if the alignment is now changed and Umra Distributory of Lower Vanna Project stands closed for irrigation, it would affect 1019.34 Hr of land and 635 numbers of farmers would be deprived of the benefits of irrigation. But all the same, the respondents have to be adequately compensated. The amount of Rs.7.5 lakhs, in our view, would be an adequate compensation for the illegality committed by the appellant. Consequently, we direct the appellant to pay Rs.7.5 lakhs to the respondents within the period of two months from today which will settle all the disputes pending between the parties.

Non-Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOs.7222-7223 OF 2012
[Arising out of SLP (Civil) No. 15029-15030 of 2007]

Executive Engineer LVP Division, Wardha …. Appellant
Versus
Maroti Bapurao Auchat & Others …. Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T

K.S. Radhakrishnan, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The first respondent herein filed Regular Civil Suit No.109 of 1995
praying for the grant of permanent injunction against the appellant –
Executive Engineer, Lower Vanna Project Division No.1, Wardha and also for
a direction to restore the land to him. It was alleged that the defendants
had undertaken the construction of the canal of Lower Vanna Project through
the middle portion of the plaintiff’s field, consequently a mandatory
injunction was sought for to restore the land prior to the commencement of
constructing the canal. The plaintiff alleged that the same was done to
favour a nearby land owner so that his land could be saved. The suit was
decreed and the defendants took up the matter in appeal which was dismissed
and the matter was carried to the High Court. The High Court also
dismissed the appeal on merits. The High Court in his order stated as
follows:

“I have carefully perused the documents produced by the
appellant before the first appellate court. The submission made
on behalf of the respondent No.1 that these documents do not
disclose that the Government proposed to construct the canal
through the middle portion of the field of respondent No.1 is
acceptable and correct. Both the Courts have considered the
original plan/map which was received from the custody of the
appellants before the trial court to hold that the appellants
had not proceeded with the construction work of the canal as per
the original map. The Courts have further considered the other
voluminous evidence on record to hold that the plaintiff was
entitled to the grant of permanent and mandatory injunction as
sought for.

As already mentioned hereinabove, the documents placed by
the appellants before the first appellate court merely relate to
the acquisition of 0.7R of land belonging to the
plaintiff/respondent No.1 but, none of the documents show the
location through which the canal was to be constructed as per
the original map.”

3. The High Court also found no substantial question of law arose for
consideration, in our view rightly. The matter came up for hearing before
this Court. This Court passed an order on 9.10.2009 which reads as
follows:

“Petitioner’s counsel seeks four weeks’ time to produce:

1) the plan showing the original sanctioned alignment;

2) the plan showing the actual alignment;

3) the plan superimposing the actual alignment over the sanctioned
alignment to highlight the difference;

4) the photographs of the land;

5) the extent of bifurcated land on either side of canal in survey
No.174;

6) the protective measures proposed by petitioner to ensure that
the unacquired portion of the land can be made cultivable by
avoiding seepage.

It is open to the petitioner to directly make an offer of
Rs.5 lakhs as compensation in lieu of dismantling and fresh
construction of canal without prejudice.”

4. When the matter came up for final hearing, learned counsel appearing
for the appellant brought before us a communication dated 01.08.2012 from
the office of the Executive Engineer, Lower Vanna Canal Division, Wardha,
the operative portion of which reads as follows:

“With reference to above cited subject under caption, it is to
inform you that if the Umra Distributory of Lower Vanna Project
is made close for irrigation @ Survey No. 174 of Shri Maroti
Awachat as per order of the High Court then the 1019.34 Hq. of
land and 635 No. of farmers will be deprived from benefits of
irrigation. Also length of distributory ahead from Survey No.
174 will not be useful for irrigation purpose.”

5. We notice if the alignment is now changed and Umra Distributory of
Lower Vanna Project stands closed for irrigation, it would affect 1019.34
Hr of land and 635 numbers of farmers would be deprived of the benefits of
irrigation. But all the same, the respondents have to be adequately
compensated. The amount of Rs.7.5 lakhs, in our view, would be an adequate
compensation for the illegality committed by the appellant. Consequently,
we direct the appellant to pay Rs.7.5 lakhs to the respondents within the
period of two months from today which will settle all the disputes pending
between the parties. The appeals are disposed of as above. The Judgment
and decree is modified accordingly. The appeals are disposed of with the
above directions with no order as to costs.

……………………………….J.
(K.S. Radhakrishnan)

..………………………………J.
(Dipak Misra)
New Delhi,
October 4, 2012