AJMER SINGH Vs. UNION TERRITORY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ON October 31, 1983, a notification under section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, was published. By this notification 8.68 acres of land falling within the revenue estate of village Nizampur Kumbra was acquired by the Government for setting up the 66 K.V. Grid Sub Station in Section 52-B, Chandigarh. On January 6, 1984, the Land Acquisition Collector awarded compensation at the rate of Rs. 60,000/- per acre to the land-owners. Complaining that the compensation was inadequate, the land-owners sought a reference under Section 18. The District Judge found that the market value of the land was Rs. 1,20,000/- per acre. Thereupon, the land-owners as well as the Government filed appeals. The learned Single Judge having affirmed the award given by the learned District Judge, the land-owners have filed this bunch of 38 letters patent appeals.

(2.) ON behalf of the land-owners, the appeals have been argued by Mr. P.C. Dhiman. Learned counsel has contended that the market value as assessed by the learned Single Judge is wholly inadequate and that in view of the evidence on record, the land-owners were entitled to at least a compensation of rupees three lacs per acre. It is so ?

(3.) A perusal of these sale deeds clearly indicates that the area in question was much smaller than the land which was acquired by the notification dated October 31, 1983. It appears that the sale of land vide documents at Exhibits P2 and P3 was of virtually small plots for residential/commercial purposes. Consequently, these sale deeds cannot constitute a firm basis for assessment of the market value of the land in question.