Srinagar, July 3 -- The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld a civil court's decision directing the Union of India to compensate landowners in Sopore whose agricultural land was allegedly rendered inaccessible due to Army deployment, while clarifying the manner in which the compensation is to be calculated.

Justice Sanjay Dhar, dismissing the Union of India's appeal, upheld the judgment of the Additional District Judge, Sopore, dated June 20, 2020, with a modification. The High Court held that while rent is payable for the land formally requisitioned by the Army, compensation at the same rate is payable for the remaining land that became unusable because of security restrictions.

The dispute concerns 23 kanals and 14 marl...