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SC hikes land relief for Punjab, Haryana farmers
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

Farmers protest against land acquisition in Haryana. File photo

New Delhi, April 13
The Supreme Court has directed the Punjab and Haryana Governments to pay higher compensations ranging from 15 to 100 per cent to farmers for large chunks of land acquired in Ferozepur, Faridabad, Ambala, Fatehabad, Hisar, Sonepat and Kurukshetra districts during 1981-1993. The Haryana Government acquired 184.66 acres in Mewla and Maharajpur villages in Faridabad district for the development of Sector 34 through a notification on August 2, 1989.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J Chelameswar raised the compensation to the land owners in Faridabad district from Rs 280 per square yard, as determined by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to Rs 325 per sq yd, representing a hike of about 15 per cent.

Through a notification on February 10, 1984, the Punjab Government had acquired about 79 acres in Talwandi Bhai village in Ferozepur district in the state for the construction of a grain market.

The land acquisition collector had awarded Rs 40,000 per acre, which was enhanced by the Reference Court to Rs 4.6 lakh per acre (for land up to 1 killa) and Rs 4 lakh per acre for beyond one killa.

The HC reduced the amount to Rs 3.74 lakh per acre up to one acre and Rs 2.24 lakh beyond one acre. Now, the SC has enhanced this amount to Rs 7.25 lakh per acre after reducing the development charges cut from 40 per cent to 33.33 per cent.

For the land acquired in Ambala district, the apex court raised the compensation amount from Rs 110 per sq yd to Rs 180 per sq yd.

For the 157.20 acres of land acquired in Fatehabad of Hisar district, the SC raised the compensation to Rs 350 per sq yd against Rs 206-260 awarded by the HC.

In most of the cases, the SC brought down the price cut on account of development charges from 40 per cent to 33.33 per cent.