( 1 ) THESE group of appeals are preferred under Sec. 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) read with Sec. 96 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. against the judgment and order made by the Reference Court (Asst. Judge, Mehsana) on 29. 2. 00 in L. A. R. Case Nos. 1207/94 to 1229/94 and 1231/94 to 1252/94.

( 2 ) CROSS-OBJECTIONS have been preferred by some of the claimants being Cross-objections No. 168/01 to 211/01 making grievance that the amount of compensation awarded by the Reference Court is not adequate and is required to be enhanced.

( 3 ) FOR public purpose, the lands were to be acquired and hence the notification under Sec. 4 of the Act was published on or about 26. 4. 89 in L. A. R. Case Nos. 10/88, 11/88 and 12/88. After following the procedure laid down in the Act, the notification under Sec. 6 of the Act was published on or about 8. 7. 89. By an award, the Special Land Acquisition officer offered Rs. 8. 75ps. Rs. 8. 00, Rs. 7. 25ps. , Rs. 7. 00 and Rs. 6. 00 per sq. mtr. to the claimants. The claimants were not agreeable and were of the view that the amount of compensation offered is not