JUDGMENT

P .R.RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.

This appeal has been preferred at the instance of the State being aggrieved by the extent of compensation awarded by the Reference Court providing 65% enhancement over and above the land value fixed by the Land Acquisition Officer on the property in question.

2. The matter pertains to acquisition of property having an extent of 0.50 Ares in Re-survey No.460/28 of Kilikollur Village, which was acquired under Section 4(1) notification issued on 7.3.1995 for doubling railway track between Kollam and Kayamkulam. After considering the facts and figures, the land value was fixed by the Land Acquisition Officer as ₹19,688/- per Are. On seeking for reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, the matter came to be considered by the Reference Court, where enhancement was provided to an extent of ₹32,495/- per Are, which virtually is to an extent of 65% over and above the L.A.A.No.93/13 -2-

amount awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer. This made the State to feel aggrieved and to approach this Court by filing the present appeal.

3. Adv. Sri Anchal C.Vijayan entered appearance on behalf of the respondent. We heard the learned Senior Government Plead