R. V. RAVEENDRAN, J.

( 1 ) THIS case relates to acquisition of 1 acre 13 guntas of land belonging to respondents 1 and 2. Notification under section 4 (1) of the land Acquisition Act, 1894 was issued on 20. 12. 1990. The land Acquisition Officer, by award dated 11. 9. 1991, assessed the compensation at Rs. 4,000/- per acre. The reference court, by award dated 10. 3. 2005, increased the compensation to Rs. 30,420/-per acre, by capitalizing the agricultural income from the crops of jowar and tur. The petitioner filed an appeal, contending that the compensation was excessive. The said appeal was dismissed by the first appellate court on 23. 12. 2005. The second appeal by the petitioner was also dismissed by the High court on 26. 10. 2007. By this petition, the petitioner seeks special leave to appeal against the said judgment. Drafting of Special Leave Petition

( 2 ) THE petition states that the following "questions of law of general importance" arise for consideration :

(i) Whether the High Court was right in dismissing the appeal filed by the petitioner without considering the merits of the case, only on the ground that there is delay in filing the application seeking condonation of d