INDER SINGH vs THE UNION OF INDIA

The Supreme Court held that under Section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, a claimant is entitled to just and reasonable compensation, necessitating the examination of witnesses to prove prevailing market prices as of the notification date under Section 4(1). The Court found that the documentary evidence of sale transactions and mutation entries were inadmissible due to lack of witness examination. While the compensation awarded by the Collector was upheld, the Court acknowledged the potential value of the lands for future residential and commercial development, leading to a partial allowance of the appeals.