Byers, J.

1. The petitioner has been awarded compensation under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act and on his application under Section 18 of the Act, a reference has been made to the Court of the Subordinate Judge of Tinnevelly. At the time he asked for a reference under Section 18 the petitioner claimed compensation at the rate of eight annas per square foot, although he had in his claim under Section 9 (2) of the Act demanded compensation at the rate of twelve annas per square foot. After the case had been referred to the Subordinate Judge by the Collector under Section 19 of the Act, the petitioner filed a superfluous statement before the Subordinate Judge in which he reiterated his claim to compensation at the rate of eight annas per square foot. Subsequently, in consequence of something which had happened in another Land Acquisition case relating to some land in the neighbourhood, the petitioner desired to enhance his claim from the eight annas specified by him to the twelve annas per square foot originally claimed under Section 9 (2) before the Collector. He accordingly put in an application to amend his claim and this was refused for two reasons by the learned S