Will get the asking price for the land! The High Court gave a decision which will bring a smile on the face of every land owner.

If the government takes your land for a project, it can no longer get away with paying you a pittance as compensation. Allahabad High Court has given such a historic decision, which will become an example in future for all those people whose land is acquired by the government. The court has clearly said that the owner of the land has every right to get compensation at the highest market value at that time. What is this whole story of victory of a common man? This whole matter is of Roop Narayan and some other people, resident of Natwan village of Mirzapur. Many years ago, the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board had taken 6 bighas and 2 biswas of his land to build a sub-station. In return, the Collector fixed an amount of only ₹ 26,624 per bigha as compensation on 28 September 1993, which was like a drop in the bucket. Apart from this, some nominal amount was also fixed for the house, well and trees. Roop Narayan ji was not happy with this nominal compensation and challenged this decision. First, their views were not heard in the lower court (Special Judge, Mirzapur) and the old compensation was upheld. But he did not give up and knocked on the door of Allahabad High Court. How did the High Court change the whole game? During the hearing in the High Court, it was argued that compensation for any land should be given according to the highest market price at that time. The Court showed the way: The High Court said in clear words that the land owner should get the best price for his land. The court found out that at the same time that Roop Narayan ji’s land was taken, another land nearby was sold for ₹34,125 per biswa. An important rule: Now, since the land sold was only four biswas i.e. a small piece, and Roop Narayan’s land was much larger, the court used a rule (‘Hormel vs State of Haryana’ case). According to this rule, if the price of a larger plot is determined on the basis of a smaller plot, then it can be reduced by up to 50% so that the correct market value can be arrived at. Rightful money received: On this basis, the court fixed the new rate of compensation at ₹ 17,062.50 per bishwat after deducting 50%. This amount is many times more than the compensation being received earlier. This decision of the High Court is a big victory for all those land owners whose land is taken for development projects. This ensures that they get the right and respectable value of their property.