Judgment

S. K. DAS, J. (On behalf of himself, B. P. Sinha C. J. and Rajagopala Ayyangar, J,) : These four appeals which have been brought to this Court on certificates granted by the then High Court of Saurashtra under Art. 133 of the Constitution fall into three groups, and have been heard together. The essential facts relating to these appeals are the same, and a common question of law now falls for determination on those facts.

2. The State of Gujarat, within whose territories the disputed properties are now situate, is the appellant in the appeals. The respondents and in some cases their ancestors, obtained grants from the then Nawab of Junagadh, which was then a ruling State, in respect of lands and, in one case, of a building known as Datar Manzil . These grants were repudiated or cancelled and the property, subject of the grant, was resumed by the Administrator who took over charge of the administration of Junagadh on behalf of the Dominion of India in 1947 in circumstances which we shall presently state. The respondents brought suits challenging the validity of the orders made by the Administrator. These suits were decreed by the lower court and the decrees were substantiall