VINOD KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A batch of 43 connected Regular First Appeals (details whereof are given on the foot of the judgment) shall stand disposed of by this common order, as they involve common question of law and facts.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are that certain land owned by the appellants-landowners, situated in the revenue estate of village Bajwara, Tehsil and District Hoshiarpur, came to be acquired vide notifications dtd. 7/1/2005 and 4/5/2005, issued under Ss. 4 and 6, respectively, of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, "1894 Act"), for the construction of Kandi Canal. Total land under acquisition was 18.13 Acres. Vide Award No.26 dtd. 16/11/2007, the Land Acquisition Collector, assessed market value in the following terms besides granting other statutory benefits, interest etc:-

(3.) Aggrieved of the award passed by the Land Acquisition Collector, appellant(s)-landowners invoked reference petition(s) under Sec. 18 of the 1894 Act, seeking enhancement of compensation. Upon consideration of the material available on record, the Reference Court vide its award dtd. 1/5/2013, assessed the uniform market value @ Rs.9000.00 per marla. In addition, the appellants were also awarded severance charges @ 25% of the market value. The relevant part thereof is extracted hereunder:-