EXECUTIVE ENGINEER Vs. JANGIR KAUR AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present order will dispose of RFA Nos. 7382 to 7394 of 2013, as all arise out of common acquisition. However, the facts have been extracted from RFA No. 7382 of 2013.

(2.) By filing the present appeal, the Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Patiala, Punjab, is seeking reduction of compensation awarded to the landowners for the acquired land.

(3.) Briefly, the facts of the case are that vide notification dated 29.3.2010, published on 6.4.2010, issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, 'the Act'), State of Punjab sought to acquire the land situated within the revenue estate of village Sher Majra, Tehsil and District Patiala, for setting up of Sewerage Treatment Plant, at village Sher Majra. The Land Acquisition Collector (for short, 'the Collector') vide award dated 8.3.2011 assessed compensation @ Rs. 30,00,000/- per acre. Dissatisfied with the award of the Collector, the land owners filed objections. On reference under Section 18 of the Act, the learned court below vide award dated 15.7.2013, determined the market value of the acquired land @ Rs. 750/- per square yard. It is this award which is impugned before this court.