JUDGMENT :

A terse issue, but which can have ramifications in matters relating to acquisitions under the National Highways Act, 1956, is placed for resolution in these matters; being if the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition, under the aforesaid Act, can review or modify an Award issued by it earlier.

2. I will first explain how this issue has been presented in these two cases which require to be disposed of together, since the reliefs to be granted in one will certainly have a bearing on the reliefs to be granted in the other.

3. The petitioners in these cases are stated to be the owners of properties which were acquired by the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) and with respect to which, Awards have been issued by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA). They have produced the Awards as Ext.P2 in both cases.

4. The petitioner in W.P(C)No.1996/2021, however, alleges that even after Ext.P2 Award had been issued as early as on 27.12.2019, the CALA, thereafter, modified it through Ext.P6, reducing the value of structures and land therein and asserts that this is illegal and unlawful.

5. As far as the petitioner in W.P(C)No.12458/2021 is concerned, she appears t