CHANDRA BANSI SINGH AND ORS. ETC. vs STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that the release of 4.03 acres of land belonging to influential families under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was unconstitutional as it violated Article 14 of the Constitution, being an act of favoritism without justification. The Court deemed the entire Notification under Section 4 dated 19th August 1974 valid, ruling that the released land still forms part of the acquisition. The Court also clarified that compensation should not be based on the market value at the time of actual possession but rather on the date of the Section 4 Notification, emphasizing the need for equity in compensation for delays.