Rajiv Narain Raina, J. - (1.) This order will dispose of CWP Nos.6096 and 6911 of 1990 as both the petitions arise out of common award of the reference Court of acquisition of land belonging to the claimant-petitioners in Bathinda under the Punjab Improvement Act, 1922 (for short, "the 1922 Act"). CWP No.6911 of 1990
(2.) In CWP No.6911 of 1990, the owners of the acquired land have sought enhancement of compensation while in the connected matter i.e. CWP No.6096 of 1990, the Improvement Trust has sought scaling down of the compensation awarded.
(3.) The Land Acquisition Officer, Improvement Trust assessed the market value of the acquired land @ Rs. 20/- per square yard. The learned Tribunal on a reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 enhanced the same to Rs. 40/- per square yard. The date with reference to which we are called upon to assess just and adequate compensation would be 10.10.1975/24.10.1975, the crucial date, when notice of declaration of acquisition under Section 36 of the 1922 Act was issued. Finally, the land was acquired on 4.4.1977. The award was made by the learned Tribunal on 4.1.1990, against which, these two writ petitions arise.;