In Brief
Appellants challenged the acquisition of their land by the State of Punjab for a grain market project. After a decade-long legal dispute, the High Court had upheld the acquisition as procedurally valid. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal while affirming the High Court's procedural conclusion, but restructured the compensation process. The Court directed the Reference Court to resolve enhancement claims within three months, directed the Collector to pay awarded amounts immediately with interest, allowed claimants not yet before the Reference Court to seek redetermination under Section 28A, and closed off further procedural challenges on acquisition validity. This brought finality to protracted litigation while ensuring fair compensation."
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