to ascertain the market value of the land under acquisition. However, to ensure that the valuation is just and proper, this Court has explained that such sale exemplars must satisfy certain criteria, including that: (a) the sale must be a genuine transaction; (b) the sale deed must have been executed around the time of the Section 4 notification; (c) the land must be situated near the acquired land; (d) the nature of the land covered in the sale instance must be similar to the acquired land; and (e) the size of the plot covered by the sale instance should be comparable to the land acquired.4 20. Apart from satisfying these factors, it is also imperative that the sale exemplars reflect the price of the land on the ‘date of publication of the notification under Section 4’. On account of this express condition, there are numerous instances where this Court 3 AIR 1959 SC 429. 4 Shaji Kuriakose v. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., (2001) 7 SCC 650. 19 | Pagehas laid down that the sale exemplars