Swatanter Kumar, J. - (1.) THESE 42 Regular First Appeals arise from a common judgment/award passed by the learned Additional District Judge, Rohtak dated 3rd February, 1990. Vide this judgment, learned Reference Court had answered 21 references under section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act (hereinafter referred as the Act).
(2.) AGAINST that judgment, the State has preferred 21 appeals challenging the finding recorded in all the 21 references on the plea that the compensation awarded to the claimants is unreasonably excessive. On the other hand, the claimants have preferred 20 appeals impugning the same judgment and had prayed for further enhancement of the amount of compensation awarded to them. As all these appeals are based upon common premise of facts, evidence and law, it will be appropriate to dispose of these appeals by a common judgment.
(3.) IN some of the appeals counsel for the claimants have not appeared despite the fact that these appeals have been on regular list for a considerable period and were kept part heard for 16th February, 2000. Under the circumstances, the Court is left with no alternative, but, having heard senior counsel appearing for other claimants and counsel for the State and Marketing Committee, to proceed with the judgment.;