SHANKAR DASS AND ORS. Vs. STATE AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitions are admitted for hearing. With consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the same are heard finally.

(2.) In this bunch of writ petitions, since common questions of law and facts arise for consideration with regard to validity of the proceeding initiated for acquisition of the lands of the petitioners, they were heard together and are being decided by this common order. The petitioners in OWP No.797/2012 are owners of land bearing Khasra Nos. 59, 130 min, 143 min, 143 min, 190, 190, 187 measuring 18 Kanal 10 Marlas, 4 kanal 5 marlas 8 Sarsai, 28 kanal 5 marlas, 6 kanal 19 marla 4 sarsai, 5 kanal 15 marlas 8 sarsai and 12 marlas, respectively- total 82 kanal 8 marlas 2 sarsai of Kundrorian, Tehsil and District Reasi, as also some of their Shamlat in Khasra No.185, measuring 8 kanal 10 Marlas of the same village. Similarly, the petitioners in OWP No.1351/2012 are the owners of land admeasuring 12 marlas, whereas the petitioners in OWP No.678/2012 are owners of land admeasuring 4 kanals. The petitioners in OWP No.589/2017 are owners of land bearing Khasra No.139 and 142 min admeasuring 5 marlas and 12 marlas respectively. For the facility of reference, facts from OWP No.797/2012 are being referred to.

(3.) The Collector, Land Acquisitiion issued notice under Section 4(1) of the Act on 14.05.1999 by which land admeasuring 422 Kanals and 12 1/2 marlas situated at Village Kundrorian, Tehsil and District Reasi was notified for acquisition under the Act for construction of the New Bus Stand and approach road at Katra. In the aforesaid notification, the land of the petitioners was also included. Thereafter, fresh notification under Section