HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI AND HON’BLE SMT. JUSTICE TIRUMALA DEVI EADA L.A.A.S.No.636 of 2011 JUDGMENT: (per Hon’ble Smt. Justice Tirumala Devi Eada)

This appeal, under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, (for short ‘the Act’) is preferred by the appellants – claimants, aggrieved by the order and decree dated 30.12.2009 passed in O.P.No.878 of 2007 by the learned 1st Additional District Judge at Khammam (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Reference Court’).

2. For convenience and clarity, the parties herein are referred to as they were arrayed before the Reference Court.

3. The facts of the case in brief are that based on the requisition made by the Singareni Collieries Company Limited, General Manager, Kothagudem Area, the lands to an extent of Ac.01-30 guntas in survey No.165/1/AI Dry and an extent of Ac.02-13 guntas in survey No.200/AA dry, in all an extent of Ac.04-03 guntas have been acquired. A draft notification under Section 4(1) of the Act was published in newspaper on 17.04.2004 and 18.04.2004. After conducting due enquiry, the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) has awarded Rs.72,000/- per acre including statutory benefits. Aggrieved by the said award, the