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PETITIONER: THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: LOHIT KUMAR ROY

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       24/07/1996

BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. G.B. PATTANAIK (J)

CITATION:  1996 SCALE  (5)543

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894  [for short, the "Act"] initially was published on May 25, 1956 acquiring a huge extent of 985.95 acres of land for industrial  purpose in  Durgapur. It  would appear  that subsequently the  notification got lapsed. Consequently, the second notification came to be published on August 10, 1964. The Land  Acquisition Officer  determined the compensation @ Rs.2,310/- per acre. In this case, we are concerned with the extent of  the lands  in 5 plots Sri in survey Nos.710, 735, 762, 824  and 912 of an extent of 0.33, 0.11, 0.63, 0.13 and 0.49 acres  respectively. The  reference Court  enhanced the compensation   Rs.1,45,000/- per acre relying upon Ext. 1(d) dated April  24, 1964.  It is  settled law  that the similar lands were  of large  extent involved for acquisition and or evidence relied  upon, even  the High  Court has doubted the genuineness of  this document.  It is  scated by the learned counsel for  the appellant  that this  document came  to  be executed  between   the  parties  who  are  claiming  higher compensation. It  would be  obvious  that  after  the  first notification was  issued and  before the second notification came  to   be  published  this  document  was  brought  into existence  to   inflate  the   market  value.   Under  these circumstances, the  High Court  in  another  case  was  well justified in  doubting the correctness of it. Unfortunately, except that  document, there  is  no    other  evidence  for enhancement of  the compensation.  But in  view of  the fact that large  extent of  the lands  are involved and we do not have the  advantage of any other evidence or assistance from respondents, we are not inclined to confirm the award of the Collector. under these circumstances, we set aside the award or the  Court and the High Court and remit the matter to the reference Court  to decide  the compensation  afresh on  the basis of  the evidence vis-a-vis any other reference pending before  it  having  similar  facts  and  decide  the  matter according to law.

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    The  appeal   is  accordingly   allowed,  but,  in  the circumstances, without costs.