In Brief
The appellants challenged the Land Acquisition Collector's award of Rs. 2,200 per bigha for their 13 bighas 18 biswas of land in Village Roshan Pura, Delhi, acquired in 1973 for construction of a Sub-Divisional Office. Both the Reference Court and High Court dismissed their petition relying on a 1974 sale deed showing Rs. 7,000 per bigha. The Supreme Court distinguished the claimants' deed due to dissimilar land dimensions and location lack of evidence, but accepted the respondents' 1971 sale deed (same village, comparable size) showing Rs. 2,000 per bigha as a reliable base valuation. Applying 15% annual escalation from 1973, the Court enhanced compensation to Rs. 2,600 per bigha, plus statutory benefits.
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