These two writ appeals arise out of orders dated 24.07.2008 and 21.07.2008 in WP.Nos.8889 of 2008 and 2183 of 2008 respectively.

The background facts:

The lands belonging to the respondents were acquired, as they were coming under foreshore submergence of Somasila Project. In respect of the lands of the respondents in WA.No.1765 of 2008, a common notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, ‘the Act’) was published on 22.02.1994 and for the lands of the respondents in WA.No.1785 of 2008, a similar notification was issued on 11.02.1994. Along with the lands of these respondents, lands of others were also acquired under the said two notifications. After following the due procedure, the Land Acquisition Officer (for short, ‘the LAO’) passed two separate awards covering the respondents in each of these writ appeals respectively in the year 1994. Some of the landowners covered by the two notifications sought for reference to the civil Court under Section 18 of the Act for determination of the market value. The reference proceedings pertaining to the acquisition under the notification under which the lands of t