THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR L.A.A.S.NO.643 OF 2006 DATED 19TH JANUARY, 2011 BETWEEN The Land Acquisition Officer and Special Deputy Collector, L.A. Unit, P.J.P. Gadwal. .…Appellant/Respondent And Hanmanthu …Respondent/Claimant THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR L.A.A.S.NO.643 OF 2006 JUDGMENT: (Per SK,J) This appeal by the State arises out of the Order and Decree dated 26.04.2006 passed by the reference Court of the learned Senior Civil Judge at Gadwal in O.P.No.2 of 2000. By the said Order and Decree, the reference Court enhanced the market value of the acquired land from Rs.36,000/- per acre to Rs.79,875/- per acre. A vast extent of land was acquired by the State for the Priyadarshini Jurala Project. A notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was published in this regard on 25.03.1997. Thereby, an extent of Ac.0.08 guntas belonging to the respondent herein was acquired. By Award No.35/99 dated 29.05.1999, the Land Acquisition Officer fixed the market value of the acquired land of Rs.36,000/- per acre. Dissatisfied therewith, various land owners, including the respondent herein, sought reference under Section 18 of the Act of 1894. The O.Ps. were clubbed together for trial and adjudication and by common order dated 26.04.2006, the reference Court enhanced the market value as aforestated. Hence, this appeal by the State. Before the reference Court, the claimants examined 5 witnesses and marked 35 documents. The State examined one witness and marked the copy of the Award as Ex.B.1. The claimants sought determination of the market value for the acquired garden lands at Rs.1,48,000/- and for dry lands at Rs.80,000/-. The reference Court took into account the fact that Award No.31/87, pertaining to dry lands acquired for the Priyadarshini Jurala Project, was the subject matter of the reference proceedings in O.P.No.19 of 1988 and batch and that the reference Court by Ex.A.3 Judgment dated 29.04.1994 fixed the market value of such land at Rs.45,000/- per acre. This Court confirmed the said determination in appeal under Ex.A.4 Judgment. Ex.A.6 was the certified copy of the order in O.P.No.240 of 1992 and batch whereby the reference Court fixed the market value of dry lands situated in Earladinne Village at Rs.45,000/- per acre. This determination also found confirmation before this Court in Ex.A.7 Judgment. In that view of the matter, the reference Court taking into account the lapse of time since the acquisition leading to Ex.A.6 Judgment, i.e. 10.04.1989 and the present acquisition under notification dated 25.03.1997, effected enhancement at 10% per annum as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court and accordingly arrived at the market value of Rs.79,875/- per acre. As the exercise undertaken by the reference Court was on the basis of its earlier determinations for similarly situated dry lands which found approval by this Court, we find no error on the part of the reference Court in adopting this approach. Further, the reference Court taking due note of the passage of time since the earlier determination of market value, effected enhancement in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court. This process of determination of market value by the reference Court is therefore unassailable on facts and in law. We see no reason to exercise appellate jurisdiction and interfere with the well reasoned order passed by the reference Court. The appeal is devoid of merit and is accordingly dismissed. No costs. _______________________ GODA RAGHURAM, J. ____________________ SANJAY KUMAR, J. 19TH JANUARY, 2011. VGSR