1. All the aforementioned appeals have arisen out of a common judgment dated 5-2-1996 and the award dated 16-2-1996 passed by the First Additional Judicial Commissioner-cum-Tribunal constituted under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (for short the said Act) passed in Reference Cases Nos. 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 of 1990, whereby and whereunder the Tribunal on reference enhanced the amount of compensation payable to the claimants-respondents for the land acquired under the provisions of the said Act. Since common question of law and facts are involved in all these appeals, the same have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The facts relevant for the purpose of these cases are that the Central Government in exercise of power conferred by Sub-sec. (1) of Sec. 4 of the Act issued a notification dated 8-4-1978 of its intention to prospect for coal in the lands of village Kichto, P. S. Barkagaon, District Hazaribagh. Thereafter notification under Sec. 7(1) of the said Act for the acquisition of the aforesaid lands was made on 27-3-1980 and declaration under Sec. 8 was issued on 17-2-19