JUDGMENT

PUNCHHI, J.:- Special leave granted in all these matters.

2. These appeals artificially are divided in two groups but their aim is common, as is their foundation. A large chunk of land measuring 267.91 acres abutting the Delhi Rohtak Road near the town of Bahadurgarh, District Rohtak was acquired for the public purpose of development and utilisation as industrial area. A notification under S.4 of the Land Acquisition Act for the purpose was issued on 6-1-1977. The acquisition proceeded speedily because within a matter of days, i.e., on 18-2-1977, the Land Acquisition Collector gave award fixing two rates of compensation. The land abutting Delhi-Rohtak Road up to a depth of 36 Karams (198 ft.) on either side of the road was to fetch compensation at the rate of Rs. 20,560/- and the remaining land on either side of the road at the rate of Rs. 20,000/- per acre. Approximately the compensation worked out to about Rs. 4/- per square yard. Noticeably the price difference amongst the two classification was barely Rs. Rs. 560/- per acre. The dissatisfied land-owners on reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act to the District Judge, Rohtak were successful in obtaining