- (1.) This order will dispose of R.F.A. Nos. 648, 660 to 662, 722, 742, 997, 1031, 1195, 1347 to 1350 of 1991, 690 to 704, 898, 920, 1154, 1155, 1768 to 1770 of 1992, as common questions of law and facts are involved.
(2.) The land owners are in appeal seeking further enhancement of compensation awarded to them by the learned court below for the acquired land.
(3.) Briefly, the facts of the case are that vide notification dated 29.5.1986, issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, 'the Act'), State of Punjab sought to acquire the land, situated in villages Chak Sonia, Sarai Naga and Warring, Tehsil Muktsar, District Faridkot, for construction of Sarai Naga Link Drain. The same was followed by notification dated 13.6.1986, issued under Section 6 of the Act. The Land Acquisition Collector (for short, 'the Collector') assessed the market value of the acquired land of village Chak Sonia @ Rs. 20,000/- per acre for Nehri; Rs. 8,000/- per acre for Barani and Rs. 6,000/- per acre for Gair Mumkin kind of land. Dissatisfied with the award of the Collector, the land owners filed objections. On reference under Section 18 of the Act, the learned court below assessed the market value of the acquired land @Rs. 40,000/- per acre for Nehri; Rs. 16,000/- per acre for Barani and Rs. 12,000/- per acre for Gair Mumkin kind of land.;