ORDER

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Civil Writ Petition No. 14018 of 2008, dated 13.08.2008, whereby and whereunder the High Court has dismissed the aforesaid Writ Petition filed by the appellants.

3. The dispute relates to acquisition of lands situated in village Lahora and Sarangpur, Chandigarh, by the respondent No. 1 for the purpose of development of complex for important projects and allied purposes, i.e., Chandigarh Science Park and Institutional Area and also for regulated and planned development under the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952.

4. The respondent No. 1 had issued a notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short ‘the Act’), dated 25.07.2005, for acquisition of lands including lands in Khasra Nos. 111, 112, 113, 114/1, 114/2 and 244 in the village Lahora, whereat the residential houses of the appellants are also situated for the aforesaid purpose. Pursuant to the said notification, the Land Acquisition Officer (for short ‘the LAO’) had issued a notice under Section 5-A of the Act, inter alia, directing the