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Issues Involved:
1. Entitlement for compensation awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer. 2. Application of res judicata principles. 3. Admissibility and binding nature of previous judgments. 4. Procedural irregularities and right to fair trial. Summary: Issue 1: Entitlement for Compensation The High Court addressed the entitlement for compensation concerning land acquired for a reservoir and pump house. The Land Acquisition Officer (L.A.O.) awarded Rs. 20,737/- for the acquired land, but ownership disputes led to a reference u/s 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Issue 2: Application of Res Judicata Principles The Reference Court relied on a previous judgment (L.A. Case No. 19 of 1989) which determined that the property in question belonged to the Manoramabai Rane group. This judgment was upheld in First Appeal No. 116 of 1997 and Letters Patent Appeal No. 15 of 2000. The Court applied the principle of res judicata, referencing "Ramprakash Vs. Charan Kaur and another" (AIR 1997 SC 3760), asserting that findings in one suit, if unappealed, bar appeals in connected suits. Issue 3: Admissibility and Binding Nature of Previous Judgments The Court noted that the judgment in L.A. Case No. 19 of 1989, upheld in subsequent appeals, was binding. The Sanyogita Rane group argued that the pending Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court put the judgment in jeopardy, but the Court held that without a stay, the judgment remained effective and binding. Issue 4: Procedural Irregularities and Right to Fair Trial The Sanyogita Rane group contended that the Reference Court erred by not recording evidence and deciding the case based on an application (Exhibit 15) without proper trial. The Court observed that the parties had opportunities to contest and object but chose not to. The Court emphasized that the absence of objections and the finality of previous judgments justified the Reference Court's reliance on earlier findings. Conclusion: The High Court dismissed both the appeal and the cross-objection, affirming the Reference Court's decision to award the entire compensation to the Manoramabai Rane group. The judgment underscored the binding nature of previous judgments and the application of res judicata principles, while also addressing procedural fairness and the finality of legal determinations.
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