JUDGEMENT

SURYA KANT, J.

Delay condoned.

Leave granted.

2. These appeals are preferred by the expropriated landowners (hereinafter ‘Appellants’), impugning the judgement dated 23.08.2022 passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh (hereinafter, ‘High Court’), whereby their appeals seeking further enhancement in compensation for their acquired lands, have been dismissed. As a necessary corollary, the High Court has allowed the cross appeals filed by the Respondent State, challenging the enhancement in compensation made by the Reference Court. Consequently, the Awards passed by the Reference Court have been set aside and the compensation as was granted by the Land Acquisition Collector (hereinafter, ‘LAC’) has been restored.

A. FACTS

3. The instant dispute regarding the grant of just and fair compensation originated with the issuance of a notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter, ‘1894 Act’) on 11.02.2011, for the acquisition of approximately 302.75 acres of land by the Respondent State. This land, including the Appellants’ lands, is situated in the revenue estate of Tauru village in Mewat District. The acquisition process was initiated for