IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH:: HYDERABAD TUESDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF MARCH, TWO THOUSAND AND TEN Present: HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE A.GOPAL REDDY AND HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G.V.SEETHAPATHY A.S.No.2306 of 1999 Between: The State through Land Acquisition Officer-cum- Revenue Divisional Officer, Medak. … Appellant And: A.Vittal Rao and others … Respondents HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE A. GOPAL REDDY AND HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G.V.SEETHAPATHY A.S. No.2306 OF 1999 JUDGMENT: (Per Hon’ble Sri Justice A. Gopal Reddy) This appeal, under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 by the State, through the Land Acquisition Officer-cum-Revenue Divisional officer, Medak, is directed against the order dated 20-04-1999 in O.P.No.16 of 1994, on the file of the Senior Civil Judge, Medak, questioning the enhancement of compensation. 2. An extent of Ac.2-28½ gts of land belonging to the respondents/claimants was acquired by the Government through notification issued under Section 4(1) of the Act published in A.P. Gazette dated 10-06- 1991. Possession of the property was taken on 01-06- 1989. The Land Acquisition Officer passed an award on 31-03-1994 fixing the market value of the acquired land at Rs.4,000/- per acre. When the claimants sought reference of the matter to the Court Civil Court, the matter was referred to the Civil Court under Section 18 of the Act. The learned Senior Civil Judge, by the impugned order, enhanced the compensation from Rs.4,000/- to Rs.15,000/- per acre, following the judgment in O.P.No.53 of 1987 on its file dated 16-02-1989, whereby the reference Court fixed the market value at Rs.15,000/- per acre and the same was confirmed by this Court in A.S.No.1143 of 1990 by order dated 25-06-1998, marked as Ex.A-5. In view of the same, we do not see any merit in the appeal, filed questioning the enhancement of compensation. 3. The learned Government Pleader for Appeals has rightly contended that since possession was taken prior to issuance of notification, the claimants are not entitled to interest from the date of taking such possession, but they are entitled to interest only from the date of issuance of Section 4(1) notification. 4. We accordingly set aside the order insofar as award of interest from the date of taking possession and confine the same from the date of issuance of Section 4(1) notification i.e., 10-06-1991 at 9% per annum for a period of one year and thereafter at 15% per annum on the enhanced compensation, including additional market value and solatium. 5. The appeal is accordingly allowed-in-part. There shall be no order as to costs. _________________ A. GOPAL REDDY, J. ____________________ G.V.SEETHAPATHY, J. Dated 30th March, 2010. Lrkm.