UNION OF INDIA Vs. PAL SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment of mine would dispose of Regular First Appeal No. 562, 563, 565, 566, 569, 571 to 575, 577 to 580, 584, 482, 484, 485 to 489, 491, 493, 495, 501, 502, 505, 507 to 514, 517, 518, 522 to 524, 528 to 530, 531 to 541, 543 to 545, 547, 549 to 557, 559 and 560 of 1991 filed by the Union of India as they arise out of a common award given by the Additional District Judge, Amritsar. In these cases, the land-owner-respondents could not be served on account of some lapse on the part of the Union of India. It was stated by Mr. Pippat that all the land-owners after the acquisition of their lands and houses had shifted from village Kathania and that their whereabouts were not known and it was for this reason that Union of India was not in a position to serve them. In any case, this Court has gone through the detailed award of the Additional District Judge and since no interference regarding the valuation of super-structures is called for, there is no need to put the State to more botheration for effecting service upon the respondent-landowners.

(2.) THE land measuring 11513 Kanals situated in village Kathania alongwith super-structures standing thereupon was acquired by the State of Punjab for Union of India for the defence purposes by issuing notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act dated 11. 7. 1977 published in the official gazette on 22. 7. 1977. The Land Acquisition Collector determined the market value of the acquired land as well as super-structure. The super-structures were valued in accordance with the report of the P. W. D.

(3.) FOR the reasons given above the appeals are found to be devoid of any merit and the same are consequently ordered to be dismissed. Since the respondent-landowners have not put in appearance, there would be no order as to costs.