In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed appeals by original landowners disputing compensation awarded for agricultural land acquired by the State of Uttar Pradesh for the NOIDA development project in 1976. The landowners sought compensation of Rs.297 per square yard by claiming parity with judgments awarding higher rates for land acquired in 1977 and 1983. The Court held that compensation for land acquired in different years cannot be compared, as development occurs progressively over time. Since the 1976 acquisition pre-dated the development plan (sanctioned 1983), the proper compensation was Rs.28.12 per square yard—the rate consistently awarded for acquisitions of that year. The appeals were partly allowed, with compensation enhanced from Rs.4.628 to Rs.28.12 per square yard."
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