JUDGMENT

Rajendra Babu, J.-Leave granted.

2. An extent of land measuring 10 acres 1 cent comprised in different survey numbers situated at Puttur adjoining Govindapalem of Chittoor District was notified for acquisition under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) in the Gazette on 28th April, 1977. After issuing final notification under Section 6 of the Act, the Land Acquisition Officer passed an award on 28.2.1981 determining the compensation payable in respect of the lands in question. He grouped the lands into five categories and paid at different rates of compensation. So far as lands which were classified by him as non agricultural, he fixed a compensation of Rs. 50/- per sq. yard to the 1st and 2nd group and at Rs. 45/-, 40/- and 35/- per sq. yard to the rest of the groups depending upon their locations. He also classified certain lands as agricultural lands and awarded a compensation of Rs. 9375/- per acre and Rs. 13,334/- per acre depending upon their loca­tions. On a reference made under Section 18 of the Act to the Civil Court, the award made by the Land Acquisition Officer was modified having found that classification into agricultu