(1.) These appeals arise out of a batch of references made to the Court under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act. The lands acquired, thirty-seven and odd acres in extent, form a block of territory between the South Indian Railway and the river Cauvery near Trichinopoly, and have been acquired for the purpose of making a new bund in the place of the old flood bank which was washed away by the serious flood in 1924. The lands are of the same quality throughout, that is to say, single crop land. The notification under the Act was made on 20th October, 1925, and that is the date for determining the market value of the land. The claimants put the value at Rs. 17-8-0 for each cent of land. The acquisition Officer awarded Rs. 12 for each cent and the Court has given Rs. 16 for each cent.
(2.) [Their Lordships then discuss the evidence re value and award compensation at Rs. 15 a cent.]
(3.) A further question is raised with regard to six per cent interest given by the Subordinate Judge as compensation for the period of occupation by the Public Works Department Officers prior to the award, that is from 16 January, 1925 to 31 December, 1927. Urgent possession was required, and the consent of the owners obtained. The two sections of the Act which make provision for Government taking possession are : Section 16, which says that the Collector may take possession of the land after the award is made; and Section 17, which says that in cases of urgency the Collector may take possession even before the award has been made. Sub- Section (3) of Section 17 makes provision for compensation to be paid when such urgent possession is taken. It requires that compensation for the standing crops and trees (if any) on the land and for any other damage sustained by sudden dispossession shall be offered to the parties interested and, in case such offer is not accepted, the value of the crops and trees and the amount of such other damages shall be allowed for in awarding compensation for the land. But the facts of this case do not exactly fall under Secs.16 and 17.