Judgment

VENKATACHALIAH, J. - These three appeals, by the claimant-respondents in certain Land Acquisition Appeals before the High Court are preferred, by Special Leave, against the common order dated 14-6-1973 of the High Court of Mysore (Karnataka) condoning, under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, certain delays on the part of the Land Acquisition Officer in preferring the three corresponding appeals in M.F.A. No. 290 of 1973, M.F.A. 293 of 1973 and M.F.A. No. 289 of 1973 respectively.

The appeals before the High Court were directed against the common award made by the Civil Judge, Bangalore District, in certain Land Acquisition References under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act steeply enhancing the compensation for the lands of the appellants acquired for the purpose of the University of Agricultural Sciences at Bangalore. The circumstances leading up to and necessitating the prayer for the condonation of the delays before the High Court seem somewhat unfortunate, casting, as they do, aspersions on the probity and rectitude of the conduct and good faith of the Government Counsel entrusted with the conduct of land acquisition cases.

2. The common award, in the three land