( 1 ) SINCE this batch of 23 appeals under Sec. 54 of the Land Acquisition act, 1894 (the Act) arises out of common judgment and award and raises identical questions, and upon joint request, these appeals are being disposed of by this common judgment.

( 2 ) PURSUANT to the preliminary notification under Sec. 4 (1) of the Act published in government gazette on 16. 8. 1990 for the purpose of branch canal for Narmada project, agricultural lands of villages Kelod of Bharuch district came to be acquired followed by notification under Sec. 6 published on 27. 12. 1990. The Land Acquisition Officer offered an amount of Rs. 180/- per Are by way of compensation by his order and award dated 27. 6. 1991 which was not acceptable to the respondent-original claimants, as a result of which a Reference under Sec. 18 of the Act came to be made at the instance of the respondents before the District Court at Bharuch. Out of Land Reference Case Nos. 374/92 to 393/92 and 11 to 13/95 which came to be decided by the learned Assistant judge, Bharuch by common judgment and award dated 26. 6. 1996, the aforesaid, Land reference cases were partly allowed. The Reference Court held that the clai