A. VISWANATHA PILLAI AND ORS. vs SPECIAL TAHSILDAR FOR LAND ACQUISITIONNO. IV AND ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, when one coparcener seeks a reference for enhanced compensation, all coparceners are entitled to compensation pro-rata according to their shares, even if not all co-owners expressly requested the reference. The Court found that the lower courts erred in denying the appellants their share of the enhanced compensation, as the reference made by one brother implicitly included the claims of all coparceners. The appeals were allowed, and the appellants were entitled to their respective shares of the enhanced award with solatium and interest.