GURPREET SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This batch of 53 appeals, out of which 29 appeals bearing Regular First Appeal Nos.3977 to 4002, 4356 to 4358 of 2012 filed by the State of Punjab and 24 appeals bearing Regular First Appeal Nos. 2741 to 2747, 5085 to 5087, 5745 to 5751, 5776, 6529, 6938, 6939, 7216, 7237 of 2012 & 828 of 2015 filed by the land owners, is being decided vide this common order, as all these appeals are arising out of the same acquisition, raising identical questions of law and facts. However, with the consent of learned counsel for the parties and for the facility of reference, facts are being culled out from RFA No.2741 of 2012 (Gurpreet Singh Vs. State of Punjab and others).

(2.) Briefly put, the facts necessary for disposal of these cases are that State of Punjab sought to acquire land measuring 53.63 acres from the revenue estates of different villages namely Chaura, Ghalori, Sher Majra, Ramgarh, Suniarheri, Dalanpur, Kheri Jattan and Alipur Araian at public expense for public purpose i.e. for construction of southern bye-pass for Patiala city.

(3.) Accordingly, notification dated 09.04.2001 came to be issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ('the Act' for short), which was followed by notification dated 06.04.2002 under Section 6 of the Act. Land Acquisition Collector, vide his common award No.1 dated 11.11.2002 granted the same amount of compensation i.e. Rs.5,00,000/- per acre for the total land acquired from the revenue estates of abovesaid villages.