HARBANS SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment shall dispose of seven Letters Patent Appeals as all the appeals have been directed against the common judgment dated November 4, 1993 passed by the learned Single Judge.

(2.) VIDE a notification dated May 2, 1980 issued under Section 4 of the Act, land measuring 336 Bighas 9/8 Biswas situated in village Bara, Tehsil Sirhind, was acquired for establishment of New Mandi Township at Sirhind. Vide his award dated August 27, 1984, Land Acquisition Collector categorised the land into three blocks, A, B and C. For the land failing in Block A Rs. 1,10,000/- per acre was assessed as the market value, the land falling in block B was evaluated at Rs. 90,000/- per acre; and the land falling in block C was assessed at the rate of Rs. 70,000/-. The claimant-landowners remain dissatisfied. They claimed reference under Section 18 of the Act. The matter was accordingly referred.

(3.) LEARNED Single Judge re-examined the evidence on record. Reliance was primarily placed upon three sale deeds Ex.A3, Ex.A5 and Ex.A14. The average price of all the three sale transactions was taken to be Rs. 2,52,800/- per acre. A cut of 1/3rd was applied on the aforesaid sale price and, accordingly, the market value of the acquired land was assessed at Rs. 1,68,600/- per acre. The claimants were also held entitled to the grant of statutory benefits as per amended provisions of the Act.