Authority: High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh
Order Date: 15 July 2026
Case Overview
- Appellant: Punjab Wakf Board; Respondents: Special Military Land Acquisition Collector and others, including Union of India (respondent No.10).
- The dispute concerns modification of an award dated 17 August 1993 issued by the Additional District Judge, Amritsar, which had not granted compensation as claimed.
- Original acquisition: State Government notification dated 17 March 1981 acquired land; Collector’s award dated 22 June 1983 fixed compensation at ₹3,773.44 (including 15% solatium). Appellant demanded price of ₹250 per marla plus 15% solatium.
- Appellant argued that market value should be determined per Supreme Court precedent (Union of India v. Harinder Pal Singh, 2005) and a prior High Court decision (RFA No.1257 of 1993), which set market value at ₹40,000 per acre for similar land acquired in 1977‑78 across five villages in Amritsar district.
- Respondent (Union of India) could not distinguish the present case from the cited precedents.
Final Outcome
- The Court modified the impugned award, fixing the market value of the acquired land at ₹40,000 per acre.
- The appellant is entitled to the benefit permissible under Section 23(1A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as granted by the Supreme Court to similarly situated landowners.
- The appeal is allowed in the above terms.
Topics: Land Acquisition, Compensation Assessment, Judicial Precedent