( 1 ) THIS batch of 27 First Appeals filed by the State of Gujarat, Special Land Acquisition Officer (Narmada Project) and Executive Engineer (Narmada Project) as appellants, is directed against the order dated 10th May, 1996 passed by the Assistant Judge, Bharuch as Reference Court in Land Acquisition Reference Cases Nos. 844/88 to 846/88 (3), 848/88 to 850/88 (3), 1192/98 to 1204/88 (13), 1206/88 to 1211/88 (6) and 1213/88 to 1214/88 (2); the main Land Reference Cases being Nos. 844/88 to 846/88. The learned counsel for the appellants in all these appeals have challenged the impugned order dated 10th May, 1996 passed by the Reference Court on the following grounds: (1) The Reference Court has erred in awarding the interest on solatium; (2) The Reference Court has erred in deducting only 25 per cent of the value of the crop whereas it should have deducted 50 per cent towards the value of the crop in view of the observations made in the case of State of Gujarat Vs. Rama Rana reported in AIR 1997 Supreme Court 1845 (para 4); and (3) The Reference Court erred in applying the multiplier of 12. 5 instead of 10 while granting the compensation.

( 2 ) IT has been given out