ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH)

1.00. As common question of law and facts arise in this group of appeals, they are decided and disposed of by this Common judgement and order.

2.00. All these appeals, under section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, have been preferred by the common appellant herein – ONGC – original opponent No.2 challenging the impugned judgement and award dated 30/3/2007 passed by the learned reference court – learned Principal Senior Civil Judge, Gandhinagar in Land Acquisition Reference Nos.93 to 97 of 2001, by which the learned reference court has partly allowed the said references by directing the appellant herein – original opponent to pay additional compensation to the claimants at the rate of Rs.237/- per sq.mtr., over and above the compensation already awarded by the Special Land Acquisition Officer at the rate of Rs.20.50 ps. per sq.mtr.

3.00. Facts leading to the present First Appeals in nutshell are as under :

3.01. That the acquired in question situated at village Shertha, Taluka and District Gandhinagar came to be acquired by the ONGC – acquiring body under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, (hereinafter referred to as “the Ac