Judgment

M.H. KANIA, J.

(1) LEAVE granted. Counsel heard.

(2) AS the controversy before us is a limited one and relates only to the question of granting of benefit of the provisions of S. 23 (1-A) introduced into the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act") by the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984, (referred to hereinafter as "the Amendment Act of 1984") only a few facts are necessary for the appreciation of the submissions made before us.

(3) THIS appeal, arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 14297 of 1990 by special leave, is directed against the judgment of a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High court in Letters Patent Appeal No. 1251 of 1987. The other appeals before us are connected appeals filed by the Union of India or the claimants. The respondent was the owner of a piece of land in one of the villages in District Bhatinda in Punjab. Land admeasuring 74,375 acres situated in various villages in Bhatinda District including the land of the respondent was acquired by the appellants under the said Act.

(4) THE Notifications under S. 4 and 6 of the said Act were published on 10/05/1979 and 27/03/1