ABDUL KUDDUS MANDAL vs STATE OF ASSAM

The Supreme Court held that under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, compensation must be awarded for houses standing on acquired land, not just for their removal. The Court found that the High Court erred in denying compensation for the houses, emphasizing that the land acquisition inherently includes the structures on it. The Court upheld the Reference Court's award of compensation for both the land and the houses, thereby reversing the High Court's decision.