DINESH SONI Vs. O N G C

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A common question of law as regards interpretation of Section 11 (2) read with Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) arises in these groups of petitions. The question is as to whether in case where an award is made by the Collector u/S. 11 (2) (popularly known as consent award or award based on agreement) is it open to the persons interested in the land to make an application to the Collector u/S. 18 (1) of the Act for making reference to the Court for its determination as regards amount of compensation ?

(2.) Before we proceed to consider the legal submissions made by the learned Counsel appearing for the parties it would be necessary to set out the relevant facts for these two groups of petitions separately hereunder :

(3.) Spl. C.A.No. 4980/91 :