The Act requires the government to determine the multiplication factor for compensation for each acquisition separately, taking into consideration the distance of the project from urban areas, to ensure fair and just compensation.

1. Heard Mr. D. Baruah, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner in both the W.P. (C) No. 426(AP) of 2016 and Cont. Case (C) No. 24 (AP) of 2016. Also heard Mr. K. Ete, learned Sr. Addl. Advocate General assisted by Ms. R. Basar, learned Jr. Govt. Advocate appearing for the State respondents.

2. The facts and circumstance leading to the filing of this writ petition and the contempt case are briefly stated as follows:

By a notification under Section-4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984, the appropriate Government issued a notification dated 16.12.2013, notifying certain areas of land situated at East Siang District belonging to the petitioner that the same is likely to be acquired for the purpose of creating infrastructure and training area for the Combat Supporting Units of Non-Accretional Forces. Following the issuance of the said notification on 24.12.2013, the declaration under Section-6 of the Act of 1894 was made and the same was duly published in the Arunachal Gazette by the Secretary Land Management. After everything was said and done award for the land of the petitioner which was to be acquired as per the mandate in the notification issued under Section-4 of the 1894 Act was notified on 12.02.2014. The relevant portion of the award is reproduced here below:

“NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with Government approval Vide No. LM- 124/2013/ 1317 dated 29.01.2014 and after a careful examination and consideration of various aspects of the matter, the following award is hereby drawn by the undersigned in accordance with the provisions of L.A. Act, 1894.

1. That, the total area of the land situated at Sigar area is 562.47 acres.

2. That, the rate of compensation of the land value as per the sanctioned letter of Government of India, Ministry of Defence is Rs. 2,18,30,986 per acre inclusive of all aspects.

3. That, the rate of compensation of land @ Rs. 2,18,309.86 paise per acre i.e. 562.47 x 2,18,309.86 paise = Rs. 12,27,94,930.05 paise + 30% solatium under Section 23(2) of Rs. 3,68,38,479.02 paise + 12% additional interest on above amount for one year under Section - 23(1-A) of Rs. 1,47,35,391.61 paise stands at Rs. 17,43,68,800.68 paise.

4. That, Rs. 98,23,594.40 paise is the 8% establishment charges of the actual market value of the proposed land to be deposited into the head of account 0029-LR (as land revenue) and further Rs. 24,55,898.60 paise is the 2% of the total value involved in the acquisition of 562.47 acres of private land which is payable to the Deputy Commissioner, East Siang District, Pasighat.

5. That, the details of the interested person as available in the LRSO’s Office in the notified land is annexed as Annexure-“A” of this Award.

6. The total compensation award is Rs. 18,66,48,292.68 paise in respect of the land notified under Section of L.A. Act and the Army authority for whose interest and purpose the land is acquired are hereby required to deposit the said amount to the office of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Collector for further payment to the interested and affected person.

Thus, the award is hereby finalized and filed in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Siang District, Pasighat.

Sd/-

(Opak Gao)

Deputy Commissioner

East Siang District Pasighat.”

3. Thereafter possession of the land was taken by the Collector of the District East Siang on 17.02.2014. After taking possession of the land the Deputy Commissioner, East Siang District issued a possession certificate dated 17.02.2014. In the meanwhile, the new Act namely the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, was enacted by the parliament and the same came into force on 01.01.2014. Therefore, the State Government as per the provisions of Sub Section Clause-1 and Clause-2 of Section-26 read with first scheduled of the Act issued a notification dated 29.09.2014, wher