R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -1- *** IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 1. R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 Date of Decision: 24.9.2007 Atam Parkash ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 2. R.F.A. No. 957 of 2001 Ram Kishan and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 3. R.F.A. No. 958 of 2001 Rajbir and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 4. R.F.A. No. 959 of 2001 Jai Chand (died) through L. Rs. ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 5. R.F.A. No. 1384 of 2001 Hans Raj Malik ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 6. R.F.A. No. 1715 of 2001 Harjinder Singh and others ...Appellants R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -2- *** Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 7. R.F.A. No. 1716 of 2001 Harjinder Singh and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 8. R.F.A. No. 1717 of 2001 Jiwan Singh and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 9. R.F.A. No. 1740 of 2001 Shyam Singh and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 10. R.F.A. No. 1764 of 2001 Naresh Kumar ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 11. R.F.A. No. 1765 of 2001 Dev Raj ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 12. R.F.A. No. 1766 of 2001 Naresh Kumari and others ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -3- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 13. R.F.A. No. 1930 of 2001 Yaswant Lal and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 14. R.F.A. No. 1931 of 2001 Umesh ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 15. R.F.A. No. 1932 of 2001 Ashok Kumar ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 16. R.F.A. No. 1933 of 2001 Sham Sunder ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 17. R.F.A. No. 1991 of 2001 Om Parkash ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 18. R.F.A. No. 1997 of 2001 Kundan ...Appellant Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -4- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 19. R.F.A. No. 1998 of 2001 Suraj Mal and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 20. R.F.A. No. 2173 of 2001 Udho Dass ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 21. R.F.A. No. 2174 of 2001 Bhagwan Dass ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 22. R.F.A. No. 2185 of 2001 Smt. Shimla Bhatia ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 23. R.F.A. No. 2186 of 2001 Vineet Bhatia ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 24. R.F.A. No. 2188 of 2001 Ravinder Bhatia ...Appellant Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -5- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 25. R.F.A. No. 2611 of 2001 Jai Bhagwan and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 26. R.F.A. No. 2612 of 2001 Malik Sobh Raj and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 27. R.F.A. No. 2621 of 2001 Malik Sobh Raj and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 28. R.F.A. No. 2622 of 2001 Risala (died) through L. Rs. ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 29. R.F.A. No. 2623 of 2001 Jugti and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 30. R.F.A. No. 2624 of 2001 Mange Ram ...Appellant Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -6- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 31. R.F.A. No. 2625 of 2001 Baldeva ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 32. R.F.A. No. 2626 of 2001 Malik Sobh Raj (died) through L. Rs ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 33. R.F.A. No. 2627 of 2001 Ramesh Kumar and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 34. R.F.A. No. 2648 of 2001 Smt. Sudha ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 35. R.F.A. No. 2678 of 2001 Parbhat Kumar and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 36. R.F.A. No. 2718 of 2001 Harish Chand and others ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -7- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 37. R.F.A. No. 2741 of 2001 Anil Kumar ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 38. R.F.A. No. 2767 of 2001 Smt. Ram Piari and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 39. R.F.A. No. 2786 of 2001 Jai Chand and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 40. R.F.A. No. 2787 of 2001 Harbans Lal and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 41. R.F.A. No. 2788 of 2001 Muni Ram and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 42. R.F.A. No. 2790 of 2001 Smt Jai Mala and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -8- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 43. R.F.A. No. 3257 of 2001 Gopal Dass ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 44. R.F.A. No. 3258 of 2001 Smt Lajwanti ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 45. R.F.A. No. 3386 of 2001 Sanjay and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 46. R.F.A. No. 3460 of 2001 Net Ram and another ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 47. R.F.A. No. 4434 of 2001 Sardar Singh and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 48. R.F.A. No. 4473 of 2001 Sudhir Kumar and others ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -9- *** State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 49. R.F.A. No. 4701 of 2001 Kehari and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 50. R.F.A. No. 5049 of 2001 Surat Singh and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 51. R.F.A. No. 5050 of 2001 Surat Singh ... Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 52. R.F.A. No. 5150 of 2001 Krishna Kumari and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 53. R.F.A. No. 5431 of 2001 Jai Pal and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 54. R.F.A. No. 5647 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -10- *** Sham Sunder and another ...Respondents 55. R.F.A. No. 5648 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Ram Phal and others ...Respondents 56. R.F.A. No. 5649 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Raj Rani and another ...Respondents 57. R.F.A. No. 5650 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Tej Bhan and another ...Respondents 58. R.F.A. No. 5651 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Malik Sobh Raj and others ...Respondents 59. R.F.A. No. 5652 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Kishan Chand and another ...Respondents 60. R.F.A. No. 5653 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -11- *** Harjinder Singh and others ...Respondents 61. R.F.A. No. 5654 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Kundan and another ...Respondents 62. R.F.A. No. 5655 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jai Chand and others ...Respondents 63. R.F.A. No. 5656 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jiwan Singh and others ...Respondents 64. R.F.A. No. 5657 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Vikram Bhatia and another ...Respondents 65. R.F.A. No. 5658 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jai Pal and others ...Respondents 66. R.F.A. No. 5659 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -12- *** Municipal Committee, Sonepat and another ...Respondents 67. R.F.A. No. 5660 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Ravinder Kumar and others ...Respondents 68. R.F.A. No. 5661 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Ramesh Kumar and others ...Respondents 69. R.F.A. No. 5662 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Harbans Lal and others ...Respondents 70. R.F.A. No. 5663 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Lal Chand and another ...Respondents 71. R.F.A. No. 5664 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Risala and another ...Respondents 72. R.F.A. No. 5665 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -13- *** Net Ram and others ...Respondents 73. R.F.A. No. 5666 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Smt. Shimla Bhatia and another ...Respondents 74. R.F.A. No. 5667 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Harjinder Singh and others ...Respondents 75. R.F.A. No. 5668 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Dharam Pal and others ...Respondents 76. R.F.A. No. 5669 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Baldeva and another ...Respondents 77. R.F.A. No. 5670 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Dev Raj and another ...Respondents 78. R.F.A. No. 5671 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -14- *** Raj Rani and another ..Respondents 79. R.F.A. No. 5672 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Shiv Nath Rai and another ...Respondents 80. R.F.A. No. 5673 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Udho Dass and another ...Respondents 81. R.F.A. No. 5674 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Bhagwan Dass and another ...Respondents 82. R.F.A. No. 5675 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Municipal Committee, Sonepat and another ...Respondents 83. R.F.A. No. 5676 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Hans Raj Malik and another ...Respondents 84. R.F.A. No. 5677 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -15- *** Surat Singh and another ...Respondents 85. R.F.A. No. 5678 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Gulab Singh and others ...Respondents 86. R.F.A. No. 5679 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Ram Kishan and others ...Respondents 87. R.F.A. No. 5680 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Daya Nand and others ...Respondents 88. R.F.A. No. 5681 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Smt. Lajwanti and another ...Respondents 89. R.F.A. No. 5682 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Basham Lal and another ...Respondents 90. R.F.A. No. 5683 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -16- *** Kehari and others ...Respondents 91. R.F.A. No. 5684 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Yashwant Lal and others ...Respondents 92. R.F.A. No. 5685 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jai Bhagwan and others ...Respondents 93. R.F.A. No. 5686 of 2001 State of Haryana and others ...Appellants Versus Surat Singh and others ...Respondents 94. R.F.A. No. 5687 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jiwan Singh and others ...Respondent 95. R.F.A. No. 5688 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Anil Kumar and another ...Respondents 96. R.F.A. No. 5689 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -17- *** Ravinder Bhatia and another ...Respondents 97. R.F.A. No. 5690 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Mange Ram and another ...Respondents 98. R.F.A. No. 5691 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Vineet Bhatia and another ...Respondents 99. R.F.A. No. 5692 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Shubh Ram and another ...Respondents 100. R.F.A. No. 5693 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Parbhat Kumar and others ...Respondents 101. R.F.A. No. 5694 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Gopal Dass and another ...Respondents 102. R.F.A. No. 5695 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -18- *** Suraj Mal and others ...Respondents 103. R.F.A. No. 5696 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Smt. Basanti and others ...Respondents 104. R.F.A. No. 5697 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Om Parkash and another ...Respondents 105. R.F.A. No. 5698 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Naresh Kumar and another ...Respondents 106. R.F.A. No. 5699 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Smt. Sudha and another ...Respondents 