HARIDWAR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,HARIDWAR vs RAGHUBIR SINGH, ETC.

The Supreme Court addressed the appeals concerning land acquisition compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, specifically examining the applicability of Section 23 regarding the determination of compensation rates. The Court upheld the High Court's decision to award a uniform compensation rate of Rs.26.25 per sq.ft. for all acquired lands, rejecting the Authority's argument for a three-belt categorization. The Court also affirmed the entitlement of claimants to statutory benefits under Sections 23(1A), 23(2), and 28, thereby reinforcing the principle that uniformity in compensation can be justified based on proximity to infrastructure.