- (1.) These appeals are filed against the common judgment and order dated 05.07.2004 passed by the High Court of Judicature, Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Appeal No. 120 of 2001 with Cross Objection(SR) No. 17190 of 2001, Appeal No. 1778 of 2001 with Cross Objection(SR) No. 65760 of 2001, Appeal No. 1808 of 2001, Appeal No. 1927 of 2001 with Cross Objection(SR) No. 66074 of 2001, Appeal No. 2421 of 2001 with Cross Objection(SR) No. 82152 of 2001, Appeal No. 1975 of 2002, Appeal No. 1411 of 2003, Appeal No. 2304 of 2002, Appeal No. 155 of 2003 and Appeal No. 1279 of 1999 with Cross Objection(SR) No. 87947 of 1999, Appeal No. 67 of 2001, Appeal No. 726 of 2001, Appeal No. 1849 of 2001, Appeal No. 2031 of 2001, Appeal No. 1304 of 2001 and Appeal No. 1145 of 2003.
(2.) By impugned judgment/order, the Division Bench of the High Court, partly allowed the first appeals filed by the respondents herein and reduced the rate of compensation payable to the claimants/landowners (appellants herein) at Rs.30/- per square feet, which was fixed by the Reference Court (Civil Court) between Rs.80/- to Rs.100/- per square feet for the land acquired by the State under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as "The Act"). Dissatisfied with the judgment/order passed by the High Court, the claimants/land-owners have filed these appeals for enhancement of the compensation.
(3.) The question that arises for consideration in these appeals is whether the High Court was justified in partly allowing the appeals filed by the respondents herein by reducing compensation at the rate of Rs.30/- per square feet for the land which was acquired by the State or the rate should have been more than Rs.30/- and, if so, how much, i.e., the one determined by the Reference Court (Civil Court) between Rs.80/- to Rs.100/- per square feet or it should be more than that;