107. R.F.A. No. 5700 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Shyam Sunder and others ...Respondents 108. R.F.A. No. 5701 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -19- *** Rajbir and others ...Respondents 109. R.F.A. No. 5702 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Harish Kumar and another ..Respondents 110. R.F.A. No. 5703 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Kanwal Nain Bhagwat and another ...Respondents 111. R.F.A. No. 5704 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Pune and others ...Respondents 112. R.F.A. No. 5705 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Jai Chand (died) through L.Rs and another ...Respondents 113. R.F.A. No. 5706 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Net Ram and others ...Respondents 114. R.F.A. No. 5707 of 2001 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -20- *** Muni Ram and others ...Respondents 115. R.F.A. No. 5717 of 2001 Kanwal Nain Bhagat ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 116. R.F.A. No. 5757 of 2001 Smt, Basanti and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 117. R.F.A. No. 5785 of 2001 Municipal Council, Sonepat ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 118. R.F.A. No. 5786 of 2001 Municipal Council, Sonepat ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 119. R.F.A. No. 419 of 2002 Smt. Ram Piari and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 120. R.F.A. No. 541 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -21- *** Jai Mala and others ...Respondents 121. R.F.A. No. 542 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Bhagwanti and another ...Respondent 122. R.F.A. No. 543 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Himat Ram and another ...Respondents 123. R.F.A. No. 544 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Rajeev and others ...Respondents 124. R.F.A. No. 545 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Ram Phal and others ...Respondents 125. R.F.A. No. 546 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Smt. Uttam Devi and others ...Respondents 126. R.F.A. No. 547 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -22- *** Malik Sobh Raj and others ...Respondents 127. R.F.A. No. 548 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Atam Parkash and another ...Respondents 128. R.F.A. No. 549 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Umesh and another ...Respondents 129. R.F.A. No. 550 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Malik Sobh Raj and another ...Respondents 130. R.F.A. No. 551 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Naresh Kumar and others ...Respondents 131. R.F.A. No. 552 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Harish Chand and another ...Respondents 132. R.F.A. No. 630 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -23- *** Sanjay and others ...Respondents 133. R.F.A. No. 631 of 2002 State of Haryana and another ...Appellants Versus Sudhir Kumar and others ...Respondents 134. R.F.A. No. 3950 of 2002 Dharam Pal and others ...Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents 135. R.F.A. No. 2894 of 2003 Bhagwanti ...Appellant Versus State of Haryana and others ...Respondents **** CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH BINDAL Present: Mr. M. L. Sarin, Senior Advocate with Mr. Heman Sarin, Advocate for the appellants in Appeals No. 1715, 1716, 1717 and 4434 of 2001 Mr. R. S. Mittal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Narender Hooda, Advocate for the appellants in Appeal No. 5050 of 2001 Mr. Harkesh Manuja, Advocate for the appellants in Appeals No. 1764, 1765, 1766, 1932, 1933, 2648, 2786, 2788, 2787, 4701, and 5150 of 2001. Mr. Vikas Sharma, Advocate for Mr. S. S. Narula, Advocate for the appellants in Appeals No. 2173 & 2174 of 2001. Mr. S. P. Khatri, Advocate for the appellants in Appeals No. 2611, 2612, 2621, 2622, 2623, 2624, 2625, 2626, 2627, 2767, 3386, 3460, 5757 of 2001 and 419 of 2002. R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -24- *** Mr. Suvir Sehgal, Advocate for the appellants in Appeals No. 2185,2186 and 2188 of 2001. Mr. Hawa Singh Hooda, Advocate General, Haryana with Mr. Rajeev Kawatra, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Haryana. Mr. M.L.Sarin, Senior Advocate with Mr. Hemant Sarin, Advocate for the respondents in Appeals No. 5653, 5656, 5667, 5678 of 2001, 541 to 551, 630 and 631 of 2002. Mr. R. S. Mittal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Narender Hooda, Advocate for the respondents in Appeals No. 5665, 5677, 5686 & 5706 of 2001 Mr. Raman Gaur, Advocate for the respondent- Haryana Urban Development Authority. Mr. Sikander Bakshi, Advocate for the respondent-Haryana Urban Development Authority in Appeals No. 2788 and 5431 of 2001. Mr. Vikas Sharma, Advocate for Mr. S. S. Narula, Advocate for the respondents in Appeals No. 5673 & 5674 of 2001. Mr. Harkesh Manuja, Advocate for the respondents in Appeals No. 5647, 5652, 5655, 5662, 5672, 5681, 5683, 5694, 5698 and 5699 of 2001. Mr. Suvir Sehgal, Advocate for the respondents in Appeal Nos. 5657, 5660, 5666 5689 and 5691 of 2001. RAJESH BINDAL, J. This order will dispose of bunch of cases bearing Regular First Appeal Nos. 957 to 959, 1384, 1715 to 1718, 1740, 1764 to 1766, 1930 to 1933, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2173, 2174, 2185, 2186, 2188, 2611, 2612, 2621 to 2627, 2648, 2678, 2718, 2741, 2767, 2786 to 2788, 2790, 3257, 3258, 3386, 3460, 4434, 4473, 4701, 5049, 5050, 5150, 5431, 5647 to 5707, 5717, 5757, 5785, 5786 of 2001, 419, 541 to 552, 630, 631, 3950 of 2002 and 2894 of 2003 as common questions of law and facts are involved. 