STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. BALWANT SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment shall dispose of Regular First Appeals No. 217 and 218 of 1980, which have been filed by the State of Punjab against the awards dated 20.10.1987 passed by the Additional District Judge, Amritsar, vide which compensation for the acquired land of the respondent-claimants has been determined at the flat rate of Rs. 24,000/- per killa. They have also been awarded solatium 30% and the benefit of enhanced interest 9% per annum for the first year and 15% per annum from the subsequent years, under Sections 23(2) and 28 of the Act.

(2.) VIDE notification dated 11.1.1982 issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'), the State of Punjab acquired 0.34 acres of land, situated in Village Khawaspur, Tehsil Tarn Taran, District Amritsar, for widening the road leading from Khadoor Sahib to Goindwal. The Land Acquisition Collector, vide his award dated 30.9.1995, determined the market value of the acquired land a Rs. 19,000/- per acre.

(3.) AFTER hearing the arguments of learned counsel for the appellant State, I do not find any infirmity or illegality in the determination of the market value at the aforesaid rate by the learned Reference Court. The compensation awarded to the respondents-claimants at the aforesaid rate was a just and reasonable compensation. Learned counsel for the appellant could not point out any material or evidence on record on the basis of which the market value of the acquired land, as determined by the learned Reference Court, could have been reduced.