K. KRISHNA REDDY AND ORS. vs SPECIAL DY. COLLECTOR, LAND ACQUISITION UNIT II,LMD KARIMNA

The Supreme Court held that under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, sections 4(1) and 18, compensation must be awarded without delay, and remand should not be exercised lightly. The Court set aside the High Court's remand order and determined that compensation of Rs.25,000 per acre was just, along with a mandatory solatium of 30% and statutory interest. The Court emphasized that the appellate court should strive to mitigate hardships for claimants, particularly small holders and agriculturists, and should only remand cases where evidence is wholly lacking.