ORDER

This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment and decree of the High Court of the Punjab & Haryana made on October 10, 1991 in Regular Second Appeal No.28 of 1983, reversing the judgments of the appellate Court and trial Court and decreeing the suit with prayer that the respondent is an equitable owner of the lands and directing the appellant to deliver possession of the lands to the erstwhile owners.

2. The undisputed facts are that on 25.5.1951 notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894) (for short, the "Act") was published. Thereafter, an award came to be passed and compensation was paid to the erstwhile owners. The land was acquired for the purpose of digging the earth and completion of the bridge. The bridge came to be completed in the year 1954. Thereafter, when the land was in pits the respondent came to be in possession as a lessee in the year 1965. He paid the premium till the year 1974-75. The total extent of the land is about 70 acres. Subsequently, it would appear that the respondent had purchased the lands from the erstwhile owners by registered sale deeds and filed the civil suits in 1976 for declaration that he is an equ