/2011/AUG11/fast13557.10