2. The claim made in the appeals is for enhancement of compensation on account of acquisition land, whereas in the appeals filed by the State of Haryana, the prayer is to set aside the award passed by the learned Additional District Judge and to restore the award passed by the Land Acquisition Collector. R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -25- *** 3. Briefly the facts are that the vide notification No. LAC (G)- BKTA 90/225 dated May 17, 1990 issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ( for short “the Act”), the area of 778 Bighas 7 Biswas ( 162.5 acres ) of land was acquired. The same was followed by notification No. LAC (G) NTLA/91/290 dated May 16, 1991 issued under Section 6 of the Act. The land was acquired for development and utilization thereof as residential area in Sector 12, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Sonepat. The award for acquisition was pronounced on May 12, 1993. The Collector awarded uniform rate of Rs. 2 lacs per acre for the entire land. The land owners dissatisfied with the award of the Collector filed objections under Section 18 of the Act claiming compensation ranging from Rs. 430/- to Rs. 4000/- per sq. yard. The objections were referred to the District Judge, Sonepat for its opinion. 4. On consideration the evidence on record, learned Additional District Judge, Sonepat vide his award dated January 12, 2001 ordered that the land situated on the left side of Sonepat Bahalgarh Road while going from Sonepat to National Highway No.1 i.e. G.T.Road, which is situated on the back side of ECE factory be assessed at Rs. 125/- per sq. yard, whereas the land situated on the right side of Sonepat Bahalgarh Road while going towards National Highway No.1 i.e. G.T.Road be assessed at Rs. 150/- per sq. yard. Besides that other statutory benefits were also granted. 5. Dissatisfied with the judgment and decree of the learned Court below, the land owners/claimants are before this Court seeking further enhancement of the compensation. 6. I have heard S/Shri M. L. Sarin and R.S.Mittal, learned Senior Counsels assisted by S/Shri Hemant Sarin, Narender Hooda, Harkesh Manuja, Vikas Sharma, S. P. Khatri, and Suvir Sehgal, Advocates appearing for the appellants/claimants and Shri Hawa Singh Hooda, learned Advocate General, Haryana assisted by Shri Rajeev Kawatra, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Haryana, Shri Raman Gaur, Shri Sikender Bakshi and Shri Vikas Sharma and with their assistance have perused the judgment of the Court below and also the relevant material pointed out in the evidence R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -26- *** led by the parties. 7. Shri M. L. Sarin, learned Senior Counsel submitted that the assessment of compensation made by Court below is not in consonance with the material brought on record by the land owners/claimants as far as neither the sale deeds brought on record nor the potential value of the land in question has been considered. The fact that the part of the land was within the municipal limits had also been totally ignored while assessing the compensation. The wisdom of the Court below in awarding different rates of compensation on the land situated on two sides of the road has also been questioned as according to the learned counsel for the appellants, there is no basis for differentiating the land situated on two sides of the road. It was further submitted that the plots carved out in the acquired land by the Haryana Urban Development Authority were being sold at the rate of Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 2500/- per sq. yard which itself shows the value on the date of acquisition of land and further potential thereof. The award given by the State for acquisition of land in village Jamalpur Kalan, which was acquired exactly after two years of land in question on May 6, 1992, was also relied upon where the Collector himself had assessed the compensation @ Rs. 250/- per sq. yard. He submitted that no doubt the award was given two years after the land in question was acquired, however, still that shows the potential of the land which was even recognized by the respondents. It is further submitted that the land in question is better located than the land of village Jamalpur Kalan. 8. Learned Senior Counsel further submitted that the land is situated within the municipal area and accordingly its value could not possibly be assessed treating it to be an agricultural land as the same had the potential of being developed into urban area where all the facilities like road, lights, water and sewerage etc. would have been provided by the local authorities. He relied upon Shri Lakhmi Dass and others Vs. The Punjab State and others 1977 Punjab Law Journal 464, State of Punjab and others Vs. Punni Devi alias Basant Kaur 1999 (1) Punjab Law Reporter, 183, The Jalandhar Improvement Trust, Jalandhar Vs. R.F.A. No. 1718 of 2001 -27- *** Vidya Suri (Smt.) and others 2006 (1) LACC 109, Malkiat Kaur Vs. The State of Punjab and another 2005 (2) LACC 645 and Om Parkash (D) by L. Rs. and others Vs. Union of India and another 2004 (3) Punjab Law Reporter 727. 9. Shri R. S. Mittal, learned Senior Counsel and Mr. Sat Pal Khatri, learned counsel representing the land owners/claimants, primarily whose land is situated on the right side of the Sonepat-Bahalgarh Road while going from Sonepat towards National Highway No.1 (G.T.Road), submitted that the potential of this part of the land was much more than other chunk of land, which is situated on the other side of the road which is behind the ECE factory ( now Osram India Limited ). It was submitted that part of this land was already within the municipal limits, which shows that it was more than close to the Abadi area. Not only this Civil Hospital is just close to this land and infact the land being abutting the State Highway had much more potential than the land on the other side as even upto the extreme end of the acquisition boundary, there were substantial construction, which shows that even the existing value of the land was much more besides