JIVANBHAI AMBALAL vs SPECIAL L.A.Q. OFFICER .

The Supreme Court held that the market value of acquired land should be determined based on previous awards, specifically referencing the market value of Rs.54.50 per sq.m established in 1986, with a cumulative annual increase of 10% applied for the relevant years. The Court found that the Reference Court had incorrectly calculated the escalation and thus modified the compensation from Rs.62.50 to Rs.71 per sq.m in one case, and from Rs.58.50 to Rs.66 per sq.m in another, affirming the modified awards regarding solatium and interest. The appeals were partly allowed, resulting in increased compensation for the landowners.