S.S.SANDHAWALIA, J.

1. This set of eleven regular first appeals - all preferred by the State of Haryana (with cross-objections in nine) admittedly give rise to identical issues of law and fact and are, therefore, being disposed of by this single judgement.

2. By a notification under S.4 of the Land Acquisition Act published in the Government Gazette on the 1st of May, 1973, an area of 70 acres in all was sought to be acquired for the public purpose of the construction of the Hissar bye-pass on National Highway No. 10 connecting Delhi, Hissar, Sirsa and Fazilka. In the acquisition proceedings, that followed, the Collector rendered his award on the 24th of Dec. 1973, wherein he classified the land into two blocks on the basis of its proximity or otherwise from the village of Sat Rod and awarded compensation at the rate of Rs. 6480/- per acre for the land falling in A block and at the rate of Rs. 5000/- per acre for the remaining land in B block. Feeling dissatisfied with the compensation awarded the landowners preferred a number of references which were all consolidated for trial by the learned Additional District Judge, Hissar. The solitary issue framed therein on merits was