RFA No. 192 of 1997 alongwith RFAs No. 135, 137, 179, 180, 181, 185, 186, 191, 194, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 of 1997 15.12.2008 Present: Mr. R.K.Bawa, Sr. Advocate, with Mr. Anil Jaswal, Deputy Advocate General, for the appellants. Mr.Suneet Goel, Advocate, vice counsel for the claimants. The land of the claimants was acquired by the State for public purpose, namely, construction of Chiladhar – Bihar road. Notification for acquisition of the claimants land situated in Phati Bihar, Kothi Chehni, Tehsil Banjar, District Kullu, H.P., was issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, on 27.2.1989, which was lastly published in the H.P. Rajpatra on 15.3.1989. The Collector (Land Acquisition) passed the award No. 6 on 5.9.1989. The claimants filed various Land Reference Petitions, which were consolidated and directed to be heard alongwith Land Reference Petition No.1 of 1994 vide orders dated 3.4.1995 passed by District Judge, Kullu. The Land Reference Petitions were decided by common impugned award dated 27.7.1996 passed by Additional District Judge, Kullu, H.P. Chart showing the particulars of the cases is as under:- RFA No. Land Reference Petition No. Name of parties 192 of 1997 1 of 1994 Durga Dass vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 135 of 1997 4 of 1994 Mohar Singh vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another. 137 of 1997 5 of 1994 Narain Dass vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 179 of 1997 3 of 1994 Dhian Singh & others vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 2 180 of 1997 10 of 1994 Chaman Singh vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 181 of 1997 20 of 1994 Tej Ram and others vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 185 of 1997 11 of 1994 Bir Bhadur Singh & others vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 186 of 1997 12 of 1994 Mohar Singh vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 191 of 1997 19 of 1994 Nokh Singh vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 194 of 1997 7 of 1994 Paras Ram vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 41 of 1997 18 of 1994 Revli Ram vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 42 of 1997 15 of 1994 Fatu vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 43 of 1997 2 of 1994 Lal Singh and another vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 44 of 1997 22 of 1994 Pune Ram and another vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 45 of 1997 21 of 1994 Shyam Lal and another vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another 46 of 1997 17 of 1994 Uttam Ram vs. Collector, Land Acquisition, Kullu & another At the threshold Mr. Jaswal, learned Deputy Advocate General, vehemently submitted that the impugned award even though running into 45 pages, is actually an unreasoned award, inasmuch as no reason has been assigned by the Court below while arriving at its conclusion. According to him, the award is merely reproduction of pleadings and evidence of the parties. This position is not disputed by the learned counsel appearing for the claimants. Learned counsel for the parties jointly pray that the impugned award be set aside and the matter be remanded back to the Court below for passing a reasoned award. 3 Accordingly, all the appeals are disposed of on this ground and, as prayed for jointly, the impugned award limited to the appeals, which are listed today, is set aside and the matter is remanded back to the Court below for passing a reasoned award. The Land Reference Petitions are restored to their original numbers. It is clarified that no further evidence shall be led by any of the parties. The Court below shall decide the matter on the basis of material already on record. The parties through their learned counsel are directed to appear before the Court below on 9.1.2009. The record be sent back immediately. It is also clarified that in Appeal No. 42 of 1997, the respondent has not caused appearance and therefore, in the concerned Land Reference Petition, the Court shall issue notice to the claimant-respondent. Since the acquisition proceedings pertain to the year 1989, the Court below shall endeavour to decide the matter as expeditiously as possible and positively by 31.3.2009. 15th December, 2008 (Sanjay Karol), J. (C)