JUDGMENT :

Vaibhavi D. Nanavati, J.

1. This first appeal under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short ‘the Act’) is at the instance of the State of Gujarat - original opponents and is directed against the judgment and award passed by the 3rd Additional Principal Senior Civil Judge, Rajkot in the Land Reference Case No.416 of 1998 dated 29.9.2017 below Ex.36. The Court below allowed the reference raised by the respondents (original claimants) and passed the following order which is reproduced thus :-

“The present reference application is granted with following details.

(1) The agricultural lands at Rajkot village of the applicants in the reference cases were acquired for construction of a bypass around the Rajkot City joining Rajkot – Jamnagar, Rajkot – Morbi and Rajkot- Gondal roads. The price of acquired land is determined at the rate of Rs.600-00 per square meter wherein the compensation amount which is already paid by the Land Acquisition Officer at the rate of Rs.20-00 per square meter is to be deducted therefrom. It is held that the remaining price at the ra