JUDGMENT

Raju, J.-These two appeals involve common and identical questions of law and are dealt with together. In C.A.No. 3515 of 1997, the challenge is to the judgment dated 21.1.97 of the Gauhati High Court, Agartala Bench, made in Civil Rule No. 12 of 1997, whereunder the High Court, applying the earlier decision rendered in Civil Rule 10 of 1997, directed, while setting aside the order dated 18.9.96 of the Land Acquisition Collector, the said Collector to consider the petitions filed by the respondent-landowners under Section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as "The Act") on merits and in accordance with law, holding them to be within the period of limitation stipulated therefor. The appeal in C.A. No. 3516/1997 is against the above noticed earlier decision in Civil Rule 10 of 1997 dated 21.1.97.

2. So far as C.A. No. 3515 of 1997 is concerned, relying upon the Reference Court s Award dated 19.9.94 in case Nos. Misc. L.A. 29/92 and 30/92, the respondents sought by a petition filed on 16.12.1994 for re-determination of the compensation for their lands invoking Section 28-A of the Act. The Land Acquisition Collector rejected the claim by his order dat