JUDGMENT :

P.T. ASHA, J.

Prayer: This Appeal Suit is filed under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act against the Judgment and Decree of the Additional Sub-Court, Chengalput in L.A.O.P. No. 3 of 1986 dated 31.01.2003.

1. The defendant, Land Acquisition Officer and District Backward Welfare Officer is the appellant before this Court. The first appeal arises against the judgment and decree passed by the learned Additional Subordinate Judge, Chenglelepet in L.A.O.P. No. 3 of 1986.

2. The facts of the case are as follows:

The lands belonging to the original claimant/deceased first respondent was proposed to be acquired by the appellant herein for providing house sites to Dhobies/Barbers. The Section 4(1) Notification came to be issued on 03.03.1982 in and by which an extent of 4.04 acres was sought to be acquired. The Land Acquisition Officer fixed, the market value at Rs. 160 per cent and arrived at an award amount of Rs. 1,20,495.75. The lands that were acquired was comprised in S. No. 1263/1 of Maduranthagam Village. The deceased first respondent had received the compensation amount under protest and requested the matter to be referred to the appropriate Court under Section 18 of the L