- (1.) WE have heard the learned counsel for the appellant at length and perused the record of the cases carefully. However, none appeared on behalf of the claimant -respondents, hence we have proceeded exparte against claimant -respondents.
(2.) ALL these appeals under section 54 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred as "1894 Act") read with section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure have arisen against a common award Dt.01.05.2000 passed by VIIIth Additional District Judge, Ghaziabad in seven references made under section 18 of Act 1894, at the instance of claimant -tenure holders whose land was acquired by State of U.P. for the benefit of Ghaziabad Development Authority (hereinafter referred as "GDA") determining rate of compensation payable to the claimants at Rs.155/ - per square yard besides other statutory amounts like 30% solatium, interest etc.
(3.) CHALLENGE in these appeals is the award dated 01.05.2000 passed by the Reference Court of Ghaziabad in different land acquisition references. The following table would depict the number of plots and the area acquired, the LAR number, the first appeal number, the first name of the claimant, the rate per square yard given by the SLAO and rate awarded by the Reference Court : At the instance of the appellant, Notification under section 4(1) of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short 'Act') was published in U.P. Gazette on 16.08.1988. The State Government sought to acquire a vast area measuring 2072 -15 -16 bighas of land, out of which 47 -5 -10 Bighas of land, sought to be acquired belong to claimants -respondents, for Indirapuram Residential Scheme sponsored by appellant - Ghaziabad Development Authority, situate in village Makanpur, Tehsil and Pergana Dadari, District Ghaziabad and possession whereof was taken on 14.06.1989 and 18.08.1989.;