A.V.Subramanian vs Uoi
- SCC(2017) 12 SCC 693
- Neutral2017 INSC 40
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where multiple claimants receive different compensation in a land acquisition case for lands of the same nature acquired under the same notification for the same purpose, and where subsequent authoritative pronouncement of this Court on the merits becomes available, procedural and technical defects in the earlier adjudication may be disregarded in order to give complete justice by extending the benefit of the later judgment to all similarly situated claimants.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 303 OF 2017 (ARISING FROM SLP(C) NO. 5108 OF 2014)
A.V. SUBRAMANIAN APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA AND ANR RESPONDENT(S)
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.
Leave granted.
2. Aggrieved by the award passed by the Additional
District Judge, Karaikal on 24.1.1994 in L.A.O.P.
No.38/1993, the Union of India approached the High
Court in A.S.583 of 1994. The said appeal was partly
allowed by the judgment dated 23.02.2001, reducing
the compensation.
3. Aggrieved, the appellant approached this Court in
SLP(C) No.16046 of 2001, which was dismissed in
limine - “Special leave petition is dismissed,” by
order dated 28.09.2001. Since, the dismissal was not
on merits, the appellant filed a review petition Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by NARENDRA PRASAD Date: 2017.03.08 before the High Court on 20.11.2001. When the said 11:32:42 IST Reason: 1 review petition was pending before the High Court, in
a connected matter, this Court in Civil Appeal
No.1500 of 2004 by judgment dated 08.11.2005 titled
Pattammal & Others. v. Union of India and Another,
reported in (2005) 13 SCC 63, allowed the appeal and
restored the award passed by the Reference Court.
The appellant contended before the High Court that in
view of the subsequent judgment by this Court and in
view of the fact that the review petition was already
pending before the High Court, the appellant should
get the benefit of the judgment dated 08.11.2005 of
this Court. It was not in dispute that the
acquisition in both the cases was pursuant to the
same notification and for the same purpose and the
acquired lands were similar. However, the High Court
declined to review the judgment. Thus, aggrieved,
the appellant is before this Court.
4. As rightly submitted by Shri Venkatramani,
learned senior counsel appearing for the Union of
India, unless the order passed by this Court in the
special leave petition, which rendered in dismissal
on 28.09.2001, is reviewed and unless there is also a
challenge thereafter to the original order passed by
the High Court dated 23.02.2001, the appellant cannot
2 succeed.
5. We may not have any quarrel with the legal
position. However, having regard to the factual
position that in a land acquisition case the
claimants have received different amounts by way of
compensation and that too in respect of the lands of
same nature covered by the same notification and
acquired for the same purpose, we are of the view
that all these technicalities should give way since
they are procedural and which can still be cured. We
do not think that the appellant should be driven to
such steps having regard to the factual position we
have referred to above.
6. Therefore, we are of the view that the lis should
be given a quietus. For doing complete justice, we
hold that the appellant shall be entitled to the
benefit of the judgment of this court dated
08.11.2005 passed in Civil Appeal No.1500 of 2004.
7. In case the appellant has already received
payments, needless to say that the obligation under
the security offered before the High Court will stand
discharged.
8. In view of the above, the impugned order is set
aside and the appeal is allowed, as above.
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9. There shall be no order as to costs.
10. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand
disposed of.
.......................J. [KURIAN JOSEPH]
.......................J. [A.M. KHANWILKAR] NEW DELHI;
JANUARY 10, 2017.
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ITEM NO.9 COURT NO.7 SECTION XII
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 5108/2014 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 12/06/2013 in RA No. 74/2012 passed by the High Court of Madras)
A.V.SUBRAMANIAN PETITIONER(S) VERSUS UNION OF INDIA AND ANR RESPONDENT(S) (with interim relief and office report)
Date : 10/01/2017 This petition was called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR
For Petitioner(s) Mr. R. Basant,Sr.Adv.
Mrs. Mahalakshmi Pavani,Sr.Adv. Mr. G. Balaji,Adv.
Mr. Shiva Vijay Kumar,Adv.
Mr. Jagan,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. R. Venkatramani,Sr.Adv.
Mr. V.G. Pragasam,Adv.
Mr. S. Prabu Ramasubramanian,Adv. Mrs. Neelam Singh,Adv.
Mr. Sameer Singh,Adv.
Mr. Yashraj Singh Bundela,Adv.
Mr. Sarfraz Ahmed Siddiqui,Adv. Ms. Satya Siddiqui,Adv.
Mr. Shyam Singh Chauhan,Adv.
Mr. Raj B. Yadav,Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Leave granted.
The appeal is allowed, in terms of the signed judgment.
(NARENDRA PRASAD) (RENU DIWAN) COURT MASTER ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
(Signed 'Non-Reportable' Judgment is placed on the file)
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