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SHRI NASHIK PANCHAVATI PANJARPOL TRUST AND ORS. versus THE CHAIRMAN AND ANR.

Citation: [2023] 11 S.C.R. 594 · Decided: 22-08-2023 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: BELA M. TRIVEDI · Disposal: Appeal(s) allowed

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Judgment (excerpt)

[2023] 11 S.C.R. 594 : 2023 INSC 750
594
CASE DETAILS
SHRI NASHIK PANCHAVATI PANJARPOL TRUST AND ORS.
v.
THE CHAIRMAN AND ANR.
(Civil Appeal No. 2857 of 2011)
AUGUST 22, 2023
[BELA M. TRIVEDI AND DIPANKAR DATTA, JJ.]
HEADNOTES
Issue for consideration: Award was passed by the Reference Court 
determining the amount of additional compensation to be paid to the 
appellant-trust. High Court whether justifi ed in setting aside the award 
and remanding the matter to decide as to whether the Reference made was 
within the limitation as per s.18, Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and decide 
the Reference afresh.
Land Acquisition Act, 1894—s.18–Application made by the 
appelant-trust seeking reference, if was beyond the period of limitation 
prescribed u/s. 18 or not in consonance with the consent terms arrived 
at between the parties:
Held: In view of the proviso to s.18, every application to the Collector 
seeking reference u/s.18 is required to be made within the time limit 
prescribed in the proviso thereto – However, in the instant case, the parties 
having entered into the consent terms on 20.10.1997 after the award u/s.11 
was made on 12.01.1996, and the respondent having specifi cally agreed to 
pay the compensation awarded u/s.11 and take over the vacant and peaceful 
possession of the lands in question from the appellant as also having agreed 
to make reference to the District Court for the determination of market 
value of the said lands as on 17.12.1994, it did not lie in the mouth of the 
respondent- Committee to say that the application made by the appellant-
trust seeking reference to the District Court was beyond the period of 
limitation prescribed u/s.18 or was not in consonance with the consent 
595
terms arrived at between the parties – Since the consent terms as well as the 
directions contained in the order of High Court were silent as to within what 
period the appellant should make application to the respondent-Collector 
seeking Reference u/s.18, the respondent-Committee taking undue advantage 
of such ambiguity in the consent terms, raised the issue of limitation before 
the Reference Court – Reference Court rightly held that the Reference 
was fi led with the Collector within the period of limitation as per the 
order passed by the High Court – High Court erred in interfering with 
the said well-reasoned fi ndings and in setting aside the entire award and 
remanding the matter back to the Reference Court for deciding it afresh 
– Impugned judgments passed by the High Court ex facie erroneous, set 
aside.[Paras 7 and 9]
Interpretation of Statutes – Doctrine of Harmonious 
Construction:
Held: As per the rules of doctrine of harmonious construction, the 
document has to be read as a whole and in its totality – If there is any 
ambiguity either patent or latent, in any of the clauses of the document, 
the Courts should interpret such clause in such manner which is consistent 
with the other clauses and with the purpose and intent of the parties 
executing it.[Para 8]
OTHER CASE DETAILS INCLUDING IMPUGNED 
ORDER AND APPEARANCES
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 2857 of 
2011
From the Judgment and Order dated 23.09.2009 of the High Court 
of Bombay in FA No. 1447 of 2006.
With
Civil Appeal No. 2858 of 2011.
Appearances:
B. H. Marlapalle, Sr. Adv., Anil Ahuja, Ajit Pravin Wagh, Avinish 
Saurabh, Saurabh Kumar, Preshit Vilas Surshe, Advs. for the Appellants.
SHRI NASHIK PANCHAVATI PANJARPOL TRUST AND ORS. v. 
THE CHAIRMAN AND ANR. 
596
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2023] 11 S.C.R.
Parag P. Tripathi, Sr. Adv., M. Y. Deshmukh, Ms. Manjeet Kirpal, 
Ms. Adviteeya Sharma, Ms. Mishika Bajpai, Sachin Patil, Ms. Yugandhara 
Pawar Jha, Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, Bharat 
Bagla, Sourav Singh, Aditya Krishna, Advs. for the Respondents.
JUDGMENT / ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT
JUDGMENT
BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.
1. The Respondent no. 1- Market Committee had preferred two First 
Appeals being Nos. 1447 of 2006 and 1490 of 2006 before the High Court 
of Judicature at Bombay, challenging the award dated 07.03.2006 passed 
by the II Adhoc Additional District Judge, Nashik (hereinafter referred to as 
‘the Reference Court’) in Land Reference No. 525 of 1997. The High Court 
vide the impugned judgment and order dated 23.09.2009 allowed the First 
Appeal No. 1447 of 2006 and set aside the award dated 07.03.2006 passed 
by the Reference Court, and remanded the matter to the Reference Court 
to decide the question as t

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