JUDGMENT

VENKATARAMIAH. J.:— A piece of land measuring ten and a half cents situated at Kozhippathi Village of Chittur Taluk, Palghat District, State of Kerala originally belonged to Indrani, wife of the petitioner and it now belongs to the petitioner. Under a preliminary notification issued under S. 3(l) of the Kerala Land Acquisition Act on 24-2-1981 the said piece of land along with some other lands was proposed to be acquired for a certain public purpose. Both Indrani and the petitioner filed objections to the proposed acquisition. After overruling the objections the State Government published a declaration under S. 6 of the Kerala Land Acquisition Act on 19-1-1984. On 24-9-1984 the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984 passed by Parliament came into force in the State of Kerala and some other parts of India to which it applies. By S. 9 of the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act. 1984 a new section, i.e., S.11-A was introduced into the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) which reads thus :

"11-A. Period within which an award shall be made - The Collector shall make an award under section 11 within a period of two years from the date of the publication o