* 1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION FIRST APPEAL NO. 1265 OF 1988 The Special Land Acquisition Officer Metro Centre-1, Panvel Tal: Panvel, Dist-Raigad .....Appellant (Orig.Opponent) V/s. Madhav Bhagwant Shringarpure ....Respondent (Orig.Claimant) ======= Mr.S.N.Gawade, adv.for appellant. Mr.S.M.Kamble, adv.for respondent. CORAM: SMT.R.P.SONDURBALDOTA, J. DATED: 29TH APRIL, 2009. P.C. : 1. This appeal is preferred by the State of Maharashtra to challenge the judgment and award dated 31st Marchm 1987 passed by the learned Civil Judge Senior Division, Alibaug on a reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act. The land in question is located at * 2 * Village and Taluka-Panvel, District-Raigad. It was acquired for the New Bombay Project. The Special Land Acquisition Officer had awarded compensation at the rate of Rs.6/- per sq.meter. On the reference filed against the award, the respondents had claimed compensation at the rate of Rs.20/- per sq.meter. The reference court considered all the aspects of the matter and awarded compensation at the rate of Rs.12/- per sq.meter. 2. Heard both the sides. Both have invited my attention to the decision of the Division Bench of this court in the case of Nama Padu Hudar & Ors. V/s.The State of Maharashtra reported in 1993(3) Bom.C.R.page 54. By the said decision, the Division Bench had considered the Awards made under Section 18 of the said Act in respect of the lands pertaining to Village Panvel and Kamothe that were notified for acquisition on 3rd February, 1970 for the New Bombay Project. The decision of the Division Bench has attained finality. The Division Bench categorized the lands from the two villages into five categories depending upon its distance from the National Highway and Zilla Parishad road. The minimum rate of compensation awarded is of Rs.20/- per sq.meter. This is much more than the rate * 3 * fixed by the impugned judgment. In that circumstance, no interference is called for with the impugned judgment and award. Hence, the First Appeal is dismissed. The State of Maharashtra to pay cost of the appeal to the respondents- claimants. [SMT.R.P.SONDURBALDOTA, J]