ORDER

Leave granted. We have heard learned counsel on both sides.

Notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 (for short, the Act ) was published on September 14, 1985 acquiring 13.75 acres for setting up the Government Degree College at Lalitpur, State of U.P. The Land Acquisition Officer in his award dated September 1, 1988 made under Section 11 of the Act determined the compensation at the rate of Rs. 11,887.78 pere acre. On reference under Section 18 of the Act, the District Judge by his award and decree dated April 21, 1990 determined the compensation at the rate of Rs. 5/- per sq. ft. On appeal by the appellants, the High Court reduced the compensation to Rs. 3.30 sq. ft. by judgment and decree dated November 16, 1994 in First Appeal No. 603/93 etc. Thus these appeals by special leave.

2. It is contended by Shri A.B. Rohtagi, learned senior counsel for the appellants that the whole approach adopted by the High Court and the reference Court is clearly illegal and erroneous. When 13.75 acres of land was acquired for public purpose, would a reasonable prudent purchaser offer to purchase the land at the square foot basis is the question posed and rightly