Landowners sought 20x money: HC rejects

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed the request for higher compensation from landowners in Kadapa district. The court ruled that landowners could not rely on market value certificates issued later to seek enhanced compensation. The landowners claimed that the market value of their lands should be determined based on their current value, arguing that the government had taken possession of the land in 2008, but the market value certificates were issued in 2010.

However, the court pointed out that the government had taken possession of the land in 2008, and the compensation was paid according to the 2008 prices, not the 2004 prices when the acquisition notification was issued. The court also considered a Supreme Court case where it was held that acquisition compensation can only be determined based on the market value on the date the acquisition notification is issued, except in exceptional circumstances.

Therefore, the high court upheld the trial court's order and dismissed the landowners' appeal for additional compensation.