A.S. Venkatachalamoorthy, J.

1. The Government of Tamil Nadu acquired vast extent of lands in Kooraikundu Village, Virudu Nagar Taluk and District, which are subject matter of these appeals for the construction of Armed Reserve Administrative Block and Quarters for Armed Reserve Men and Parade ground. Notification under Section.4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act was published in the Tamil Nadu Gazette on 15.7.1987 and in Tamil Dailies on 8.5.1988. After due notices to all concerned, the award enquiry was conducted from 4.12.1989 to 27.2.1990. The Special Tahsildar, Land Acquisition, Master Plan Complex, Virudu Nagar by Award No.1 of 1990 dated 7.5.1990, fixed the market value of the acquired lands at Rs.24,700 per Hectare and awarded compensation on that basis. The respondents/land owners, being aggrieved by such fixation, sought for reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act. Before the Reference Court, the learned counsel appearing for all the Claimants and the Government Pleader appearing for the State, filed a joint memo, requesting the Reference Court to enquire all the Claim Petitions jointly and also to take common evidence. On behalf of the land owners