Judgment

VENKATARAMIAH, J. - The question involved in these three appeals by certificate relates to the liability of the State of Bihar to pay the amount of compensation in respect of lands which after their acquisition by it under the Land Acquisition Act stood transferred to the State of West Bengal under the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act, 1956 (Act No. 40 of 1956) (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

2. The facts of these cases may be briefly stated thus : Three pieces of land belonging to the appellant which were situated in village Madati in the District of Purnea in the State of Bihar were acquired under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act by the State of Bihar in the year 1951 for a certain public purpose. After the Land Acquisition Officer passed the awards in respect of the said lands, the question of determination of proper compensation was referred to the District Judge, Purnea under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act at the instance of the appellant. The District Judge by his judgment and award dated May 7, 1954 enhanced the compensation payable in each of the three cases. Against that judgment, the State of Bihar filed three appeals befo