R.F.A. No. 5203 of 2001 1 In the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh R.F.A. No. 5203 of 2001 (O&M) Date of decision : 7.12.2011 The Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Haryana ....Appellant vs. Prem Nath and others ...Respondents Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal Present: None for the appellant. Mr. Madan Pal, Advocate, for respondent nos. 1 to 3. Mr. Ashish Gupta, Assistant Advocate General, Haryana. Rajesh Bindal J. The Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Haryana (for short, 'the Board') is in appeal before this court against the award of the learned court below passed under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, 'the Act') on 16.4.2001, seeking reduction in compensation for the acquired land. Briefly, the facts are that vide notification dated 10.4.1989, issued under Section 4 of the Act, the State of Haryana sought to acquire land measuring 132.19 acres situated within the revenue estate of Qasba Karnal, Hadbast No. 1, Tehsil and District Karnal, for extension of New Grain Market at Karnal. The Land Acquisition Collector (for short, ' the Collector') vide his award dated 31.1.1992 assessed the market value of the acquired land @ 2,40,000/- per acre. Dissatisfied with the award of the Collector, the landowners filed objections. On reference under Section 18 of the Act, the learned court below vide award dated 16.4.2001, determined the market value of the acquired land @ ` 110/- per square yard. The Board has filed the present appeal seeking reduction in the compensation. R.F.A. No. 5203 of 2001 2 At the time of hearing, no one has appeared for the Board. Learned Assistant Advocate General, Haryana, submitted that the issue involved in the present appeal is squarely covered by the judgment of this court in LPA No. 303 of 2000 – Smt. Mahabiri Devi and others vs State of Haryana and another, decided on 3.8.2005, whereby the compensation awarded by the learned court below was further enhanced to ` 147.68 per square yard. Since the compensation for acquisition of land was enhanced by this court in Smt. Mahabiri Devi's case (supra), prima face, no case for reduction is made out. However, as no one has appeared for the appellant, the appeal is dismissed in default. 7.12.2011 (Rajesh Bindal) vs. Judge