JUDGMENT

VENKATACHALA, J.:—These appeals by special leave preferred by the Land Acquisition Officer of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board are directed against judgments and decrees of the High Court of Karnataka rendered in their appeals filed under S. 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 ( "the LA Act". Since the appeals filed in the High Court were directed against the judgments and decrees of the Court of Civil Judge, Belgaum rendered on references made to it under Section 18 of the LA Act based on common evidence adduced in them, these appeals could conveniently be disposed of by this common judgment.

2. Lands comprised in various survey numbers of Yamunapur, Kakati, Kangrali B.K., Kanbargi villages of Belgaum Taluka were proposed to be acquired for the purpose of industries under Section 28(1) of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Act, 1966 - "the KIAD" Act by a notification published in the Karnataka Gazette dated 4-9-1969. The lands proposed to be so acquired were 300 acres and formed a large block. The State Government negotiated with the owners of the said lands for settling the compensation payable t