1. This appeal filed under Section 54 of Land Acquisition Act is directed against the judgment and award passed by the learned Additional Subordinate Judge, Salem on 05.01.1994 in LAOP No.2/1987. The Land Acquisition Officer, namely the Special Tahsildar (LA) (Adi Dravidar Welfare), Salem is the appellant herein. The claimants before the court below in the LAOP are the respondents.

2. An extent of 0.34.5 hectare dry land (equivalent to 85 cents) comprised in Survey No.84/12 in Keerapappambadi Village, Salem Taluk, Salem District was acquired by the Government following the procedure prescribed in the Land Acquisition Act (Central Act) for providing house sites to the Arunthathiars of Keerapappambadi village. The notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for acquiring the said land was approved by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.2423/SWD dated 30.10.1984 and the same was published in the Government Gazette on 112. 1984. As the said notification was not initially published in the vernacular language it was once again published in the vernacular language on 03.01.1985 and 04.01.1985.

3. After hearing the objections and overruling the same, the Governme