( 1 ) THESE are appeals arising under Sec. 54 of the Land acquisition Act read with Sec. 96 C. P. C. filed by the original claimants-land-holders, challenging the common judgment and awards passed by the Reference Court under sec. 18 of the said Act.

( 2 ) THE pertinent and relevant facts in brief are as under :

( 3 ) THE lands in question were acquired for the purpose of Demy-2 Irrigation scheme, and are situated in and around village Rajavad, Taluka Morbi, District rajkot. The notification under Sec. 4 of the said Act was dated 19/02/1979, which", however, came to be published in the Government Gazette only on 10/05/1979. At this stage, we may only emphasize that there is a substantial interval between the making of the notification, and the publication; thereof, the significance whereof will be discussed hereinafter. The notification under Sec. 6 of the said Act was published on 3/01/1980. 3. 1 After going through the procedure required by law/the Land Acquisition officer declared his award under Sec. 11 of the said Act on 26/03/1981. In the said award, the L. A. O. , determined the market value of the lands in question by categorizing them according to the nature