LAND ACQUISITION COLLECTOR Vs. SHER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment shall dispose of 11 appeals and cross objections filed in all the appeals as they arise out of a common award.

(2.) THE brief facts necessary for disposal of the cases are that the appellant Board acquired 22-7-12 bighas of land for the construction of a colony for the Larji Hydel Project in village Muhalu Khamradha, Sub Tehsil Bali Chowki, District Mandi, H.P. The State of H.P. issued Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 on 7.12.1987 which was published in various newspapers on 9.1.1988. Thereafter Notification under Section 6 of the Act was issued on 11.7.1988 and published in Rajpatra and other newspapers on 30.7.1988. The objectors filed their claims before the Land Acquisition Collector and the Land Acquisition Collector vide his award dated 24.8.1990 determined the compensation for various categories of lands as follows:-

(3.) THE appellants have filed the present appeal challenging the assessment of the market value as done by the learned District Judge, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti districts at Mandi. According to the appellants the award is very much on the higher side and requires to be reduced. The land owners have also filed cross objections in all the cases. They have claimed enhanced compensation on the value on the value of the land and in two of the cases i.e. RFA Nos. 14 and 16 of 1997 compensation is also sought for houses, retaining wall etc. It would be pertinent to mention that the approximate enhancement sought by the claimants is by Rs.40,000/- per bigha over and above the rates fixed by the learned District Judge. At the time of arguments the claimants limited their claim with regard to the value of the land only.