RAMESHWAR SINGH MALIK,J - (1.) This batch of 33 appeals, out of which 21 appeals bearing Regular First Appeal No.3448 to 3468 of 2013, filed by the State of Haryana and remaining appeals bearing Regular First Appeal No.6611 to 6617, 7141, 7142 of 2012, 476, 2155, 5590 of 2013 and cross-objections Nos.50-CI, 51-CI, 52-CI, 53-CI, 58-CI and 59-CI of 2013 filed by the land owners, is being decided vide this common order, as all these appeals as well as cross-objections arise out of the same acquisition and raise identical questions of law and facts. However, with the consent of learned counsel for the parties and for the facility of reference, facts are being extracted from RFA No. 6617 of 2012 (Mohammad Yusuf and others v. State of Haryana and others).
(2.) Briefly put, facts necessary for disposal of the present set of appeals are that State of Haryana sought to acquire land measuring 372 kanal, 02 marla, at public expenses for public purpose namely; for Construction of Mini Secretariat at Nuh. The land was acquired out of the revenue estate of village Ferojpur Namak. Notification dated 18.10.2005 was issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ('Act' for short), which was followed by notification dated 25.05.2006 under Section 6 of the Act. Land Acquisition Collector ('LAC' for short), vide his award No.1 dated 05.11.2007, assessed the market value of the acquired land at the uniform rate of L 16 lacs per acre, without resorting to any belting system.
(3.) Dissatisfied with the market value assessed by LAC, land owners filed objections under Section 18 of the Act and as a consequence thereof, land references were forwarded to the learned reference Court, for its decision. Learned reference Court, vide its impugned award dated 28.08.2012, assessed the market value of the acquired land at the rate of L 28,80,000/- per acre.;