JUDGMENT

Bhan, J.-Aggrieved by the judgment of the High Court of Gujarat in reducing the compensation payable under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and claiming more, fair and equitable compensation for the acquired land the claimants have come up in these appeals.

2. On 15th May, 1974 State of Gujarat issued a Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act ) for acquisition of 78 hectares, 32 acres and 54 sq. meters of land in Village Gorva, which is situated within the limits of the Municipal Corporation of Baroda, Gujarat, for the Gujarat Housing Board. It was published in the official Gazette on 8th August, 1974. Notification under section 6 of the Act was issued on 12th July, 1977 and was published in the Gazette on 21st July, 1977.

3. There were 94 claimants whose land was notified for acquisition under the aforesaid notifications. They claimed compensation @ Rs. 4/- per sq.ft. before the Land Acquisition Officer (for short the LAO ).

4. The land owners entered into an agreement with Arun Land Corporation (for short the ALC ), 36th appellant in the instant appeals. This agreement reads, inter alia, as under:

(a)