These appeals arising out of land reference Nos. 365/89, 366/89, 367/89, 370/89, 371/89, 373/89, 374/89, 377/89, 23/95, 26/95 question the correctness of the Judgment and Award passed by the District Judge, Nashik, enhancing the compensation granted to the respondents/claimants in references filed under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act. The Land Acquisition Officer, National High Way Nashik (Special Land Acquisition Officer) published a Notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act on 20.8.1981, followed by declaration under Section 6 on 24.3.1983 and an Award under section 11 on 23.6.1986. Though the Notification under section 4 was issued on 20.8.1981, possession of the land has been taken little prior thereto i.e. on 16.7.1981. The claimants accepted the award under protest and moved reference applications under Section 18 of the Act, respectively. The present appeal relate to the claimants whose lands are covered by the said same notification. The lands of all claimants were acquired for the same project under the same notification and hence, all the references are decided jointly and disposed off by a common Judgment.

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