JUDGMENT

1. HEARD THE LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES.

2. THE SPECIAL DEPUTY COLLECTOR, LAND ACQUISITION, POCHAMPAD, HAS IMPUGNED THE ORDER OF THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH DATED 2-2-1996 IN CIVIL REVISION PETITIONS NOS. 188-93 OF 1996 WHEREBY THE HIGH COURT DISMISSED THE CIVIL REVISION PETITIONS AND AFFIRMED THE ORDER OF THE SUBORDINATE JUDGE ALLOWING THE APPLICATIONS FILED BY THE RESPONDENTS HEREIN CLAIMING BENEFIT OF HIGHER SOLATIUM AND INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 23(2) OF THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT, 1894, AS AMENDED (FOR SHORT "THE ACT").

3. IT IS NOT DISPUTED, BEFORE US, THAT THE LANDS BELONGING TO THE RESPONDENTS WERE NOTIFIED FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT AND AN AWARD WAS MADE BY THE LAND ACQUISITION COLLECTOR ON 29-12-1975 IN RESPECT OF THE LANDS ACQUIRED AS WELL AS COMPENSATION FOR THE TREES STANDING THEREON. REFERENCE WAS SOUGHT UNDER SECTION 18 OF THE ACT AND THE REFERENCE COURT, BY ITS JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED 31-3-1979, ENHANCED THE COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF THE LANDS ACQUIRED, BUT AFFIRMED THE AWARD INSOFAR AS IT RELATED TO THE COMPENSATION FOR THE TREES. IN THE YEAR 1982, THE RESPONDENTS FILED APPLICATION FOR REVIEW CLAIMING ENHANCED COMPENS