RAVINDER NARAIN vs UNION OF INDIA

The Supreme Court addressed the valuation of lands acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, specifically examining the compensation rates set by the Delhi High Court. The Court upheld the High Court's decision to fix compensation at Rs.30,000 per bigha, emphasizing that the rates for smaller plots cannot be used as a reliable criterion for larger acquisitions. The Court reaffirmed the principle that market value must be determined based on comprehensive evidence and not solely on isolated sale instances, referencing prior judgments including The Collector of Lakhimpur v. Bhuban Chandra Dutta (AIR 1971 SC 2015).