IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH RFA No. 274 of 1997. Date of Decision : 11.3.2010. Labh Singh through L.Rs ......Appellant Versus Union Territory, Chandigarh & another ......Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAWAB SINGH Present: Mr. P.C. Dhiman, Advocate, for the appellant. Ms. Lisa Gill, Advocate, for U.T., Chandigarh. NAWAB SINGH J.(ORAL) This judgment would dispose of above mentioned 36 appeals because identical question of law and facts are involved in all the appeals. 2. RFA Nos. 274-75, 341-42, 359, 384, 297-98, 588, 667, 1476-82, 1824, 1838, 2036 of 1997 have been filed by the land- owners seeking enhancement of the compensation for the acquired land. RFA Nos. 2048, 2073-81, 2099-2104 of 1997 have been filed by the Union Territory, Chandigarh seeking reduction of the compensation awarded to the land owners. 3. Pursuant to the notification dated November 22 nd, 1985 under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short 'the Act'), Union Territory, Chandigarh acquired 131.92 acres of land situated in village Halomajra for setting-up Northern Army Command. The Land Acquisition Collector by Award dated March 30 th, 1987 assessed the market value of the acquired land at the rate of Rs.80,000/- per acre. Dis-satisfied therewith, land owners sought for enhancement and references were made under Section 18 of the Act. Learned District Judge (hereinafter referred to as “the Court of Reference”) by impugned Award dated October 29 th, 1996 enhanced the compensation to Rs.1,95,000/- per acre. 4. The solitary contention of learned counsel for the RFA No. 275 of 1997. (2) appellant is that vide notification dated November 20 th, 1985 under Section 4 of the Act land of this very village was acquired by the Chandigarh Administration. A Division Bench of this Court by judgment rendered in Raghbir Singh alias Balbir Singh & others vs. Union Territory, Chandigarh (LPA No. 240 of 1995 decided on January 16 th , 2006) assessed the market value of the land acquired vide aforesaid notification at the rate of Rs.2,24,000/- per acre, a fact which is not in dispute. Hence it is prayed that the market value of the land acquired by present notification be also assessed at the same rate as that of the land acquired vide notification dated November 20 th, 1985. 5. Indisputably, there is only difference of 2 days between the two notifications and there is no other ground either which could compel this Court to assess the market value at a lower rate than the rate fixed by this Court in Raghbir Singh's case (supra). 6. In view of above, the market value of the land acquired by the present is assessed at the rate of Rs.2,24,000/- per acre along with the statutory benefits on the enhanced compensation as provided under the Act. Consequently, the appeals filed by the land owners bearing Nos. 274-75, 341-42, 359, 384, 297-98, 588, 667, 1476-82, 1824, 1838, 2036 of 1997 are accepted. The appeals filed by the Union Territory, Chandigarh bearing Nos. 2048, 2073-81, 2099-2104 of 1997 are dismissed. (NAWAB SINGH) JUDGE 11.3.2010. SN