JUDGMENT

A notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, was published on Feb. 15, 1979, acquiring 4.5 acres of land for establishing in Milk Chilling-Cum-Demonstration Center at Village Sardulgarh in Bhatinda District of Punjab State. The Land Acquisition Officer in his award dated March 23, 1979, awarded a sum of Rs.13,816/- per acre as compensation. On reference, the Addl. Distt. Judge, Bhatinda, by decree dated April 30, 1981, enhanced the compensation to Rs.2,50,000/- per acre. On appeal under Section 54 by the State, the High Court in R.F.A. No. 1065 of 1981 and batch, by its order dated September 15, 1982, reduced the compensation to Rs.30,000/- per acre. Dissatisfied with the judgment of the High Court, the appellants filed these appeals by special leave.

2. Shri Prem Malhotra, learned Counsel appearing for the appellants, has strenuously contended that the sale deed (Exs. A1 to A5) and Mutation Proceedings (Exs. A7 to A16) would show that the market value ranged between Rs.3,12,000/- to Rs.1,08,000/-. He submitted that the High Court was not justified in relying upon the solitary mutation proceedings noted in the judgment to determine the compensation at R