ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA,J - (1.) THIS judgment will dispose of aforementioned writ petitions, as all these writ petitions arise out of a common notification issued under Section 36 of the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and also arise out of a common award dated 20.9.1974 passed by the Land Acquisition Collector. However, we are taking the facts from CWP No. 1599 of 1986, titled 'Private Trust through its Trustees v. The Land Acquisition Tribunal, Ludhiana and others'.
(2.) BRIEFLY , the facts of the case are that Ludhiana Improvement Trust vide notification published on 11.8.1972 under Section 36 of the Act intended to acquire 100 acres of land located on Rajpura Road for the purpose of development scheme called "100 Acres Development Scheme". The Land Acquisition Collector, Ludhiana divided the entire land into two blocks, namely 'Block A' and 'Block B' and awarded a sum of Rs. 113/- per biswansi (Rs. 15/- sq. yard) for land falling in Block A and Rs. 75/- per biswansi (Rs. 10/- per sq. yard) for land falling in Block B vide his award dated 20.9.1974. Being dissatisfied by the award passed by the Land Acquisition Collector, the petitioners filed reference petitions before the Land Acquisition Tribunal, Ludhiana under the Act claiming higher compensation. The reference petitions filed by the petitioners were allowed by the Tribunal vide judgment dated 31.7.1985, Annexure P-1 to the writ petition. As per the award the Tribunal awarded Rs. 39/- per sq. yard for land falling in Block A and Rs. 31/- per sq. yard for lands falling in Block B. Apart from the above, the landowners were also held entitled to 6% per annum interest from the date of possession till the date of deposit plus 30% solatium. However, no benefit under Section 23(1-A) of the Act was given to the landowners.
(3.) IT is against the judgment of the Tribunal that the landowners have filed writ petitions challenging the award of the Tribunal. The Improvement Trust, Ludhiana has also filed writ petitions against the same award.;