JUDGMENT :

ANUJA PRABHUDESSAI, J.

1. This is an appeal under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, assailing the judgment of the Reference Court, Darwha dated 25.01.2012 in Land Acquisition Case No. 1425 of 2014. By the impugned judgment, the Reference Court has partly allowed the Reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short ‘the said Act’) and enhanced the compensation from Rs. 10,500/- per hectare to Rs. 50,000/- per hectare in respect of the land under Survey No. 19/2 admeasuring 6H 7R of village Mokh, Tq. Digras, District Yavatmal.

2. The brief facts leading to this appeal are as under:

The appellants were the owners of the land under Survey No. 19/2 of village Mokh, Tq. Digras, District Yavatmal. The said land admeasuring 6H 7R was acquired by the Acquiring Body (Respondent No. 4) for the purpose of submergence of Arunavati Project. The Notification under Section 4 was published on 23.01.1986 and the Award was declared on 03.08.1988. The Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) determined the compensation at Rs. 10,500/- per hectare. Not being satisfied with the quantum of compensation determined by the LAO, the appellants filed a Reference under Section 1