THE HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE G. ROHINI WRIT PETITION No.22097 of 2010 ORDER: This writ petition is filed seeking a declaration that the award dated Nil.09.2009 made by the first respondent to the extent of not awarding the interest on the enhanced compensation from the date of the notification till the date of the application made under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short ‘the Act’) is arbitrary and illegal. The petitioners claim to be the owners of different extents of land situated in Cherlopalli Village, H/o. Varikunta of Atloor Mandal, Kadapa District. By notification dated 15.11.1995 published under Section 4(1) of the Act, the said lands were acquired for the purpose of foreshore submergence under Somasila Project. By award, dated 05.11.1998, compensation was fixed by the Land Acquisition Officer and paid to all the claimants including the petitioners. Not being satisfied with the quantum of compensation awarded, some of the similarly situated persons, whose lands were also acquired under the same notification, sought reference under Section 18 of the Act. Pursuant thereto, L.A.O.P.No.619 of 2007 on the file of the Court of the Principal District Judge, Rajampeta, Kadapa, was registered, which was subsequently re-numbered as L.A.C.No.107 of 2008 on reference to the District Lok Adalat, Kadapa. By award dated 12.03.2008, the District Lok Adalat granted enhancement of 80% on the market value fixed by the Land Acquisition Officer together with solatium, additional market value and interest. Having come to know of the said award, the petitioners herein made an application on 24.04.2008 under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act for re-determination of the compensation in respect of their lands. Thereafter, the first respondent, by impugned award, dated Nil.09.2009 awarded the same market value that was granted to the claimants in L.A.O.P. No.619 of 2007 (L.A.C.No.107 of 2008). However the first respondent awarded interest only from the date of the application under Section 28-A i.e., 24.04.2008. Aggrieved by the same, the present writ petition is filed contending that the petitioners are entitled to interest from the date of 4(1) Notification as provided under Section 28-A of the Act. A counter-affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents contending that the petitioners are entitled to the statutory benefits and interest from the date of application under Section 28-A of the Act only, and therefore, the impugned award warrants no interference. I have heard the learned counsel for both the parties. The very same question relating to grant of interest while passing an award on an application under Section 28-A of the Act for re-determination of the compensation was considered by this Court in W.P.No.2183 of 2008 and it was held that the petitioners therein were entitled to receive interest and all other statutory benefits in terms of the award passed by the Reference Court and the same was upheld by the Division Bench in W.A.No.1785 of 2008 on 12.02.2009. It is brought to my notice that S.L.P.No.13755 of 2009 preferred by the State was dismissed by the Supreme Court, by order dated 21.08.2009. Therefore, there cannot be any dispute as to the entitlement of the petitioners herein to receive interest in terms of the award passed by the District Lok Adalat, Kadapa in L.A.C.No.107 of 2008, dated 12.03.2008 (L.A.O.P.No.619 of 2007). Accordingly, the impugned award passed by the first respondent, dated Nil.09.2009, is set aside to the extent of awarding interest and it is hereby declared that the petitioners shall be entitled to interest in terms of the award passed by the District Lok Adalat, Kadapa in L.A.C.No.107 of 2008, dated 12.03.2008 (L.A.O.P.No.619 of 2007). The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of with a direction to the respondents to pay the amounts to which the petitioners are entitled to in terms of this order within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. _____________ (G. ROHINI, J) 27th July, 2011 GHN