STATE OF HARYANA Vs. GURCHARAN SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal arises from the judgment and decree of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana in RSA No. 1137 of 1970 and batch dated May 21, 1981. An extent of 20 acres 38 cents was notified and published for acquisition in the State Gazette under S. 4 (1) of the Land Acquisition Act on June 22, 1974 for residential colony. The lands are situated in Panchkula, near Chandigarh, as satellite town. The Land Acquisition Collector (for short 'the Collector') awarded the market value in his award dated June 25,1976,10 the Abadi land at the rate of Rs. 12,240/ - per acre and to the Gheir Mumkin land @Rs. 1200/ - per acre. In addition, he also awarded compensation to the fruit bearing trees in the respective appeals as follows: R.F.A. No. 1137 of 1979 = Rs. 1,12,993.50 R.F.A. No. 1138 of 1979 = Rs. 1,56,659.40 R.F.A. No. 1354 of 1979 = Rs. 40,842.00 R.F.A. No. 1355 of 1979 = Rs. 1,65,688.00

(2.) ON reference under S. 18, in his award and decree dated December 12,1978, the Addl. District Judge affirmed the award of the Collector. In other words, he passed nil award. On appeal, the High Court by confirming the market value of the land, enhanced the compensation to the fruit bearing trees by 60% of what was awarded by the Collector and accordingly granted enhanced compensation with statutory benefits. Thus, this appeal by special leave.

(3.) THE High Court, therefore, was right in increasing the compensation to the fruit bearing trees by 60% . We find no force in the contention. It is settled law that the Collector or the Court who determines the compensation for the land as well as fruit bearing trees cannot determine them separately. The compensation is to the value of the acquired land. The market value is determined on the basis of the yield. Thyen necessarily applying suitable multiplier, the compensation need to be awarded. Under no circumstances the Court should allow the compensation on the basis of the nature of the land as well as fruit bearing trees. In other words, market value of the land is determined twice over and one on the basis of the yield go form the fruit bearing trees . The definition in S.3 (a) of the Act. After compensation is determined on the basis of the value of the land from the income applying suitable multiplier, then the trees would be valued only as fire -wood and necessary compensation would be given. In this case, the High Court did not adopt this procedure. We have looked into the figures furnished in the judgment of the High Court of the amount awarded by the Officer himself. He too while determining the compensation at the rate of Rs.12,240/ - per acre on the basis of the yield, the multiplier applied is more than 8 years. Under no circumstances, the multiplier should be more than 8 years multiplier as it is settled law of this court in catena of decisions that when the market value is determined on the basis of the yield from the trees or plantation, 8 years multiplier shall be appropriate multiplier. For agricultural land 12 - years multiplier shall be suitable multiplier.