LAND ACQUISITION COLLECTOR, Vs. JAYWANTI DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals are being disposed of by a common judgment, since the question involved therein is the same.

(2.) In these appeals filed under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), the beneficiary(ies) have assailed the awards passed by the learned Reference Court.

(3.) Certain facts are not in dispute. For public purpose, namely, construction of Renukaji Dam and its submergence area in village, namely Deed Baggar, Sub Tehsil Dadahu, District Sirmaur, H.P., the State initiated acquisition proceedings under the provisions of the Act. Notification under Section 4 read with Section 17(4) of the Act for the aforesaid village was issued on 18.11.2008 and published in the Rajpatra on 19.11.2008. The Collector Land Acquisition passed Award No. 653 dated 6.8.2012 qua this village. Though the respondents/claimants demanded market value of the acquired land @ Rs. 50 lacs per bigha approximately, however, the Collector Land Acquisition, determined the same classification-wise.