In the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh R. F. A No. 2907 of 1993 (O&M) Date of decision : 22.4.2009 The State of Punjab ... Appellant vs Siri Ram Mutbana Khushi Ram .... Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal Present: Mr. O. P. Dabla, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. M. L. Saini, Advocate, for the respondent. Rajesh Bindal J. The State has filed the present appeal seeking reduction of compensation relating to the non-fruit bearing trees standing on the acquired land. Briefly, the facts are that vide notification dated 14.12.1982, issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, 'the Act'), the State of Punjab acquired land along with non-fruit bearing trees within the revenue estate of Village Kabulpur, Tehsil Rajpura, District Patiala, for construction of SYL Canal. The Land Acquisition Collector announced the award on 14.10.1985. Dissatisfied with the award of the Collector, the landowners/claimants filed objections. On reference under Section 18 of the Act, the learned court below enhanced the compensation for trees to Rs. 264/- per tree. A perusal of the impugned award shows that the learned court below while assessing the compensation payable for the acquisition of non-fruit trees standing on the land had relied upon an earlier award passed by it on 10.12.1990 in Mewa Singh vs State. As the girth of the trees in the present case was less than that, the compensation was accordingly reduced. It could not be pointed out by the learned State counsel as to whether the award in Mewa Singh's (supra), was further challenged by the State or not. In view of that position and considering the fact that the acquisition in the present case was carried out on 14.12.1982, I do not find any reason to interfere in the present award. The appeal is dismissed. 22.4.2009 ( Rajesh Bindal) vs. Judge