Alternative site entitlement turns on ownership on the Section 4(1) notification date, not later purchase.

Entitlement to an alternative site under the Government policy was confined to the person who owned the acquired land on the date of publication of the notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act. The policy was construed on that footing, so a purchaser after the notification could not be treated as the owner for allotment purposes, although such purchaser might still pursue compensation through the transferred interest. The respondent was therefore not entitled to an alternative site because he was not the owner on the relevant notification date.

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Issues: Whether entitlement to an alternative site under the Government policy had to be determined with reference to ownership on the date of publication of the notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act.

Analysis: The claim for alternative site depended on whether the respondent was the owner when the acquisition notification was published. The policy was construed as confining the benefit to the person who owned the land on the relevant notification date. A purchaser after the notification could not be treated as the owner for allotment purposes, though such purchaser may claim compensation through the transferred interest.

Conclusion: The respondent was not entitled to alternative site since he was not the owner on the date of the notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act.

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