THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE V. ESWARAIAH AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.S. APPA RAO A.S. No. 1879 of 1998 O R D E R: (per Hon’ble Sri Justice K.S. Appa Rao) Aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 29.02.1996 in O.P.No. 213 of 1984 on the ﬁle of the Principal Subordinate Judge, Guntur, the present Appeal is filed. The common order dated 29.02.1996 was passed by the learned Principal Subordinate Judge in O.P.Nos. 211, 212, 213 and 214 of 1984, granting compensation of Rs. 30,000/- per acre. The present appeal relates to the judgment in L.A.O.P.No.213 of 1984. The respondent herein is the claimant in O.P.No. 213 of 1984. The above O.P. arises out of reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short, ‘the Act’). The present appeal relates to Ac.1.67 ½ in Survey No. 279/2-A. A notiﬁcation was issued under Section 4(1) of the Act on 18.04.1981 and the Land Acquisition Oﬃcer, after due enquiry, awarded compensation of Rs.15,000/- per acre. The claimants, not satisﬁed with the said Award, requested the Land Acquisition Oﬃcer to refer the matter to a civil Court. Accordingly, the Land Acquisition Oﬃcer referred the matter under Section 18 of the Act to a civil Court. The reference Court, after due enquiry, enhanced the compensation from Rs.15,000/- to Rs.30,000/- per acre. Being aggrieved, the present appeal is ﬁled by the Land Acquisition Oﬃcer and in support of the Award of the Land Acquisition Oﬃcer, the learned Government Pleader mainly urged that the reference Court, without any basis, simply placing reliance on Exs.A1 to A3 enhanced the compensation to Rs.30,000/- per acre which is excessive and exorbitant. Now the point that arises for consideration is whether the enhancement of compensation made by the reference Court from Rs.15,000/- to Rs.30,000/- per acre is sustainable or not. In order to claim the enhancement of the compensation, R.Ws.1 and 2 were examined and Ex.B1, photostat copy of sale deed dated 21.03.1981 was marked. The reference Court placing reliance on Ex.B1 sale deed, enhanced the compensation ﬁxing the market value at Rs.30,000/- per acre. Admittedly, the land in question was acquired for the purpose of providing house sites to weaker sections. Ex.B1 is prior to notiﬁcation issued under Section 4(1) of the Act. Therefore, it is a crucial document to take into consideration while awarding the compensation. The reference Court has taken into consideration the evidence of R.Ws. 1 and 2 who stated that the land in question is adjacent to the village and that it is useful for house sites and that the claimants were raising cotton and mirchi crops therein and earning good proﬁt. Therefore, as per the evidence of R.Ws.1 and 2 and Ex.B1, it can safely be said that the compensation awarded by the Trial Court at Rs.30,000/- per acre is quite just and reasonable. Therefore, we do not wish to interfere with the findings of the trial Court. The appeal is therefore, dismissed. No costs. It is needless to mention that the claimants are entitled to all statutory beneﬁts as directed by the reference Court. ---------------------- (V. ESWARAIAH,J) ---------------------------- (K.S. APPA RAO, J) 28th November 2011 ksld